Welcome MN Nature enthusiasts! Enjoy #MNnature in the fall with these great activities! You still have a chance to #HikeMN in the green canopy along trails but the sun has already started to cast shadows and less light is beginning to change leaf colors. This is the ideal time to enjoy the great outdoors of Minnesota! Mosquitoes aren’t as hungry, the sun casts brilliant shadows in the woods, and early mornings/evenings on the water boast magnificent skylines and calm waters. As always, free unless otherwise noted (and State parks require a vehicle permit if you drive in).
Through October 7th
Meeting Monarchs
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center: Tuesday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Bloomington Education and Visitor Center: Tuesday – Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Join refuge staff and Journey North in tracking the monarch migration this year. Begin your adventure at the front desk for equipment and some brief instruction. Then explore the surrounding prairie with net in hand. Afterward take in a monarch video or craft your own “make and take” monarch souvenir. Before you leave, create a monarch to add to our simulated Oyamel roosting tree.
09/16/16
Batty for Bats!
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
09/17/16
Interstate Orienteering
Interstate State Park is located along the picturesque St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in an area known as the ‘Dalles of the St. Croix’. This steep-sided basalt gorge with glacial potholes and other rock formations offers some of the most intriguing geological features in the country. The unique terrain of the park is perfect for interesting and challenging orienteering. Sign-up.
Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, WI
09/17/16
Summit Avenue Walking Tour
11:00 am – 12:30 pm, also 2–3:30 $10-14/$2 discount MNHS members
James J. Hill House, St. Paul
09/17/16
Festival of the Voyageu
10:00 am – 9:00 pm $6-10/$2 discount MNHS members
North West Company Fur Post, Pine City
09/17/16
Wild about Wildlife
Fort Ridgely, Fairfax
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Included with $4-6 site admission/MNHS members free
09/17/16
Wild Rice Processing Demo
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia
Noon – 3:30 pm
09/17/16
A New Look at the Carvings
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Included with $6-8 admission/MNHS members free
Jeffers Petroglyphs, Comfrey
09/17/16
Discovering Owls
Lake Bemidji State Park
09/17/16
Itasca’s Music Under the Pines: Kimmel and Longtine
Itasca State Park
09/17/16
Aiton Heights Fire Tower Hike
Itasca State Park
09/17/16
Animal Track Bingo
St. Croix State Park
09/17/16
Archery in the Park
St. Croix State Park
09/17/16
Trail Walk: Woods, Wings & Wildlife
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
09/17/16
Preparing for Winter: Animal Changes
Glacial Lakes State Park
09/17/16
Call of the Wildflowers: Geocaching 101
Glacial Lakes State Park
09/17/16
Stories in the Stars: Ojibwe Constellations
Gooseberry Falls State Park
09/17/16
Trees of the Big Woods
Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park
09/17/16
Wild about Wildlife
Fort Ridgely State Park
09/17/16
Prairie Care Volunteer Opportunity
Wild River State Park
09/17/16
Interpretive Nature Walk
Frontenac State Park
09/17/16
Fall Colors Hike
Sibley State Park
09/17/16
Seeds of the Prairie – a collection
Frontenac State Park
09/17/16
Fall Colors Fossil Field Trip
Whitewater State Park
09/17/16
Get Ready for Fall Walk
Interstate State Park
09/17/16
Pothole Exploration Tour
Interstate State Park
09/17/16
Insect Investigation
Sibley State Park
09/17/16
Women in the Parks: Fall Flowers
Fort Snelling State Park
09/17/16
NORTH SHORE Book Talk and Walk with Chel Anderson
Gooseberry Falls State Park
09/17/16
Geology Discovery Tent
Gooseberry Falls State Park
09/17/16
Wild Rice Festival
Fall celebration of wild rice, Native American culture and Minnesota’s harvest season. This fun event, held at Harriet Alexander Nature Center (HANC), 2520 North Dale Street, includes apple cider pressing, honey harvesting, children’s games, and more! We still need volunteers for a variety of tasks, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, plus clean-up.
09/17/16 – Seed collecting and training (@ arboretum seed garden, 2525 North Dale St.)
Natural Resource Renewal Projects
10:00 am to noon Join a crew of enthusiastic volunteers who gather on the third Saturday of each month to remove invasive species and/or plant native trees and plants. The gathering begins with an overview of the city-wide Natural Resources Restoration program, and then volunteers tackle the task of the day. These volunteer gatherings are making a HUGE difference in how much work we are able to accomplish and how quickly native habitat is being restored to a healthy eco-balance. Join us for one or as many days as your schedule allows. RSVP by phone or email, or simply join us that morning. October 15, 10 to noon, Garlic Mustard Pull at Reservoir Woods, meet at the Alta Vista parking lot
09/18/16
Snakes of the Minnesota River
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm $4-6/MNHS members free
Harkin Store, New Ulm
09/18/16
Summit Avenue Walking Tour
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm $10-14/$2 discount MNHS members
James J. Hill House, St. Paul
09/18/16
Fungus Among Us: In Introduction to Mycology
Fort Snelling State Park
09/18/16
American Indian Beadwork with Looms
St. Croix State Park
09/18/16
Turtle Crossing
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
09/18/16
Falls View Hike
Gooseberry Falls State Park
09/18/16
Minnesota’s Moose Discovery Cart
Gooseberry Falls State Park
09/18/16
Coffee, Talk and Stroll along the Beautiful St. Croix River
William O’Brien State Park
09/18/16
Fall Colors Backwaters Paddling Trip – Registration is Closed!
