Take your art materials outside! Immerse yourself in nature while using hike-able art mediums such as watercolor or drawing. Practice nature journaling and learn new art techniques such as printmaking. This camp includes lots of reflection time, outdoor time and hiking. We recommend this camp for kids who already have a high interest in art and that want to learn some unique art mediums in nature.

Many animals have babies in the spring season. What advantages and disadvantages are there for different animals? We will talk about which animals give birth in the spring, touch furs and other animal artifacts, hike a trail looking for homes and play a game of survival in the woods.

Birds are migrating from their winter home to their summer home. Join us on a hike as we use binoculars and our ears to identify the birds we only see once or twice a year. Bird friendly coffee will be provided!

Spring migration is here! Come and see what birds are passing through the park and sharpen your birding skills. All levels of experience are welcome. Beginners are asked to be ready to learn, and experts are asked to be ready to share their knowledge. Binoculars will be available to borrow.

Trees deserve a day of celebration! Learn how to identify six different trees found in Elm Creek Park Reserve by investigating their bark, leaves and trunk. Practice aging a tree to find the age of the oldest tree around the nature center. Put your newfound skills to the test by taking a self-guided hike to identify marked trees along the trail. Drop in anytime. Each family will receive a free tree sapling to grow at home. Each group must include at least one registered adult, age 18+. $10/group (1-5 people per group).

Learn about nature at your own pace through hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required. Free.

Learn about nature at your own pace through hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required. Free.

Learn about nature at your own pace through free, hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required.

Learn about nature at your own pace through free, hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required.

Learn about nature at your own pace through free, hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required.

Learn about nature at your own pace through hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required. Free.

Watch some kooky animal puppets as they stop Trasher the Trash Can from trashing nature. Performance begins promptly at 1 p.m. After the show, try your hand at making an art project related to the show until 3 p.m. Join the Walk with a Naturalist at 2 p.m. for a longer nature hike or stay and make art throughout the afternoon. All ages welcome. Free.

Learn about nature at your own pace through free, hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required.

Learn about nature at your own pace through hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime. No registration required. Free.

Learn about nature at your own pace through free, hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required.

Come experience Eastman Nature Center in the dark! This version of our firefly hike is adapted for people who need physical accommodations. Listen to a presentation inside about how and why fireflies glow. Then load up in your vehicle and drive up to our upper parking lot which has a handicap accessible entrance to the paved trail. Move along the paved trail or take a seat on a bench and watch the fireflies glow in the prairie. Special flashlights provided, if needed. Reservations required. Program geared for ages 5+. Please call 763-694-7700 for more information on all the accommodations this program can offer. $6/person.

Experience the joy of summer camp and spending family time together in nature. Learn all about the animals that call Minnesota home. Hike the trails to search for animal homes, hideouts and clues they have left behind. Get up close, touch and help feed the animal ambassadors living at Richardson Nature Center. $36/person.

Experience the joy of summer camp and spending family time together in nature. Explore the three major habitats of Richardson Nature Center within Hyland Lake Park Reserve. Hike the oak forest and search for signs of animals. Sweep the tallgrass prairie with nets to catch and identify insects. Paddle a canoe on Turtle Basking Pond for a closer look at wildlife. Spend the day outside together exploring all parts of this beautiful park. $36/person.

Explore the barn and beyond with hands-on activities, hikes and games. Each day we’ll trek to visit the animals, harvest from the gardens and uncover a new secret of life on the farm.

Come experience Eastman Nature Center in the dark! Linger at a few firefly stations, look at preserved fireflies, and learn how and why they glow. Take a hike in our forest as the night begins to darken and finish the evening at the prairie to safely catch and release fireflies. The hiking trail is uneven with occasional exposed roots. Special flashlights provided, if needed. Nets will be provided. Reservations required. Program geared for ages 5+. $6/person.

Celebrate Earth Day with us. Make an earth-like seed bomb, filled with wildflower seeds, to bring home and spread pollinator-friendly plants in your own space. Explore the park on your own, take a hike, play in the Nature Exploration Area or view Richardson's animal ambassadors indoors. No reservations needed; drop in anytime.

Watch some kooky animal puppets as they stop Trasher the Trash Can from trashing nature. Performance begins promptly at 1 p.m. After the show, try your hand at making an art project related to the show until 3 p.m. or join a naturalist led exploration from 1:30–2 p.m. Join Walk with a Naturalist at 2 p.m. for a longer nature hike or stay and make art throughout the afternoon.

Spring is popping up all around us, come see what’s blooming! Learn about Minnesota’s early-blooming wildflowers and explore plant biofacts up close. Take a self-guided hike to look for ephemerals and other signs of spring along the trail. No reservations needed; drop in anytime.

Join a naturalist for a walk along the trails. Observe seasonal changes happening across the habitats and landscapes. Bring binoculars if you have them or some will be available to borrow at the park. Drop-ins welcome. Hike departs shortly after 2 p.m. from in front of the visitor center. All ages welcome. Free.

