Youth & Family Classes
Find out about our Thursday Nature Play summer program -
special presentations, family activities and free canoe rental each
Thursday (and two Saturdays) this summer.
FULL Nature Photography Ages 9-11
June 11 & 12, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Fee: $10.00
Come learn the basics of nature photography while enjoying the beauty of the Nature
Center. This two-day class will give the participants a basic knowledge of the camera as
well as the opportunity to practice their new skills on nature and wildlife found at the
JCHNC. Participants will learn about angles, lighting, and much more as they hike
through the Nature Center in search of the perfect shot. Participants will take home some
of their best photos! Full Scholarships are available. Space is limited to 10 participants.
Learn about the 2013 Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Photography Contest.
Family Nature Photography
June 27, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Fee: $10.00 per family
Come learn the basics of nature photography and explore the beauty of the Nature
Center with your family as you search for the perfect shot. This one-night class will give
the participants the opportunity to practice their new skills on a live bird of prey, hike in
search of other wildlife, and share the beauty of the Nature Center with their family.
Participants will take home some of their best photos. Space is limited to 6 families.
Learn about the 2013 Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Photography Contest.
Nature Photography Ages 11-14
July 16-17, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon.
Fee: $10.00
Come learn the basics of nature photography while enjoying the beauty of the Nature
Center. This two-day class will give the participants a basic knowledge of the camera as
well as the opportunity to practice their new skills on nature and wildlife found at the
JCHNC. Participants will learn about angles, lighting, and much more as they hike
through the Nature Center in search of the perfect shot. Participants will take home some
of their best photos! Full Scholarships are available. Space is limited to 10 participants.
Learn about the 2013 Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Photography Contest.
Adult Nature Photography
July 25, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Fee: $5.00
Come learn the basics of nature photography while enjoying the beauty of the Nature
Center. This one-night class will focus on basic camera knowledge and picture taking
skills in the field. Participants will have the opportunity to practice their skills on wildlife
and nature found throughout the JCHNC.
Learn about the 2013 Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Photography Contest.
FULL David Stokes: Little Explorers—Hand in Hand in Nature Ages 4-5
June 18, 19 & 21, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Fee: $15.00
David Stokes is a father, educator, naturalist, and entertainer who has performed
throughout the United States and Canada. This class is especially designed for a
parent/grandparent to spend “quality time” in nature with their 4- or 5-year-old child.
Each day our adventure will begin inside and then head outdoors to explore. Please dress
for the weather and bring insect repellent. Don’t apply the repellent until you need it.
Parents may also want to bring a camera for “Kodak” moments. Space will be limited to
12 preschoolers and their parent/grandparent/adult guardian.
FULL David Stokes: Nature Detectives Ages 6-7
June 18, 19 & 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Fee: $15.00
Everything is the same as in the description above except that parents are welcome, but
not required, and the “detective” activities will be age-appropriate for 6- to 7-year-old
children. Space will be limited to 12 participants.
Junior Ranger Rick Ages 6-7
Maria Anderson and Kevin Murray, Instructors
Class 1: June 25 & 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Class 2: June 25 & 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Fee: $15.00
Water, water everywhere! It’s under our feet and in the air we breathe. It makes up about
70% of our bodies and of the earth’s surface! Water connects all living things, from a tiny
tadpole to a beautiful prairie flower. Water even connects us to the dinosaurs! Through
activities, experiments, and pond and creek exploration, we’ll discover how water works,
what lives in it, how much we all need it, and how we can take care of it. Space is limited
to 10 participants per session.
FULL Heritage Survival Class Ages 10-11
July 8, 9, 10 & 11, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon—AND—July 12, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (5-day class)
Fee: $60.00
Participants will learn to flintknap (make arrowheads), fish, canoe, and throw the atlatl
with Dan Block. Kevin Strauss, Minnesota storyteller and naturalist, will be here to share
his stories. Participants will play oldtime games, hand-dip candles, and learn about the
Native American “Ghost Dance” shirts by creating one of their own with a special art
project. Participants will build fires and make their own lunch over an open fire on July
12. Space is limited to 16 participants and 1/2-fee scholarships are available.
Junior Naturalists Ages 8-9
Class 1: July 16 & 17, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Class 2: July 16 & 17, 1:30-4:00 p.m.
Fee: $15.00
Water, water everywhere! It’s under our feet and in the air we breathe. It makes up about
70% of our bodies and of the earth’s surface! Water connects all living things, from a tiny
tadpole to a beautiful prairie flower. Water even connects us to the dinosaurs!
Through activities, experiments, and pond and creek exploration, we’ll discover how
water works, what lives in it, how much we all need it, and how we can take care of it.
