FREE EVENT

Explore your community for a fun day of nature play!

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Saturday, May 17, 2025 is Nature Everywhere Day in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul — and beyond. We’re highlighting low-cost and free nature-based outdoor activities for your family happening throughout the week in your community. Check back often for updates!

Do you have questions about Nature Everywhere Day or is your organization or community group interested in event promotion? Contact us at conference@childrenandnature.org, or complete the Google Form.

Brought to you by the Children & Nature Network

FEATURED EVENTS

Urban Bird Collective: 2025 Annual Birding Festival

Saturday, May 17 | 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge—Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
3815 American Boulevard East
Bloomington, MN 55425

Join Urban Bird Collective for their Annual Birdwatching Festival – their biggest gathering of the year! Each May, they gather together with community members of all ages and birding ability levels to take in the sights and sounds of the migrating birds in the Twin Cities.

The Annual Birdwatching Festival has a focus on BIPOC and LGBTQI+ communities, but all are welcome. All skill levels are welcome as well. Walk Leaders will be present for each session – they are ready and excited to show beginners how to bird!

Learn more and register here

Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society: 2025 Peony Festival

Saturday, May 17 | 2:30 – 6:00 PM
The China Friendship Garden
Liu Ming Yuan
Phalen Regional Park
1624 Phalen Drive
Saint Paul, MN 55106

The 2025 Peony Festival will be a celebration of the peony through dance, song, poetry and visual art. Events at the Xiang Jiang Pavilion will include youth cultural crafts and activities including painting water calligraphy on stone with “mops”, and art displays. Events at the Hmong Plaza will include cultural dance and song performances, poetry readings and Peony experts. Sale items will include flowered fashions, peony tubers and plants (courtesy of our partner Hidden Spring Peony Farm) and peony candles. Food will be available for purchase – come enjoy a picnic dinner! Free to the public, goodwill offering accepted.

Learn more here

Urban Roots Farm Tour

Friday, May 16 | 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Rivoli Bluff Farm and Restoration Site
717 Rivoli St
Saint Paul, MN 55130
Ample street parking available.

Urban Roots is a Saint Paul organization whose mission is to cultivate and empower youth through nature, healthy food, and community. Come tour our largest urban farm and habitat restoration site and learn about how we design our youth enrichment programs!

This is an outdoor event so dress for the weather. Bringing a water bottle is recommended.

Eco Fair on Summit

Saturday, May 17 | 1:00 – 4:00 PM
House of Hope Presbyterian Church Parking Lot
797 Summit Ave
St. Paul, MN 55105

Join a coalition of nonprofits for this free, family-friendly event! You can enjoy good food and learn about all things green, from e-bikes to pollinator gardens, electric vehicles to solar installations. This fair will feature:

Electric Vehicle Showroom featuring test drives with local dealers and private owners sharing the ‘inside scoop’ on ownership.
Electric fire truck and school bus
E-bikes
HOURCAR rideshare
Electric lawn and garden tools and native garden & pollinator experts
Heat pumps, household electric appliances and residential solar
Waste and recycling with the City of St. Paul and Evergreen Collective
Food trucks with vegetarian options
N/A beer sampling

Learn more here

Southwest Farmers Market Planting Party & Community Celebration

Saturday, May 17 | 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Mount Olivet Church Parking Lot
5025 Knox Ave S
Minneapolis, MN, 55419

The Southwest Farmers Market, operated by Neighborhood Roots — which also operates the Kingfield and Nokomis Farmers Markets — is excited to announce its grand opening on Saturday, May 17, 2025, This inaugural market season kicks off with a Planting Party featuring local vendors, family-friendly activities, and an opportunity to support the market’s growth through a new member program.

Learn more here

Belwin Bison Festival & 5k

Saturday, May 17 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields
15601 Hudson Rd. N
Lakeland, MN 55001

Enjoy fun activities for all ages, including a 5k “Run with the Bison” Fun Run, live music, eco-arts, food trucks, and the annual bison release.

This beloved annual event features the release of the 2025 Northstar Bison herd onto Belwin’s Bison Prairie. In addition to the release, visitors can also enjoy fun activities for all ages, such as live music, eco-arts, and food trucks. We’ll also host a 5k “Run with the Bison” Fun Run so visitors can run through the Prairie before the bison are released.

Learn more here

Please Note: No dogs or alcohol allowed at this event.

