Maplewood Nature Center ADULT & FAMILY NATURE PROGRAMS June – August 2017 2659 East Seventh Street Maplewood, MN 55119 651.249.2170
www.maplewoodmn.gov We are also on Facebook & Twitter. COME AND EXPLORE!
Grounds and trails: Open daily, dawn to dusk. Visitor Center: Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30-4:30 The Visitor Center will be closed: Tuesday, July 4
Our mission is to enhance awareness and understanding of land, water and wildlife resources; to empower the community to become stewards of the environment
HOW TO REGISTER FOR A NATURE CENTER PROGRAM: Register online for paid or free programs www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com then click on the Register Online-Go! button. You can also register in person, phone, 651-249-2170, or mail with credit card, cash or check by the date indicated. Program sizes are limited, register early. No need to register for Drop-in programs. Most programs are held at the Maplewood Nature Center unless otherwise noted in program description.
JUNE WATERFEST, “MAKE WAVES” (ALL AGES) AT LAKE PHALEN PAVILION SATURDAY JUNE 3, 11:00AM-4:00PM Canoe rides, fishing lessons, swimming, bouncy castle, games, school exhibits, live animals, music and dance performances, fair food trucks, fishing contest, and so much more! Enjoy the day on the lake with indoor and outdoor activities. Visit the Nature Center booth at this fun festival! www.rwmwd.org/waterfest Free.
FROG MOON HIKE (ADULTS & CHILDREN AGES 7+ WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 7TH ST. E., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119 FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 7:30PM–9:30PM Join us for an evening hike to listen to frogs and watch the full moon rise! We will learn local frog species and their calls, and then hike to try out our new identification skills. Cool off after with some cold lemonade! Fee: $5 per person. Register online by Tuesday, June 6 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-249-2170
NATIVE PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS (ADULTS & CHILDREN AGES 10+ WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 7TH ST. E., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119 SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 10:00AM-11:30AM Learn how to start gardening with native plants to provide native bees and butterflies with what they need to thrive. Tour the gardens at the Nature Center to identify what’s up and get ideas for your pollinator garden. Watch a planting demonstration, then take home twelve native pollinator plants to get your garden growing. FEE: Prepay $20/ person. Fee includes a starter set of 4 different native plants, 12 plants total. Register online by Wednesday, June 7th at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651249-2170
NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2:00PM-3:00PM AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E 7TH ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119. It’s FUN to volunteer at the Nature Center and Neighborhood Preserves! Come find out about all the cool opportunities available, and learn what it takes to be a regular volunteer such as… Trail guide, Program Aide, Receptionist Youth & family opportunities Citizen Science: open space monitor, frog monitor, big tree registry Gardener: native gardens and at the community vegetable garden Adult volunteers must pass a background check. Call (651) 249-2173 to sign up for an orientation time, or to get more information about volunteering.
TURTLE PICNIC (FOR ALL AGES) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 7TH ST. E., MAPLEWOOD, MN THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 10:30AM -12:30PM Hey, school’s out! Kick off summer vacation at our Turtle Picnic! Bring the kids over to meet some cool live turtles native to Minnesota habitats. Interact with snapping turtles, painted turtles and more! Turtles brought to you by Emily of Snake Discovery. Pretend to be a turtle and make a turtle craft. (Bring an unmatched sock to make a turtle puppet). Bring your own picnic for playtime in the nature play yard. Enjoy DQ’s Turtle ice cream cake for desert!! Pre-pay $5/person. This is a popular one, register early! Register online by Wednesday, June 14 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-249-2170
FANTASTIC FISH (FOR ALL AGES, CHILDREN ACCOMPANIED BY ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 7TH ST. E., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119 SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 10:00AM–11:30AM
Have some Father’s Day Family Fun!
Join the naturalist on the boardwalk to catch, identify and release minnows and other pond minibeasts. Then help Dad print his own Fish T-shirt. Paint and fish to print provided – bring a white or light colored pre washed T- shirt from home.
Free! Register online by Wednesday, June 14 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnlineGo button, or call 651-249-2170 Co-sponsored by Friends Maplewood Nature
JUNIOR VOLUNTEERS! FOR AGES 10 – 14 (AGES 14-15 MAY APPLY TO BE ASSISTANT LEADERS.) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E 7TH ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119. DATES: WEDNESDAYS, JUNE 21, 28, JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 2 TIME: 9:30AM–11:15AM Pre-register online, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651249-2170. Fill out waiver and return to nature center by Tuesday, June 20, in order to participate. Discover nature, seek new discoveries, and take some action! Make new friends and learn outdoor skills- cook with a solar oven, identify poisonous and edible plants, care for live animals and more! Assist the naturalist with on-going land management projects at the nature center and nearby city-owned nature preserves. Use hand tools to clear trails, plant and maintain wildflowers, and more! Fee: $25 (5 scholarships available please inquire) Co-sponsored by Friends of Maplewood Nature.
