Help us remove invasive buckthorn from the Lowry Nature Center trails. Begin with a presentation about how to identify and remove common buckthorn, then work as a team to cut buckthorn with gloves and tools. Participants will work at their own pace, but must be able to walk on uneven terrain with limited access to water or restroom facilities. All materials will be provided. Free. Registration required.

Join us as we prepare for our Winter Solstice Luminary Walk on December 21 by decorating a luminary bag. Color, draw, punch holes and make art! We will use these bags to decorate our trail. Come back on December 21 and see if you can spot the luminary bag you created out on the trail! All ages welcome. 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 the ways of our wild turkeys in Minnesota with a few indoor activities. Then, take a short trot/walk outside to look for evidence in our park. All ages welcome. Free.

Dress up your whole family for outdoor Halloween fun! Walk Lowry's Enchanted Trail to visit the larger-than-life costumed animals for treats. Visit Scarecrow Alley and the Pumpkin King, dance to live music by the Roe Family Singers, enjoy carnival games and laugh at the antics of the Mad Scientist. Light dinner and snack refreshments available for purchase. Reservations required. All ages welcome. $8/person. Under 2 free.

Take an easy guided walk through the woods and enjoy the changing leaves, crisp air and sounds of nature. This relaxed walk is a chance to unplug, enjoy the season and connect with others outdoors. This program is in partnership with Scott County and part of the Wellness initiative. Free.

Wrap up 2026 with one last s’more! Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors for a scenic snowshoe hike followed by a yummy treat. Learn how to put on and walk in snowshoes, explore the snowy trails on a guided walk, then gather around the fire to roast marshmallows and make a s'more. We will hike if no snow. Participants ages 11 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult. $12/person.

Wrap up 2026 with one last s’more! Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors for a scenic snowshoe hike followed by a yummy treat. Learn how to put on and walk in snowshoes, explore the snowy trails on a guided walk, then gather around the fire to roast marshmallows and make a s'more. We will hike if no snow. Participants ages 11 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult. This program is in partnership with Scott County. $12/person.

Explore the trails, meet new friends, and experience the whole-body benefits that Nordic pole hiking provides while exercising in nature. Outdoor Recreation School instructors educate on the Nordic walking technique and lead a weekly pole hike. Explore a mix of paved and unpaved trails in French Regional Park, Fish Lake Regional Park and Baker Park Reserve. Please wear sturdy shoes or light hiking boots for hilly terrain and potentially muddy ground. $48/person.

Start your Monday mornings with fresh air, movement and good company! Developed in partnership with Club Prior, Morning Stretch and Stroll is a casual, quick walking club for adults ages 55+ looking to boost their health by walking outdoors on a peaceful paved path at a distance of a little over a mile with a stretching break incorporated at the midpoint. These 45-minute guided walking sessions will help you maintain your mobility and cardiovascular health. Nordic walking poles available upon request. This program is in partnership with the Scott County Wellness Initiative. Free.

Get ready to celebrate the shortest day of the year and stay in your pajamas if you’d like! Prepare to usher in the upcoming longest night with a story around the fire. Walk the trails to soak in some daylight while you can, make a craft to bring in the light and help decorate luminary bags for Monday's Winter Solstice Luminary Trail. $6/person.

Looking for something different to do during winter break? Head to the nature center and learn from a naturalist how different animals survive in the winter. Check out different furs of Minnesota mammals, make some fun track art and learn how to find and identify different tracks before you go for a walk in the snow. Winter is full of amazing animal signs if you just learn how to notice! All ages welcome. Free.

Experience the night and the wide open space of the prairie as we do some stargazing. Enjoy a short program inside to learn about some of the constellations you might see and some of the animal sounds you might hear. We will walk up to the viewing location where the majority of the program will take place. Bring a blanket and chair so you can be comfortable as you view the night sky. $6/person.

