Maplewood Nature Center

Maplewood Nature Center ADULT & FAMILY NATURE PROGRAMS

May-August 2018 Look inside for more nature programs APRIL EDGERTON COMMUNITY GARDEN OPEN HOUSE AT EDGERTON COMMUNITY GARDEN: CORNER OF ROSELAWN & EDGERTON, NORTH OF EDGERTON ELEMENTARY FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 4:30PM-6:30PM Drop-in and take a tour the Edgerton Community Garden. Poor weather back-up location inside Edgerton School Gym. Meet other garden enthusiasts, and get gardening information from a Master Gardener.

SERVICE PROJECT DAY FOR GROUPS& INDIVIDUALS (ADULTS, & CHILDREN AGES 8+ W/ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 10:00AM–2:00PM Schedule for a community service project with your group, family, or on your own at Maplewood Nature Center! Help with maintaining trails, nature play yard, gardens & litter pickup. Call the nature center to schedule a time and task: 651-249-2170.

FREE!

MAY THE ART OF CHICKEN KEEPING AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, TUESDAY, MAY 1, 6:30PM – 8:00PM Join Instructor Les Larson as he shares tips and tricks for keeping chickens starting with his unique, energy efficient solar coop design. Learn how to make caring for chickens cheap, carefree, enjoyable and complaint-free. Program for those considering raising chickens as well as those who are already raising chickens. Les will be available for a half-hour after class to take questions.

Free! Register by Sunday, April 29.

(Event registration #16033)

TREES FOR THE BEES Girl Scout Arbor Day Celebration (Girl scouts, ages 11-13, w/adult) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1:00PM-4:00PM Grades 6-8: Celebrate Arbor Day at the Maplewood Nature Center! Discover how trees & pollinators depend on each other and how to protect them. Make fun tree art, and learn about food products that come from trees, including maple syrup and fruits. Dress for the weather and plan on both inside and outside activities. Tree Badge included. Fee: $15/child with Adult) Register at (girlscoutsrv.org/events/), or call 800-845-0747. iNATURALIST TRAINING (ADULTS, AND CHILDREN 10+/ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER FRIDAY, MAY 11, 9:00AM–10:30AM Learn to Track Phenology with iNaturalist. We’ll meet one Friday every month March-May. We will walk and observe plants and wildlife happenings on the trails, and then record what we see back at the nature center. Option to bring your own smartphone or tablet (ideally download the iNaturalist app ahead of time).

If rainy, program will be cancelled.

Free! Register by Thursday, May 10.

(Event registration #15929) WEED ‘EM & REAP AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER FRIDAY, MAY 18, 10:00AM-11:30AM Help the naturalist weed, and learn during this fun work event! Experienced and new gardeners alike are invited to dig in to the native plant gardens at the Maplewood Nature Center with the Naturalist.

By the time you leave, you will be able to identify at least four native plants and four weeds. We will be transplanting plants, so there may be a chance to take some divisions home.

Free! Pre-register by Thursday, May 17.

(Event registration #16034)

MOTHERS DAY WILDLIFE STROLL (FOR ALL AGES, CHILDREN, WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER SATURDAY, May 12, 1:00PM-2:30PM Take your Mom and/or Grandma for a Nature Walk! Learn about Wildlife Moms on the pond as you explore on the trails with the Naturalist. Create a special Mother’s Day card. Dads are welcome too! If it is too rainy to walk the trails, we will still show a spring pond slideshow, and you can explore the exhibit room.

Prepay, $5/person by Thursday, May 10.

(Event registration #16035) CREATING EDIBLE LANDSCAPES (FOR ADULTS) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER SATURDAY, MAY 19, 10:00AM-11:30AM Learn about incorporating edible plants into your landscape from beautiful accents of red peppers and purple kale, to fruit tree "food forests" full of native fruits and flowers, to gorgeously designed yards that feed the people, pollinators, and the planet. Dina Kountoupes is the owner of Harvest Moon Edible Landscapes, a local business that helps individuals, businesses, schools, and community organizations transform urban landscapes into edible abundance.

Prepay $5/person by Thursday, May 17.

(Event registration #16038) PEER INTO THE POND FAMILY (CHILDREN 5+ WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2:00PM-3:15PM Catch, identify and release snails, water bugs and minnows from our 600 foot floating boardwalk.

View them live under our TV video cam. Is our pond healthy? Find out the answer.

FREE! Reregister by May 25.

(Event registration #16039)

To register for a nature center program go to - www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com & click RegisterOnline-Go button or call 651-249-2170.

