Fall Programs - 2015

Maplewood Nature Center ADULT & FAMILY NATURE PROGRAMS October-December 2015 To Register for a Nature Center Program:  Register online for paid or free programs www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com then click on the Register Online-Go! button.  You can also register in person, by 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.  For more information please call 651-249-2170.  Location is Maplewood Nature Center, (unless otherwise indicated in program description) 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood, MN 55119.

OCTOBER: NATURE FAMILY FUN WITH ECFE 2015-2016 (For children birth - 5 years, before kindergarten) Time: 10:00-11:30am Fee is $5 per child per session. Make nature discoveries, get resources to explore & protect your world together, and meet new friends! This class is offered at the Maplewood Nature Center in collaboration with Early Childhood and Family Education staff. Parents stay with their child(ren) during the entire class.

To register contact ECFE: 651-748-7280 or register online at www.isd622.org/ecfe.

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119 Date: Kid Theme Adult Topic 10/3/15 Squirrels and Acorns Benefits of Getting Outdoors 10/24/15 Wooly Bears: What’s Under a Log? Creating Wildlife Habitat 11/21/15 Wiggly Snake, Slippery Salamander Wild Animals: Pets & Artifacts 2/20/16 Animal Tracks in the Snow Environmental Footprint 3/12/16 Sap Into Syrup Tree Talk 4/23/16 Frog Leap!

Raingardens & Rainbarrels FALL BIRD BANDING DAY - (For all ages, youth groups welcome) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Saturday, October 10, 9:30AM – Noon Confusing Fall Warblers—Oh My! Watch licensed biologists capture, band and release wild birds to learn about age, migration, and populations. If conditions allow, take a short hike to the floating boardwalk and use binoculars to observe birds. You may want to bring a camera.

Free. Drop in.

NATIVE SHRUBS FOR WILDLIFE & SEASONAL INTEREST – (Adults) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Saturday, October 17th, 1:00PM - 2:30PM

Find out which native shrubs provide multiple seasonal benefits from food and shelter for wildlife to fall color and winter interest. Master Gardener Jane Klein will lead this overview of the many choices of interesting shrubs for your yard.

FREE, register by Oct 16th.

To register go to, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.

HALLOWEEN HIJINKS PUPPET SHOW (Best for ages 2-5 with adult, small daycares welcome).

AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Wednesday, October 28, choose one show time: 10:00AM, 11:00AM Laugh and sing along with wild animal puppets as they hurry around in the fall season. Enjoy their silly antics as they play mischievous tricks on each other. Make a bat mini-kite to take home, and take it for a spin in our nature play yard! Enjoy a spooky snack. Option to stay and picnic/self-guiding trail hike afterward. $5/child. Register by Tuesday, Oct 27th.

To register go to, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.

WILDLIFE SCULPTURE: LEARN & CREATE! (Ages 12+ and Adults) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Thursday, Oct 29th, 6:00PM-8:00PM Meet wildlife artist, Lynette Power, a Legacy Grant recipient who would like to share with the community how she creates nature sculptures with bronze, ceramics, and more. Participants will be given a chance to play with air-fire clay and create a small bird to take home. $12 materials fee covers the cost of armature (wire sculpture base) and clay.

Register by Friday, Oct 23rd.

To register go to, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.

NOVEMBER ANIMAL HABITATS FOR JUNIOR GIRL SCOUTS AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Saturday, November 7th, 9:30AM-11:30AM Learn about wild animals in Minnesota, and investigate a real animal habitat outdoors at the Nature Center’s wetland and woodland. Challenge your team to build an Eagle Nest together, learn about endangered animals, and how you can help them. Activities during this program meet most requirements for Junior Girl Scout Animal Habitats Badge.

Badges are not provided by the Nature Center. Fee: $4/child. Scout leaders can call to register their group, or individuals can register online by Nov 4th.

To register go to, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.

OWL MOON STORYHIKE Ages 3.5-6 with adult AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Thursday, November 12th, 6:15PM - 7:30PM Read “Owl Moon” and take a nightwalk to listen and look for owl, mouse and raccoon. This is a great opportunity to learn to get comfortable with the night. $4 per child, register by Nov 10th.

To register go to, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.

SUPERIOR AGATES AND MN GEOLOGY – (Ages- best for 3rd – 5th grade and parents) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Saturday, Nov 14, 1:00PM - 2:30PM Examine Minnesota rocks and a fascinating array of Minnesota’s state gem, the Lake Superior Agate. Unearth the secrets of Minnesota’s long geologic history from volcanoes and inland sea to glaciers. Test rocks and minerals for

their characteristic hardness, magnetic qualities and more. Phil and Mike from the MN Mineral Club will share their rock and agate collections and help you identify really cool rocks. Take home a special rock. $5/child, register by Nov 12th.

To register go to, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.

FISH CREEK ARCHEOLOGY AT MAPLEWOOD LIBRARY, 3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood, 55109 Tuesday, November 17, 7:00PM – 8:00PM Archeologist Jeremy Nienow will present the results from this summer’s archeological excavation at Maplewood’s Fish Creek site. This was a community archeology project and the citizens working under Nienow’s direction unearthed pottery fragments and stone tool chips that date to the Woodlands Culture (500 BC – 1650 AD). Nienow will discuss how the excavation was done, what was found, and he will help put the results in context.

Dr. Nienow is a registered professional archaeologist who operates Nienow Cultural Consultants LLC and has taught at public and private higher educational institutions in the Twin Cities. This presentation is sponsored by Maplewood Area Historical Society and Ramsey County Library, with support from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For questions about the event, call 651-249-2170.

Free, no registration required.

TURKEY TALES: (Ages 3-8, with adult) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Wednesday, Nov 25, 10:30 am Read “Tiny Tom” and learn all about wild turkeys and other winter active animals. Gather acorns for winter, touch and feel animal feathers and fur, and make a turkey craft to take home.

Fee: $4 per child.

Register on-line by Nov. 24.

To register go to, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.

DECEMBER NATURALIST ACTIVITIES FOR WEBELOS SCOUTS AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Saturday, December 5th, 9:30AM-11:30AM Identify common Minnesota wildlife, and learn about poisonous plants and animals in Minnesota. Explore wetland and woodland habitats on a hike with binoculars. Many of the activities during this program help you meet requirements for a Webelos Naturalist Activity Badge. Badges are not provided by the Nature Center.

Fee: $4/child. Scout leaders can call to register their group, or individuals can register online by December 2nd.

To register go to, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.

MEET THE ANIMALS (For all ages) AT MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER, 2659 E. 7th Street, Maplewood 55119 Saturday, December 12th, 2:00PM-3:00PM Meet a snake, salamander, toad, & turtle, and learn more about Minnesota’s wild animals and where they are in the winter. 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, December 11th To register go to, www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com or call 651-249-2170.