Events

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Test your plant and animal knowledge in a fun game of outdoorsy trivia! Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp. Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Join us for a fun and unique paddling program as we explore the basics of sailing kayaks. Participants will learn how wind, water, and balance work together to help move a kayak across the lake. We’ll cover basic safety, paddling skills, steering and how to use a small sail to …

Read more "Sunset Sailing Kayaks"

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Join us for a fun and unique paddling program as we explore the basics of sailing kayaks. Participants will learn how wind, water, and balance work together to help move a kayak across the lake. We’ll cover basic safety, paddling skills, steering and how to use a small sail to …

Read more "Sunset Sailing Kayaks"

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Join us for a nighttime discovery lab where we shine lights on a white sheet to observe moths and other bugs up close as they come to visit! Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp. Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

8:30 am – 9:30 am Join us lakeside for a relaxed birdwatching program where you can enjoy your own coffee while observing and learning about local bird species in their natural habitat. Meet at the Cowan Lake Campground Beach. Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

11:00 am – 11:30 am Join us for this Naturalist-led program exploring the American lotus, a native aquatic plant that thrives in our lake. Learn how this unique species supports wildlife, shapes wetland habitats, and cycles through seasonal changes. Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center. Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Join us to learn about composting basics, local native and invasive species, and how to become a better land steward. The pace and activities adapt to the group and conditions making each experience unique. Optional: Stay afterward to join our volunteer crew for hands-on land management projects such as native …

Read more "Learn and Conserve"

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Join us to discover how to identify different animal scat and tracks, followed by a short, guided hike to practice your skills in the field. Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center. Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Join us to learn about local amphibians and reptiles on a short, guided hike, where we’ll search for them and explore their habitats, with a chance to meet some of our wildlife ambassadors up close. Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center. Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Meet us at the Caesar Creek Nature Center. Step into our infinite and interactive sundial located in our prairie land lab. In this hands-on park program, participants will explore how the sun’s movement across the sky can help us tell time using shadows and seasonal clues. We’ll look at the …

Read more "Human Sundial and the Phenomenal Phenology of the Prairie"