JUNE

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST (FOR CHILDREN AGES 8-12) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13 1:00PM-3:00PM Do YOU have what it takes to survive? Learn survival skills about plant identification, shelter building, and fire starting. Then put your knowledge to the test! Wear sturdy, close toed shoes.

Drop off program. Parents must sign a waiver.

Prepay $5/person by Monday, June 11.

(Event registration #16046)

JUNIOR VOLUNTEERS! FOR AGES 10 – 14 (AGES 14-15 MAY APPLY TO BE ASSISTANT LEADERS) WATERFEST AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER “FOLLOW THE FLOW” DATES: WEDNESDAYS, JUNE 20, 27, JULY (ALL AGES) 11, 18, 25, AUG 1 AT LAKE PHALEN PAVILION TIME: 9:30AM–11:15AM SATURDAY JUNE 2, 11:00AM-4:00PM Fill out waiver and return to the nature center by Canoe rides, fishing lessons, swimming, bouncy Tuesday, June 19, in order to participate castle, games, school exhibits, live animals, Discover nature, seek new discoveries, and take music and dance performances, fair food trucks, some action! Make new friends and learn fishing contest, and so much more! Enjoy the outdoor skills- cook with a solar oven, identify day on the lake with indoor and outdoor poisonous and edible plants, care for live activities. Visit the Nature Center booth at this WEED ‘EM & REAP animals and more! Assist the naturalist with fun festival!

(ADULTS) on-going land management projects at the www.rwmwd.org/get-involved/waterfest/.

AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER nature center and nearby city-owned nature Free. No need to register.

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 10-11:30AM preserves. Use hand tools to clear trails, plant Help the naturalist weed, and learn during this NATIVE PLANTS and maintain wildflowers, and more! Long pants FOR POLLINATORS fun work event! Experienced and new gardeners and closed toed shoes required.

(ADULTS) alike are invited to dig in to the native plant Co-sponsored by Friends of Maplewood Nature.

AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER gardens at the Maplewood Nature Center with Fee: $25 (5 scholarships available please call THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 700PM-8:30PM the Naturalist. By the time you leave, you will be 651-249-2170 to inquire)..

Learn how to start gardening with native plants to able to identify at least four native plants and four (Event registration #16051) provide native bees and butterflies with what weeds. We will be transplanting plants, so there they need to thrive. Tour the gardens at the may be a chance to take some divisions home.

FROG MOON HIKE Nature Center to identify what’s up and get ideas Free! Pre-register by Thursday, May June 14. (ADULTS & CHILDREN AGES 7+ WITH for your pollinator garden. Watch a planting (Event registration #16047) ADULT) demonstration, then take home twelve native AT FISH CREEK PRESERVE, 1505 HENRY TERRIFIC TURTLES pollinator plants to get your garden growing.

LANE, MAPLEWOOD 55119 (FOR ALL AGES) Prepay $25/ person by Monday, June 4.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 8:00PM–9:30PM AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER (Event registration #16048) Join us for an evening hike to listen to frogs and SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 10:00AM -11:30AM watch the full moon rise! We will learn local frog PHENOLOGY WALK Hey, school’s out! Bring the kids over to meet species and their calls, and then hike to try out (ADULTS, AND CHILDREN 10+/WITH ADULT) some cool live turtles native to Minnesota our new identification skills.

AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER habitats. Interact with snapping turtles, painted Prepay $5/person by Monday, June 25.

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 9:00AM–10:30AM turtles and more! Turtles brought to you by Emily (Event registration #16052) Help the Nature Center study and record wildlife of Snake Discovery. Pretend to be a turtle and observations during the current season. Option make a turtle craft. Join the naturalist to look for WILDERNESS WISDOM to bring your own camera, smartphone or tablet wild turtles from our boardwalk!

(FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN AGES 7+, WITH and download the iNaturalist app ahead of time. Pre-pay $5/person by Thursday, June 14 ADULT) If rainy, program will be cancelled.

(Event registration #16050) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER Free! Register by June 7.

SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 10:00AM-11:30AM (Event registration #16043) Join the naturalist to discover what’s safe and Nature what to watch out for on your summer camping Center WILD MAKING TWINE trips. Make a poison ivy rubbing; learn how to Birthday Parties! identify stinging nettle and its herbal antidote, FROM BASSWOOD (ALL AGES) and whether wild berries are safe to eat. Learn AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER  Live Animal Birthday parties are tips and tricks for preventing ticks and mosquito SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 10:00AM–11:30AM available for kids ages 4 & up. bites; get your own “ticker” tape and tick Learn how to create twine and rope from the remover.  Reserve the party room for treats, inner bark of the basswood tree. Watch a Prepay $5/family by Thurs, June 28. then visit with a snake, toad, or demonstration of how to collect and harvest the (Event registration #16053) salamander! bark, then make enough twine for a small project  Outdoor hikes & party favors to take home. Use a pump drill to drill holes in included! shells for your creation. Some materials Fee: $80.00 (up to 12 children) provided. Bring shells from home or use up to 4 from the nature center.

