Carpenter Nature Center

Minnesota Campus Preschool Story Time - Spiders
2026-07-24 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Carpenter Nature Center – Minnesota Campus, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN, 55033, United States
Online pre-registration required – Register Online Here
Location: 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN 55033
Program Fee: $5 or $3 for ‘Friends of CNC’
These programs introduce children ages 2-5 to nature in a fun and safe environment. Listen to stories, spend time outdoors, make a craft and meet CNC’s live animals. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Minnesota Campus Bird Hike
2026-08-01 08:00 - 10:00 | Carpenter Nature Center – Minnesota Campus, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN, 55033, United States
Registration: Pre-registration required. Register Online
Location: 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN 55033
Program Fee: $5 per person or FREE for ‘Friends of CNC,’ SCVBC and students.

Learn to identify birds with local experts. Binoculars and field guides available or bring your own.

Wisconsin Campus Bird Hike
2026-08-08 08:00 - 10:00 | North End – Wisconsin Campus, 300 East Cove Road, Hudson, 54016
Pre-registration required – Register Online Here
Location: North End – Wisconsin Campus 300 East Cove Road, Hudson WI, 54016
Program Fee: $5 per person or FREE for ‘Friends of CNC,’ SCVBC and students.
Learn to identify birds with local experts. Binoculars and field guides available or bring your own.

Wisconsin Campus Preschool Story Time - Caterpillars and Butterflies
2026-08-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Al & Laurie Hein Visitor Center, 279 South Cove Road, Hudson, WI, 54016, United States
Online pre-registration required – Register Online Here
Location: 279 South Cove Rd., Hudson, WI 54016
These programs introduce children ages 2-5 to nature in a fun and safe environment. Listen to stories, spend time outdoors, make a craft and meet CNC’s live animals. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Minnesota Campus Preschool Story Time - Caterpillars and Butterflies
2026-08-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Carpenter Nature Center – Minnesota Campus, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN, 55033, United States

Wisconsin Campus Carpenter Art Festival
2026-08-22 10:00 - 17:00 | North End – Wisconsin Campus, 300 East Cove Road, Hudson, 54016
Location: North End – Wisconsin Campus 300 East Cove Road, Hudson WI, 54016
Program Fee: Free admission
Join us at the CNC Wisconsin Campus for our annual art festival. It will feature nature-oriented artists and vendors producing jewelry, ceramics, photography, sculptures, dried gourds and more.
Local vendors from the Hudson area will be at the festival providing various food and drinks.
For more information, please check out the Event Webpage Here.

Minnesota Campus Public Bird Banding
2026-08-28 08:30 - 12:00 | Carpenter Nature Center – Minnesota Campus, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN, 55033, United States
Location: 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN 55033 – back patio of the Administration Building
Program Fee: Free
See birds up close and watch the experts band birds at CNC. Banding runs continuously, so come and go as you please. Donations of bird seed and suet are appreciated in place of a program fee. In case of inclement weather such as heavy rain or snow banding may be canceled.
All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s BBL.

Youth Skills Workshop: Apple Production
2026-10-18 09:00 - 15:00 | Carpenter Nature Center – Minnesota Campus, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN, 55033, United States
Pre-registration required – register ONLINE HERE
Location: 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN 55033 – Apple Shack
Program Fee: $5 per person
Join CNC Orchardist Sam Behrends and experience fall harvest in the Apple Orchard at CNC! Students will learn how apples are harvested and packed out to ensure top quality fruit is available to customers of the apple shack. Students will process apples not fit for fresh sale into cider and sauce to take home. Youth 12 – 19 years old.
Thanks to generous funding from the CHS Foundation, Carpenter Nature Center is excited to launch a new Sustainable Agriculture & Orchard Skills Series for Youth. This hands-on workshop series invites youth to explore real-world agricultural experiences and build practical skills in orchard management, sustainability, and land stewardship.
Other dates & topics in this series include:

May 2 – Apple Tree Planting & Grafting
May 30 – Tractor & Equipment Safety
June 27 – Sustainable Agriculture
