The Minnesota River has stories to tell! Celebrate the Big Year of Rivers by joining a historical interpreter on a leisurely walk along The Landing's scenic River Trail. Discover 100 years of little known, but fascinating history between 1844 to 1944. From fur traders to ship builders, learn about the people and industries that relied on the river to meet their needs. $6/person.

Tíŋta Otuŋwe, Prairieville, Murphy’s Ferry, National Youth Camp and Historic Murphy’s Landing are all names that have described The Landing. Join Three Rivers Park District for a Big Year of Rivers event to celebrate the natural and human history of The Landing and the Minnesota River. Engage in free activities for all ages. Tour the historic village, try recreation activities like atlatls and geocaching, and bike the regional trail. Learn about the 10,000 years of human history and discover some of the animals that call the Minnesota River home, from small aquatics to birds of prey. Come join us for all this and more! Free.

Ride from Shakopee to Chaska and explore how German immigrants helped build the Minnesota River valley on bricks and beer as part of the Big Year of Rivers. Discuss why Shakopee bricks are red and Chaska bricks are yellow. Stops include a brew pub rekindling brewing traditions in the valley. Beer samples available for purchase. Participants must bring their own bike and helmet and be able to ride a 15-mile loop at a leisurely pace with stops. $15/person.

Ride along the Mississippi River and explore how the power of the river shaped the many cultures who called what is now Minnesota home. Enjoy the scenic and historic river and the layers of stories while enjoying the ride. Discover the vital role the Mississippi played in creating the "Mill City". Stops include a brew pub to celebrate the clean water and brewing traditions along the river. Beer samples available for purchase. Participants must bring their own bike and helmet and be able to ride a 15-mile loop at a leisurely pace with stops. $15/person.

Explore the river’s shoreline for agates and other cool rocks. Discover their history and stories. Get some great identification tips to start your own rock collection. Drop in anytime. Free.

Rooted in the history of the logging era in the Midwest, log rolling is both safe and fun. Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors to learn this exciting sport! Test your new skills while “competing” against other participants. No previous experience is needed. $6/person.

Rooted in the history of the logging era in the Midwest, our log rolling programs are both safe and fun! Join instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School to learn this exciting sport. Test your new skills while “competing” against other participants. No previous experience is needed. All participants must register and pay. This program is in partnership with Scott County. $6/person.

Rooted in the history of the logging era in the Midwest, log rolling is both safe and fun. Join the Outdoor Recreation School instructors to learn this exciting sport! Test your new skills while “competing” against other participants! No previous experience is needed. $6/person.

Taking inspiration from the French Art Nouveau revival, this two-session workshop will guide you through the history and techniques needed to create your own Pâte de Verre garden panel. Pâte de Verre is a three-part glass casting technique that consists of creating a clay positive, building a plaster mold around the positive and removing the clay, and packing the plaster mold with finely ground colored glass powders. The mold is then fired in a kiln where the glass melts into the plaster. After cooling, the glass is removed from your mold. No previous glass experience is necessary. $85/person.

Step into the past at the Grimm Farm Historic Site to learn about life on a 19th century farm. Learn about the children of the Grimm family while helping with household chores like laundry and rug beating. Help with farm chores as we grind corn and care for the animals. Churn butter and enjoy homemade ice cream as we discover the Grimm family’s contributions to Minnesota’s dairy industry. Each day of camp meets at the Grimm Farm Historic Site in Carver Park Reserve.

Enjoy summertime at the lake. Immerse yourself in the story of young Marjorie Myers Douglas, author of "Barefoot on Crane Island"—a book about her childhood summers spent on an island in Lake Minnetonka in the 1920s. Explore the lake with a boat tour around the islands of Upper Lake Minnetonka. Go fishing from shore, swim at the swim pond and explore nature around the lakeshore. Meet live animals from Lowry Nature Center and discover the fascinating history of Lake Minnetonka.

Spend some time along the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River with other like-minded crafters and artists. Bring a current project and work on it in the company of others or on your own, outside or in. Chat with a naturalist about a Mississippi River Flow Rate Blanket project that will show the history of the river. Drop in anytime and stay as long as you like!

Discover the history of the Noerenberg family on a guided walk through the property. From their home "Wilkommen" to the eye-catching boat house to the historic barn, learn about the family connections to the lake and the land during the Gilded Age. $9/person.

This collaborative camp brings together naturalists from Richardson Nature Center and the University of Minnesota Raptor Center. Richardson Nature Center hosts the first day of camp. Activities include meeting resident raptor ambassadors, discovering their natural history and behaviors, learning the requirements to care for and train birds in captivity, and exploring habitats to search for wild birds. The second day includes a field trip to The Raptor Center. Campers will learn how the veterinary clinic rehabilitates and cares for injured birds and will get a behind the scenes tour of The Raptor Center’s education department to see many different species of raptors up close. Bus transportation to and from The Raptor Center will be provided.

Silverwood OnStage invites you to come to the park and enjoy the music of the We are the Willows. We are the Willows crafts dynamic songs with a contemplative air. The songs cover a lot of conceptual ground: from family history to modern social life and personal identity. Performances take place from 6:30–8 p.m. in the outdoor amphitheater or inside the visitor center Great Hall in the case of inclement weather. For more information on this performance series, visit ThreeRiversParks.org/Page/Silverwood-Onstage. All ages welcome. Free.

Join us for a night of farm-to-table tastings and spirit sampling! Uncork the history of wine making while learning the steps to make your own using seasonal berries. Visit the gardens and watch a cooking demo for a simple dessert pairing that enhances the berry wine. Bring your own beer or wine to enjoy as you explore the farm. We'll share samples from our dessert pairing and tastings of wine. $15/person.

Discover the vital role the Métis people played in Minnesota history. This program explores Métis culture and the importance of the three rivers in the lives of Métis and Native peoples in Minnesota as part of the Big Year of Rivers. Program will be followed by a guided tour of the Pierre Bottineau home. $10/person.

Before Elm Creek was a park reserve, these 5,200 acres were home to many different groups of people. Learn about the Indigenous people who were the first caretakers of this land. Then learn what it was like to immigrate to Minnesota as Swiss farmers and make this land home. Practice playing historical games, cook a historical recipe and travel back in time to meet some of the early settlers in this area. The camp is designed for campers who love to learn about history and use their imaginations.