Space is limited to 10 participants per session. Maria Anderson and Kevin Murray,
Instructors
FULL Canoeing the Root River, Geocaching, and Exploring the Blufflands Ages
11-12
July 22, 23 & 24
Fee: $100.00
July 22: Geocaching contest at the Nature Center from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, then canoe
practice from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Dobbins
Creek to East Side Lake. Please bring your own lunch on July 22 or eat lunch at home
and return at 1:00 p.m.
July 23: Depart at 8:00 a.m. and explore Mystery Cave. After lunch at Forestville State
Park, we will travel to the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center and get settled in
for our overnight stay. In the afternoon, we will challenge the high ropes, and then enjoy
dinner and an evening program at the center. Please bring your own lunch on July 23.
July 24: Enjoy breakfast at Eagle Bluff, then canoe a five-mile stretch of the Root River.
We will return to the Nature Center by 4:30 p.m.
Fee includes lodging, admission fees for Forestville State Park and Mystery Cave, canoes,
lifejackets, paddles, high ropes challenge course, and three meals (dinner on July 23,
breakfast and lunch on July 24). Space is limited to 9 participants and 1/2 fee scholarships
are available. Leaders are Larry Dolphin, Kevin Murray, and Maria Anderson.
FULL Bison Class: “Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam” Ages 9, 10 & 11
July 29, 30 & 31, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 noon—AND—August 2, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(This is a 4-day class with an all-day field trip to Oxbow Park on August 2 from 9:00 a.m.
-4:30 p.m.)
Fee: $30.00 (Full scholarships are available)
This class will explore the tallgrass prairie at the Nature Center and the American
buffalo/bison with our new bison exhibit. Participants will discover how the Plains
Indians learned from the bison family structure and used all of the tatanka or bison body
parts. The beautiful prairie in the summer is an excellent time to explore and learn about
how the bison and prairie are interconnected. On Friday, August 2, participants will
travel to Oxbow Park to see the bison that reside there and enjoy a naturalist tour on
prairie animals. After lunch, participants will hike on the trails at Oxbow Park. Please
bring a lunch on Friday, August 2, and appropriate attire for the offsite field trip.
Maria Anderson, Instructor
FULL Radical Raptors Ages 9, 10 & 11
July 29 & 31
Fee: $40.00
July 29, 1:00-3:00 p.m.: Hawk talk, games and competition—AND—8:30 p.m.:
Family/Participant Owl Talk and Calling Program.
July 31, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Day trip to Whitewater State Park and the National Bald
Eagle Center.
This summer adventure program is packed with raptor activities and a day trip to the
National Bald Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN. Using our sight and binoculars, we will
identify birds of prey as we travel to Whitewater State Park and the National Bald Eagle
Center. We will meet the eagle education birds that reside at the center: Columbia,
Harriet, Angel, and Donald the Golden Eagle. Please bring your own lunch on July 31.
Space is limited to 10 participants and full scholarships are available.
Monarch Magic Ages 8, 9 & 10
Class 1: July 27, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 2: August 7, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 3: August 14, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Fee: $5.00
This class will capture the mystery and resilience of the Monarch from egg to migration.
Activities will include finding caterpillars to raise for tagging and release. Space is limited
to 10 participants. Select one of the three sessions.
Monarch Tagging Ages 10, 11 & 12
Class 1: August 16, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 2: August 21, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 3: August 23, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 4: August 27, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 5: August 29, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Fee: $5.00 (Full scholarships are available)
Monarchs born after August 15 in this latitude are generally considered migratory. The
Nature Center will have tags to tag the individual Monarchs. Students in this class will be
certified to sign out tags for tagging. Select one of the five sessions. Full Scholarships
are available. Depending on water levels, this canoe trip could be on either the Root
River or the Shell Rock River.
FULL Root River or Shell Rock River Youth Canoeing Ages 12-14+
August 19 & 20
Fee: $20.00 (Full Scholarships are available)
August 19: Geocaching contest at the Nature Center from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, then
canoe practice from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Dobbins Creek to East Side Lake. Please bring
your own lunch on August 19 or eat lunch at home and return at 1:00 p.m.
August 20, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Enjoy canoeing the Root River or Shell Rock River.
Please bring your own lunch on August 20. River water levels may change the river
destination and activities for this trip. Space is limited to 9 participants and full
scholarships are available.
2013 SUMMER ADVENTURE SCHOLARSHIPS
Full scholarships are available for the Root River (or Shell Rock River) Canoe Trip;
Monarch tagging classes, Radical Raptors class; 2-day Nature Photography classes, and
new Bison/Prairie Class. 1/2-fee scholarships are available for the Exploring the
Blufflands Root River Canoe trip and Heritage Survival Class. To receive a scholarship, a
student must write three to five complete sentences as to why they want to attend a
specific summer adventure class, and thank the donors. Please submit to the Jay C.