Saint Paul Parks Conservancy: Parksgiving

Friday, May 16 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Irvine Park
281 Walnut Street
St. Paul, MN 55102

This summer, celebrate Saint Paul’s incredible parks by exploring 20 parks at your own pace! The newly published Parks & People historical coloring book highlights the walk’s 20 featured parks. Whether you’re discovering hidden gems or revisiting your favorites, every step helps raise awareness and support for our beloved green spaces.

Kick off your adventure at Irvine Park for Parksgiving, as we dedicate the newly restored Victorian Fountain. You’ll find Music, Food Trucks, Meet the Artists and more as we celebrate the 176th birthday of our parks

The Ramsey County Historical Society booth will host Parks & People coloring book illustrator Jeanne Kosfeld, who will be available to sign copies, and provide coloring pages from the book.

Learn more and register here

Outdoor Yoga at Union Depot

Saturday, May 17 | 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Union Depot
214 4th Street East
Saint Paul, MN 55101

Saturday morning yoga class for a variety of skill levels.

Saturday classes are in addition to the free Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday classes, and are taught by the talented instructors from Studio 9-to-5. All classes are offered for a variety of skill levels. The first Saturday of each month is dedicated to beginners.

Learn more here

Participants are asked to bring a yoga mat, water and towel if needed. Classes are held outside on the North Plaza, weather permitting, or else are held virtually.

City of Lakes Waldorf School: Nature Play

Saturday, May 17 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
City of Lakes Waldorf School
2344 Nicollet Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Parking is available in our school parking lot; the entrance is located off of Nicollet Ave.

City of Lakes Waldorf School’s Early Childhood program offers a gentle and joyful transition from home to school, giving children the opportunity to learn and grow through self-initiated play, movement, and ample time in nature. Join us on Nature Everywhere Day to explore our beautiful classrooms (both indoors and out!), meet our dedicated teachers, and enjoy a variety of nature-themed craft activities.

Children and families of all ages are welcome! Make sure to dress for all kinds of nature play!

Learn more here

RSVP here so we can plan ahead for materials

This event is geared towards families with children ages 0-6, but all are welcome!

Three Rivers Park District: World Migratory Bird Day 2025

Saturday, May 17 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
10360 West River Road
Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park is a beautiful park located on the Mississippi Flyway. Come see the river, walk the dam, view the osprey tower, and the new treetop trail! The site is ADA accessible with ample parking. There are paved and unpaved trails, some with an incline.

FREE BIRD FESTIVAL!

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day along the Mississippi Flyway. See live raptors, attend a guided bird walk and learn how to help create bird-friendly cities and communities.
Food trucks with lunch fare for purchase will be on site. This outdoor event will be held rain or shine.

Guided Bird Walks | 7 & 8 a.m.
Meet Live Raptors | 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
Kid-Friendly Guided Bird Walks | 10:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m.
Exhibit Tables, Food Trucks, Kids Activities, and a Guided Bird Observation Deck | 10 am – 2 pm.

More About Twin Cities Bird Festival:
The event is a part of a weekend-long festival full of multiple fun, educational activities and bird walks which celebrate the birds that we see in the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area of Minnesota. It is an opportunity to meet our neighbors, connect with nature, and increase our understanding of how our lives intersect with the lives of birds!

Activities and events are held around the Twin Cities. Three Rivers in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota’s DNR Nongame Wildlife Program, Minnesota Bird Coalition, Land of Lakes Bird Alliance, St. Paul Bird Alliance, National Guard and Hennepin County are working together to put on this incredible free event.

More details can be found here

This event is intended for all ages.

Great River Greening: Invasive Plant Removal and Native Tree Planting

Saturday, May 17 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Stillwater, MN. Registrants will receive parking instructions

Lumberjack Landing is a 15-acre, in-progress park in Stillwater, MN, purchased by the city in 2017. Located north of downtown, on the St. Croix River, it will soon offer access for canoes and kayaks. Restoration efforts include removing invasive species like black locust, buckthorn and garlic mustard to promote native plant growth. Native plants and trees will be planted into the cleared understory. Volunteers are needed to help with these efforts. Join us in making a difference!

This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary, we will provide training required. Navigating the work area is of easy-medium difficulty.

All tools and training is provided.

This event is intended for all ages and registration is required: https://givepul.se/6guia4

YMCA of the North: Scavenger Hunt

Anytime
Various parks around the Twin Cities and beyond – check the map link for details!

