Wild & Free Fridays 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

 

Stick Doll Craft (Ages 5+): Friday, July 24, 2026 

Older kids are invited to use their imagination to transform simple forest twigs and natural materials into unique stick dolls.

 

Driftwood Fish Art (Ages 5+): Friday, July 31, 2026 

We are turning pieces of foraged river driftwood into beautiful, painted fish sculptures to wrap up the month!

 

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

 

• River Life: Friday, August 7, 2026 

• Marvelous Monarchs: Friday, September 4, 2026 

• Trees & Leaves In The Fall: Friday, October 2, 2026 

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

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

 

Special Events & Movie Nights

 

PJs, Stuffies & Wild Creatures! A Nature Center Movie Night 

• Date: Friday, July 31, 2026 

• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM 

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center 

• Ages: 4 – 10 years old 

• Cost: $3.00

• Description: Grab your favorite pajamas and stuffed animal friend for a cozy, wild movie night right here at the nature center!

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Final Monarch Release & Tagging 

• Date: September, TBD

• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center 

• Cost: FREE 

• Description: A big finish to our summer event where the public can see community science live as our expert shows visitors how to tell male and female monarchs apart while tagging the last "super generation."

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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.

 

Outdoor Adventure & River Series

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Fall Colors Eco-Tour & Paddleboarding

• Dates: Saturdays, October 3 & 10, 2026 

• Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM 

• Location: Lowell Park 

• Cost: $5.00 

• Description: Using our paddleboards to enjoy the stunning fall leaves and changing colors along the river!

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Nocturnal Full Moon Animal Hike (NEW Program!) 

• Date: Friday, September 26, 2026 

• Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM 

• Location: Lowell Park Ages: 13 years and up 

• Cost: FREE

• Description: A special late-night learning hike designed just for teens and adults to explore nocturnal wildlife and ecosystem adaptations.

 

Summer & Seasonal Camps

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Pollinator Party Camp

• Date: Monday – Friday, August 3 – 7, 2026

• Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center

• Ages: 4 – 9 years old

• Cost: $50.00 

• Description: The perfect mix of nature, glitter, and garden magic! We’ll spend the week crafting sparkly butterfly wings and building cozy bee cottages.

 

Fort Building & Survival Camp

• Date: Monday – Friday, August 3 – 7, 2026 

• Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center 

• Ages: 8 – 15 years old Cost: $50.00 

• Description: Engineering outdoor shelters and learning the essential basics of "living off the land."

 

Thanksgiving Forest Camp 

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

• Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM 

• Location: Ruth Edwards Nature Center 

• Description: Bringing back our well-loved seasonal holiday camp format for outdoor fall learning during Thanksgiving break.

 

School & Community Partner Programs

 

Lee & Ogle County Outdoor Stewardship Days

• Date: Tuesday & Wednesday, October 6 & 7 

• Location: Lowell Park 

• Description: A big two-day outdoor learning event on Tuesday and Wednesday at Lowell Park. We expect hundreds of local students to join us for hands-on environmental activities.