It's game on as you enter our life-size outdoor gameboard to test your knowledge of Minnesota winter! Do you know how to survive in the cold and the snow? Find out as you choose your route along the game trails, answering questions that will reveal the best survival techniques.
This activity in entirely outdoors and takes 30-45 minutes. You will cover roughly 1/2 mile on uneven terrain.
Dress warmly to hike for 15 minutes to the historic hand-carved sandstone cave. Learn some bat basics and, with any luck, catch a glimpse of a hibernating bat. The tour is one hour long and covers approximately 1 mile. Space is limited.
Registration is required. Call Quarry Hill to reserve a spot: 507-328-3950.
Bring your sweetheart or come with friends for a candlelit evening in nature.
Follow the glow of candlelight through the woods as you walk through the Valentine themed Love in the Animal Kingdom trivia trail. Then, warm up by the fire inside the Nature Center. Enjoy an adult beverage from the gourmet hot cocoa bar, a sweet chocolate treat, and a nighttime view of Quarry Hill's animal ambassadors. Must be 21+ to attend.
This bird-intensive class will have students observing and identifying birds, live trapping birds for banding, and releasing captured birds to understand how habitat and bird adaptations are related. Data collected is submitted to the United States Geological Survey, which helps scientists understand population, longevity, and migration behaviors.
Have you ever drawn like a scientist? Discover the art of science through this interactive, live animal experience. Students will observe, measure, and scientifically draw to scale a live minnow, beetle, and snail. Paying close attention to the unique features of different bird species, students will work as a group to match a bird's beak to its food to understand how physical adaptations help an animal survive.
Students will learn animal survival strategies, learn about core and extremity body temperatures as they relate to hypothermia, take the ice bucket challenge, and experiment with insulators. Meet at Quarry Hill and dress to be outside for a portion of the class.
Join certified guide and licensed educator, Laura Lenz, and other adults for a Mindful Nature Walk in Quarry Hill Park. These walks are guided experiences designed to immerse oneself in nature.
Join certified guide and licensed K-5 educator, Laura Lenz for a Mindful Nature Walk in Quarry Hill Park. These walks are guided experiences, designed for families, to immerse oneself in nature.
Throughout the month of March, artist Cassandra Buck invites you to participate in an exciting opportunity to make art that inspires, and contribute to a public art installation at Quarry Hill Nature Center. Whether you're an experienced artist or a beginner, this is a chance to express yourself, connect with others, and leave a lasting mark on the community.
Throughout the month of March, artist Cassandra Buck invites you to participate in an exciting opportunity to make art that inspires, and contribute to a public art installation at Quarry Hill Nature Center. Whether you're an experienced artist or a beginner, this is a chance to express yourself, connect with others, and leave a lasting mark on the community.
Throughout the month of March, artist Cassandra Buck invites you to participate in an exciting opportunity to make art that inspires, and contribute to a public art installation at Quarry Hill Nature Center. Whether you're an experienced artist or a beginner, this is a chance to express yourself, connect with others, and leave a lasting mark on the community.
Join us for an exciting hands-on experience where you’ll learn how maple syrup is made! In this interactive program, we’ll take you through the entire process—from tapping the trees to collecting sap and boiling it down to golden syrup. You’ll head outside to see and participate in each step, gaining a deeper understanding of this sweet tradition. To top it all off, you’ll taste nature’s purest sugar—fresh maple syrup straight from the source! Don’t miss out on this fun and flavorful adventure!
Space is limited; reservations are recommended.
No homework required during this two-day mini camp for grades K-5. Spend your days off enjoying some good-natured fun with a Quarry Hill naturalist discovering the many signs of spring emerging in the park. Explorers and investigators - read on to see which camp is designed especially for your age group.
No homework required during this two-day mini camp for grades K-5. Spend your days off enjoying some good-natured fun with a Quarry Hill naturalist discovering the many signs of spring emerging in the park. Explorers and investigators - read on to see which camp is designed especially for your age group.
No homework required during this two-day mini camp for grades K-5. Spend your days off enjoying some good-natured fun with a Quarry Hill naturalist discovering the many signs of spring emerging in the park. Explorers and investigators - read on to see which camp is designed especially for your age group.