Unlock It! is a self-guided scavenger hunt experience for the whole family. You can do it on your schedule, anytime during daylight hours. Just download the map, follow the clues and unlock the keyword!

Learn more here

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Nature in Your Neighborhood

Saturday, May 17 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Penn Lake Library
8800 Penn Ave. S,
Bloomington, MN 55431

You don’t have to leave your neighborhood to explore nature! Join a Ranger at your local library to explore what signs of spring are popping up in our neighborhood. Activities will be both indoors and outdoors and are geared toward elementary-aged students, but all are welcome! We will finish the program with a take-home project. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

What to Bring: Clothing and shoes you can comfortably move around in. This program has indoor and outdoor portions, please bring outerwear appropriate for the spring weather. Event is rain or shine.

Accessibility: Restrooms and water fountains available inside of the library. Outdoor terrains include paved sidewalks and mowed lawn.

Learn more here

Activities are geared toward elementary-aged students, but all are welcome!.

No registration required.

Circle of Friends Preschool, Edgewood School Prior Lake Savage Area School District: Nature Pop-Up Family Event – Let’s get outside!

Monday, May 12 | 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
Jeffers Pond Elementary School
14800 Jeffers Pass NW
Prior Lake, MN 55372

Join us for a nature-filled adventure at Jeffers Pond Elementary School. Each class features a story time and plenty of hands-on exploration — it’s the perfect opportunity for families to connect with nature. Don’t forget to dress for the weather! In the event of severe conditions, we will move indoors to Room 126 at Edgewood and notify families accordingly. Whether rain or shine, we promise a fun and enriching experience for all!

Register here

Event intended for ages birth to 7 years.

Dodge Nature Center & Preschool: Rock the Barn

Saturday, May 17 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Main Property, Farm Entrance
1701 Charlton Street
West St. Paul, MN 55118
Parking in nearby lots or on street

Put on your boots and come on down for Dodge’s annual farm and music festival—all while supporting the Dodge Nature Preschool Scholarship Fund and celebrating the preschool’s 25th Birthday!

Enjoy live bands and musicians as spring blooms around the nature center. Bring a blanket to picnic with family and friends. Get up close to farm animals, make dandelion fritters, and ride the hay wagon. Opportunities to support the Scholarship Fund at the event include a bake sale, raffle baskets, lemonade stand, and more.

Learn more here

Planned activities are geared towards families with children aged 2-12, but all who love music and nature are invited and welcome to attend.

EcoAlpha: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Cleanup

Sunday, May 11 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
14357 Loring Greenway
Minneapolis, MN 55403

EcoAlpha is hosting a Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Cleanup, bringing together volunteers to help remove litter and debris from one of the city’s most iconic public spaces! This event is an opportunity to give back to the environment, preserve the beauty of this beloved landmark, and ensure a cleaner, healthier space for visitors, pollinators, and wildlife.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate, and EcoAlpha will provide gloves, trash bags, and necessary cleanup supplies. By joining this effort, community members can take an active role in environmental stewardship, helping to maintain a cherished landmark while fostering a cleaner and greener Minneapolis.

Participants will meet at the Giant Blue Rooster Sculpture.

This event is intended for all ages and registration is required: https://forms.gle/V7SJyTCWWNkJBQ8DA

Duluth Nature Play Collaborative: Annual Nature Play & Learning Gathering

Saturday, May 17 | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
University of Minnesota Duluth
1049 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812

Early Childhood (0-3) Educators and early childhood education supporters are invited to the annual Nature Play & Learning gathering in Duluth, MN. This event is FREE and organized by the Duluth Nature Play Collaborative, Minnesota Early Childhood Outdoors, Hartley Nature Center, and the UMD Department of Applied Human Sciences, with support from the Jeffers Foundation. Participants can attend the keynote and panel from 8:30 – 10:30 am and tour Duluth’s many nature preschool and elementary sites from 11am – 3pm. There is an option to register just for site tours as well.

This event is intended for nature-based educators and advocates and registration is required: https://forms.gle/ndeMN4z5XN5TVL6C6

Additional Info:
It is a 2.5 hour drive from Saint Paul. Enter the UMD campus from St. Marie Street and park in Lots C, E, or G. These lots are free on weekends. Walk along University Drive and then Ordean Court to enter Montague Hall near lecture room 70.