Public Programming

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...

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...

Lace up your hiking shoes and venture out at dusk to join a small group of adventurers for a guided night hike. The ICNC prairie and woodland trails will be lit by the light of the full moon, but you'll also want to bring a flashlight or headlamp, just in case of cloud cover. Encounters...

Open house and celebration of the new children's nature adventure book Hunting Yellow. The story follows two young children as they explore the natural world for a very special shade of yellow. Stop by anytime to meet illustrator Gabe Anderson and author Jean Wiedenheft and enjoy light refreshments. Jean will read Hunting Yellow at 10:00...

See Indian Creek property in a whole new way! Have a seat in our quiet, electric golf cart as we tour prairies east of the nature center in style. Other routes/stops on this one-hour journey will include a stop at the blue bridge, peek inside the lower level of the old barn and drive through...

Step inside Indian Creek Nature Center to view and touch some of our resident animals! A staff member will be present to show visitors the animals up close and help answer your questions. Come and go at your leisure as there will not be a formal program. Fee: $2/person, registration is optional. Register