Hormel Nature Center as soon as possible. (One scholarship allowed per child.) Please
include the following information: name, address, city, state, zip code, phone number,
and age. The scholarships will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Please
submit your request and paragraph to Larry Dolphin, Julie Champlin, or staff at the
Visitor Center. You can mail your request to the Nature Center at P.O. Box 673, Austin,
MN 55912. If you have any questions, please call 507-437-7519. We gave out 95
scholarships to area children in 2012!
The 2013 scholarships are donated by Austin Audubon, Austin Izaak Walton League,
Mable Hjelmen, Shirley Ensberg and Margaret Brandon memorials, and the Friends of
the Hormel Nature Center. Thank you, donors!
FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE, AND NO REGISTRATIONS ARE ACCEPTED
BY PHONE or EMAIL.
special presentations, family activities and free canoe rental each
Thursday (and two Saturdays) this summer.
FULL Nature Photography Ages 9-11
June 11 & 12, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Fee: $10.00
Come learn the basics of nature photography while enjoying the beauty of the Nature
Center. This two-day class will give the participants a basic knowledge of the camera as
well as the opportunity to practice their new skills on nature and wildlife found at the
JCHNC. Participants will learn about angles, lighting, and much more as they hike
through the Nature Center in search of the perfect shot. Participants will take home some
of their best photos! Full Scholarships are available. Space is limited to 10 participants.
Learn about the 2013 Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Photography Contest.
Family Nature Photography
June 27, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Fee: $10.00 per family
Come learn the basics of nature photography and explore the beauty of the Nature
Center with your family as you search for the perfect shot. This one-night class will give
the participants the opportunity to practice their new skills on a live bird of prey, hike in
search of other wildlife, and share the beauty of the Nature Center with their family.
Participants will take home some of their best photos. Space is limited to 6 families.
Learn about the 2013 Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Photography Contest.
Nature Photography Ages 11-14
July 16-17, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon.
Fee: $10.00
Come learn the basics of nature photography while enjoying the beauty of the Nature
Center. This two-day class will give the participants a basic knowledge of the camera as
well as the opportunity to practice their new skills on nature and wildlife found at the
JCHNC. Participants will learn about angles, lighting, and much more as they hike
through the Nature Center in search of the perfect shot. Participants will take home some
of their best photos! Full Scholarships are available. Space is limited to 10 participants.
Learn about the 2013 Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Photography Contest.
Adult Nature Photography
July 25, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Fee: $5.00
Come learn the basics of nature photography while enjoying the beauty of the Nature
Center. This one-night class will focus on basic camera knowledge and picture taking
skills in the field. Participants will have the opportunity to practice their skills on wildlife
and nature found throughout the JCHNC.
Learn about the 2013 Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Photography Contest.
FULL David Stokes: Little Explorers—Hand in Hand in Nature Ages 4-5
June 18, 19 & 21, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Fee: $15.00
David Stokes is a father, educator, naturalist, and entertainer who has performed
throughout the United States and Canada. This class is especially designed for a
parent/grandparent to spend “quality time” in nature with their 4- or 5-year-old child.
Each day our adventure will begin inside and then head outdoors to explore. Please dress
for the weather and bring insect repellent. Don’t apply the repellent until you need it.
Parents may also want to bring a camera for “Kodak” moments. Space will be limited to
12 preschoolers and their parent/grandparent/adult guardian.
FULL David Stokes: Nature Detectives Ages 6-7
June 18, 19 & 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Fee: $15.00
Everything is the same as in the description above except that parents are welcome, but
not required, and the “detective” activities will be age-appropriate for 6- to 7-year-old
children. Space will be limited to 12 participants.
Junior Ranger Rick Ages 6-7
Maria Anderson and Kevin Murray, Instructors
Class 1: June 25 & 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Class 2: June 25 & 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Fee: $15.00
Water, water everywhere! It’s under our feet and in the air we breathe. It makes up about
70% of our bodies and of the earth’s surface! Water connects all living things, from a tiny
tadpole to a beautiful prairie flower. Water even connects us to the dinosaurs! Through
activities, experiments, and pond and creek exploration, we’ll discover how water works,
what lives in it, how much we all need it, and how we can take care of it. Space is limited
to 10 participants per session.
