Wild & Free Series

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Get creative and explore nature with our weekly drop-in programs! Every single Friday program is completely free and designed to get hands-on with nature-inspired stories and crafts.

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center 

Cost: FREE

 

Saturday Free Fall Crafting (All Ages): Saturdays, September – November 2026 

Hands-on seasonal drop-in crafting sessions for families exploring fall colors and natural materials.

 

Nature Fun For Little Ones Series

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Hands-on activities designed to connect our youngest explorers and their families with the wonders of the natural world.

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Ages: Perfect for toddlers/preschoolers and guardians 

Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center 

Cost: FREE 

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

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• Creatures Of The Night: Owls: Friday, November 6, 2026 

• The 3 R's of Recycling: Friday, December 4, 2026

• Winter is Here: Friday, January 1, 2026

• No Two are Alike: Friday, February 5, 2026

 

Special Events & Movie Nights

 

​Halloween Spooky Hike & Market 

• Date: Friday, October 23, 2026

• Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM 

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center

• Cost: FREE 

• Description: A family-friendly evening hike paired with a local vendor market!

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Halloween PJ Movie Night 

• Date: Friday, October 30, 2026

• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM 

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center 

• Ages: 4 – 10 years old 

• Cost: $3.00 

• Description: Continuing this cozy, community event with a special Halloween theme!

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Migration Bird & Feeder Workshop 

• Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026 

• Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

•  Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center 

• Description: Helping get local bird feeders ready for winter and encouraging community science through Project FeederWatch.

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Hootin’ Holiday Bash

• Date: Saturday, December 19, 2026

• Time: 8:45 AM (Doors Open) / 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Program)

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center

• Cost: Program Fee / Free Community Admission

• Description: Featuring an 80-foot Main Program with 5–7 live birds and extensive interactive educational display materials. Enjoy a mix of owl and falcon species up close!

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Holiday Lights & Fireside Nature Night

• Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2026

• Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center & Trails

• Cost: FREE

• Description: Stroll a luminary-lit nature trail, warm up by the fire with cocoa, and craft natural bird-friendly holiday ornaments to take home or hang in the park.

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Winter PJ Movie & Cocoa Night

• Date: Friday, January 29, 2027

• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center

• Ages: 4–10 years old

• Cost: $3.00

• Description: Put on your favorite winter pajamas, cozy up with hot chocolate, and enjoy a nature-themed animated winter movie with friends!

 

Screech Owl at Midnight Hollow (Valentine’s Theme Special Event)

• Date: Friday, February 12, 2027

• Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center

• Ages: 3–6 years old

• Cost: $3.00

• Description: A special reading story program geared toward ages 3–6 with a fun Valentine's Day theme, featuring festive decorations, live animal display elements, and a cozy celebration!

 

Outdoor Adventure

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Wolf Moon (Supermoon) Hike

• Date: Friday, January 22, 2027

• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

• Location: Lowell Park

• Ages: All ages welcome

• Cost: FREE

• Description: A peaceful night walk through the winter woods under the bright moonlight. Explore nocturnal animal winter survival adaptations and crisp night sensory ecology.

 

Snowshoe & Winter Eco-Tour (Weather Permitting)

• Dates: Saturdays, January 16 & February 20, 2027

• Time: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

• Location: Lowell Park

• Cost: FREE

• Description: Explore winter woodland trails on snowshoes! Learn about dormant tree biology, winter wildlife strategies, and crisp winter ecology. (If snow is insufficient, program transitions to a guided winter ecology hike).

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Seasonal Camps

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Thanksgiving Forest School

• Date: Monday & Tuesday, November 23 – 24, 2026 

• Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM 

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center 

• Cost: $30.00

• Description: Bringing back our well-loved seasonal holiday forest school format for a blend of indoor and outdoor fall learning during Thanksgiving break.

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Winter Break Forest School

• Date: Monday & Tuesday, December 28 – 29, 2026

• Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center

• Cost: $30.00

• Description: Beat winter cabin fever! A two-day camp featuring indoor craft experiments, snow play, shelter building, track making, and cozy story circles around winter ecology.

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Adult Retreats

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Finding Joy in the Winter: A Women’s Day Retreat

• Date: Saturday, January 9, 2027

• Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

• Location: Woodcote

• Ages: Adult / Women's Retreat

• Cost: $50.00 (Includes catered lunch & take-home book)

• Capacity: Min 8 / Max 20 participants

• Registration Deadline: Pre-registration required by January 3, 2027 (to finalize catering)

• Description: Gather at Woodcote for a gentle, restorative day retreat designed to help you honor your body’s seasonal rhythm and step back from burnout. This intimate gathering includes a guided winter nature hike, reflective journaling, art centering activities, and interactive workshops centered on the book, Finding Joy in the Winter.

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Registration Includes:

Catered Lunch: Fresh sandwich lunch catered by Arthur’s.

All-Day Hot Beverage Station: Warm up with continuous coffee and tea service.

Take-Home Book: A paperback copy of Finding Joy in the Winter: The 21-Day Conservation Guide to Defeat Chaos, End Decision Fatigue, and Protect Your Energy Budget.

Guided Nature Hike & Activities: A seasonal outdoor walk, gentle art centering exercises, and group reflection.​​