Whitewater State Park
09/18/16
Becoming an Outdoors Woman Fall Paddling Trip – Registration is Full!
Whitewater State Park
09/18/16
Pothole Exploration Tour
Interstate State Park
09/18/16
Fall Flowers
Fort Snelling State Park
09/18/16
Fall Colors Carnival Cart
Interstate State Park
09/18/16
Minnesota Mushrooms
Lake Maria State Park
09/21/16
Itasca’s Presenters Under the Pines: Barren-ground Caribou with Caribou Biologist, Ross Thompson
Itasca State Park
09/21/16
Lake Superior Yoga
Tettegouche State Park
Saturday, September 24
National Public Lands Day
09/22/16
6:30pm / Social – 7:00pm / Program Wild Ones meeting (Meetings are free and open to the public). Minnesota DNR Plant Ecologist Hannah Texler will describe how she converted the turf grass in her St. Paul yard to a diverse mix of gardens that include native prairie and woodland gardens. Vera Ming Wong will talk about creating watercolor paintings of those gardens and her work as a botanical artist, and we will be treated to a viewing of her original artwork.
Autumn Grove Park Building – 1365 Lydia Avenue W, Roseville MN
Saturday, September 24
Bird Watching Trek
8:00 -10:30 a.m.
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Bass Ponds
Join us for a bird walk and learn about the birds that visit the Refuge during their fall migration. With a variety of habitats at the different Refuge units you will want to explore them all. During the fall migration period the Refuge offers the opportunity to observe a mix of waterfowl, raptors, warblers and sparrows. All are stopping at the Refuge to rest and feed before they continue their southerly migration. Birders of all skill levels are welcome on these walks. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide, and dress appropriately for the weather.
Saturday, September 24
Beginning Archery
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
Aim for a rewarding and challenging morning by learning and practicing basic bow and arrow skills using compound bows and traditional targets. With step-by-step instruction followed by target practice you can become an archer, too. Time permitting, we will test our skills with some archery games including Pokémon, tic-tac-toe, and pop-the-balloon! For ages 8 and up, this is an ideal family activity. Equipment provided.
Saturday, September 24
Paddle With the Ranger
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge – Long Meadow Lake Unit/Lyndale to Fort Snelling State Park
Put-In at Lyndale/Russell A. Sorensen Landing
11135 Lyndale Ave. South, Bloomington, MN 55420
I-35W, East on 106th St., South on Lyndale Ave.
Take-Out at Picnic Island, Fort Snelling State Park (*State Park Sticker required)
I-494/Hwy 5, N to Post Rd, follow signs to park
Join Ranger Judy for a paddle-with-a-view on the Minnesota River. On this guided excursion we’ll explore the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge from the water and discover some of the best wildlife habitat and scenery around! Provide your own canoe or kayak, equipment, and PFD. A shuttle will be provided at the start. Meet at the Lyndale Avenue landing. Basic paddling skills are required. To register, contact Judy Geck at judy_geck@fws.gov or 952-858-0731.
09/24/16
Water(color) Under the Bridge
Jay Cooke State Park
09/24/16
Candlelight Boardwalk Hike
Big Bog State Recreation Area
09/24/16
Night Hike
Blue Mounds State Park
09/24/16
Caches,Colors,and Changes at Whitewater
Whitewater State Park
09/24/16
Archery in the Park
Glendalough State Park
09/24/16
Itasca State Park: Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center
Itasca’s 9th Annual Autumn Harvest Festival and Lantern Lit Hike: Making Itasca Memories
09/24/16
Itasca’s Music Under the Pines: Jim and Molly Bauer
Itasca State Park
09/24/16
125th Parks Anniversary Special Program: Million Shades of Autumn Geocaching Weekend!
William O’Brien State Park
09/24/16
Cemetery Tour
Fort Ridgely State Park
09/24/16
Interpretive Nature Walk
Frontenac State Park
09/24/16
Harvest Festival
Minneopa State Park
09/24/16
Prairie Seed Collection
Minneopa State Park
09/24/16
Geocache the Golden Acorn
Interstate State Park
09/24/16
Archaeology Day
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
09/24/16 – 09/25/16
Maplewood Leaf Days
Maplewood State Park
09/24/16
Whitetail Ways
Fort Snelling State Park
09/24/16
Falls Views Hike
Gooseberry Falls State Park
09/24/16
Ready for Winter Discovery Cart
Gooseberry Falls State Park
09/24/16
Fall Colors Along the Savanna Portage Trail
Savanna Portage State Park
09/24/16
Harvest Time: Seed Collecting
Wild River State Park
09/24/16
Music in the Park – Sugar Moon
Tettegouche State Park
09/24/16
Minnegoat – Weekend of Orienteering
Straight Lake State Park, Luck, WI
09/24/16
Playground Build! —Volunteer Opportunity
8:00 am to 2:00 pm – volunteer for whatever time works for you – HIGH numbers needed! The Park Renewal Program continues! Our second playground replacement at Central Park and one of the City’s biggest. Trained supervisors lead community members in assembling the newest playground structure. There’s a role for everyone – no experience necessary. Come for all or come for part of the day, any amount of time you can volunteer will be immensely appreciated! These are fun and productive events that leave a lasting impact in creating safe and accessible play spaces for kids.
Central Park Lexington
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.