Indian Creek Nature Center

Practice in the Prairie: Free Summer Yoga Series!
2025-09-30 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
Take your practice to the prairie as some of Cedar Rapids’ best instructors teach a different style of yoga or Pilates each week to keep you on your toes!
Bring a yoga mat and dress for the outdoors. Class is held on the Amazing Space patio, and in case of rain, will need to be canceled. Arrive a few minutes early to get settled and meet new friends.
FREE. No registration required.
Learn More

Building Closed
2025-10-04 00:00, 2025-10-11 00:00, 2025-10-19 00:00, 2025-11-01 00:00, 2025-11-03 00:00

Bird Banding at the Barn
2025-10-04 08:30 - 11:30
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 importance of banding. You’ll also get an up close look at the birds! Children and families are welcome to join in on the fun. Banding is a weather-dependent activity.
This program is free and open to the public; free will donations to the Nature Center are welcome. FREE No registration required.
All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s BBL

Watercolor Workshop: Fall Leaves
2025-10-05 11:30, 2025-10-05 14:00 - 16:00
Let’s paint some fall maple and ginkgo leaves! This is a beginner-level painting class and participants do not need any previous watercolor experience. A template is provided so you can enjoy and focus on the watercolor paint!
Bring a positive attitude and be ready to learn a new skill. Supplies included in class fee: watercolor palette, brush, coldpress 140lb watercolor paper, Peerless Transparent Watercolors sample pack, as well as backing board and transparent sleeve to take finished work home*. Recommended ages: 8-100.
Cost: $40 (supplies included*) OR $32 (bring your own supplies**)
**Please bring your own: palette, brush (round 4, or similar size) and your preferred watercolor paint. You will be provided with 140 lb paper, backing board/transparent sleeve will be included to take finished work home.
Pre-registration is strongly recommended for this program.
Register

Full Moon Hike
2025-10-05 19:00 - 20:00
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 with wildlife are sure to occur! Hikers should dress for the weather. Children are welcome, including babies in carriers. (Strollers not recommended). Friendly dogs on leashes are also welcome.
Fee: $5 Members $10 Nonmembers. Pre-registration is required and closes 24 hours before event.
Register

Backyard Chickens Workshop (In-Person)
2025-10-07 05:30 - 19:00
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. One certificate per household needed (a spouse can attend with you, without registering). The purchaser must be present at the class to receive the certificate.
Fee: $15 Members $20 Nonmembers. Pre-registration is required for this program. Registration closes at noon on the day of the program. Walk-in participants can not be accepted.
Register

Preschool Trail Trekkers: Talking Trees
2025-10-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-11 10:00 - 11:00
Do you know that trees tell stories? Come learn the secrets of trees. Become the parts of a tree and discover the great things trees do for us. Search for leaf shapes, feel bark textures, smell a tree, and explore forest habitats at the Nature Center. For preschoolers with an adult. Dress for outdoor activities. Meet at the Penningroth Barn
Fees: $5 preschooler (ages 3-5), free for ages 2 and under, $5 adults.
Registration Deadline: 24 hours prior to program date
More information: https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/trail-trekkers/
Register

Mushroom Foray
2025-10-12 14:00 - 16:00
Want to learn more about the wonderful world of mushrooms? Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club at Indian Creek Nature Center to explore fungal diversity in Iowa!
We will meet at the Nature Center for an informational session and head off into the woods to find as many mushrooms as we can – perhaps even edible ones! Afterwards, we will identify what we collected back at the Nature Center. Registration is recommended but not required.
$10 Nonmember, $8 Member
Organization Info: PSMC is a 501c(3) nonprofit that promotes scientific and educational activities related to fungi and fosters the appreciation of wild and cultivated mushrooms.
Register

Inservice Camp: Fall Fest
2025-10-13 09:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-16 09:00 - 15:00
Make the most out of your child’s day off school!**
Send them to the “Fall Fest” In-Service Day Camp at ICNC. Students will ride an electric bus to Bass Farms for a fun-filled time exploring the pumpkin patch before heading back to Indian Creek to have additional fall adventures.
Please send a sack lunch and snack, and dress kids for indoor and outdoor play. This program is available for all K-5th grade students, with a maximum of 10 students.
**Please check your school’s calendar to see if this is an in-service day for your child.
9:00 AM-3:00 PM (drop off: 8:45-9AM, pickup: 3-3:15PM)
Members $60; Non-Members $80 (admission to Bass Farms is included)
Pre-registration is required for this program. We cannot accept walk-in participants. Thank you!
Register

