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The mission of
the PEBC
is
to be a vehicle for understanding
and appreciating the natural
wonders in our own backyards.
Summer 2013 Public Programs
Border Biker Family Bike Hike Program The Prairie Ecology Bus Center offers a variety of naturalist programs for the general public primarily in the summer and winter months. The programs change each season and current classes are listed below. All programs are located at Sparks Park, 935 North Hwy. 86 in Lakefield, unless otherwise noted. To attend any of these programs, we ask that you pre-register at least two business days ahead of time, unless otherwise noted, so that we can be sure to have enough supplies for everyone. We may also need to inform you of any changes or updates. You can register by calling the PEBC at 507.662.5064. Volunteers Wanted! Do you have a hobby or skill that you'd like to share with others? If so, contact the PEBC! We are looking for folks who'd be interested in leading a class either in winter or in the summer. Give us a call to share your ideas and we'll work with you to organize and schedule a class or even a tour. No teaching experience necessary - just a willingness to share a favorite hobby or craft. See what we are offering at Sparks Park - and check back often for new listings or date changes! |
Program Name |
Program Details |
Program Description |
| Nature Packs |
"Birding Adventures" "Geology Rocks!" "Nocturnal" "Outdoor Skills"
|
FREE!! Check out one of PEBC's Nature Packs today for a weekend or for family vacation fun!! The Nature Packs are designed with families, youth groups, schools and home schools in mind. Each pack contains activities suitable for both individual explorations, as well as, groups. Packs can be checked out for up to two weeks at a time. You will be resopnsible for lost packs or broken equipment. For more information, call the PEBC at 507-662-5064. |
GARDEN CLUB
|
•Tuesdays - June thru September 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Who: Youth Who Have Completed Grade 2 and Older |
Back for its fourth year, garden club is seeking interested young gardeners who aren't afraid to get a little dirty, who like to be outside, are willing to explore bugs and birds and other interesting garden visitors, and - of course - learn how to grow fabulous flowers and awesome veggies! Garden Club takes place on most Tuesdays throughout the growing season starting May 22. For more information, call the PEBC at 507-662-5064. |
Hypertufa Garden Planters
|
•Saturday, May 18 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Who: Adults & Youth having completed Gr. 8 & Older |
Do you like mudpies? Or do you like crafting things to use in your garden? Then this is just the class for you – especially if you like to get messy! Hypertufa is a rock-like material that can be shaped into pots or sculpture. Its porous nature makes it ideal for a potting up a variety of plants. It may look like stone but it’s very lightweight and easy to make. Participants will learn how to mix the hypertufa ingredients and create their very own planters/pots. Each person will be able to make 2-3 planters to take home. All hypertufa ingredients provided however participants will be given a list upon registration of a few supplies that participants will need from home. |
Breakfast 'n' Blooms Kilen Woods Hike
|
•Saturday, June 1 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Who: All Ages Where: River City Eatery (344 10th St., Windom, MN) & Kilen Woods State Park (50200 860th St., Lakefield, MN) |
It's fun for the whole family on this naturalist-led hike to celebrate National Trails Day and enjoy the early summer wildflowers of this beautiful riverside forest. Participants will meet at the River City Eatery in Windom for a light breakfast (included in price) and a short program on spring wildflowers before we carpool to Kilen Woods State Park. Don't forget your camera and sturdy hiking shoes! Pre-registration required by May 30th. |
Bug Box Workshop
|
•Wednesday, June 5 from 4-5:30 p.m.; Friday, June 14 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (both sessions required)
Who: Youth Gr. 3 & Older
|
Learn what makes an insect an insect and take an insect safari in search of your first project specimens! You will begin your own Entomology box, learn how to properly pin two different insects and take home pins and a pinning block for future pinning projects. Continue to build your box contents over the summer and you’ll be ready to enter it at the county fair, if you so choose! |
Honey Bees
|
•Thursday, June 6 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Who: Families - All Ages |
