Summer Classes

Fantastic Frogs with Julie Hecimovich • $15 Wednesday, June 18; 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Celebrate our plentiful pond by creating colorful frog projects and learn about life cycles. Play in the water tables and listen to songs and stories about frogs.

Bountiful Bugs with Julie Hecimovich • $15 Thursday, Aug 14; 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Let’s get buggy! Try on some bug costumes, play games, sing bug songs, and make insect crafts. Bug Out! Hike to discover the cool buggy hideouts for incredible insects. Compare these to a few interesting bugs around the world.

Phenomenal Rainforests with Julie Hecimovich • $15 • Friday, June 20; 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Celebrate mysteries of the rainforests which make Earth so spectacular! Listen to the unique sounds of the animals who call these places home. Construct your own rainforest, play games, try tasty foods, and hike in our local forest.

Who’s at the Watering Hole? with Julie Hecimovich • $20 Wednesday & Thursday, July 30 & 31; 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Groovy Grasslands near and far host a fascinating variety of plants and animals. Listen to stories about who is visiting watering holes in Africa and Minnesota. Sort animals by region, scoop out creatures from our local watering hole, and learn about the food chain.

Bear Hunt Adventure • $10
Session 1: Wednesday, July 9; 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Session 2: Tuesday, July 22; 9:30-10:30 a.m.
We all know what bears do when the weather turns cool and the snow starts to fall, but what do they do in the summertime? Bring your favorite teddy bear, and let’s go on a bear hunt adventure and learn together! This includes a picnic with your teddy bear.

ASL in Nature • $10 • Wednesday, June 18; 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Explore the wilderness of the Nature Center and discover nature along the trails. Learn some basic nature-related sign language to put to use while exploring our trails.

Gardening and Garden Yoga • $10 • Monday, July 7; 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Join Nature Center staff in our gardens to discover what gardens are and why they are so important. Learners will have the chance to see what we grow in our Nature Center gardens, harvest vegetables, and will practice Garden Yoga, a gentle exercise to celebrate all that gardens have to offer.

Frolicking through Flowers • $10 • Thursday, July 17; 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Come explore the floral world with our naturalists and become a little flower expert! Learn the parts of a flower, what flowers are for, and go on a walk to stop and smell the (wild) roses.

Liking Lichen • $10 • Wednesday, June 11; 9:00-10:30 a.m.
See nature from a different perspective. Get up close with the things that grow on the ground and on the trees. Explore and feel the differences between lichen, mosses, and, mushrooms, then make a little gnome home for the protectors of the forest with things we find outside.

Nature Secrets, Nature Songs! with Will Bjorndal • $45
Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday, June 23, 24, & 25; 9:30-11:00 a.m.
What critters, animals, and plants are hiding in plain sight in our forests, waters, and prairies? And how do they make music? Join naturalist and musician Will Bjorndal for energetic explorations of the natural world, with a special emphasis on the parts of nature hidden out of plain sight. As they explore nature’s secrets, students will connect what they learn into original music and songs!

Home Sweet Habitat • $10 • Wednesday, July 2; 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Explore the unique homes of animals, from burrows to nests and beyond! Learn how these habitats provide shelter and safety, and all the different ways that animals adapt to their environments.

Wonderful World of Birds • $10 • Tuesday, July 22; 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Students investigate what makes birds different from other animals, and why they are so special. Students will learn how to use both their sight and hearing to identify common birds found in Nature Center woods, and how to use tools like binoculars and identification guides to do so, leaving this course as competent and curious birders.

Phenomenal Rainforests with Julie Hecimovich • $15 • Friday, June 20; 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Celebrate mysteries of the rainforests which make Earth so spectacular! Listen to the unique sounds of the animals who call these places home. Construct your own rainforest, play games, try tasty foods, and hike in our local forest.

Who’s at the Watering Hole? with Julie Hecimovich • $20 •Wednesday & Thursday, July 30 & 31; 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Groovy Grasslands near and far host a fascinating variety of plants and animals. Listen to stories about who is visiting watering holes in Africa and Minnesota. Sort animals by region, scoop out creatures from our local watering hole, and learn about the food chain.

Nature Rocks! with Will Bjorndal • $45
Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday, June 23, 24, & 25; 1:30-3:00 p.m.
What critters might be hiding under that rock? In the pond? The prairie? Find out by exploring the nooks and crannies of nature, music, and songwriting with naturalist and musician Will Bjorndal! Energetic adventures across the waters, the woods, and prairies will inform the music and songs that students will learn to craft together! After all, under every rock, there’s nature to be found!

Stream Superheroes • $25 • Select one session:
Session 1: Tuesday & Wednesday, July 8 & 9; 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Session 2: Tuesday & Wednesday, July 8 & 9; 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Find out what kinds of things live in our waterways and unearth what it takes to survive! Students will get outside to explore in the streams of the Nature Center.

Can You Blend In? • $15 • Friday, July 11; 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Investigate the many ways animals have adapted to blend in with their environment. Our outdoor explorers will use the resources provided to them to try to blend in with their environments.

Worm Charming 101 • $15 • Monday, June 9; 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Discover the art of worm Charming; the practice of drawing our favorite squirmy friends out of the ground. Learners will explore the ways that people and animals alike invite worms out of the soil, and will test some methods of their own!

Monarch Magic • $15 • Select one session:
Session 1: Monday, July 21; 1:30-3:30 p.m. – FULL, Waitlist available
Session 2: Tuesday, July 29; 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Delve into the amazing life of the monarch butterfly. Learn how to identify monarch eggs, caterpillars, and milkweed around the Nature Center.

