Adult & Family Public Nature Programs

February

FUR TRADE HERITAGE: 

Saturday, February 1, 1- 3 pm, Best for adults and kids ages 6 and up

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

Assume the persona of a voyageur from this historical era!  Examine historical replicas of fur trade items.  Make a spark from flint and steel, drill a hole with a pump drill.  Try on a capote and moustache and practice your French Accent!  Ooh la la, c’est fun!  

FREE.   (Donations accepted) All ages

Small scout groups are welcome.

Please call to reserve a spot: 651-249-2170 or email info@maplewoodnaturecenter.com.

SNOWSHOE HIKE

Saturday, February 15, 10-Noon

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

Ages four and up, children accompanied by adult

Learn about snowshoes, strap on a pair, and walk through our Winter Wonderland. 

Instruction and snowshoes provided.  Wear sturdy winter boots and bring your own mug for hot cocoa.  *Note:  if snow is scarce, we will hike to search for animal tracks.

Fee: $5/person, prepaid by Feb 13

ECFE NATURE FAMILY FUN

(For children birth-5 years, before kindergarten)

Make nature discoveries together and meet new friends! This class is offered at the Maplewood Nature Center in collaboration with Early Childhood Family Education. Parents stay with their child(ren) during the entire class. Fee is $5 per child per class. Pre-registration required.

ANIMAL TRACKS: Saturday, Feb 22nd, 10-11:30am 

SAP INTO SYRUP: March 22nd, 10 -11:30am

FROGGY FUN & SIGNS OF SPRING: Saturday, April 26th, 10-11:30am

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

MARCH

LIVE ANIMALS

Saturday, March 8 , 10:00-11:00 am

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

Families with children 3- 10 years

Get up close and personal with an American toad and Tiger salamander, meet a friendly snake.  Try on a turtle shell or ‘snake skin’ and watch the salamander slurp up an earthworm treat.  Optional self-guided hike afterward.

Free.  Seating is limited, please call to register: 651-249-2170

HOW TO PRUNE TREES AND SHRUBS

Saturday, March 15, Pruning trees 1-3 pm

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

In this class you will learn how and when to properly prune young trees.  We will also discuss issues of overgrown trees, pruning fruit trees, evergreens, and shrubs.  Pruning demo included.

Free

Paul Richtman is a Tree Care Advisor and Washington County Master Gardener.

SPRING FEVER OPEN HOUSE at Maplewood Nature Center

Date: Saturday, March 29, 1:00-4:00 pm

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

Come enjoy the best of spring whatever the day brings.  Look for the last tracks in the snow, and listen to the first chorus of frogs.  If sunny, we’ll fire up the solar oven with treats.   If rainy, we’ll do rain art.  So get your family out of the house for some nature fun!  Dress for the weather, of course!

Small scout groups are welcome; please call to reserve a spot: 651-249-2170 or email info@maplewoodnaturecenter.com .

FREE.   (Donations accepted) All ages

REGISTRATION FOR 2014 COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOTS AT EDGERTON  

General registration begins March 25th

Grow Your Own Local Organic Food! The City will till the garden, stake the plots, and provide a water tank.  Renters agree to plant, maintain, and harvest their plots using organic (chemical-free) methods.  Fee: $25/plot for the full 2014 season: April 25- October 15th 2014.  Plots are 12’ x 15’

Registration:  Call 249-2173 or visit www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/communitygarden. 

Location: Corner of Roselawn & Edgerton in Maplewood, north of Edgerton Elementary.

Open House: Friday, April 25th 4:00-6:30pm.

Other Nearby Community Gardens:

• ISD 622 Community Education Gardens: at Cowern School, Harmony School, Carver School  651-748-7437 www.isd622.org/communitygarden
• Harvest Gardens Coordinated by First Evangelical Free Church www.harvestgardens.org, Voice mailbox: 651 288-1082 or church office 777-5180.

APRIL

GO SOLAR At Your Cabin, Shed or Fish House

Thursday, April 3rd, 6-8 pm

Location: Maplewood Community Center, 2100 White Bear Ave, Maplewood, MN 55109

Power your cabin or fish house with an off-grid solar system.  Learn how to site and size a small PV system to provide lighting, ventilation and other modest loads in places where utility power is not an option. Includes an overview of the benefits of off-grid vs. on-grid systems and the new Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program.  Tour the Tiny Energy House to learn about its 4 solar energy systems.

Todd Fink is the instructor in Century College’s Solar and Renewable Program and owner of 45 North Solar. He is an NABCEP-certified installer; MREA-certified for solar heating and photovoltaic site assessment.