FISH CREEK TRAIL GRAND OPENING!
THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 6:30 – 8:30 PM; (Date has been changed from June 21) RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY: 7:00 PM RAINDATE: (CHECK CITY WEBSITE FOR WEATHER UPDATES OR CALL THE NATURE CENTER) AT: FISH CREEK- HENRY LANE AND CARVER AVE. PARALLEL PARK ALONG HENRY LANE. It’s Summer Solstice-why not join us to celebrate the brand new walking trail through the Fish Creek uplands? Scenic views of rolling hills filled with new prairie wildflowers and grasses will amaze and delight. * On the way up, try your hand at identifying some pollinators and the wildflowers they depend on, catch and release some fascinating insects! * At the top, meet some of the people involved in creating this new site; take your picture with Ella the Bee. * Enjoy some tastes of fruit and ice cream snacks (Thank goodness for BEES!). * Explore and discover a prairie remnant and restoration; interesting bur oak research project; and bee monitoring transects. Kids can win a door prize for taking the colorful Fish Creek Habitat/History Bingo! * Little ones can make and take a simple butterfly kite; and more! There’s something for everyone, so see you there! FREE! Fish Creek natural area partners are Great River Greening, Xerces Society, Ramsey County, Friends of Maplewood Nature
JULY FIREFLY MAGIC NIGHT HIKE (FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-10 WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E 7TH ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119. THURSDAY JULY 6, 8:30PM–10:00PM Early registration recommended. Fireflies are magical bugs with a built-in night light. Learn how and why they light up, and take a hike in search of them. Listen to a firefly story and make your own glow-in-the-dark firefly to take home. Prepay $5/child. Register online by Monday, July 3 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-249-2170
A SPLASH OF WATERCOLOR: PAINTING POLLINATORS AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 7TH ST. E., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119 Co-sponsored by Friends of Maplewood Nature
NATIVE BUTTERFLIES IN WATERCOLOR (FOR ADULTS, AND CHILDREN AGES 14+) SATURDAY JULY 8, 8:30AM-11:30AM Take watercolors outdoors with natural science artist and illustrator, Vera Ming Wong! Explore and use portable watercolor equipment, materials and techniques that can get you outdoors to observe and enjoy nature close-up! Create a watercolor illustration of a native butterfly pollinating one of its host plants. We'll work from butterfly specimens in the collection of Maplewood Nature Center, as well as plants around the Nature Center. Prepay by Thursday, July 6.
NATIVE BEES IN WATERCOLOR (FOR ADULTS, AND CHILDREN AGES 14+) SATURDAY, JULY 15, 8:30AM-11:30AM Take watercolors outdoors with natural science artist and illustrator, Vera Ming Wong! Explore and use portable watercolor equipment, materials and techniques that can get you outdoors to observe and enjoy nature close-up! Take a closer look at the native bees that keep our ecosystem functioning! Create a watercolor illustration of a native bee pollinating a native plant. We'll work from bee specimens in the collection of Maplewood Nature Center, as well as plants around the Nature Center. Prepay by Wednesday, July 12. Fee: $25/person per session. Includes all materials: watercolor set (mini-pocket palette), paper, and travel brush to take home. Register online at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-249-2170.
BAT SURVEY (FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN AGES 7+ WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E 7TH ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119. THURSDAY, JULY 13, 8:30PM –10:00PM Hike the trails at twilight to listen for bat clicks and chirps with our electronic echo-locator. Help identify and record species flying over the nature center pond. What do bats eat? Where do bats live? Examine a bat house and receive free bat house plans. Prepay $4/person. Register online by Tuesday, July 11 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-249-2170
GARDEN TOUR - NATIVE PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS! (FOR ADULTS) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E 7TH ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119. TUESDAY, JULY 18, 7:00PM-8:00PM Tour the nature center butterfly and rain gardens to see the colorful flowers. Learn how to attract butterflies to your yard by planting native plants with nourishing leaves for caterpillars and flower nectar for adults. Learn which flowers attract bees and hummingbirds to design for specific pollinators. Take home a seed packet of native flowers to sow. Fee: $5/person. Register online by Monday, July 17 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-249-2170.
