Join instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School to explore the sport of archery. Learn the fundamentals of archery in a safe and supportive environment. Participants will learn proper form, safety techniques, and target shooting through practice, games and challenges. Whether you are a beginner or looking to improve your skills, our club fosters confidence, patience and empowerment. No prior experience is necessary. Equipment is provided.

Water is always moving—through the sky, the ground and the bodies of living things. This month, students will follow the journey of water, exploring watersheds, local water quality and the fascinating lives of fish. Through hands-on art-making inspired by water’s movement such as watercolor techniques and basketry we’ll create flowing, textured pieces that capture the rhythms and cycles of water in nature. $48/three sessions.

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

Drop off your homeschool student to be immersed in outdoor discoveries. Students will explore the world of environmental science through questioning, discovery, information sharing, record keeping through nature journaling, evaluation and reflection. Designed for curious kids who would enjoy working in a group; must be able to attend most sessions. Schedule: March 3 & 17 April 7 & 21 May 5 & 19

Spring is the beginning of a new cycle on the farm. Work with Gale Woods farmers to care for lambs and chicks and learn what needs they have as the season progresses. Learn about the planning for pasture and crop rotation in our gardens. Create snacks with ingredients from the farm and dive into the food system.

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.

Spring is in the air and nature is buzzing with new life! In this hands-on class, students will dive into the fascinating world of nests, eggs and the creatures that call Silverwood Park home in the spring. Through the creative processes of paper making and printmaking, students will tell the stories of these animals’ homes and journeys. $48/three sessions.

Explore nature as an artist with drawing, painting and photography! Our art adventures will take us near and far as we gather inspiration from nature and meet animals up close. Each week we'll try a new artist technique. Equipment and supplies needed.

See if you have what it takes to be a voyager! Step into the past and learn about the early fur traders of Minnesota. Study the animals of the fur trade while you practice your animal tracking. Set out into the wilderness to check a geocaching "trapline." Meet up at the rendezvous to play games and sing voyager songs, then gather your furs and visit a trading post.

Many birds stay in Minnesota during the cold winters using various strategies to survive and forage for food. Learn about our tough, winter feathered friends, play games, meet our raptor ambassadors and make a bird feeder.

Throughout the seasons, the stars we see in the sky change. Learn why this is, hear constellation stories from around the world and see the night sky during the day in our StarLab. Please only register people who will be in the StarLab. All students under 14 must have an adult present in the building during this program (adults do not have to be registered if they are not going to be in the StarLab).

What makes different animal life cycles unique? Search for hidden animals, reconstruct their life cycles and act out each life stage. Participate in the baby bird nest challenge and meet a live amphibian.

Get tips from a Gale Woods farmer and learn what you need to know about raising chickens at home. We'll discuss legal requirements, coop designs, feed, breed selection, biosecurity and more! Take a tour of the chicken coop at Gale Woods to get design ideas of your own.

What does nature do when the sun begins to go down? Walk the trails in search of spring migrant birds and insects, trilling toads and singing frogs, mammal signs at the edge of a marsh and more. Come prepared to be outdoors for this lesson.

Drop a line in the mighty Mississippi River to see what’s biting. Learn river fishing techniques and discover which fish call this river home. Equipment, bait and fishing license provided for the program.

Discover the amphibians around Eastman Nature Center. Learn what makes amphibians unique from other animals. Search around Eastman to find the habitats amphibians need to survive. Meet several live amphibians.

Let’s get out our seed catalogs—it’s planning time! Dream up ways to enhance your garden by creating a vision board. Choose varieties based on your space, food preferences and providing habitat for our pollinator friends.

Learn how to measure the speed of a stream and make predictions on how that effects erosion. Use your data to map where the stream is now and where you predict it will be in the future.

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.

Learn about constellations, listen to the stories told about them from around the world and see the night sky during the day in our StarLab. Please only register people who will be in the StarLab. All students 5-7 years old must have an adult registered and present in the StarLab with them. Students ages 8- 14 must have an adult present in the building during this program (adults do not have to be registered if they aren't going to be in the StarLab).

Explore our astronomical “neighborhood” that is the solar system. Learn how the planets move around the sun, visit the planets and discover other celestial objects we can see in our skies—all from our StarLab. Please only register people who will be in the StarLab. All students under 14 must have an adult present in the building during this program (adults do not have to be registered if they aren’t going to be in the StarLab).

Join certified wildlife trackers to dive deeper into the art and science of wildlife tracking. Interpret the prints and signs left behind by all kinds of animals. Beyond identification (naming this is a deer track or this is a raccoon track), we will explore ecology and behavior to illuminate the stories of the wild lives that inhabit this stretch of the Mississippi River. Expect walking and stopping to look at dirt, mud, snow or sand, examining footprints and sharing your observations.

This May, teens will dive into the world of printmaking, discovering the art of creating images and textures that capture the essence of the natural world. From botanical prints to nature-inspired designs, students will explore different techniques like relief printing and mono printing to create their own unique work. Through this process, they’ll learn how to transform the beauty of the outdoors into lasting works of art.