Hike it Baby!
2025-10-13 10:30 - 11:30
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 the weather, as we will be outdoors for the full hour. Baby carriers and all-terrain strollers are welcome, but strollers are not suitable for all trails.
Feel free to pack a lunch to enjoy with the group on the Patio afterwards!
Free for Hike It Baby members, $5 per adult for non-members. All children are free. Pre-registration is strongly recommended as space is limited.
Register

Creekside Forest School Open House
2025-10-14 13:00 - 14:00
Join Education Director, Marcy Fratzke, for a look at Creekside Forest School. Prospective families and community members are invited to attend. Children welcome. A portion of the tour will be outdoors.
Register

Women In Nature
2025-10-18 08:00 - 15:00
Nurture your mind, body, and spirit at one of the Nature Center’s longest running events—Women in Nature. This day-long gathering invites participants to slow down, connect, and be inspired by the natural world and one another.
Enjoy talks from women sharing nature-rooted stories and insights. Wander the trails on guided hikes, engage in hands-on creative sessions, and explore wellness practices like yoga and meditation led by local guides.
Your experience includes a complimentary light breakfast, boxed lunch, and delightful extras like door prizes, women-owned business vendors, and space for meaningful connection.
Whether you come for growth, grounding, or good company, you’ll leave refreshed, inspired, and reconnected—with nature and yourself.
Women in Nature is a gender inclusive and gender affirming event open to all people who self-identify as women and those who identify as non-men. This includes cisgender women, trans women, gender nonconforming people, and nonbinary people.
Learn more at https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/gallery/women-in-nature/
Learn More

Bird Banding at the Barn
2025-10-18 08:30 - 11:30
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 the Nature Center property. You’ll get a chance to see the equipment he uses, observe the banding process, and learn about the importance of banding. You’ll also get an up-close look at the birds!
Children and families are welcome to join in on the fun. Banding is a weather-dependent activity.
This program is free and open to the public; free will donations to the Nature Center are welcome. FREE. No registration required.
All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s BBL

Bird Banding at the Barn
2025-10-25 08:30 - 11:30
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 the Nature Center property. You’ll get a chance to see the equipment he uses, observe the banding process, and learn about the importance of banding. You’ll also get an up-close look at the birds!
Children and families are welcome to join in on the fun. Banding is a weather-dependent activity.
This program is free and open to the public; free will donations to the Nature Center are welcome. FREE No registration required.
All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s BBL

Cub Scout Arrow of Light: Into the Wild
2025-10-25 09:30 - 11:30
Learn about and meet animals up close. Explore animal habitats. Play a food chain and food web game to learn about ecosystems and connections. Explore a model of human interactions on wildlife habitats. (You will be responsible for requirement #2 on your own)
Fees: $10 per scout, Scout leaders free (limit 2 per group), $5 per adult
Registration deadline: 2 days prior to program date
More information: https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/scouts/cub-scout-bsa-workshops/
Register

Cub Scout Arrow of Light: Into the Woods
2025-10-25 12:30 - 14:00
Trees are everywhere! What kind are they? Learn how trees work, how we use trees and more. Search for and identify trees, plants and animals of the forest (You will be responsible for Requirement #4).
Fees: $10 per scout, Scout leaders free (limit 2 per group), $5 per adult
Registration deadline: 2 days prior to program date
More information: https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/scouts/cub-scout-bsa-workshops/
Register

