July
Sola Fide Observatory – Open House
Saturday, July 12; 9:30 – 11:00 pm
Free Open House; Weather Dependent
Join us under the stars at Sola Fide Observatory, located off-property south of town. Enjoy the stars, moon, or galaxies from the view of our telescopes. More information can be found HERE.
This event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled due to high cloud cover or other factors. Please check our social media for updates on the day of the event.
Dammen Family Fun Day
Saturday, July 19; 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Bring your family and enjoy the Dammen Family Fun Day with a variety of games, food trucks, face painting, a bounce house and dunk tank, canoes, kayaks, and our planetarium at this one event! This is a fundraiser for our Summer Dammen Mentorship Program, with a suggested a donation of $20 or more per family for this event. Learn more HERE.
Duck Race Down Dobbins
Saturday, July 19; 1:00 pm
Join in on our 5th annual duck race down Dobbins, starting on the stepping stone bridge and ending at the culvert bridge. Sponsor as many ducks as you want as they race their way down Dobbins Creek. $5 for 1 duck or $20 for 5 ducks. Learn more HERE.
Volunteer Work Party
Saturday, July 26; 10:00-11:30 am
One Saturday a month, join our team for opportunities to better the nature center through hard work!
This work party will focus on removing invasive plants around the nature center. All are welcome, with no registration in advanced required!
Free Nature Play Activities
Saturday, July 26; 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, and animal encounters.
There will not be a 1 pm program on this date.
Sola Fide Observatory – Open House
Saturday, July 26; 9:30 – 11:00 pm
Free Open House; Weather Dependent
Join us under the stars at Sola Fide Observatory, located off-property south of town. Enjoy the stars, moon, or galaxies from the view of our telescopes. More information can be found HERE.
This event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled due to high cloud cover or other factors. Please check our social media for updates on the day of the event.
Senior Special – David Weiss, The Art of Bonsai
Thursday, July 31; Interpretive Center Classroom; Free
Senior Special: 10:00-11:00 am
Learn the history of bonsai and how this growing technique leads to beautiful miniature trees through meticulous care and planning that can be kept up for hundreds of years.
Learn more about our Senior Specials HERE.
Free Nature Play Activities
Thursday, July 31; 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, and animal encounters.
There will not be a 1 pm program on this date.
August
Naturalist Led Hike
Saturday, August 2; 1:00 – 2:00 pm; Free
Meet in the Interpretive Center lobby for a free naturalist led hike. A naturalist will give you a guided tour of one or more of our trails and chat with you about what is currently happening in nature, such as what flowers are blooming or what animals are nesting. This hike is mostly on flat, unpaved trails. The hike will be about a mile and a half or less and last about an hour.
Sola Fide Observatory – Open House
Saturday, August 2; 9:30 – 11:00 pm
Free Open House; Weather Dependent
Join us under the stars at Sola Fide Observatory, located off-property south of town. Enjoy the stars, moon, or galaxies from the view of our telescopes. More information can be found HERE.
This event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled due to high cloud cover or other factors. Please check our social media for updates on the day of the event.
Senior Special – Hydroponic Farming
Thursday, August 7; Interpretive Center Classroom; Free
Senior Special: 10:00-11:00 am
Is it even possible to grow plants without soil? Come learn the weird ways we can grow things with nature center naturalist, Kelly! Get a glimpse at her previous experience growing different crops from around the globe hydroponically at Walt Disney World.
Learn more about our Senior Specials HERE.
Nature Play Program – Digging Deep, Underground Animals
Thursday, August 7; Interpretive Center Classroom; Free
Nature Play Program: 1:00 pm
Uncover and explore the fascinating lives of burrowing animals and their underground homes. From tunneling pocket gophers to secretive badgers, discover how these creatures shape their ecosystems and survive beneath our feet.
Learn more about our Nature Plays HERE.
Free Nature Play Activities
Thursday, August 7; 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, and animal encounters.
Cedar River Astronomy Club Meeting
Friday, August 8; 8:00 – 9:00 pm
The Cedar River Astronomy Club is open to all ages, skill, and interest levels, and is free to join. All meetings start at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and then move to the Sola Fide Observatory if the sky is clear for a members-only night sky viewing.
More information can be found HERE.
September
American Red Cross Blood Drive
Friday, September 5; 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sign-up to donate blood at the Ruby Rupner Auditorium. Register online through the American Red Cross Blood Drive.