Are you looking for new trails to explore in 2026? Do it while connecting to the rivers and waters in the Park District, as part of our 2026 Big Year of Rivers. First, a naturalist will be available to suggest trails at Eastman that meet your needs and goals. Then, keep the momentum going with a list of trail suggestions for the other Three Rivers' parks you can to visit this year. The possibilities are endless! Free. No reservations required.

Experience the whole-body benefits that pole hiking provides while also experiencing the social benefits of the club. Outdoor Recreation School instructors provide direction about Nordic walking and lead a weekly hike. Explore trails, meet new friends and feel the health benefits of exercising in nature. Most of the hikes will be on unpaved dirt trails. Park locations will vary each week of club. You will be emailed a schedule from your Lead Instructor prior to the first week of club. $60/person.

Explore trails, meet new friends and feel the health and wellness benefits of exercising in nature. Instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School provide instruction and technique for using Nordic walking poles and will lead a weekly hike. Most of the hikes will be on unpaved dirt trails of Three Rivers parks within the South Metro. Experience the whole-body benefits that Nordic pole hiking provides while also experiencing the social benefits of the club. Nordic walking poles are provided for use during the program. Be sure to have sturdy shoes or lightweight hiking boots to hike on unpaved, possibly muddy trails with hilly terrain. Meets every Monday from April 27th to June 8th at 5:45pm-7pm. Class does not meet May 25th.

Step into the quiet embrace of the forest and let nature wash over you. Shinrin-Yoku, or “forest bathing”, is more than a walk—it’s an immersion of the senses, a return to the wisdom of the trees. Feel the cool whisper of the breeze against your skin. Breathe in the earthy scent of moss and pine, and the sweetness of damp leaves. Hear the rhythmic rustle of branches, the distant call of a bird, the gentle trickle of water over smooth stone. With each step, the weight of the world softens, your mind quiets, your body unwinds. Guided by a certified Forest Bathing practitioner, you’ll be invited to slow down and engage deeply with your surroundings—touching bark craggy as time, watching sunlight dance through shifting canopies, tasting the crispness of the air itself. Through gentle prompts and mindful reflection, you’ll rediscover the innate connection between yourself and the living world. This is not a hike, nor a destination—it is an experience of presence, a practice of simply being. Benefits of Shinrin-Yoku: Reduces stress and anxiety, boosts mood and mental clarity, supports immune function, enhances mindfulness and connection. Come, step into the forest. Let it restore you. $32/person.

Explore the trails with your baby in a carrier or all-terrain stroller. We will hike at a slow to moderate pace. The babies/toddlers to engage in safe, sensory experiences along the way. Drop-ins welcome. Ages 0-3 plus adult. Free.

Drop off your child for an exploration of the habitats in the park. Hike, play games, do experiments and discover what lives in the fields, forests and river. Activities are student-led and take place entirely outdoors whenever possible. Schedule: March 9 & 23 April 6 & 20 May 4 & 18

Spring brings new life on the farm! Join us to discover the wonders of spring as we visit the greenhouses, prepare the gardens and welcome baby animals. Help the farmers with chores while you explore the farm through hikes, seasonal activities and games.

Color is everywhere, and capturing some to keep can be fun and messy! Learn about respectful collection of natural materials, then take a short hike to sample from the woods, fields and trails around Eastman Nature Center. Use a mortar and pestle to release the essence of flower, leaf and soil, and create your own palette before creating a painted record of the shades you discover.

The weather is getting warmer and snakes are out sunning themselves. What should you do if you see a snake? Are they safe to be around? This presentation on snakes in your neighborhood will answer these questions and more. Afterwards, head out on a hike to look for where you are likely to see snakes around the nature center and meet one of our education ambassador snakes. $6/person.

Take a closer look at the hidden worlds around us! Each day, campers will explore a new level of magnification using different types of microscopes to reveal the tiny details that make up our natural world. From hand lenses to dissecting scopes to high-powered compound microscopes, we’ll journey deeper and deeper into the micro world taking micro hikes around the park to collect fascinating samples along the way. Campers will even have the chance to view their own cells up close. Inspired by these incredible discoveries, we’ll create artwork that celebrates light, color and the often unseen patterns of nature. For a full day of adventure, combine with Nature's Protectors Camp in the afternoon. Includes a monitored lunch hour between camp sessions.

Join naturalist Kirk and others on this popular series of four Monday morning hikes to look for birds. All levels of birders welcome. Beginners will learn a lot from more experienced birders on the hike and everyone will learn along the way. If you need binoculars, you will be able to borrow a pair from the nature center. This is a great opportunity to learn the trails and find out where various species are seen in the park.

Learn about the dragonflies that live in our area through hands-on activities. Explore their life cycle and special adaptations, and hike to the prairie to try catching them with a net. Bring a picnic blanket to sit on. $6/person

Join us for a once monthly program exploring the creative arts and natural world. Cozy up for a story or song, head on a hike to observe the wild surroundings and create an art project inspired by what you find. This program will occur primarily outdoors with access to the indoors for restroom breaks and when necessary for some artmaking activities. $7/person. Ages: 2-6 plus adult. Siblings under age 2 are free but must register.