Nature Center Programs

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Prairie Park Nature Center offers programs for all ages, abilities and interests. You can select from the seasonal programs listed below and click the link to the registration page.

Need help with registration? See our walkthrough for how to enroll online!

Programs vary with each season. Let us know if there is a program that you have a special interest in seeing the nature center provide.

 

WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMS

WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

WILD ADVENTURES FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND PARENTS
Ages: 2-5. Enrollment Min 2 / Max 15. Join us for weekly sessions of stories, activities, and information about animals and their habitats. Each week, a new topic will be presented, and outdoor activities are planned, so be sure to come prepared. Parents are required to attend with their preschoolers and are encouraged to participate. Registration for the entire session is required in advance, and the program takes place every Tuesday.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

EXPLORING NATURE FOR HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS
Ages: 6-13. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 20 / $15 per class. Two-hour field trip programs for homeschooled students will cover a different topic each time. Class meets benchmarks for K-6 State Science outcomes. Call for topic schedule. Pre-registration is required at least one day in advance.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS

For all classes come prepared to go outdoors including bug repellent and sunscreen.

ARCHERY
Ages: 7 and Up. Enrollment Min 3 / Max 8. Discover the exciting world of archery with us! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced archer, our compound bow classes are designed to help you improve your skills and have fun at the same time. Join us today and unlock your inner archer!
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

TURTLE YOGA
Ages: All. Enrollment Min 6 / Max 20. Practice yoga while enjoying the company of turtles around you. After the class help feed and learn more about Prairie Park’s turtles. It’s turtletastic fun for all ages!
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

CANOEING
Ages: 6 and Up. Enrollment Min 4 / Max 8. Enjoy a Saturday morning of paddling on the serene waters of Mary’s Lake. No canoe experience is required; we’ll teach you all you need to know! Sign up/fee is by participant. No more than three people in one boat. Life jackets, paddles, and boats provided. Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied in the boat by an adult.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

INSECT PINNING WORKSHOP
Ages: 12 and Up. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 15. Learn to create elegant displays of mounted butterflies, beetles, and more through the delicate art of insect pinning. We’ll teach you how to start your own entomology collection so you can preserve your insect finds for a lifetime. Participants will choose their specimens to display and take home their own pinning kit.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

CROCHET WITH A CRITTER
Ages: 12 and Up. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 15. Come learn a new skill with us and discover the art of crochet! We’ll be joined by an adorable nature center critter who will inspire the colors for our project. This crochet class is for beginners, but people with more experience are welcome! All supplies will be provided.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMS FOR TEENS AND ADULTS

HIKE FOR HEALTH WITH A NATURALIST
Ages: 14 and Up. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 15. Get your daily workout in while enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. This will be an energetic hike that will get your heart rate up. While this hike will be faster-paced, there will still be a few stops along the way for you to learn about the wonders of your local ecosystem from Naturalist Rachel. Please bring a water bottle and wear your favorite hiking/athletic shoes. Directions for parking will be sent to participants the day before our hike. Locations include Rock Chalk Park (3/18), Riverfront Park (4/15) and Overlook Park (5/13).
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

MINDFULNESS MONDAY WALK WITH A NATURALIST
Ages: 14 and Up. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 25. Get away from the hustle and bustle of it all on this serene stroll. All ages and fitness levels are welcome on this slower-paced meander through nature. Learn to notice the quiet wonders of the natural world and reflect on poems from authors like Mary Oliver, Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Camille Dungy. Please bring a water bottle, and wear your favorite hiking/athletic shoes. Directions for parking will be sent to participants the day before our hike. Locations include Prairie Park Nature Center (4/1), Lawrence Nature Park (4/29) and Burcham Park (5/27).
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

BIRDS & THE BEES: LOVE IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
Ages: 18 and Up. Enrollment Min 6 / Max 30. Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind night out? How about an evening of learning the intimate habits of Earth’s wilder animals? Join PPNC for a humorous and informative program on romance, dating, and mating in the animal kingdom. Enjoy appetizers, sweets, a photo booth, trivia, and more! Please note that this event is only open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

CAMPFIRE JAM: S’MORES, STORIES, AND SONGS
Ages: 18 and Up. Enrollment Min 10 / Max 25. Join us for a cozy, adults-only evening around the campfire. Come sing, read a poem, share a story, or play your favorite acoustic instrument to help us get the good vibes rolling. S’mores and zero proof beverages will be provided.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

