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.