Bees are truly a remarkable creature. They are the only insect that produces food eaten by man, will visit 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip, will fly as fast as 15 mph and can flap their wings at an average of 200 times per second, or 12,000 times per minute. Along with some of these fun facts, we will be learning about how these bees produce honey, some of their unique habits, and why they are such a critical part of our ecosystem. Join guest presenter and beekeeper, Anthony Almodovar, in observing an active hive and learning about one of the most fascinating and needed creatures on earth - the honey bee. |
Return of the Reptiles |
•Tuesday, June 11 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Who: Families & Adults |
It has been a long winter of inactivity for local reptiles. The official term for this state in reptiles is “brumation,” roughly the same as hibernation. Now that the spring sun is warming the ponds and ground, these reptiles are emerging to carry on their lives. Join the fun in discovering where these animals have spent the winter and what they will be up to for the rest of the warm weather months. You’ll be able to meet the resident reptiles of the PEBC, too! |
Awesome Acro-Bats |
•Wednesday, June 19 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Who: Youth Gr. K-6 |
They’re not very handsome. They live in dark places. They can get into our houses. Sounds creepy! But bats can do something that no other mammal can do – fly! While they might be a little weird, these small critters are very helpful to us and are an important part of our world! Minnesota is home to seven types of awesome bats. Join us to learn about these mysterious animals and, after playing a bat game, making a bat craft and exploring bat specimens, you might just feel a little bit batty! |
Fireside Cooking |
•Wednesday, June 26 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Who: Families & Adults |
Campfire food goes way beyond hotdogs and roasted marshmallows! Join us to learn fun and creative ways to cook using a Dutch Oven, roasting sticks, foil, and pie irons to create a mini-feast -- so be prepared for taste-testing! Wear closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather. |
Nature's Night Lights |
•Thursday, June 27 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Who: Families & Adults |
They’re nature’s own flashlights. They flicker and sparkle on mid-summer’s nights like twinkling Christmas lights decorating meadows and forest edges. Fireflies, commonly known as lightening bugs, aren’t flies or bugs – they’re beetles! The flashing that we see is communication between males and females. Learn about the basics of firefly identification (we have more than one species!), what causes the insects to light up, how they communicate and more. Weather and insects permitting, we’ll hike through Sparks Park in search of the blinking beetles. |
Lightening Bug Garden Art |
•Saturday, June 29 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. Who: High School Youth & Adults |
As kids, we enjoyed catching lightening bugs and watching them send their message to others with the light they made. Watching them was fascinating and brought smiles to all who saw them! Join us to make your very own glass lightening bug garden art critter to keep all year round! These crafty beetles contain a solar light that will brighten your evening garden and add whimsy décor for your daytime enjoyment! All materials provided. |
Border Biker Family Bike Hike
|
•Saturday, June 29 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Who: Families & Adults Where: Robertson County Park, located on east shore of Loon Lake on County Road 4 |
It’s a nature hike, on a bike! Explore the Loon Lake bike trail with the whole family on this leisurely evening bike ride! A PEBC naturalist will lead an easy guided bike tour from Robertson County Park in Minnesota to Mini-Wakan State Park in Iowa. This cross-border ride may sound daunting but it is only two miles each way! Along the way, we will stop to investigate the native plants and animals of the prairie and lakeshore. Pre-registration required. |
Stargazing under a New Moon |
•Monday, July 8 9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Who: Families & Adults |
Star light, star bright, wish I may, wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight. Well, have you ever wished you knew more about the stars? Here’s your chance! Learn how stars are formed, what the constellations look like and where to find them in the night sky. Weather willing, we’ll go for a hike in the park and search for nature’s own night lights! |
Ssssslithering Science of Snakes! |
•Wednesday, July 10 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Who: Youth Grades 3 & Up, Families, Adults
