Cozy up on your couch and join us live from the Nature Center’s Exploration Hall for a special fireside reading of the book Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution, by Pat Miller and Kathi Ember. Whoooo else might join us for this special event?  Our live animal guest can be quite a hoot and resolves to bring a smile to your face. We’ll bring a morning snack to a few of the nature center animals and share some ways for your family to enjoy the new year naturally.

While some birds of a feather have flocked together and headed south for the winter season, many of our feathered friends will brave the winter right here in MN. Learn about our local winter backyard birds. After trying to catch them through binoculars and a bird net, we will build a bird buffet for you to attract feathered friends to your own home all winter long.

The game is afoot!  All ages will enjoy this family friendly survival game adventure.

Enjoy nature after dark!
Luminaries will light your way on a groomed hiking trail through the prairie. Stop by the Prairie House to warm up by the bonfire and enjoy a cup of cocoa.

The game is afoot!  All ages will enjoy this family friendly survival game adventure.

Bundle up and head outdoors in search of winter’s many wonders! Join in a fun scavenger hunt and be ready to play and create with snow – because it’s Snow fun! A snowflake crystal science kit will be packaged up for you to take home. Participants are welcomed to bring a sled to pull along on our winter wonderland hike.

The game is afoot!  All ages will enjoy this family friendly survival game adventure.

The game is afoot!  All ages will enjoy this family friendly survival game adventure.

Two feet, four feet - small feet, big feet. We all make tracks in the snow!  Bring your valentine, don some snowshoes (weather permitting) and make some 'lovely' tracks of your own as you search for animal tracks and signs. While outside, we will be sure to leave a special valentine for the animals to show them some love, too.

Enjoy nature after dark!
Luminaries will light your way on a groomed hiking trail through the prairie. Stop by the Prairie House to warm up by the bonfire and enjoy a cup of cocoa.

The game is afoot!  All ages will enjoy this family friendly survival game adventure.

The game is afoot!  All ages will enjoy this family friendly survival game adventure.

Shhh!  Someone is sleeping in the cave - bats! With flashlight in hand, we’ll tiptoe through their winter shelter to learn about these special hibernators. Don’t forget your hiking gear as we will trek 15 minutes to the cave.

Shhh!  Someone is sleeping in the cave - bats! With flashlight in hand, we’ll tiptoe through their winter shelter to learn about these special hibernators. Don’t forget your hiking gear as we will trek 15 minutes to the cave.

Bring your sweet tooth and discover the natural sugars of Minnesota maple trees.  Learn how maple syrup is harvested and made and take part in the process first hand.  Be ready to sample nature's sweet treats!

Bring your sweet tooth and discover the natural sugars of Minnesota maple trees.  Learn how maple syrup is harvested and made and take part in the process first hand.  Be ready to sample nature's sweet treats!

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, birders, photographers - 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, birders, photographers - 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, birders, photographers - 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, birders, photographers - 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, birders, photographers - 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, birders, photographers - read on to see which camp is designed especially for your age group.

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.

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.

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 safely trap, handle and release wild birds! The data gathered from these birds will be submitted to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. The program is held outdoors. Enrollment is limited.

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 safely trap, handle and release wild birds! The data gathered from these birds will be submitted to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. The program is held outdoors. Enrollment is limited.

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 safely trap, handle and release wild birds! The data gathered from these birds will be submitted to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. The program is held outdoors. Enrollment is limited.

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 safely trap, handle and release wild birds! The data gathered from these birds will be submitted to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. The program is held outdoors. Enrollment is limited.

The sky is blue, the sky is bright – colors of the spring are sure to delight! Put on your rain boots as we tromp on the trails in search of the kaleidoscope of colors that greet us each spring.  Make your own nature paintbrush and mix your own colors as you create a unique spring beauty picture.

The sky is blue, the sky is bright – colors of the spring are sure to delight! Put on your rain boots as we tromp on the trails in search of the kaleidoscope of colors that greet us each spring.  Make your own nature paintbrush and mix your own colors as you create a unique spring beauty picture.

Pre-sale only, pick up on April 23 & 24. 

A great way to bring a natural touch into your backyard! Native plants are best adapted to the local climate and once established seldom need watering, mulching, or protection from frost. Native plants attract beautiful butterflies, beneficial insects & birds.  

Pre-sale only, pick up on April 23 & 24. 

A great way to bring a natural touch into your backyard! Native plants are best adapted to the local climate and once established seldom need watering, mulching, or protection from frost. Native plants attract beautiful butterflies, beneficial insects & birds.  

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 safely trap, handle and release wild birds! The data gathered from these birds will be submitted to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. The program is held outdoors. Enrollment is limited.

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

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 here in the park and then decorate a flowerpot for the seeds you can grow at home. 

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 here in the park and then decorate a flowerpot for the seeds you can grow at home. 

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Frogs and toads are starting their spring songs! Come meet some of our live frogs & toads as we learn all about their spring songs and lifecycle. Then we will grab binoculars and hike out by the pond in search of these peeping leapers!

Frogs and toads are starting their spring songs! Come meet some of our live frogs & toads as we learn all about their spring songs and lifecycle. Then we will grab binoculars and hike out by the pond in search of these peeping leapers!

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

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 safely trap, handle and release wild birds! The data gathered from these birds will be submitted to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory. The program is held outdoors. Enrollment is limited.

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 remains 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. 

488 million years ago, Quarry Hill was covered by a shallow tropical sea filled with marine creatures. Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7,and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. During this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7,and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. During this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7,and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. During this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.

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 remains 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. 

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 remains 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. 

488 million years ago, Quarry Hill was covered by a shallow tropical sea filled with marine creatures. Dig into the past to discover what fossil fortunes are hiding in the rocks at Quarry Hill Park!

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7,and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. During this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7,and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. During this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7,and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. During this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.

Jump, hop, fly and buzz your way up to the Oak Savanna with a Quarry Hill naturalist! We’re rounding up adventurers, ages 4-7,and their adult sidekick for this premier experience. During this 90 minute adventure, naturalists will teach you how to use a bug net (that you get to keep!) and lead you in discovering the amazing world of insects.