MEET THE ANIMALS (FOR ALL AGES) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E 7TH ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119. SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2:00PM-3:00PM Meet a snake, salamander, and toad, to learn more about Minnesota’s wild animals and where they live in the summer. You can share your stories about real wild animal encounters, if you choose! Make a slithering craft, and have a hoppy good time! Free. Drop-in program - limited to first 40 people.
BUILD A BAT HOUSE (FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN AGES 7+ WITH ADULT, PERFECT FOR SCOUT GROUPS!) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E 7TH ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119. SATURDAY, JULY 29, 10:00AM–11:30AM Attention scout leaders, grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts! Here’s something fun to do with your kids during summer vacation. Join us to learn how to build a bat nursery with Elpis Enterprises, using reclaimed cedar fencing! Save some cash and build your own bat house that follows Bat Conservation International’s bat house guidelines! Your building- or pole-mounted bat nursery may help nature’s threatened bug-zappers! Prepay $25/bat house. Register online by Monday, July 24 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-249-2170
AUGUST
DAZZLING DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES! (FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-8, WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E 7TH ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 10:00AM-11:00AM Dazzling colors and zippy flights – Do YOU have what it takes? Catch and release dragonflies and damselflies in the gardens and prairie. Use nets and magnifying lenses to help you catch and observe these amazing creatures. FREE! Drop-in Program.
TASTY TREATS FROM THE BEES (FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-10, WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E 7TH ST., MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12TH; 10:00AM-11:30AM Register online, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-2492170. Taste different kinds of honey, and sample food pollinated by bees such as blueberries and raspberries! Learn about different kinds of bees and why they are important. We’ll do an easy and fun bee-count to help the bees with the Minnesota Bee Atlas project at iNaturalist.org that you can also do later in your own backyard or nearby park. Prepay $5/person. Register online by Thursday, August 10 at www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-249-2170
BUMBLE BEE SAFARI AT FISH CREEK (Adults and Families with kids ages 5 +) AT FISH CREEK PRESERVE Saturday, August 19; 12:30 – 2:30 PM Learn about and befriend bumble bees! Assist bee experts in surveying bumblebees and their favorite prairie flowers at Fish Creek Preserve. Bring your phone or other digital device and learn how to enter your bee photo on Bumble Bee Watch. Free. Pre-register online, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com and click on the RegisterOnline-Go button, or call 651-249-2170, by August 16. Co-sponsored by Friends of Maplewood Nature
MONARCHS IN THE PRAIRIE (ALL AGES) AT GLADSTONE SAVANNAH, PARK ALONG FRISBIE, MEET AT FRISBIE ENTRANCE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1:00PM-3:00PM Mad about Monarchs? Find out why and how monarchs are tagged. Learn about their magnificent migration. See monarchs in their life cycle stages. Take home some native seed packets to sow that will help these beautiful butterflies survive. Free. Register online by Thursday, August 24. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Maplewood Natur
NATURE CENTER WILD BIRTHDAY PARTIES! Live Animal Birthday parties are available for kids ages 4 & up. Reserve the party room for treats; then visit with a snake, toad or salamander! Outdoor hikes & party favors included! Fee: $75.00 Call 651.249.2170 for additional or go to: www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com & click on Programs & Events/Birthdays
FRIENDS OF MAPLEWOOD NATURE The Friends is a non-profit organization supporting the mission of Maplewood Nature Center & Neighborhood Preserves. Check out the Friends on the web: http://www.maplewoodmn.gov/981/FriendsGroup or https://friendsofmaplewoodnature.wordpress.com/ Did You Know-- that you can directly support Maplewood Nature Center and Neighborhood Preserve special programs and projects by donating online? The Friends of Maplewood Nature is a 501 C3 non-profit group that promotes awareness of and fundraises for the nature center and preserves. It’s simple and easy- simply go to the Friends website https://friendsofmaplewoodnature.wordpress.com and click on “donate”. This will take you to the GIVEMN.org website where you will have several options for amounts. You can schedule your giving as early as November 1. You may also mail in a donation by sending a check written out to the Friends to the Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119. Friends have supported the nature center by co-sponsoring speakers for programs, such as live raptors for the Outstanding Owls event, special events such as the Outdoor Expo, exhibits such as the Solar Display and the Energy Bike; the new entrance sign, items for the play yard, and much more.