Flock to Quarry Hill and experience birds up close while taking part in the Nature Center's bird banding program. Learn why birds are banded and how bird banding helps with conservation. Then get up close when you learn how to trap, handle, and release wild birds safely! The data gathered from these birds will be submitted to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory.
Enrollment is limited. Reservations are recommended.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown-up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn, and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
March Topic:How Egg-citing, it’s spring!
Get ready to hatch some fun as we investigate what babies are cracking free from their eggs. We will hike through the park scouting for nests and then try out nest building for ourselves. Finally, let’s celebrate the beauty of the egg by adorning some with naturally colored dye.
Join certified guide and licensed educator, Laura Lenz, and other adults for a Mindful Nature Walk in Quarry Hill Park. These walks are guided experiences designed to immerse oneself in nature.
Join certified guide and licensed K-5 educator, Laura Lenz for a Mindful Nature Walk in Quarry Hill Park. These walks are guided experiences, designed for families, to immerse oneself in nature.
Step back in time when you step into the Quarry Hill Cave! Quarry Hill Park was once part of the Rochester State Hospital grounds, and there remain some interesting historic features from a century of agriculture, quarry operations, and more. Learn about some of these historic features and tour the sandstone storage cave, carved in 1882.
Discover why bees are drawn to certain flowers through interactive, thought-provoking artwork by Samantha Reiter-Johnson (@Chlorocreations). The show runs at Quarry Hill Nature Center from April 14th to June 4th, 2025, with an artist's reception on April 18th from 6-8 p.m.
Artist's reception is open to the public with light refreshments.
This activity is made possible through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Experience the world through the eyes of a bee with interactive artwork by Samantha Reiter Johnson (@chlorocreations) and a variety of bee-inspired activities and crafts. Perfect for all ages, this open house invites both the young and the young at heart to explore a buzzing world of creativity and discovery.
Enjoy artwork that glows under blacklights, color flowers with invisible UV ink, try on bee vision goggles, and engage in other fun, hands-on activities. Join us for this free, family-friendly event and see the world from a whole new perspective!
The event runs on April 19th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Stop by anytime during this window!
This activity is made possible through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Join us this Earth Week for a fun, creative experience perfect for adults and kids! We invite you to create a pollinator box that will make a beautiful addition to your backyard. We will provide the box and supplies and then work together with you to give it a Quarry Hill nature brand! Our expert tips will also help you choose the best placement and teach you how to hang your box for maximum impact, attracting important pollinators to your space. Come anytime between 10:00-12:00. Pollinator boxes are while supplies last and one per family.
Ribbit, croak, and sing. Our frogs have plenty to say about their lifestyle at Quarry Hill. We might even see some of their friends on a quick trip out to the pond.
Space is limited; reservations are recommended.
Step back in time when you step into the Quarry Hill Cave! Quarry Hill Park was once part of the Rochester State Hospital grounds, and there remain some interesting historic features from a century of agriculture, quarry operations, and more. Learn about some of these historic features and tour the sandstone storage cave, carved in 1882.
Flock to Quarry Hill and experience birds up close while taking part in the Nature Center's bird banding program. Learn why birds are banded and how bird banding helps with conservation. Then get up close when you learn how to trap, handle, and release wild birds safely! The data gathered from these birds will be submitted to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory.
Enrollment is limited. Reservations are recommended.
Step back in time when you step into the Quarry Hill Cave! Quarry Hill Park was once part of the Rochester State Hospital grounds, and there remain some interesting historic features from a century of agriculture, quarry operations, and more. Learn about some of these historic features and tour the sandstone storage cave, carved in 1882.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown-up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn, and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
May Topic:How does your garden grow?
Get the scoop on how to nurture nature in your very own backyard by starting seeds that will create a delicious wildlife buffet. First, we will sow some seeds for wildlife in the park and then decorate a flowerpot for the seeds you can grow at home.
Join certified guide and licensed educator, Laura Lenz, and other adults for a Mindful Nature Walk in Quarry Hill Park. These walks are guided experiences designed to immerse oneself in nature.