Come be a detective and search for clues that deer are living nearby. Walk along a trail made by deer and look for tracks, scat and other signs. Learn about deer management and the scientific research that has taken place in Elm Creek Park Reserve. Be prepared to walk through brushy areas. Wear sturdy walking shoes. $6/person.

Celebrate Halloween by getting to know the sometimes feared, often misunderstood, always fascinating spiders of Minnesota. Learn to identify spiders based on their habitat, web and eyes. Contribute to citizen science by finding, identifying and recording web and spider sightings on a guided 1-mile walk through the forest and prairie. All ages welcome. $6/person.

Come learn about how ice forms or why it doesn’t! Ponder the question, “Is ice really ever safe?” as you explore the science of ice and discover what can make frozen water strong, weak or unpredictable. Get hands-on with ice safety tools, then head outside for a walk to look for early ice and, if conditions allow, check its thickness. Warm up with a hot beverage at the end of the program!

Experience the magical Scandinavian Tomte tradition. Visit the animals in the barn and take a short luminary walk or snowshoe. Create a felted wool Tomte while listening to live Swedish music on the nyckelharpa. Cap off the evening with s'mores around the fire. All ages welcome. $15/person.

Explore the Park District and stay active all winter long! Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors to check out a different trail each week using whatever equipment the conditions warrant – Nordic walking poles, traction devices, snowshoes and/or kicksleds. Build community with others who enjoy winter hiking and learn a little about dressing for winter activities and navigating trails. Expect variable trail conditions. Locations subject to change – an updated schedule will be provided to registered participants. $110/13 sessions.

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.

Join us for a low impact guided trail walk that engages the whole person (physical, mental, emotional). Each session includes a low impact physical activity and wellness practice such as meditation, breathing, exercise, or nature reading. Wear closed-toed shoes, and comfortable clothing. Meets rain or shine! Nordic poles and instruction are provided. Drop-ins welcome. Free.

Join us for a low impact guided trail walk that engages the whole person (physical, mental, emotional). Each session includes a low impact physical activity and wellness practice such as meditation, breathing exercise or nature reading. Wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothing. Meets snow or shine. Nordic poles and instruction are provided. Drop-ins welcome.

Become a citizen scientist and help count winter birds! For over 125 years, the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count has tracked how bird populations change over time, and the data you collect will add to this national effort. Join a group bird walk through varied habitats to look for as many of the 50 likely winter species as we can find — records go to the North Hennepin Count Circle survey. Binoculars provided. No experience necessary. All ages welcome. Free.

Celebrate the longest night of the year with a peaceful, self-guided walk along a glowing luminary trail. Follow the lights through the winter woods, make your own paper luminary, then warm up by a campfire with good company, cozy vibes and a sweet treat. Snowshoes will be available if there is enough snow. Registration encouraged, though not required. This program is in partnership with Scott County. All ages are welcome. Free.

Experience the beauty and peace of the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, with a lighted luminary trail walk. Whether you choose to walk in the early evening to connect with the quiet or walk in the dark to embrace the night, this trail is a once-a-year experience. Stop in anytime between 5–8 p.m. as an individual or small group (last entry onto the trail will be 8 p.m.). This program is free, but if you would like to mark the occasion, please bring a personal care item to donate to the CROSS food shelf. For questions on the accessibility of this program, including likely trail conditions, expected length and more, please call 763-694-7700 or email EastmanNC@ThreeRiversparks.org. All ages welcome. Free.

From changing leaves to flowing rivers, we are surrounded by natural art. Join naturalists in making the park even more beautiful with temporary art installations. Learn from the animals around us noticing how they also make art in the world when they make a paw print, drop a feather, or scrape the ground with antlers or tails. After taking a walk to gather inspiration from our animal neighbors, we will make our own art by collecting and arranging rocks, sticks, leaves to make our own temporary art pieces. We will then leave our art behind for other park visitors to find. Ages 8-12 years old. $12/person.