|
When you mention snakes to people, many may think of scary, slimy creatures. But snakes aren’t slimy at all! Like most reptiles, they are covered with scales that keep them nice and dry. They also protect them and help them move! During this program you will learn to hear, see, eat, and breathe like a snake. We’ll also debunk many of the myths surrounding these misunderstood animals as we explore little-known – but super cool – facts. Each participant will receive a booklet on MN snakes to take home. |
Mini Barn Quilt Garden Art
|
•Saturday, July 13 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Who: Youth Age 14 to Adults |
Painted wooden "barn quilts" are popping up across the countryside. You'd love to have one but have no barn, you say? No problem! Join a PEBC naturalist and create a painted mini version attached to a fence post that you can “plant” right in your yard. All supplies included and many designs to choose from. |
Nature Explorers Camp |
•Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, July 16-18 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Who: Youth Grades K-2 |
Let’s go exploring! Each day of Nature Explorers Camp, we’ll explore different nature themes while investigating the animals and habitats of Sparks Park. Through hands-on activities, games and crafts, as well as plenty of adventures out on the trails, your child will experience the wonders of the great outdoors! Dress for the weather and be prepared to get a little bit dirty as we explore the “wildlands” of Sparks Park! |
Magical Crystal Rock Gardens |
•Thursday, July 18 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Who: Youth Gr. 3 & Older |
There’s something magical about growing things in a garden. For this class, you don’t even have to have a green thumb! A PEBC naturalist will show you how to “grow” your very own crystal rock garden. You’ll find out how it works, but your friends will think it’s magic! |
Dinner and a Stroll at Wolf Lake |
•Thursday, July 25 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Who: All Ages Where: River City Eatery (344 10th St., Windom, MN) & Wolf Lake (49663 Cty Rd 17, Windom) |
There are few things more spectacular than a blooming prairie in the full glory of summer. Enjoy a light dinner and short program at the River City Eatery in Windom (included in price) and then we will carpool to Wolf Lake Prairie, just outside of Windom, for an easy naturalist-led hike on paved paths. This is a great opportunity to learn about southwest Minnesota's native prairie plants and how they have been traditionally used by the Lakota Sioux and other native peoples. You won't find a more beautiful place to stroll than in a prairie under the golden light of a summer evening. Pre-registration required by July 23rd. |
Butterfly Hike |
•Tuesday, July 30 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Fee: $3 members/$5 non-members Who: Families, All Ages |
The land is painted with vibrant colors of red, orange, purple, and yellow. Flowers of these colors attract one of our most favorite insects – the butterfly! We’ll hike to capture butterflies and take an up close, personal look at them. Not only will we be looking for the adult butterflies, but also the eggs and caterpillars. Participants will take home their very own “bug box.” Learn how to attract them to your backyard and enjoy the delicate “flutter-bys” all summer long! |
Wild At Art |
•Saturday, August 3 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Who: Youth completed Gr. K-2 •Saturday, August 3 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Who: Youth completed Gr. 3-6 Fee: $3 members/$5 non-members |
See the world as you have never seen it before! Nature can be a source of wonderful ideas for creative fun. Enjoy a hike and explore painting using plants and other natural items found at Sparks Park. Dress for the outdoors and wear clothes that can get dirty. |
Dragonfly Educator Workshop
|
•Saturday, August 3 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Fee: $75 per person Who: Open to All Educators |
This four-hour workshop for all educators exposes dragonfly connections to science, art, English, social studies, fitness and more. Presented by Ami Thompson Consulting LLC and the PEBC in association with the Minnesota Odonata Survey Project. This workshop includes: the new Dragonfly Curriculum Guide, dragonfly and damselfly natural history, outdoor, hands-on field time capturing and examining as many Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) as we can catch, techniques for dragonfly and damselfly ID, tips for raising nymphs in the classroom, citizen science connections, classroom activities with handouts and technology connections. 4 CEUs for attending. Registration deadline is July 15. |