Nocturnal Nature • $15 • Wednesday, June 25; 8:30-10:00 p.m.
Delve into what nature does while we sleep. This class offers a variety of fun activities that let us discover the magic of nature at night. Learn which animals are out and about, go on a night hike, and explore the hustle and bustle of the Nature Center after dark!

Buzzing into Nature • $25 • Select one session:
Session 1: Tuesday & Wednesday, July 15 & 16; 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Session 2: Tuesday & Wednesday, July 15 & 16; 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Dive into the fascinating world of honeybees, exploring their lifecycle and role in nature. Through interactive activities and up-close observation, students will experience what it’s like to be a bee for a day.

Intro to Fishing • $25
Tuesday, June 17; 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Nature Center & 6:00-8:00 p.m. at East Side Lake or Mill Pond
Learn about the basics of fishing: how to string a pole, tie lures on, and casting at the nature center. That evening you will get a chance to put your new fishing skills to the test! Location chosen based on fishing conditions. Fishing poles are provided or you can use your own. All fish caught will be catch and release.

Space Explorers • $15 • Select one session:
Session 1: Wednesday, June 18; 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Session 2: Tuesday, August 12; 4:00-6:00 p.m. – FULL, Waitlist available
Investigate the stars and planets up close in our inflatable planetarium. These space explorers will learn telescope basics and will get to show their space knowledge with fun hands-on activities.

Radical Raptors • $55 – FULL, Waitlist available
Monday, June 23; 9:30-11:00 a.m.: Hawk talk & games
Monday, June 23; 8:30-10:00 p.m.: Owl Prowl for participants & family
Tuesday, June 24; 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.: Day trip to Wabasha
Discover the raptors of Minnesota here at the Nature Center and the National Eagle Center in Wabasha! We’ll also take a hike in the bluffs of Whitewater State Park to an overlook. Bring a lunch on June 24th.

Outdoor Survival with Derek Barkeim • $100 • Select one session:
Session 1: Monday-Thursday, June 16-19; 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Session 2: Monday-Thursday, July 7-10; 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Session 3: Monday-Thursday, July 7-10; 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Spend four days learning wilderness survival and awareness skills to equip you for your next outdoor adventure! Practice building shelters, using primitive traps, creating friction fires, identifying wild edibles and medicinal plants, and lots more.

Intro to Trout Fishing • $40
Thursday, June 5; 9:00-10:30 a.m. & Friday, June 6; 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
On the first day, Nature Center staff will teach you the basics of trout fishing; learning how to aim and cast in a smaller area and learning how to use lures instead of bait. On the second day you will be traveling to Forestville State Park and Lanesboro to fish. Fishing poles are provided or you can bring your own. All fish caught will be catch and release. Tackle box and a few lures of your own to take home are included. Bring a lunch for Friday.

Galactic Travelers • $15 • Tuesday, July 1; 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Traverse outer space to see planets, stars, and galaxies up close in our inflatable planetarium. Your astronaut in training will get to see how a telescope works and show their space knowledge with fun space activities.

Canoeing & Exploring the Blufflands • $120
Wednesday, July 23; 9:00-10:30 a.m.: Canoe practice
Thursday, July 24; 8:00 a.m.: Depart the Nature Center
Explore Mystery Cave and Forestville State Park; then travel to Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center for group challenges, a high ropes course, dinner, campfire time, s’mores, and a hike. Please bring a lunch on July 24.
Friday, July 25: Return to the Nature Center by 3:00 p.m.
Breakfast at Eagle Bluff before canoeing part of the Root River. Fee includes lodging, admission, canoe equipment, high ropes course, and three meals (dinner July 25, breakfast and lunch July 26). Full Scholarships are available for this class.

Intro to Camping • $45 • Friday-Saturday, June 20-21; 5:00 p.m.-8:30 a.m.
Take your backyard “camping” to the next level and sleep in the wilderness at the Nature Center. Learn how to put up your own tent (provided by us), cook supper, and start a fire. We will also go on a hike at the Nature Center, so bring your hiking shoes. Don’t worry, a camping trip isn’t a camping trip without roasting marshmallows. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Supper and breakfast are provided.

Shell Rock River Canoe & Fossil Hunting Trip • $45
Tuesday, August 12; 9:00-11:30 a.m.: Canoe Practice & Fossil Class
Wednesday, August 13; 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Canoe trip & Fossil Hunting
Enjoy canoeing the Shell Rock River, then visit the Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve in Rockford, Iowa to hunt for fossils to keep! Bring a lunch for August 13th.

Adventures with Nature • $3 per person
Saturday, June 28; 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Join one of our naturalist on a hike at the nature center as we bring along a bag full of activities that you can do with your children. Enjoy multiple trail activities and games, while also learning about nature.

Wolf “ing” Around • $3 per person
Saturday, July 12; 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Become a part of the wolf pack. Learn what it takes to be the leader of the pack and what all wolves need to survive.

Adult Nature Photography with Morgan Converse • $20
Saturday, June 14; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
In this class you’ll learn the basics of nature photography while exploring the Nature Center. Cameras will be provided or use your own. Morgan can also teach you the basics of shooting high quality photos by changing your settings on your smartphone.

How to DIY Senior Photos with Morgan Converse • $5
Saturday, August 16; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
In this class you’ll learn some tips and tricks for having your own senior photo shoot. Learn about lighting, posing, and settings for your camera or phone to produce some beautiful portrait photos.