All classes require registration to attend unless otherwise noted.
Please note that our calendar only shows public Ney programs, board & committee meetings, and volunteer opportunities. It does not show field trips or private event rentals. If you are curious if a day is open on our calendar, please reach out to us directly.
Free Community Events
Tree Jamboree
April 26th from 12:30-3:30pm
Celebrate the beauty of nature at this family-friendly event featuring community organization tables, live music performance from The Bazillions, and an up-close experience with guests from The Raptor Center! Participate in a story walk, earth crafts, tree-planting, and more. Whether you’re already a nature lover, or just looking for something fun to do, the Tree Jamboree offers something for everyone. Join us as we come together to celebrate our planet! Free to the public!
Annual Meeting: Presentation from the MN Mycological Society
May 3rd from 10-11:30am
Join us for a free presentation on Mushrooms & Fungi from the Minnesota Mycological Society, A Society for the Study of Mushrooms and Other Fungi. Peter Martignacco and Heather Erickson will be presenting, and will offer a short mushroom foray hike after the annual meeting for those interested if weather allows.
Youth & Family Programs
Tiny Trekkers & Nature Detectives Homeschool Programs
New discoveries every month! These drop-off programs are during the week, so they work well for homeschoolers. However, all are welcome! Tiny Trekkers are for ages 4-6 years old, and Nature Detectives are for ages 7-11 years old. Descriptions for each topic can be found on the registration site.
April: Spring Lakes
Tiny Trekkers: Tuesday, April 22nd from 10am-11:30am
Nature Detectives: Tuesday, April 29th from 10am-11:30am
May: Trees
Tiny Trekkers: Tuesday, May 20th from 10am-11:30am
Nature Detectives: Tuesday, May 27th from 10am-11:30am
Pre-registration required. Register here.
Maple Syrup: Sap to Sugar
Sunday, March 30th from 1pm-2pm
Thursday, April 3rd from 5pm-6pm
Ever wondered if you could make your own syrup? Join us for an immersive tour of Ney Nature Center’s maple syrup operation, where you’ll discover the journey from tree to table! This experience takes you through our syrup process to learn about traditional and modern maple syrup and sugaring methods, as well as the science behind it all. To conclude, indulge in a tasting session and see if you can guess which syrup is ours and which is store-bought. This tour is perfect for anyone looking to learn more about the process—and enjoy some delicious maple syrup!
Each registration is for one individual, all ages welcome, geared towards those aged 6 and up. Children 2 and under attend for free. Pre-registration required. Register here.
Birding Hike
Saturday, April 12th from 8:30-9:30am
FREE FOR NEY MEMBERS!
Join a Ney staff member on a birding hike through the park. Together, we’ll travel through some wooded areas and along the pond with the hopes of seeing some of our favorite feathered friends. No birding experience is necessary as we’re excited to explore birding with anyone who is interested.
Dress appropriately for active hiking and the weather. Binoculars are available to borrow if you would like!
Each registration is for one individual, all ages welcome, geared towards those aged 6 and up. Children 2 and under attend for free. Pre-registration required. Register here.
Geocaching for Bunny Baskets
Saturday, April 19th at 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm
Sunday, April 20th at 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm
Celebrate the spring with one of our favorite animals, the rabbit! We will have themed bunny baskets hidden throughout the park for your family to discover and enjoy! At the beginning of your session, we will send GPS coordinates where your basket is located. Staff will be available on-site, but this is designed to be an “on-your-own-adventure”. The baskets contain candy, small toys, and fun items related to nature. Geared toward those ages 12 and younger, however, the hunt is fun for all ages!
Participants will need access to a GPS or smartphone with a Geocaching app. You will receive an email with instructions for finding your basket before the event, and an email with GPS location at the start of your morning or afternoon session (10am or 1pm).
Registration is per basket. Maximum 2 baskets per family. **If your section is sold out and you would like to be added to the waiting list OR you would like more than 2 baskets, please email us.** Pre-registration required. Register here.
Pond Craft Drop-In
Wednesday, May 21st from 4-7pm
This drop-in crafting experience is great for young naturalist! Stop by the education building anytime between 4pm and 7pm to create fun pond-themed crafts. Whether you stay for a few minutes, or an hour, you’ll get the chance to explore easy-to-follow projects. We’ll provide all the supplies plus lemonade to keep you refreshed while you craft.
This program is designed for families with kids aged 4 to 10, but is open to everyone. You only need to register the youth taking part in the crafting, unless you want to make your own creations, too! Pre-registration is not required, however we will only have a certain amount of supplies set aside for walk-ins. Register here.
Adult Programs
Spring Ephemerals Hike
Sunday, April 6th from 1-3pm
The first flowers of spring are called ‘ephemerals.’ This is because they seem to burst from the ground, flower and turn to seed before many of us realize that spring has arrived. Come and enjoy a hike as we explore for ephemerals and learn how to identify them. We will also share a little about the natural history and folklore associated with some of these early flowers.
All ages are welcome, designed for teens & adults. Some parts of the hike may be steep terrain, please wear proper footwear. Pre-registration required. Register here.