WINTER/SPRING SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL DAYS OFF

BREAKFAST WITH THE ANIMALS
Ages: 6-13. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 20. Spend a fun-filled morning at Prairie Park Nature Center, where you can learn about the eating habits of animals and enjoy breakfast in the company of your favorite animals. This event includes a live animal program, exciting games and crafts, and the opportunity to feed the animals alongside the PPNC staff. It’s a perfect way to spend a morning off from school!
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

SPRING BREAK CAMP
Ages: 6-13. Enrollment Min 6 / Max 20. Experience a week of outdoor fun at Prairie Park Nature Center with live animal programs, hikes, games, crafts, and more adventures.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

WINTER/SPRING SPECIAL EVENTS

NIGHTTIME AT THE NATURE CENTER
Enrollment Min 10 / Max 50. Ever wonder what happens after the nature center closes? Come enjoy a completely different sensory experience and see how much wilder the animals are after dark! Handheld red lights will be provided to each participant to view the nature center in the dark. Watch the nocturnal animals start their day while the diurnal animals settle in for the night. There will also be opportunities for up-close encounters with some creatures of the night. Children 2 and under are free.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

SNAKES AND SCONES!
Ages: All. Enrollment Min 10 / Max 50. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Prairie Park Nature Center! Come meet our friendly snakes and enjoy some classic British scones. There will be giveaways too! Find a gold coin in the nature center for a small prize or find a miniature leprechaun for a gift card to a restaurant in downtown Lawrence. Bring on the Irish culture with a slithery good time at the nature center! It’s a guarantee you won’t find a celebration like this anywhere else. Children 2 and under are free.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

NATURE CENTER EGG HUNT & BREAKFAST
Ages: All. Enrollment Min 10 / Max 50. Join us for an exciting egg hunt and pancake breakfast at the Prairie Park Nature Center! Don’t miss out on all the fun activities we have planned, including bunny visits, egg hunts, games, crafts, and face painting. Bring your friends and family along to enjoy a hoppy good time! Children 2 and under are free.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS WITH THE ANIMALS
Ages: All. Enrollment Min 10 / Max 40. Come and join us at Prairie Park Nature Center for a one-of-a-kind family experience! Feast on spaghetti and meatballs while surrounded by your favorite animals. Additionally, you can participate in a live animal program, play games with prizes, and explore the nature center during evening hours. Admission is free for children aged 2 and under.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

ENCHANTED TEA PARTY WITH THE ANIMALS
Ages: All. Enrollment Min 10 / Max 25. Join our woodland animals for an enchanted tea party at the nature center! Wear your favorite princess dress, fairy outfit, or whatever makes you feel magical! We will provide the enchanted animals, cookies, tea, and other yummy snacks. It’s the perfect thing to do with your little ones this Mother’s Day weekend. Children under the age of 2 are free.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

ARRANGE A POSSUM GRAM FOR YOUR LOVED ONES
$60 per delivery. Deliveries take place between 9 AM and 4:15 pm on February 14th. Make this Valentine’s Day unforgettable with a unique Possum Gram for your loved one! Package includes delivery of a personalized card, flowers, chocolate, and an up-close animal encounter with our possum ambassador, Phoebe! Please send the text you’d like included in your card to naturecenter@lawrenceks.org, as well as the delivery address and anything else we should know! Our naturalists can make deliveries to private residences or places of work. If delivery is being made to a place of work or an apartment complex, please notify us of this in your e-mail and get in contact with that facility to make sure we will be allowed to easily access the building and bring a possum inside. Delivery will take place within your selected 45-minute time slot. Deliveries can only be made within Lawrence city limits.
To schedule a Possum Gram, please email naturecenter@lawrenceks.org

WINTER/SPRING NATURE TRIPS

KANSAS SUGARBUSH FIELD TRIP
Ages: All. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 12. Did you know that syrup can be made from trees other than maple? Visit a Kansas Sugarbush, where we tap black walnut trees to produce this delicious pancake topping. We will teach you how to identify native trees that can be tapped for sugar making, what tools are needed, and how to make the final product. You’ll also get to sample the syrup! A passenger van shuttle will leave the Nature Center at 1 p.m. and it will take 30 minutes to reach Sugarbush. If you prefer to meet at Sugarbush, please call Prairie Park Nature Center at (785) 832-7980 for directions. Please note that a registered adult must accompany children under 16.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

