Events

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 […]

Explore the rainbow of colors and shapes of these classic beauties that have been grown for their beauty for centuries. Easy to grow and strong bloomers in your Iowa garden. A recording of the class will be sent to each participant the day after the event. Fee: $5 Members $10 Nonmembers. Pre-registration is required. Register

Food insecurity is real. One in eight people in Linn County go to bed hungry. This session addresses the need and how you can be part of the solution. Learn what master gardeners are doing across the state of Iowa to make an impact. Then learn how YOU can get involved. A recording of the […]

Learn and practice some basic camping and outdoor skills with hands on activities such as making a campfire, setting up a tent and exploring the outdoors. Reccomended for ages 5 and up. Pre-registration is required. Register

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 […]

Adding a safe place for butterflies in your garden through creating a pollinator puddler will help them thrive during the warm seasons. Pollinators need minerals and with these easy steps you are invited to build your own little watering station haven. A recording of the class will be sent to each participant the day after […]

Warm up all of your senses – smelling, feeling, looking, listening and even tasting. Use your scientific detective tools to explore the nature center in the spring time!For preschoolers with adult. Dress for outdoor activities. Cost: Preschooler $5 (ages 3-5); Siblings (ages 0-2) and Adults are free. More information: https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/trail-trekkers/ Pre-registration is required for this […]

Warm up all of your senses – smelling, feeling, looking, listening and even tasting. Use your scientific detective tools to explore the nature center in the spring time!For preschoolers with adult. Dress for outdoor activities. Cost: Preschooler $5 (ages 3-5); Siblings (ages 0-2) and Adults are free. More information: https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/trail-trekkers/ Pre-registration is required for this […]

Your senses come alive in nature! Come participate in an exciting nature scavenger hunt, listen to nature sounds, sniff out some interesting smells, and feel the different textures found around the Nature Center. We’ll have a snack to explore our taste buds and make nature inspired art creations. Activities from this workshop may be applied […]

Let’s paint daffodils, one of the first blooms of spring! This is a beginner level painting class led by local artist Barb Thompson. Participants do not need any previous watercolor experience. Bring a positive attitude ready to learn a new skill. Supplies included in class fee: watercolor palette, brush, coldpress 140lb watercolor paper, Peerless Transparent […]

Let’s paint daffodils, one of the first blooms of spring! This is a beginner level painting class led by local artist Barb Thompson. Participants do not need any previous watercolor experience. Bring a positive attitude ready to learn a new skill. Supplies included in class fee: watercolor palette, brush, coldpress 140lb watercolor paper, Peerless Transparent […]

93% of land in Iowa is dedicated solely to crops making it one of the most altered landscapes on earth. Learn how to create your own native sanctuary in whatever space you have available and do your part to give back to the pollinators. A recording of the class will be sent to each participant […]

Lion Bridge Brewing Company brings their decade of experience serving the Cedar Rapids area to the Indian Creek Nature Center kitchen on the evening of April 18 to craft a delicious three course meal featuring local and seasonal ingredients – including vegetables and eggs from Indian Creek Nature Center’s organic farm. Seating is limited. Get your […]

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 […]

Scouts will attempt requirements 1-3, 4a1, 4b, 4c and 4e at the workshop. Scouts are responsible for one other requirement from 4 (d, f, g or h) and 4a2 on their own. Pre-registration is required for this program. We cannot accept walk-in participants. Thank you! Click here for current requirements. Price: $12 per scout; scout […]

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 […]

If you like your turf shorn closely in neat grid lines, this is not the class for you. We will explore ways of turning your lawn to become a more relaxed, pollinator-welcoming, eco-friendly mixture of grass and other plants, which can still function as the mowed places in your yard. This will include specific plant […]

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 […]

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 […]

Daisies, Brownies and Juniors: Learn about what scientists do and see how you can do science in your own backyards and communities by participating in a sampler of citizen science projects. Go on a hike to observe the phenology of the seasons, observe and record bird sightings or help us monitor water quality. Pre-registration is […]

It is time to fill your yard and garden with wildflowers, geraniums, vegetables and art work! This annual event hosted by Friends of the Nature Center will feature a variety of vendors showcasing their plants and art. There will also be the “Potting Shed” which offers gently used garden tools and yard art. Free admission […]