Hike it Baby!

Parents and their children from birth to school age are invited to join the Cedar Rapids Hike It Baby chapter for a family-friendly hike at the Nature Center! Hike It Baby is a national non-profit organization that offers new parents an opportunity to connect and get into nature with their young children. Dress appropriately for...

CFS Open House

Join Interim Creekside Forest School Director, Marcy Fratzke, for a look at Creekside Forest School. Prospective families, interested community members, current or pre-service educators are welcome to attend. Attendees will learn about the core beliefs of Creekside Forest School, our approach to teaching and learning, what a typical school day looks like, and discuss logistics...

IN-PERSON Backyard Chickens Workshop

Learn the basic information you need to raise hens in urban and suburban areas during class. Participants will receive a certificate of completion, enabling them to get a permit to legally keep chickens in Cedar Rapids and other communities. ​This class is geared towards adults. Please note: If your registration contains multiple participants, a certificate...

Preschool Trail Trekkers: Sounds of Spring

As the weather warms up, so does the frog chorus! Listen for frogs at the wetlands. Learn about the frog life cycle and special frog features, sing frog songs, and go on a frog watching hike.For preschoolers with adult. Dress for outdoor activities. Cost: Preschooler $5 (ages 3-5); Siblings (ages 0-2) and Adults are free....

Blue Bridge Opening Ceremony

Indian Creek Nature Center 5300 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States

Hosted by Linn County and Indian Creek Nature Center After spending nearly 150 years carrying passengers over Indian Creek, the historic "Blue Bridge" is officially starting its second life on Indian Creek Nature Center's trail system and we would love for you to celebrate with us. No registration is required but an RSVP is welcome....

Messy Play

BinSpire Messy Play is inviting families to come and play. Paint, water, mud, shaving cream, and more will be set up for your little ones to get messy. Child-led, open-ended play encourages creativity, builds confidence, and helps children experience new textures and practice social skills. And the best part? The clean up will be taken...

Preschool Trail Trekkers: Sounds of Spring

As the weather warms up, so does the frog chorus! Listen for frogs at the wetlands. Learn about the frog life cycle and special frog features, sing frog songs, and go on a frog watching hike.For preschoolers with adult. Dress for outdoor activities. Cost: Preschooler $5 (ages 3-5); Siblings (ages 0-2) and Adults are free....

Wild Water Play Drop-Off (K-3rd Grades)

Send your child(ren) to the Nature Center for a Saturday afternoon spring adventure! We'll learn about and explore some of the different water features found here such as ponds, wetlands and/or brooks and streams. Be sure to wear clothes and close toed shoes that can get wet and muddy, and bring an extra change of...

Bird Banding at the Barn

Join ornithologist Dr. Neil Bernstein for a special bird banding program. Be our guest and drop in at Penningroth Barn (6665 Otis Rd) anytime to watch Dr. Bernstein net, band, and release birds from Nature Center property. You’ll get a chance to see the equipment he uses, observe the banding process, and learn about the...

Birdie Big Year; Elevating Women Birders

Tiffany Kersten didn’t set out to do a Big Year, but after a series of unantipicated and serendipitous events, she suddenly found herself amidst one. As an assault survivor, she spent 2021 traveling to all corners of the country, tallying birds and gifting personal safety alarms to women she met along the way. Her goal...