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.

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.

Celebrate the Big Year of Rivers by exploring a group of animals that rely on clean water throughout their life cycles. Meet Richardson Nature Center’s resident amphibians up-close. Learn about their natural history, explore and examine a variety of animal artifacts and get a chance to touch live amphibians. No reservations needed; drop in any time.

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, 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!

The Mississippi Muse series explores different aspects of the Mississippi River through a scientific and creative lens. Visualize and discover the earth's processes that have shaped the river through this hands-on workshop. Explore the riverbed for evidence of geological history, then unearth some "wild clay" (natural clay deposits from the earth). Learn how to process and refine this clay into something more workable, then use it to build a simple form.

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.

Join us for a night of farm-to-table tastings and spirit sampling! Uncap the history of maple sugaring in Minnesota while learning the steps to brew a chocolate stout and Vienna lager, both with tastes of the maple harvest. Watch seasonal cooking demonstrations, visit spring babies in the barn and bring your own beer or wine to enjoy around a campfire. Samples will be available, including a gluten free stout!

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.

Prepare at home for this exciting phenomenon with videos we provide and learn the natural history of this fascinating fowl. On the night of the program, meet on-site at dusk to stalk the "timberdoodle" off-trail. Maneuver for position in the growing darkness, then sit and listen as the male swoops and twitters in a high aerial dance, and hope he lands nearby. This is an auditory treat, with a chance for sightings.