This article was written by Emily Bowers, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Naturalist at North Mississippi Regional Park
The local animals in our neighborhoods are still busy this fall making preparations for winter, which means they’re leaving behind tracks and other signs of their activities. While the animals might be moving fast, if you take the time to stop and notice, the evidence of these behaviors becomes apparent such as nibbled plants, scattered seed shells, scratch marks or footprints. Walk the North Mississippi Park with a naturalist during a “noticing nature hike” to hone your observation skills, or sign up for our tracks and scat program to practice identifying animal footprints and droppings. Join us on Friday, November 26 anytime between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. to Opt Outside for some Black Friday Fun in the park! Enjoy self-guided nature exploration with a scavenger hunt, fort building and play at the Nature Adventure course. Make art and meet animals. Go for a nature walk along the river, check out an adventure pack to observe nature on your own, then stop by the campfire to warm up. Discover nature and opt outside!
Visit the Kroening Interpretive Center to borrow free outdoor exploration activities and materials through the Adventure Hub. There are a variety of items available for check out including animal tracking or bird watching kits that help you get a closer look at the animal behavior happening around you. Materials must stay within park boundaries and are only available for same day checkout and return. Adventure Hub operates during our regular business hours Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays noon-4 p.m. Select Recreation Centers also have materials to borrow, available hours and activities vary depending on the site.
Get outside and into Nearby Nature at your neighborhood park, with self-directed, sign-based activities designed to enhance the experience of park goers of all ages while exploring parks. All Nearby Nature activities are free and no materials or registration is necessary. Share experiences and photos through #NearbyNatureMpls or send feedback to our email nearbynature@minneapolisparks.org.
Winter break will be here before too long, so don’t wait to sign kids ages 6-12 up for fun-filled days of outdoor exploration! Experience Wild Winter Survival from Monday, Dec. 20-Thursday, Dec. 23 to develop your wilderness skills. Trek through snow on snowshoes, craft survival shelters, track animal signs and more while we explore outdoors, play games and make art. Finish the year with a Frosty Fur Ball celebration from Monday, Dec. 27-Friday, Dec. 31. Play games, make icy cool art, meet live animals and explore the park to discover the ways animals are getting ready for winter. The last day of the year is the Frosty Fur Ball celebration, full of treats, music, and fun! Let kids enjoy the outdoors while activating bodies and minds in discovery while on break!
The Kroening Interpretive Center is open, featuring “Nature in the City,” an exhibit that entices visitors to explore the natural worlds within North Mississippi Regional Park and other urban areas. Grab a nature quest from the front desk then get outside and into an outdoor adventure to discover the wonders of the woods, prairie and riverfront.
Kroening Interpretive Center November Programs
- Nature Nuts: Nature Playtime – Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. $2. Ages 2-7 with an adult.
- Release Day: Animal Detectives – Friday Nov. 5 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. $25. Ages 6-12.
- Noticing Nature Hike – Friday Nov. 5 4:30-5:50 p.m. and Saturday Nov. 6 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Ages 12+.
- Nature Nuts: Tots Oh Deer – Sunday Nov. 7 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $2. Ages 2-6 with an adult.
- Homeschool Day: Winged Wonders – Thursday Nov. 11 from 1-3 p.m. $5. Ages 5-15.
- Release Day: Wild Survival – Friday Nov. 12 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. $25. Ages 6-12.
- Bird Watching: Fall on the Flyway – Saturday Nov. 13 from 2-3:30 p.m. Free. Ages 8+.
- Family Funday: Clues from Nature – Sunday Nov. 14 from 1-3pm. Free. All Ages.
- Full Moon Hike – Thursday Nov. 18 from 6:30-8 p.m. $3. Ages 8+.
- Nature Art: Cornucopias – Saturday Nov. 20 from 11 a.m.-noon. Free. All ages.
- Nature Nuts: Tots Turkey Time – Sunday Nov. 21 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $2. Ages 2-6 with an adult.
- Opt Outside Black Friday Fun – Friday Nov. 26 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. All ages.
- Outdoors: Tracks and Scat – Saturday Nov. 27 from 2-3:30 p.m. Free. Ages 8+.
Registration is required; sign up for programs at minneapolisparks.org/register. Do you have a question about nature in your own backyard? Then send it our way by emailing northmississippi@minneapolisparks.org and it could appear in a future article.