Call 651.249.2170 for additional Prepay $5/person by Wed June 6. information or go to: (Event registration #16049)

www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com & click on Programs & Events/Birthdays

Programs are held at Maplewood Nature Center unless indicated otherwise.

JULY FIREFLY MAGIC NIGHT HIKE (FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-10 WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER THURSDAY JULY 12, 8:30PM–10:00PM 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 by Tuesday, July 10.

(Event registration #16054)

MEET THE ANIMALS (FOR ALL AGES) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER SATURDAY, JULY 28, 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. Register by Friday, July 27.

(Event registration #16058)

PHENOLOGY WALK (ADULTS, & CHILDREN 10+ WITH ADULT) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER FRIDAY, August 10, 9:00AM–10:30AM Help the Nature Center study and record wildlife observations during the current season. Option to bring your own camera, smartphone or tablet and download the iNaturalist app ahead of time.

If rainy, program will be cancelled.

Free! Register by August 9.

(Event registration #16045)

SUPER SPIDERS (AGES 4-10, WITH ADULT, 11+) AUGUST AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER ART HIKING STICK AND HIKE SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 10:00AM – 11:30AM (FOR AGES 5+ WITH ADULT) A TRIP THROUGH TIME: Spiders are nature’s bug zappers! Meet live CELEBRATE AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER GLADSTONE SAVANNA spiders and learn about webs and spider silk.

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 10:00AM-11:30AM Create a personalized, artsy hiking stick, then try AT GLADSTONE SAVANNA, SW CORNER OF Put together a spider identification book to take FROST AND ENGLISH home. Hike to look for orb, funnel, jumping and it out on a hike around the pond!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 6:00-7:30PM crab spiders. Wear shoes suitable for hiking.

Prepay $5/hiking stick by Thursday, July 12.

What do a bumblebee and the St. Paul and Prepay $5/child Thursday, August 9.

(Event registration #16055) Duluth Railroad have in common? Gladstone (Event registration #16061) Savanna! Once the site of railroad repair shops, PHENOLOGY WALK MAGNIFICENT MONARCHS the savanna is now one of Maplewood’s most (ADULTS & CHILDREN 10+ WITH ADULT) (FOR ALL AGES) unique preserves.

AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER FRIDAY, JULY 20, 9:00AM–10:30AM  Fun for families and all: Ribbon cutting and AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER Help the Nature Center study and record wildlife treats! Scavenger hunt along the paved trail SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1:00PM-2:30PM observations during the current season. Option loop! Channel your inner historian! Try your Love Monarchs, and want to work to try to protect them? Find out why and how monarchs to bring your own camera, smartphone or tablet hand at sweep netting for insects in the are tagged. Learn about their magnificent and download the iNaturalist app ahead of time. prairie! Hike the trails. And More!

If rainy, program will be cancelled.

Free! Street parking on Frost Avenue, west of migration. See monarchs in their life cycle stages. Make a monarch seed bomb for native Free! Register by July 19 English Street or in parking lot at Flicek Park. seed packets to sow that will help these beautiful (Event registration #16044) Sponsored by the City of Maplewood and butterflies survive.

Maplewood Area Historical Society.

Prepay $5/person Thursday, August 16.

TASTY TREATS FROM THE BEES (Event registration #16062) DAZZLING DRAGONFLIES (FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-10, WITH ADULT) AND DAMSELFLIES! S’MORE FUN IN THE SUN AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER (FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-8, WITH ADULT) (FOR CHILDREN AGES 8+, WITH ADULT) SATURDAY, JULY 21, 10:00AM-11:30AM AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER Taste different kinds of honey, and sample food SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 10:00AM-11:00AM pollinated by bees such as blueberries and Dazzling colors and zippy flights – Do YOU have SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1:00PM-3:00PM raspberries! Learn about different kinds of bees what it takes? Catch and release dragonflies and Build solar ovens to cook tasty treats, power fans and why they are important. We’ll do an easy damselflies in the gardens and prairie. Use nets with real solar cells, meet an animal that uses the sun to power its movement, go on a hike and fun bee-count to help the bees with the and magnifying lenses to help you catch and around the pond, and finish up with fun activities Minnesota Bee Atlas project at iNaturalist.org observe these amazing creatures. in the nature play yard! We’ll learn a lot about that you can also do later in your own backyard FREE! Register online by Friday, Aug 3. how nature and people use the sun to survive. or nearby park.