Bouquet Making Class
Saturday, May 10th from 1-2pm
Bouquets are a classic gift, especially for Mother’s Day, but have you ever wanted to make it even more personal? Learn how to craft the perfect bouquet, and give your loved ones something special this year, made just for them! Or create a new memory and take the class together! Please note that the flowers pictured are not an exact example of what we will use for our bouquets, we will have a selection to choose from, as well as materials like twine, ribbon, and wrap to take them to go.
All supplies are included in the class, and each registrant will leave with one medium-sized bouquet. All ages are welcome, designed for teens & adults. Pre-registration required. Register here.
Mushrooms and Fungi Workshop: From Gourmet to Global Climate
Sunday, May 18th from 1-4pm
Have you ever wondered why some wood turns blue when it rots? or where all the dead leaves go after each autumn? Or why some mushrooms grow from wood and others from soil? or what the moldy cheese in the back corner of your fridge drawer has to do with climate change? Wonder no more! In this workshop we will learn to identify mushrooms in the field and explore the world of fungi: who they are, what they do, and why they are important, not only to our local forests, but also to the global carbon cycle and climate system.
Taught by guest instructor Lang DeLancey. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota studying mycology and ecosystem ecology. His work investigates how fungi, both living and dead, interact with each other, plants, and the environment to drive soil carbon storage and fertility in northern forests as they experience climate change. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Lang has spent his life wandering through the northern forests canoeing, playing old time music, and looking for tasty fungi.
Teens & adults are welcome. Be prepared to be outside and off-trail for the walking part of the class. Pre-registration required. Register here.
Spring Yoga Class
Thursday, May 22nd from 5:30-6:30pm
Spring has sprung, get outside and enjoy it! Tiffany from Om Shanti Wellness will be leading an evening class of gentle hatha yoga outside of the education building by the fire pit. No experience is necessary. We recommend bringing a yoga mat or blanket, as well as bug spray. In case of wet grass, we will move to the pavement by the red barn!
Each registration is for one individual, all ages welcome, geared toward teens and adults. Pre-registration required. Register here.
Lifelong Learner Series
Discover a new topic each month as we explore local wildlife, history, and conservation issues. The structure is tailored to be accessible for anyone, including those with limited mobility, allowing everyone to engage comfortably. Whether you’re joining us to learn, socialize, or enjoy a relaxed educational environment, this class offers a fun experience for all participants. Please inform staff of any dietary restrictions.
Extremophiles: Thursday, March 20th from 12-1:30pm
In some of the most inhospitable places on Earth, we find amazing creatures called extremophiles. These creatures are able to survive blazing heat, caustic conditions, and other mind boggling things.
Native vs. Ornamental Trees and Plants: Thursday, April 17th from 12-1:30pm
With Arbor Day just around the corner, we will be discussing the benefits of native fruiting trees. We will also explore the importance of native plantings in supporting our native animals.
Bluebirds: Thursday, May 15th from 12-1:30pm
It is officially Bluebird nesting season! Come learn about our Bluebird trail, how the Bluebird populations are doing here at Ney, and these amazing birds in general.
Pre-registration required. Register here.
FAQ & Policies
Sold Out Programs: Send us an email or give us a call, we sometimes open more spots, and either way, we take public interest into account and may run the program again!
Drop-Off Program Policy: If a program is listed as “Drop-Off” we ask that you step out of the building (or area where the program takes place) for the duration of the time. You are welcome to wait in your car, go for a walk in the park, or run some errands! We will ask that you confirm your phone number on the check-in sheet before leaving and staff will call you if we need you! If you are not comfortable with the drop-off format, we welcome you reaching out to us with any concerns or questions. We also would love for you to join us at a family program if it is more your style to participate with your kids!
Public Programs Cancellation Policy: If you cancel your registration 48 hours or more before the day of the program, you can receive a 100% refund if requested. If you cancel within 48 hours of the day of the program, you can receive a 50% refund if requested. Day-of cancellations are appreciated for communication with instructors, however, we do not provide refunds in this case.
Example: If your program is on a Thursday, we can provide full refunds up until Monday at midnight. If you cancel on Tuesday or Wednesday, we can provide 50% of your registration fee back. If you let us know on Thursday, we would not provide a refund.
If your registration is under $10, consider donating it instead of requesting a refund! As a small non-profit, every dollar really does count. Thank you!
Ney Nature Center reserves the right to cancel any program due to illness, staffing issues, low registration, weather, etc. We promise to try our best to avoid cancellations and to give participants fair notice of any changes, but we are not always able to do this, so we appreciate your understanding. If Ney cancels a program, all participants will receive a 100% refund of their registration.
Public Programs Registration Transfer Policy: If there is a class offered at the same value or less with open registration, we can transfer your registration to that class up until the day of the program.
Staff Qualifications: You are welcome to read more about each staff member’s unique experience here! In addition, all staff members have passed a background check.
COVID-19 & Illness: At this time we are following CDC guidelines for all of our procedures, please visit the MN Department of Health website for more information. If you are experiencing symptoms of a communicable illness, please stay home! You can reach us by email or call us at 507-357-8580.