We are excited for our programming partnership with ISD622 Community Education at the Maplewood Nature Center. Experienced naturalists will guide each of these professionally developed hands-on learning sessions. 

Register for all classes online at ISD622.CE.ELEYO.COM or by clicking the link next to the class name below or by calling 651-748-7250.

SPRING MIGRATION WALK: Click Here to Register

Spring is here, and birds have begun their long journeys north. Some are already claiming territories for the nesting season ahead. This family-friendly walk will explore a variety of habitats to see what "early birds" are either passing through or setting up their home base for the season. The fee is $15/adult; youth age 8 and up are welcome to attend with an adult for $20. Any additional youth will be $5 each. Dress for the weather as class will be held outside. Instructor: Kyle Te Poel

Date: Saturday April 22

Time: 8:00-10:00am

Fee:: $15/adult or $20/adult+child and $5/additional child

FAVORITE NATIVES FOR YOUR GARDEN: Click Here to Register

From lilac-scented blue phlox and columbine in spring, to bold butterfly weed, cardinal flower and asters in summer and fall - what do these have in common? These native perennials bring seasonal beauty and colorful flowers to your garden that feed pollinating bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The class will focus on matching your garden's sun and moisture conditions with suitable plants for optimal success. Instructor: Jan Hayman

Date: Thursday May 4

Time: 6:30-8:00pm

Fee:: $20

WILDFLOWER AND CRITTER TREK: Click Here to Register

The trails in the Maplewood Nature center offer a great opportunity for viewing wildflowers, native vegetable and evidence of the animals that call this urban forest area home. Each month the experience will be different even though the trails are the same. Avid gardener and plant enthusiast. Lisa Pearson will be leading the treks. Wear good walking shoes, the trails are hard packed natural surfaces. Bring bug spray and dress according to the weather, if it is raining the trek will be reschedule. Instructor: Lisa Pearson

Date: Tuesday May 9

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Fee:: $15

WARBLER WALK: Click Here to Register

May is the most exciting time of the year for many bird-lovers, as we experience a rush of birds arriving, and some just passing through after a long winter. Warblers are among the many colorful birds we will be seeking out. This walk is designed for the serious birder (or the new birder who wants to experience the phenomenon of peak migration) as we will be trying to identify as many species as possible. Please dress for the weather as class is held outside. Instructor: Kyle Te Poel

Date: Monday May 15

Time: 6:00-8:00am

Fee:: $15

BEGINNING BIRD MIGRATION WALK: Click Here to Register

Migration can be a tough time to start a birding hobby, if only because there can be so much to see that it's hard to know where to look! This walk is designed for just after the big early-morning rush of birds. There should still be a good amount of bird activity to enjoy, but not so much that it makes your head spin! Ideal for the beginning birder who wants to get a taste of the frenzy without getting too overwhelmed. Dress for the weather as class will be held outside.  Instructor: Kyle Te Poel

Date: Monday May 15

Time: 8:00-10:00am

Fee:: $15

WILDFLOWER AND CRITTER TREK: Click Here to Register

The trails in the Maplewood Nature center offer a great opportunity for viewing wildflowers, native vegetable and evidence of the animals that call this urban forest area home. Each month the experience will be different even though the trails are the same. Avid gardener and plant enthusiast. Lisa Pearson will be leading the treks. Wear good walking shoes, the trails are hard packed natural surfaces. Bring bug spray and dress according to the weather, if it is raining the trek will be reschedule. Instructor: Lisa Pearson

Date: Tuesday June 13

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Fee:: $15

NESTING BIRD WALK: Click Here to Register

By now, migration is mostly done, and the birds that are sticking around for the summer are busy settling in. We'll walk the trails in search of evidence of nesting: anything from paired-up birds, courtship behavior, nests, and perhaps even some young already hatched from the earliest nesters! The fee is $15/adult; youth age 8 and up are welcome to attend with an adult for $20. Any additional youth will be $5 each. Dress for the weather as class will be held outside.  Instructor: Kyle Te Poel

Date: Saturday June 17

Time: 6:00-8:00am

Fee:: $15/adult or $20/adult+child and $5/additional child

CITIZEN SCIENCE & BIRD WALK: Click Here to Register

New to birding? Or perhaps you're an old pro but aren't too tech-savvy? EBird, a bird-reporting database developed by Cornell, is a user-friendly website and app that is arguably the world's leading source of bird data--and everyone can contribute! This class will introduce the ways you can use eBird to both search for birds (by species, date, and by location) as well as how to enter valuable information into the database. We'll hit the trails of the nature center afterward to see what birds are out there, then return to the building to enter our data together at the end! The fee is $15/adult; youth age 12 and up are welcome to attend with an adult for $20. Any additional youth will be $5 each. Dress for the weather as class held outside. Instructor: Kyle Te Poel

Date: Tuesday July 11

Time: 6:00-8:00pm

Fee:: $15/adult or $20/adult+child and $5/additional child

WILDFLOWER AND CRITTER TREK: Click Here to Register

The trails in the Maplewood Nature center offer a great opportunity for viewing wildflowers, native vegetable and evidence of the animals that call this urban forest area home. Each month the experience will be different even though the trails are the same. Avid gardener and plant enthusiast. Lisa Pearson will be leading the treks. Wear good walking shoes, the trails are hard packed natural surfaces. Bring bug spray and dress according to the weather, if it is raining the trek will be reschedule. Instructor: Lisa Pearson

Date: Tuesday July 18

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Fee:: $15

FALL MIGRATION WALK: Click Here to Register

It might still be summer to us, but to birds, fall migration is already underway. With plenty of bugs still around to feed these birds on their journeys south, we'll hope for an active morning with a good mix of breading species and migrants (many of which will look different now than they did in the spring)! Cost of the class is $15/: youth age 12 and up are welcome with an adult for $20. Any additional youth is an extra $5. Dress for the weather as class held outside at Maplewood Nature Center.  Instructor: Kyle Te Poel

Date: Monday August 28

Time: 8:00-10:00am

Fee: $15/adult or $20/adult+child and $5/additional child