(Event registration #16060) Prepay $4/ person by Thursday August 23.

Prepay $5/person by Thursday, July 19 (Event registration #16057) (Event registration #16063) FAMILY NATURE PACKS AVAILABLE Check out a nature backpack at the front desk.

These packs include: *Trail map & Bingo Hike sheet. *Binoculars & Hand lenses *Containers for pond study *Trail/wildlife guides Have Fun Exploring Nature!

Our mission is to enhance awareness and understanding of land, water and wildlife resources; to empower the community to become stewards of the environment.

May-August 2018

Programs are located at Fish Creek Preserve, 1505 Henry Lane, Maplewood 55119, unless indicated otherwise.

INVASIVE PLANT BLITZ AT FISH CREEK (ADULTS)

SATURDAY, MAY 12 10:00AM–12:30PM Help protect our newest preserve by searching for and marking invasive plants for removal! Learn Ramsey County CWMA early detection species and use the EDDMapS App on your smart phone to report! Species include wild parsnip, Oriental bittersweet, narrow-leaf bittercress, common tansy and Japanese hedge parsley. Parsnip may cause burns; long pants, closed-toe footwear, tall socks, gloves and a long sleeved shirt are highly recommended. Free! Register online by Wednesday, May 9 (Event registration #16036)

BLOOMS OF FISH CREEK (FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN AGES 10+ WITH ADULT)

AT FISH CREEK, MEET AT OAKWOOD CHURCH PARKING LOT 1388 POINT DOUGLAS RD S, SAINT PAUL, MN 55119 FRIDAY, MAY 18, 6:30PM-7:45PM Walk the secret and marvelous canyon of Fish Creek to search for woodland wildflowers. Bring hiking sticks, or borrow from the nature center. The trail is narrow and uneven, wear sturdy shoes and long pants. Free! Register online by Thursday, May 17 (Event registration #16037)

FISH CREEK BIOBLITZ FAMILY (FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN AGES 6+ WITH ADULT) FRIDAY JUNE 22, 3:00PM-5:00PM Become scientist for a day! Join experts, in partnership with Friends of Maplewood Nature and Great River Greening, for hands-on learning in the field. Learn about the importance of species diversity and how you can help protect nature. Will you see an eagle, a dragonfly, or a snake? Who knows? Anything goes! Use field guides, sweep nets, insect jars, binoculars, and clipboards to help generate a Fish Creek species list. Equipment will be available for use or feel free to bring your own. Surveys will be off trail. Long pants, closed-toe footwear, and tall socks are highly recommended. A light refreshment will be provided. Free! Register online by Friday, June 15 (Event registration #16040) FROG MOON HIKE AT FISH CREEK (ADULTS & CHILDREN AGES 7+ WITH ADULT) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 8:00PM–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. Prepay $5/person by Monday, June 25 (Event registration #16052)

FISH CREEK BAT SURVEY (FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN AGES 7+ WITH ADULT)

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 8:30PM–10:15PM 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 preserve. Prepay $4/person by Tuesday, July 17 (Event registration #16056)

Maplewood Nature Center & Neighborhood Preserves 2659 East Seventh Street Maplewood, MN 55119 651-249-2170 www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com We are also on Facebook & Twitter.

FREE TO COME AND EXPLORE! Grounds and trails: Open daily, dawn to dusk.

Visitor Center: Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30-4:30

The nature center’s photovoltaic panels can produce up to 2.15 KWH of energy per year.

PROGRAM REGISTRATION 

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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 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.

Join Today!

Basic Membership $25/household.

The Friends of Maplewood Nature is a 501 C3 non-profit group that promotes awareness of and fundraises for the nature center and preserves. To donate go to: https://www.givemn.org/organization/FriendsOf-Maplewood-Nature-Center and click on “donate”.

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!

Check out the Friends on the web: www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or https://friendsofmaplewoodnature.wordpress.com/

SUMMER 2018 NATURE CENTER ACCESS ALERT: Local access to the nature center will be affected by the E 7th and Mayhill street reconstruction this summer and early fall.

Construction is scheduled to begin sometime in mid summer and will continue through September. New pavement, and utilities will be installed.

There should always be a lane open; and closures will be posted on our webpage. Depending on what is happening we may schedule some programs to start at different entrances throughout the park.

Please call the nature center at 651-249-2170 or e-mail info.nc@maplewoodmn.gov if you have any questions about access. Thank you for your patience during this time.

Maplewood Nature Center complies with A.D.A. requirements. Please inform us of any special needs so that we can more fully accommodate you.