July
Storytime at the Rock with Austin Public Library
Thursday, July 16th; 2:00 p.m.
Hormel Nature Center; Free
Join library staff at the Hormel Nature Center’s big rock for a nature-themed storytime in the great outdoors!
Dammen Family Fun Day
Saturday, July 18th; 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Embrace your adventurous side like Kevin did and get out with your family and enjoy the Dammen Family Fun Day. Come walk the trails with your family and try out a variety of games and challenges, B-Lo Zero Sno Cones, face painting, bounce house, dunk tank, canoes/kayaks, archery, and planetarium in this enjoyable family fun day event!
*Note: Planetarium showings are only 15 minutes starting at 1:15 – 3:15 pm.
This event is a fundraiser for our Summer Dammen Mentorship Program. Therefore; we are suggesting a donation of $20 or more per family for this event. All proceeds raised will go towards our Dammen Mentorship program at the end of the summer.
Duck Race Down Dobbins
Saturday, July 18th; 3:30 p.m.
6th annual duck race down Dobbins! Sponsor 1 duck, 5 ducks, or as many as you want as they race their way down Dobbins Creek. $5 for 1 duck or $20 for 5 ducks. We will start selling ducks 3 days before. We will sell all remaining ducks the day of at the front door. We will stop selling them a half hour before the race; 3:00 pm.
We will start at the stepping stone bridge and end at the culvert bridge. Prizes will be awarded to places 1st—5th!
All proceeds raised will go towards our Dammen Mentorship program at the end of the summer.
Nature Jam Pizza Party
Saturday, July 18; 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Free; Back of Interpretive Center
Pizza: Suggested Donation of $5 per family
What better way to spend a summer night than enjoying live music and fresh wood-fired pizza? This event will be held outside, so bring your own lawn chair! Pizza is available on a first come first served basis. Enjoy music from Dobbins Creek Boys a bluegrass band.
Discoveries with the Nature Center at Austin Public Library
Tuesday, July 21st; 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Austin Public Library; Free
Enjoy a sensory hands-on learning experience exploring textures from nature. Hormel Nature Center staff will bring natural items, including animal pelts, skulls, and a live snake to meet!
Volunteer Work Day
Saturday, July 25; 10:00 – 11:30 am
Meet in the Interpretive Center
Looking for an impactful way to help your community and nature? Join Nature Center staff for a forest restoration project removing invasive species. Wear pants, closed-toe shoes, and clothes that can get dirty. We will provide gloves. To sign up please visit our United Way webpage or call the Nature Center.
Nature Play
Saturday, July 25; 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Interpretive Center; Free
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.
Sola Fide Observatory Open House
Saturday, July 25; 9:30 – 11:00 p.m.
Free Open House; Weather Dependent
Get away from the city lights and join us under the stars at Sola Fide Observatory. Located off property south of town. Enjoy the stars, moon, or galaxies from one of our two telescopes. There is no heat in the building and you may need to wait outside.
This event is weather/cloud dependent. If there is more than 50% cloud cover, we cannot run the telescope and the event will be cancelled. Please watch our social media for updates.
Senior and Family Programs
Thursday, July 30
Senior Special: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Family Program: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Interpretive Center; Free
Senior Special: Birding Basics: Learn tools and tips on bird watching in your own backyard with intern Emma. Whether you’re new to the hobby or a seasoned birder, everyone is welcome to come join in – and make your own homemade bird feeder!
Family Program: 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.
Nature Play
Thursday, July 30; 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Interpretive Center; Free
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.
August
Storytime at the Rock with Austin Public Library
Thursday, August 6th; 2:00 p.m.
Hormel Nature Center; Free
Join library staff at the Hormel Nature Center’s big rock for a nature-themed storytime in the great outdoors!
Nature Jam Pizza Party
Friday, August 7; 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Free; Back of Interpretive Center
Pizza: Suggested Donation of $5 per family
What better way to spend a summer night than enjoying live music and fresh wood-fired pizza? This event will be held outside, so bring your own lawn chair! Pizza is available on a first come first served basis. Enjoy music from Cheap Seats a rock cover band.
Volunteer Work Day
Saturday, August 8; 10:00 – 11:30 am
Meet in the Interpretive Center
Looking for an impactful way to help your community and nature? Join Nature Center staff for a forest restoration project removing invasive species. Wear pants, closed-toe shoes, and clothes that can get dirty. We will provide gloves. To sign up please visit our United Way webpage or call the Nature Center.
Senior Special
Thursday, August 13; 10:00 – 11:00 am
Interpretive Center; Free
Rediscovered: Extinction Isn’t Always Final: Nature Center Naturalist Meredith Maloney will share the stories of several animals that we thought were lost, but were just waiting to be found. Back from the dead, re-evolved, and re-discovered: this senior special will be hard to believe!
Cedar River Astronomy Club Meeting
Friday, August 14; 8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Interpretive Center; Free
The Cedar River Astronomy Club’s mission is to connect people with interest in astronomy and give hands on experience exploring the night sky while helping with outreach at the Sola Fide Observatory.
The Cedar River Astronomy Club is open to all ages, skill, and interest levels. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice, or an expert, if you own a telescope, or just like the night sky, all are welcome!
The club is free to join.
Sola Fide Observatory Open House
Saturday, August 15; 9:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Free Open House; Weather Dependent
Get away from the city lights and join us under the stars at Sola Fide Observatory. Located off property south of town. Enjoy the stars, moon, or galaxies from one of our two telescopes. There is no heat in the building and you may need to wait outside.
This event is weather/cloud dependent. If there is more than 50% cloud cover, we cannot run the telescope and the event will be cancelled. Please watch our social media for updates.
Sola Fide Observatory Open House
Saturday, August 22; 9:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Free Open House; Weather Dependent
Get away from the city lights and join us under the stars at Sola Fide Observatory. Located off property south of town. Enjoy the stars, moon, or galaxies from one of our two telescopes. There is no heat in the building and you may need to wait outside.
This event is weather/cloud dependent. If there is more than 50% cloud cover, we cannot run the telescope and the event will be cancelled. Please watch our social media for updates.