Carpenter Nature Center

Minnesota Campus Biggest Day Bird Count
2026-05-15 04:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Carpenter Nature Center – Minnesota Campus, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN, 55033, United States
Join expert birders Ben and Liz for a day full of birding on what is estimated to be one of the busiest times of year for birds at Carpenter Nature Center. Drop by for a couple of hours, or stay and help identify birds for the majority of the day. More details to come closer to the program date.
This program will be outdoors. Please dress for the weather. We recommend you bring binoculars, however rentals are available at the Visitor Center.
Program Fee: This program is FREE, however donations are always appreciated!
Registration: Click here to Register Online.

Minnesota Campus Public Bird Banding
2026-05-22 08:30 - 12:00, 2026-06-26 08:30 - 12:00, 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.

Animal Ambassador Meet & Greet
2026-05-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Carpenter Nature Center – Minnesota Campus, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN, 55033, United States
Join naturalist Elsa on Sundays at CNC for training sessions and meet & greets with some of CNC’s Animal Ambassadors. She will talk through husbandry practices, natural history, and the critters will get a tasty treat.
These are FREE, drop-in programs. You don’t need to register.

Sunday, May 24th:10 AM Kevin the Raven – Feeding and training session12 PM Box Turtle – Meet & Greet2:30 PM – Barred Owl – Food prep and feeding

Youth Skills Workshop: Tractor and Equipment Safety
2026-05-30 09:00 - 16:00 | 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 – Interpretive Center
Program Fee: $5 per person
Session 1: 9:00am – noon / 7-13 year olds
Session 2: 1:00 – 4:00 pm / 14-21 year olds
Join CNC Orchardist Sam Behrends to learn about the safe use of tractors and agricultural equipment. Major safety topics will be discussed. Safe-use will be demonstrated and practiced on actual equipment in the CNC orchard. Age appropriate agricultural tasks using tractors and equipment will be covered. Note: This course does not certify participants to operate tractors or equipment. Participants under 14 years of age will not be operating tractors over 20hp.
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
June 27 – Sustainable Agriculture
October 18 – Apple Production & Harvest

Animal Ambassador Meet & Greet
2026-05-31 10:00 - 15:00 | MN
Join naturalist Elsa on Sundays at CNC for training sessions and meet & greets with some of CNC’s Animal Ambassadors. She will talk through husbandry practices, natural history, and the critters will get a tasty treat.
These are FREE, drop-in programs. You don’t need to register.

Sunday, May 31st:10 AM Kevin the Raven – Feeding and training session12 PM Eastern Tiger Salamander – Meet & Greet2:30 PM – Bald Eagle – Food prep and feeding

Minnesota Campus Bird Hike
2026-06-06 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-07-04 08:00 - 10:00, 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 Preschool Story Time - Awesome Amphibians
2026-06-10 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 - Awesome Amphibians
2026-06-12 10:00 - 11:00 | 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.

Wisconsin Campus Bird Hike
2026-06-13 08:00 - 10:00, 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.

Youth Skills Workshop: Sustainable Agriculture
2026-06-27 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 – Interpretive Center
Program Fee: $5 per person
Join CNC Orchardist Sam Behrends to learn about the sustainable agriculture methods in use at Carpenter, and how agriculture on a broader scale can fit into a healthy ecosystem while still providing essential nourishment for people. Topics covered will include Integrated Pest Management, soil, and water health. Youth ages 12 – 19 yrs.
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
October 18 – Apple Production & Harvest

Wisconsin Campus Bird Hike
2026-07-11 08:00 - 10:00 | Al & Laurie Hein Visitor Center, 279 South Cove Road, Hudson, WI, 54016, United States
Pre-registration required – Register Online Here
Location: North End – Al and Laurie Hein Visitor Center, 279 South 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 - Spiders
2026-07-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Al & Laurie Hein Visitor Center, 279 South Cove Road, Hudson, WI, 54016, United States

Minnesota Campus Preschool Story Time - Spiders
2026-07-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Carpenter Nature Center – Minnesota Campus, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN, 55033, United States

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

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.

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