EAGLE EXPEDITION
Ages: All. Enrollment Min 4 / Max 12. Join us on an exciting winter morning expedition to observe the majestic bald eagles as they winter along the Clinton and Lone Star Lake. Witness the awe-inspiring sight of these magnificent birds as they gather around the open waterways. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars and cameras to capture the perfect shot. Make sure to dress warmly and wear appropriate shoes for possible short hikes. Don’t miss this chance to witness the beauty of nature up close! The shuttle will depart from Prairie Park Nature Center at 9 AM and return by 12 PM. Please note that a registered adult must accompany children under 16.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

MUSHROOM FORAY FIELD TRIP
Ages: All. Enrollment Min 5 / Enrollment Max 12. Have you heard the hype behind the mushroom boom? Hop on the shuttle and venture out with a mushroom specialist and discover the diversity of our local fungi. Our instructor will teach you easy, convenient ways to identify native mushrooms. Learn which fungi are edible and which you shouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. The shuttle departs from Prairie Park Nature Center at 10 a.m. and returns by 12 p.m. Please note that a registered adult must accompany children under 16.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

LOESS BLUFFS TRIP
Ages: All. Enrollment Min 12 / Max 22. One of the greatest migration spectacles in the Midwest happens in Missouri. Loess Bluffs Wildlife Refuge is known to teem with waterfowl that can even block out the sky at peak times. Stand-out visitors include massive quantities of snow geese, a diversity of ducks and birds, trumpeter swans, pelicans, bald eagles, herons, and more. You can also view resident wildlife, including deer, beavers, muskrats, and turtles. This event will be a feast for the eyes and ears. Our guide from Prairie Park Nature Center will bring viewing scopes and assist with identifying the many species. Prepare for winter weather. We will depart from the nature center by shuttle bus at 8 am. The itinerary includes a stop for lunch on your own. Please note that a registered adult must accompany children under 16.
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this winter

EDUCATION BY RESERVATION

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION/SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS Group Visits: To ensure the quality of your visit, visiting groups must schedule dates and times with the nature center by calling (785) 832-7980. For more information, please contact the Nature Center at (785) 832-7980. You can also find information on the lprd website, www.lprd.org.

PRESCHOOL FIELD TRIPS Prairie Park Nature Center offers specialized programs for preschools. Preschool students will enjoy live animals, stories, songs, art, rhymes and other appropriate early childhood activities.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL FIELD TRIP Prairie Park Nature Center offers a wide variety of one-hour programs and two-hour field trips designed for school and organized groups. *NEW* 50-minute to one-hour programs are now available via ZOOM to the classroom by appointment. Cost is $35 dollars for a select group of indoor talks on a variety of subjects. Contact the nature center for more information at 785-832-7980.

SCOUTING FOR GIRL SCOUTS AND BOY SCOUTS Prairie Park Nature Center offers a wide range of programs to help scouts complete necessary requirements for merit badge attainment.


Picture of Children hiking at Mary's Lake

Mary’s Lake

Mary’s Lake is just a short walk from the education building and is open for public fishing. This lake participates in State Community Lakes Fishing Program and is stocked with fish by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism throughout the spring and summer.

A state fishing license is required for people ages 16 to 65. Limits are posted at the lake.

View the Map of Trails at Prairie Park Nature Center»

Directions

Prairie Park Nature Center is located on the east side of Lawrence. Find us in the neighborhood via 27th Street off of Haskell Avenue.

Group Visitation Policy

Visiting groups from other facilities or organizations of 8 or more people (including children) who have not booked a program should schedule their visits in advance. This will insure that their visit does not overlap with other scheduled groups or large programs.

This will assist the nature center staff in making sure that all visitors have a good experience.

The nature center reserves the right to ask unscheduled groups to delay their visit if the building is busy.

Groups may schedule their visit by phone: 785-832-7980.

Our Mission

Dedicated To Building Connections With Nature

The mission of the Prairie Park Nature Center is to promote an appreciation of the importance of conserving the natural world through hands-on environmental and conservation education.

The nature center is free to all visitors.