Free Activities and Programs
Select Thursdays and Saturdays
1:00 – 4:00 pm
Get outside and discover nature with your child! Enjoy free activities such as:
- Canoes & Kayaks
- Water Tables
- Scooping the Pond
- Touch Tables
- Animal Encounters
- Free Programs at 1:00 pm
Nature Play Dates and Programs
Programs start at 1:00 pm
Thursday, June 11: Can You Build An Owl?
Learn first-hand about owl adaptations by picking out the pieces and parts that belong to an owl and putting them into a “magic” box. If correct, a live owl comes out from under the magic box for a visit. Come see what happens with our friends from the International Owl Center and their resident owl ambassadors!
Thursday, June 18: Firefly Show with Felicia Cooper
Enjoy a fantastical performance using props, puppets, and incredible story telling by Felicia Cooper. Follow the story about a lost firefly, Lucky, in this sweet and hopeful family-friendly puppet show about all the ways we find light.
Saturday, June 27: Activities Available, No 1:00 pm Program
Thursday, July 9: Will Sings Songs
Sing and laugh along with musician, naturalist, true-blue Minnesotan goofball, and Austin Native, Will Bjorndal, as he brings a wagonload of original and traditional songs to our Thursday Nature Play! Driven by audience participation, this captivating yet laid-back performance is engaging for children of all ages.
Saturday, July 25: Activities Available, No 1:00 pm Program
Thursday, July 30: Marvelous Mystery: A who-done-it?
Join intern Emily as she tries to solve a mystery that happened at the Nature Center! Assist us to look through clues left behind from different Minnesota animals and put them together to help solve this puzzling case.