Stop by and visit a Wapsi Naturalist to learn about Iowa mammals. There will be furs, skulls, and tracks for a hands-on experience for all ages!

Online registration is recommended: Summer Shelter Program

Stop by and visit a Wapsi Naturalist to learn about Iowa mammals. There will be furs, skulls, and tracks for a hands-on experience for all ages!

Online registration is recommended: Summer Shelter Program

Come join staff to learn how to turn forage items into paint! We will go over safe harvest techniques, how to make your own watercolor paint, and then create an art piece to take home!

Program fee of $ per person for supplies, payable at registration.

Online registration is required: Foraged Fine Arts

Come learn about the many wild edibles in your own neck of the woods. We will focus on foraging basics, foraging safety, identifying plants, and preparing wild edibles. We will take a hike outdoors to identify and forage some of the spring wild edibles available during this time. After the hike, put your cast iron skills to the test and prepare a pizza topped with pesto and other foraged greens and mushrooms over a campfire!

Online registration is required: Wild Edibles

Learn how to use a bow and arrow in this fun, informative and free hands-on class!  Children must be in the 4th grade or above to participate and accompanied by an adult. Adults are welcome to participate as well! Park in Parking Lot A and meet at the Observatory. This event is weather permitting. 

Online registration is required: Archery Basics

9:00am - Noon

Join the Friends of the Wapsi Center and Wapsi River Center Staff for a celebration of Earth Day. The workday will focus on habitat clean-up, trail work, and campus beautification. There will be work for people of all ages and abilities. Please bring a water bottle, appropriate clothing, and work gloves. 

Light refreshments will be provided by Friends of the Wapsi Center.

If you plan on attending, please register online: Volunteer.

Come learn about the frogs and toads of Iowa and experience the sounds of the season in search of these amphibians which inhabit the Wapsi River Center

Online registration is required. Click link to go to our website to register: Frog & Toad Chorus

Join Naturalist Mike for a lesson on spring woodland wildflowers at the Wapsi River Center. Mayapple, bloodroot, and hepatica are just some of the many wonderful wildflowers to discover. Please wear sturdy waterproof shoes for this woodland adventure.

Online registration is required. Click link to go to our website to register: Wildflower Hike

Once a month the Wapsi River EE Center will be hosting a day just for homeschoolers!

Joins us for themed programming led by our Naturalists! The goal of this series is to immerse children in the natural world and help them experience seasonal phenomena in a hands-on way.

Most appropriate for K-8th grades, though all ages welcome. There is a program fee of $3/person payable at registration. Please come prepared for the weather because muck of the planned programming will take place outdoors. Please bring a lunch.

May: Prairie-themed!

Once a month the Wapsi River EE Center will be hosting a day just for homeschoolers!

Joins us for themed programming led by our Naturalists! The goal of this series is to immerse children in the natural world and help them experience seasonal phenomena in a hands-on way.

Most appropriate for K-8th grades, though all ages welcome. There is a program fee of $3/person payable at registration. Please come prepared for the weather because muck of the planned programming will take place outdoors. Please bring a lunch.

April: Wildflower fun and spring crafts