Feathers in Focus: Full-Day Bird Photography Masterclass
2025-10-26 08:00 - 16:00
Join award-winning nature photographer Donald Quintana for a small-group, full-day workshop set during peak fall migration at Indian Creek Nature Center. Surrounded by vibrant prairies, woodlands, and wetlands, this scenic location provides the ideal backdrop for photographing birds in their natural habitat.
We’ll begin early in the field with guided instruction on ethical bird photography techniques, composition, and light. After a break for lunch (lunch will be provided), the group will move indoors for a hands-on post-processing session using Adobe Photoshop or your editing software of choice. The focus will be on enhancing images with care, clarity, and creative intent.
This workshop is designed for intermediate photographers who want to improve both their fieldwork and editing skills. Dress for the weather, bring your camera gear, a sack lunch, and be ready for a full day of focused learning and connection with nature.
Pre-registration is required. $160 for Non-members, $150 for Members
Lunch is not included. Please pack a lunch.
Donald Quintana is an award-winning professional nature and wildlife photographer whose work has earned national acclaim, including recognition as a winner in the Professional Category of the National Audubon Photography Awards (2018) and Nature’s Best Backyard Professional Category (2020). His imagery is grounded in a deep commitment to ethical wildlife photography, opposed to baited, called in, or staged images—always captured with respect for the subject and its environment. As a conservation visual storyteller, Donald uses his lens to elevate awareness, advocate for habitat protection, and inspire a connection between people and the natural world. Through workshops, public talks, and guided tours, he empowers others to see and photograph with purpose. His work is as much about telling stories as it is about creating powerful, lasting images.
Click HERE for Donald’s photography website.

Inservice Camp: Nature's Unhuggables
2025-10-27 09:00 - 15:00
Make the most out of your child’s day off school!**
Send them to learn and meet “Nature’s Unhuggables.” This is an In-Service Day Camp at ICNC. Students will see real animals that often are considered ‘icky’ or ‘gross.’ After seeing them and learning about them, we hope they change their mind!
Please send a sack lunch and snack, and dress kids for indoor and outdoor play. This program is available for all K-5th grade students, with a maximum of 10 students.
**Please check your school’s calendar to see if this is an in-service day for your child.
9:00 AM-3:00 PM (drop off: 8:45-9AM, pickup: 3-3:15PM)
Members $55; Non-Members $75
Pre-registration is required for this program. We cannot accept walk-in participants. Thank you!

Hike it Baby!
2025-10-27 10:30 - 11:30
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 the weather, as we will be outdoors for the full hour. Baby carriers and all-terrain strollers are welcome, but strollers are not suitable for all trails.
Feel free to pack a lunch to enjoy with the group on the Patio afterwards!
Free for Hike It Baby members, $5 per adult for non-members. All children are free. Pre-registration is strongly recommended as space is limited.

Inservice Camp: Creature Feature; Snakes of Iowa
2025-11-03 09:00 - 15:00
Make the most out of your child’s day off school!**
Send them to the “Creature Feature” In-Service Day Camp at ICNC. Join us to learn about some of the snakes that live in Iowa! We will learn about their coloring and patterns, how they protect themselves, where they can be found, and what they eat. Lastly, we will visit with our resident milk snake, named “Needle.”
Please send a sack lunch and snack and dress kids for indoor and outdoor play. This program is available for all K-5th grade students, with a maximum of 10 students.
**Please check your school’s calendar to see if this is an in-service day for your child.
9:00 AM-3:00 PM (drop off: 8:45-9AM, pickup: 3:00-3:15PM)
Members $55; Non-Members $75
Pre-registration is required for this program. We cannot accept walk-in participants. Thank you!

Full Moon Hike
2025-11-03 19:00 - 20:00
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 with wildlife are sure to occur! Hikers should dress for the weather. Children are welcome, including babies in carriers. (Strollers not recommended). Friendly dogs on leashes are also welcome.
Fee: $5 Members $10 Nonmembers. Pre-registration is required and closes 24 hours before event.

Backyard Chickens Workshop (In-Person)
2025-11-04 05:30 - 19:00
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. One certificate per household needed (a spouse can attend with you, without registering). The purchaser must be present at the class to receive the certificate.
Fee: $15 Members $20 Nonmembers. Pre-registration is required for this program. Registration closes at noon on the day of the program. Walk-in participants can not be accepted.

Girl Scout Daisies: Animal Explorations
2025-11-08 09:30 - 11:30
Play animal games and explore different animal habitats found at the Nature Center. Search for clues animals leave behind and make your own animal nest or home. Meet animals up close and make a bird feeder to share with the wild animals in your backyard. This workshop will take you on part of the 5 Flowers, 4 Stories and 3 Cheers for Animals Journey.
Fees: $10 per scout, Scout leaders free (limit 2 per group), $5 per adult
Registration deadline: 2 days prior to program date
More information: https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/scouts/girl-scout-workshops/