Join certified guide and licensed K-5 educator, Laura Lenz for a Mindful Nature Walk in Quarry Hill Park. These walks are guided experiences, designed for families, to immerse oneself in nature.
Discover the secrets of these incredible amphibians, from their unique ability to regenerate limbs and breathe through their ski to their vital role in ecosystems. Learn about the diverse species, their habitats, and the conservation efforts needed to protect them.
Step back in time when you step into the Quarry Hill Cave! Quarry Hill Park was once part of the Rochester State Hospital grounds, and there remain some interesting historic features from a century of agriculture, quarry operations, and more. Learn about some of these historic features and tour the sandstone storage cave, carved in 1882.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
June Topic: Hello Little Blue
Learn about little blue as we hike the blue bird trail, peek into a nest, and enjoy a sweet “tweet” treat. We’ll also craft our own little blue bird.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
June Topic: Hello Little Blue
Learn about little blue as we hike the blue bird trail, peek into a nest, and enjoy a sweet “tweet” treat. We’ll also craft our own little blue bird.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
August Topic: The Bugliest Bugs
In field and forest, we’ll go on a bug hunting adventure! Test your net skills, play buggy games, devour a buggy snack. We’ll learn all about what makes even the ‘bugliest’ bugs cool.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
August Topic: The Bugliest Bugs
In field and forest, we’ll go on a bug hunting adventure! Test your net skills, play buggy games, devour a buggy snack. We’ll learn all about what makes even the ‘bugliest’ bugs cool.
Flap, fly, and soar your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re calling all adventurers, ages 4 -7, and their adult sidekick to flock together for this flying wild birding experience. On this 90-minute adventure, naturalists will teach you birding basics like using binoculars (that you get to keep!), introduce you to a live raptor, and lead you in discovering the wonderful world of birds.
Each adventurer will go home with their own Quarry Hill Bird Watch tote, which includes a copy of the interactive book Backpack Explorer: Bird Watch, binoculars, a backyard bird ID sheet, a feather quill, and a tweet treat for the birds in their own backyard.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
July Topic: Busy Buzzy Bee
Get the buzz on honey bees! Learn all about how hive jives and perfect your waggle dance as we play pollinator. A sticky treat and an up-close encounter with our meadow observation hive will top this sweet class.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
July Topic: Busy Buzzy Bee
Get the buzz on honey bees! Learn all about how hive jives and perfect your waggle dance as we play pollinator. A sticky treat and an up-close encounter with our meadow observation hive will top this sweet class.
Flap, fly, and soar your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re calling all adventurers, ages 4 -7, and their adult sidekick to flock together for this flying wild birding experience. On this 90-minute adventure, naturalists will teach you birding basics like using binoculars (that you get to keep!), introduce you to a live raptor, and lead you in discovering the wonderful world of birds.
Each adventurer will go home with their own Quarry Hill Bird Watch tote, which includes a copy of the interactive book Backpack Explorer: Bird Watch, binoculars, a backyard bird ID sheet, a feather quill, and a tweet treat for the birds in their own backyard.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
July Topic: Toadstool Town
There is fungus among us. Join us as we explore the citizens of Toadstool Town! Create your own toadstool to take home, play mushroom games and sample some deliciously creative toadstools.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
July Topic: Toadstool Town
There is fungus among us. Join us as we explore the citizens of Toadstool Town! Create your own toadstool to take home, play mushroom games and sample some deliciously creative toadstools.
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
August Topic:Join us as we say adios and good luck to the butterflies that will be migrating south to Mexico for the winter. Learn about why they head south and the challenges they will face during this magical migration. If we are lucky, we may even get to tag a butterfly before sending it on its way!
Offered for 3 & 4 year old kids with an accompanying grown up, these classes are all about getting outdoors to explore, learn and connect to the natural world. New topics monthly.
August Topic:Join us as we say adios and good luck to the butterflies that will be migrating south to Mexico for the winter. Learn about why they head south and the challenges they will face during this magical migration. If we are lucky, we may even get to tag a butterfly before sending it on its way!
