
ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
MAKE MEMORIES WITH ANOKA COUNTY PARKS
We offer a variety of educational and recreational activities for all ages and abilities.
View all our upcoming activities below and register online to make lasting memories. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.
Upcoming Activities - Calendar - Educators - Homeschool - Preschool - Summer Day Camps
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
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Adaptive Paddling – Wednesday, July 2; 1-3 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
Adaptive Paddling – Tuesday, July 29; 6-8 pm; Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center
Adaptive Paddling – Thursday, August 14; 1-3 pm; Lake George Regional Park
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FREE Campfire Talk with a Naturalist: Owls – Saturday, June 7; 7-8 pm; Bunker Hills Campground
FREE Summer Solstice Celebration – Friday, June 20; 5-9 pm; Wargo Nature Center
FREE Campfire Talk with a Naturalist: Owls – Saturday, June 21; 7-8 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lake Campground
FREE Moth Extravaganza – Friday, June 27; 8:30-10 pm; Bunker Hills Campground Visitor Center
FREE Lake Superior Agates and Where to Find Them – Saturday, July 12; 12-1 pm; Bunker Hills Campground Visitor Center
FREE Campfire Talk with a Naturalist: Otters – Saturday, July 12; 7-8 pm; Bunker Hills Campground
FREE Campfire Talk with a Naturalist: Otters – Saturday, July 26; 7-8 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lake Campground
FREE Lake Superior Agates and Where to Find Them – Saturday, August 9; 12-1 pm; Bunker Hills Campground Visitor Center
FREE Campfire Talk with a Naturalist: Loons – August 9; 7-8 pm; Bunker Hills Campground
FREE Campfire Talk with a Naturalist: Loons – August 23; 7-8 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lake Campground
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FREE Once Upon a Story Time: Fantastical Creatures – Tuesday, June 3; 9-10 am; Wargo Nature Center
Drop-in Nature Investigations: Birds – Saturday, June 7; 2-4 pm; Bunker Hills Campground Visitor Center
Drop-in Nature Investigations: Birds – Saturday, June 21; 2-4 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Family Fishing Fun – Saturday, June 28; 11 am - 1 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
FREE Once Upon a Story Time: Butterflies – Tuesday, July 1; 9-10 am; Wargo Nature Center
Drop-in Nature Investigations: Insects – Saturday, July 12; 2-4 pm; Bunker Hills Campground Visitor Center
Learn to Bike Ride – Monday, July 14; 10 am - 12 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
Drop-in Nature Investigations: Insects – Saturday, July 26; 2-4 pm; Wargo Nature Center
FREE Once Upon a Story Time: Colors of Summer – Tuesday, August 5; 9-10 am; Wargo Nature Center
Drop-in Nature Investigations: Insects – Saturday, August 9; 2-4 pm; Bunker Hills Campground Visitor Center
Learn to Bike Ride – Monday, August 18; 10 am - 12 pm; Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center
Drop-in Nature Investigations: Pond Critters – Saturday, August 23; 2-4 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Forest Kids Club (Fall 2025) – Wednesdays; September 10 – November 12 ; 9:30-11:30 am; Wargo Nature Center
Forest Kids Club (Winter 2026) – Wednesdays; January 7 – March 1; 19:30-11:30 am; Wargo Nature Center
Forest Kids Club (Spring 2026) – Wednesdays; March 25 – May 27; 9:30-11:30 am; Wargo Nature Center
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FREE Lunch with a Naturalist: Spring Wildflowers – Wednesday, May 14; 11:30 am – 1 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Birding by Boat – Wednesday, May 14; 9 am - 12 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Bird Walk – Tuesday, May 13; 6-8 pm; Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
Fat Tire Biking – Thursday, May 15; 4-6 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
FREE Wargo Restoration Project Days – Saturday, May 17; 10 am – 12 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Bird Walk – Monday, May 19; 9-11 am; Bunker Hills Activities Center
Bird Walk – Tuesday, May 20; 9-11 am; Pioneer Park, City of Blaine
Bird Walk – Friday, May 23; 9-11 am; Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
FREE Watersheds and Water Quality – Monday, June 2; 5:30-7 pm; Wargo Nature Center
FREE Lunch with a Naturalist: Edible & Medicinal Plants – Wednesday, June 4 ; 11:30 am – 1 pm; Wargo Nature Center
FREE Wargo Restoration Project Days – Saturday, June 14; 10 am – 12 pm; Wargo Nature Center
FREE Paddling – Saturday, June 28; 1-3 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
Introduction to Kayaking – Tuesday, July 1; 4-6 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Thursday, July 3; 3-4:30 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
FREE Lunch with a Naturalist: Turtles – Wednesday, July 9; 11:30 am – 1 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Rice Creek Paddling Adventure – Saturday, July 19; 1-4 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
Forest Bathing – Saturday, July 19; 6-8 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Summer Foraging – Saturday, July 26; 10 am - 12 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Introduction to Kayaking – Saturday, July 26; 11 am - 1 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
FREE Paddling – Saturday, July 26; 1-3 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
Mississippi River Paddling Trip – Friday, August 1; 6-8 pm; Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
FREE Lunch with a Naturalist: Loons Wednesday, August 6; 11:30 am – 1 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Introduction to Kayaking – Saturday, August 9; 1-3 pm; Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Saturday, August 9; 3-4:30 pm; Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Wednesday, August 13; 4-5:30 pm; Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
Fat Tire Biking – Thursday, August 14; 6-8 pm; Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
Birding by Boat – Tuesday, August 19; 9 am - 12 pm; Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
Forest Bathing – Tuesday, August 19; 6-8 pm; Wargo Nature Center
Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Wednesday, August 20; 4-5:30 pm; Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
Please note most FREE activities don’t require registration.
HOMESCHOOL
Wargo Nature Center offers monthly homeschool sessions for a variety of ages. Naturalists work with your children to provide quality environmental, recreational, and natural history education that focuses on hands-on, experiential learning. Students are separated by grade groups (Kindergarten, 1-2, 3-5, and 6-12) to facilitate the learning process.
Younger students explore topics such as seeds, animal homes, or kicksledding while older students may snowshoe, conduct water quality experiments, or learn bird identification skills. The topics change each year and the use of journals, and the scientific method often help guide our studies.
SESSIONS BEGIN IN OCTOBER AND REGISTRATION STARTS IN AUGUST.
PRESCHOOL
FOREST KIDS CLUB (Ages 4-5)
Preschoolers will spend Wednesday mornings adventuring and learning out on Wargo’s wooded peninsula exploring different nature topics and seasonal changes along the way. In addition to guided activities, each week will include a free-explore time where participants will be encouraged to follow their senses and create their own adventure with new friends.
NATURE PLAY (Ages 2-5 with Adult)
Experience the wonders of nature with your child through outdoor exploration, play, and stories in this parent-child program. Please be prepared for the weather and ready to play!
SUMMER DAY CAMPS
Are you looking for a fun and educational experience for your child this summer? Look no further than Anoka County. Camps vary in length from three to five days, and children as young as four are invited to participate!
Fee assistance is available. Please apply online. Did your camper have a great time? Share you summer day camp feedback with us!
For campers attending full-day camps, please limit the amount of disposable items brought in lunches. We encourage reusable lunch boxes and refillable beverage containers. Thanks for helping us protect the environment.