Fee of $10/person includes appetizers.  ($15 if register after March 22nd). A Cash Bar will offer beer.

Register online:  https://apm.activecommunities.com/maplewoodmn/Home

Partners: City of Maplewood, the Friends of Maplewood Nature, Clean Energy Resource Teams, and the MN Renewable Energy Society

TRACKING NATURE THROUGH THE SEASONS!
Saturday, April 5, TIME: 2-3:30 pm  

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

Track the first signs of spring from your own backyard with help from the Minnesota Phenology Network.  Josh Leonard, Belwin Outdoor Science, will show us how to contribute your family’s records to this citizen science monitor program. Learn how to use simple observations like tracking flower blooms or ice-out dates to disarm the sometimes confusing aspects of climate change.  Go outside to look for a few firsts.  

For ages 7 and older. (Kids must be accompanied by adult)
Free. Call (651) 249-2170 OR email info@maplewoodnaturecenter.com to register.

RAINDROPS AND RABBITS PUPPET SHOW 

Date: Friday, April 18, 10:30 am

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

Best for ages 3-8 with adult, also small day care groups (up to 8 children)

Laugh and sing along with Rabbit puppet and her wild animal friends as they celebrate spring!   Make a “nature scope” to help you detect wildlife on a guided nature bingo hike.

Fee: $2.00/ child.

Call, 651-249-2170 to register, prepayment appreciated.   

NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Weds, February 19th, 10-11am, Saturday, March 22nd, 1:30-2:30pm, Tuesday, April 15th 1-2:30pm

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

It’s FUN to volunteer at the Nature Center and Neighborhood Preserves!  Find out about all the cool opportunities, and learn what it takes to volunteer as a:

• Trail guide, Program Aide, Receptionist

·         Friends Board Member

·         Citizen Science Monitor: open space, frog, big tree registry

·         Gardener: raingardens, community vegetable garden

*Applicants must pass a background check.  Call (651) 249-2173 to for more information.

Join the PATROL !

INTRODUCTION TO THE INVASIVE PLANT PATROL ADULT

Thursday, March 20th, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

Help stop new invasive plants in their tracks!  Early detection of these plants will prevent more uncontrollable takeovers (such as buckthorn). 

Learn about new plants causing problems, and how to report them via a national invasive species database!

Ideal for Master Naturalists & Gardeners, native plant enthusiasts, older teens and adults wanting to make a difference in their local ecosystems.

Fee: Free, Call (651) 249-2170 or email info@maplewoodnaturecenter.com to register by March 18

INVASIVE PLANT PATROL: FIELD TRAINING SESSION FOR MONITORING VOLUNTEERS

Friday, April 11th, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119

Choose a Maplewood site to monitor

• Practice using GPS units
• Learn how to identify and report target species.

Fee: Free, Call (651) 249-2170 or email info@maplewoodnaturecenter.com to register by April 4.

FROG MONITOR TRAINING

Thursday, April 17th, 7:30 – 9:30 pm.

Location: Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 E. 7th St., Maplewood, MN 55119.

Become a Maplewood Frog Monitor!  Monitors choose a pre- determined route in Maplewood to listen for frogs.  Learn about local frog species, their calls, where to find specific species and how monitoring works.  Monitors commit to three nights in a specific time period, after dark.  For Adults and families with older kids.

 Pre-register by April 15 by calling 651-249-2170 or email info@maplewoodnaturecenter.com

CLIMATE TRENDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD

By University of Minnesota Climatologist and Radio Commentator Dr. Mark Seeley

Tuesday, April 22, 2014   7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

6:30 – Book Signing and Sales.

Location:  Ramsey County Library-Maplewood at 3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood, MN 55109.  The library is just west of Maplewood Mall.

Join the discussion; learn more about our changing climate!  There has been increasing recognition by scientists that the climate is showing several distinct trends or changes quantity and in character. In our own Great Lakes Region there are measurable changes going on.  These changes are important for us to understand if we are to adapt effectively.  Learn what these trends are; and what changes are predicted for Minnesota’s future.

Meet Dr. Mark Seeley, U of M extension Climatologist, Author, and Commentator on Minnesota Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” news program and have an opportunity to purchase “Minnesota Weather Almanac” or “Voyageur Skies” (coauthored by Don Breneman) winner of the Northeast Minnesota Book Award in 2012.

This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of Maplewood Nature, Maplewood Nature Center and the Ramsey County Library-Maplewood. 

FREE! There is limited seating, so pre-registration is required. Call Maplewood Nature Center @ 651-249-2170 to reserve your spot early!