A Candling We Will Go |
•Wednesday, August 7 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Fee: $3 members/$5 non-members Who: Youth Gr. 3 + |
The pioneers would be amazed by what we take for granted in our modern times. The simple act of flipping a switch and having light is something we often don’t even think about. How did pioneers light their houses? With candles they made themselves! How did they do it? By dipping! Join PEBC staff and learn how to dip your own candles. This can be a little messy so wear old clothes and dress for the weather. |
Project Bluestem Educator Workshop |
•Friday, August 9 1:00 - 5:30 p.m. •Saturday, August 10 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Fee: $115 per person, Graduate credit optional for $150 Attendance at both sessions required |
Prairies offer one of our most spectacular ecosystems in southern Minnesota and are a wealth of learning opportunities! Discover your prairie heritage through this exciting educator workshop .Learn how to bring the prairies into your educational setting or even take your students to a prairie and teach outdoors! Participants travel on the Ecology Bus to a nearby prairie for first-hand experiences in the field. Learn how to identify common prairie plants and animals and discover a variety of ways you can explore prairies through demonstrations, games, and hands-on activities. The curriculum of K-12 interdisciplinary prairie activities is an asset for any school in the region. Graduate credit is available and 12 CEUs provided for attending. |
CSI Day Camp |
•Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, August 13, 14, 15 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. each day Fee: $20 members/$25 non-members Who: Youth Gr. 3+ |
Mysteries abound in nature and scientists are always trying to figure out whodunit. This three day camp will give you the chance to learn detective skills to better understand key clues about strange things we find in nature. You will use microscopes, plaster casts and more to figure out who has been busy in Sparks Park. You may even solve a mystery or two! Dress for the weather as we will be outside for the classes. |
It's A Bug's World |
•Saturday, August 17 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Fee: $5 members/$8 non-members Who: PreK-Gr. 2 |
Join a Prairie Ecology Bus Center naturalist to learn all about insects, go on a bug hunt and make a funny bug craft to take home. |
Tromp & Stomp Nature Romp |
•Saturday, August 17 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Fee: $5 members/$8 non-members/Families 3 or more $15 Who: Families & Youth K-Gr. 6 |
Get ready to tromp around, get down and dirty, and connect with nature in this fun exploration of the wilderness right outside your door! Did raccoon and his friends really have a party in the woods last night? What’s down that big hole? You’ll take a guided nature stroll and learn all about the forest’s secrets in this wild program. |
Habitat Helpers |
•Saturday, August 17 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Fee: $20 members/$25 non-members Who: Families, Adults, Youth Gr. 5+ |
Become part of the construction crew for nature with the PEBC and assemble a nest box kit that can be used to attract a wide variety of cavity-nesting birds including wood ducks, screech owls, and kestrels. Bring a light-weight pair of gloves to work with and a cordless or electric drill if you have one. Space is limited to the first 12 folks to register so call early! |
Turtle Tales |
•Thursday, Auugst 22 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Fee: $5 members/$8 non-members Who: Youth Preschool - Gr. 2 |
Turtles have many things that help them to survive such as a strong shell, claws for digging, and a sharp beak! Meet PEBC’s resident turtles and then explore the creek and pond at Sparks Park to try and find more of our reptile friends! |
You can download the full schedule and program descriptions here:
Download current May-August Program Schedule (pdf file)
Pre-registration is required for all programs a minimum of two business days prior to program unless otherwise noted. Programs will cancel if minimum enrollment has not been met by the registration deadline. Please help us ensure the success of these programs by registering ahead of time. Please call 507.662.5064 or send an email to: ecologybus@ecologybus.org
Class fee is payable at the time of the program unless otherwise noted. To send pre-payments, please mail checks to PEBC, PO Box 429, Lakefield, MN 56150. Interested in becoming a member and receive program discounts? Membership information is available at the PEBC office or online.