Snowshoe Hike with the Wandering Naturalist
Feb. 22 | Eastman Nature Center
Explore the winter woods with the hosts of The Wandering Naturalist podcast! Reservations required.
Animal tracking is a fun way to spend time outdoors. Signs from the past help tell us the who, what, where, and when of the animal world.
Tracks are clear indicators that a critter was there, and the more time you spend observing, the more you will learn and see. One way to track critters is by looking for footprints, and snow in winter makes this even easier.
Here are some common tracks you may spot in our parks and surrounding areas.
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9 Things We Learned from the Medicine Lake Urban Turtle Project
By: John Moriarty
Where do spiny softshell turtles go after nesting on the beach at French Regional Park? How far do softshell, painted and snapping turtles travel in the water? Are they active in winter or affected by water quality? Find out what we learned during the Medicine Lake urban turtle project.
How Bats Survive Minnesota Winters
By: Katie Frias
Minnesota is home to seven species of bats, but they don't all approach winter the same way. Read on to learn how bats survive our coldest months of the year.
Why Do Some Trees Keep Their Leaves Through Winter?
By: Paul Kortebein
Now that fall is long past, why are some trees still hanging onto their leaves? Learn what's happening in these trees and why it may be beneficial to them.
Nature School Registration Opens Feb. 3
Feb. 3 | Mississippi Gateway
At this outdoor-based preschool, children get the freedom to explore and play outside while fostering a lifelong connection to the natural world and environmental stewardship. Registration for the 2020-2021 school year opens Feb. 3.
Springtime Programs
Ongoing | Multiple Locations
Search for signs of spring with us!
World Migratory Bird Day
May 14 | Eastman Nature Center
Learn about bird migration as we celebrate World Migratory Bird Day! Take a birding hike with a naturalist, learn how to use binoculars, see how birds are banded, enjoy bird-related games and crafts, watch presentations and more at this full-day festival.
Tree Removal and Prairie Restoration Project Underway at Elm Creek
January 24, 2020
Three Rivers Park District will be conducting a tree removal project in the northeast portion of Elm Creek Park Reserve within the City of Champlin this winter. Contractors have begun work and expect it to take four to five weeks to complete, depending on the weather. The 36-acre site will have most of the existing trees and shrubs removed. This is part of a larger 160-acre Conservation Partners Legacy funded prairie restoration project in Elm Creek Park Reserve.
There are 14 species of frogs and toads in Minnesota, and eight of them can be found in Three Rivers Park District. While all of them stay in Minnesota for the winter, they have very different approaches to surviving the cold.
Many of us have learned that frogs spend the winter buried in the mud at the bottom of a lake. This is partially true for some species, but not for most of the species we find in Three Rivers.
The frogs in Three Rivers have three hibernation strategies: bury on land, freeze in the leaf litter, and spend the winter under water.
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Frog Tongues — A Sticky Situation
By: Brandon Baker
The arrival of spring brings with it the call of frogs! Learn how these amazing creatures survive winter and find out the truth about frog tongues.
9 Things We Learned from the Medicine Lake Urban Turtle Project
By: John Moriarty
Where do spiny softshell turtles go after nesting on the beach at French Regional Park? How far do softshell, painted and snapping turtles travel in the water? Are they active in winter or affected by water quality? Find out what we learned during the Medicine Lake urban turtle project.
How Bats Survive Minnesota Winters
By: Katie Frias
Minnesota is home to seven species of bats, but they don't all approach winter the same way. Read on to learn how bats survive our coldest months of the year.
Nature School: Taking Preschool to The Great Outdoors
By: Megan Kelzenberg
January 22, 2020
Category: Nature Notes
Imagine a preschool with no walls; a place where children are encouraged to follow their interests. Where math and measurement are practiced in a mud kitchen, and scientific thinking happens naturally while rolling over a log to find insects. A place where the teachers are kind, fun, creative and highly-trained in both early childhood education and environmental education.
No imagination is needed — we have this preschool program right here at Three Rivers!
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Our 7 Favorite Winter Activities
By: Ashley Smith Anders Hanson
We've compiled a list of our 7 favorite activities to help you embrace winter this season. Some of them might be things you've already done before, but a few of them might be new activities you want to try!
Nature’s Classroom for 50 Years: Early Citizen Science and Monarch Research
By: Laurel Sundberg
Little was known about the winter whereabouts of the monarch butterfly until the mid-1970s. Subtle factors, persistence and a network of people working across borders came together to finally reveal the mystery of the great monarch migration. Read on to learn how Minnesota occupies an important place in the history of monarch research.
Nature's Classroom for 50 Years: The Dream of Lowry Nature Center
By: Allison Neaton
Lowry Nature Center turns 50 years old in 2019. Discover how the dream of one man became a reality and how Goodrich Lowry helped shape the future of what is now Three Rivers Park District.
All About Groundhogs and a Brief History of Groundhog Day
By: John Moriarty
January 27, 2020
Category: Nature Notes
Groundhog Day originally had nothing to do with groundhogs. It started long ago in Europe as the pagan festival of Imbolc marking the start of spring. It then became known as Candlemas by early Christians who believed a sunny day meant more cold weather and snow were coming.
Next, Germans added animals – mainly badgers – to the legend by declaring it sunny if the animals saw their shadows.
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Osprey Reintroduction: The Great Success Story
By: Steven Hogg
Ospreys used to be very common in southern Minnesota, but they disappeared from the Twin Cities after World World II. Learn about the program to bring these amazing birds back and how wildlife can survive in an urban area when given the right tools for success.
Species Spotlight: Wild Turkeys
By: John Moriarty
Did you know there was a time when turkeys didn't exist in Minnesota? Learn all about this Thanksgiving staple in this post from the archive, including how they came to thrive in our area and what to do if they're causing trouble in your yard.
All About Bullsnakes — And How They Found A Home in Three Rivers
By: John Moriarty
Did you know that the longest snake in Minnesota can be found in Three Rivers Park District? Bullsnake populations have declined in the Twin Cities due to habitat loss, but thanks to reintroduction efforts, they have found a home in Crow-Hassan Park Reserve.