FULL Heritage Survival Class Ages 10-11
July 8, 9, 10 & 11, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon—AND—July 12, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (5-day class)
Fee: $60.00
Participants will learn to flintknap (make arrowheads), fish, canoe, and throw the atlatl
with Dan Block. Kevin Strauss, Minnesota storyteller and naturalist, will be here to share
his stories. Participants will play oldtime games, hand-dip candles, and learn about the
Native American “Ghost Dance” shirts by creating one of their own with a special art
project. Participants will build fires and make their own lunch over an open fire on July
12. Space is limited to 16 participants and 1/2-fee scholarships are available.
Junior Naturalists Ages 8-9
Class 1: July 16 & 17, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Class 2: July 16 & 17, 1:30-4:00 p.m.
Fee: $15.00
Water, water everywhere! It’s under our feet and in the air we breathe. It makes up about
70% of our bodies and of the earth’s surface! Water connects all living things, from a tiny
tadpole to a beautiful prairie flower. Water even connects us to the dinosaurs!
Through activities, experiments, and pond and creek exploration, we’ll discover how
water works, what lives in it, how much we all need it, and how we can take care of it.
Space is limited to 10 participants per session. Maria Anderson and Kevin Murray,
Instructors
FULL Canoeing the Root River, Geocaching, and Exploring the Blufflands Ages
11-12
July 22, 23 & 24
Fee: $100.00
July 22: Geocaching contest at the Nature Center from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, then canoe
practice from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Dobbins
Creek to East Side Lake. Please bring your own lunch on July 22 or eat lunch at home
and return at 1:00 p.m.
July 23: Depart at 8:00 a.m. and explore Mystery Cave. After lunch at Forestville State
Park, we will travel to the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center and get settled in
for our overnight stay. In the afternoon, we will challenge the high ropes, and then enjoy
dinner and an evening program at the center. Please bring your own lunch on July 23.
July 24: Enjoy breakfast at Eagle Bluff, then canoe a five-mile stretch of the Root River.
We will return to the Nature Center by 4:30 p.m.
Fee includes lodging, admission fees for Forestville State Park and Mystery Cave, canoes,
lifejackets, paddles, high ropes challenge course, and three meals (dinner on July 23,
breakfast and lunch on July 24). Space is limited to 9 participants and 1/2 fee scholarships
are available. Leaders are Larry Dolphin, Kevin Murray, and Maria Anderson.
FULL Bison Class: “Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam” Ages 9, 10 & 11
July 29, 30 & 31, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 noon—AND—August 2, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(This is a 4-day class with an all-day field trip to Oxbow Park on August 2 from 9:00 a.m.
-4:30 p.m.)
Fee: $30.00 (Full scholarships are available)
This class will explore the tallgrass prairie at the Nature Center and the American
buffalo/bison with our new bison exhibit. Participants will discover how the Plains
Indians learned from the bison family structure and used all of the tatanka or bison body
parts. The beautiful prairie in the summer is an excellent time to explore and learn about
how the bison and prairie are interconnected. On Friday, August 2, participants will
travel to Oxbow Park to see the bison that reside there and enjoy a naturalist tour on
prairie animals. After lunch, participants will hike on the trails at Oxbow Park. Please
bring a lunch on Friday, August 2, and appropriate attire for the offsite field trip.
Maria Anderson, Instructor
FULL Radical Raptors Ages 9, 10 & 11
July 29 & 31
Fee: $40.00
July 29, 1:00-3:00 p.m.: Hawk talk, games and competition—AND—8:30 p.m.:
Family/Participant Owl Talk and Calling Program.
July 31, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Day trip to Whitewater State Park and the National Bald
Eagle Center.
This summer adventure program is packed with raptor activities and a day trip to the
National Bald Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN. Using our sight and binoculars, we will
identify birds of prey as we travel to Whitewater State Park and the National Bald Eagle
Center. We will meet the eagle education birds that reside at the center: Columbia,
Harriet, Angel, and Donald the Golden Eagle. Please bring your own lunch on July 31.
Space is limited to 10 participants and full scholarships are available.
Monarch Magic Ages 8, 9 & 10
Class 1: July 27, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 2: August 7, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 3: August 14, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Fee: $5.00
This class will capture the mystery and resilience of the Monarch from egg to migration.
Activities will include finding caterpillars to raise for tagging and release. Space is limited
to 10 participants. Select one of the three sessions.
Monarch Tagging Ages 10, 11 & 12
Class 1: August 16, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 2: August 21, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 3: August 23, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 4: August 27, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Class 5: August 29, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Fee: $5.00 (Full scholarships are available)
Monarchs born after August 15 in this latitude are generally considered migratory. The
Nature Center will have tags to tag the individual Monarchs. Students in this class will be
certified to sign out tags for tagging. Select one of the five sessions. Full Scholarships
are available. Depending on water levels, this canoe trip could be on either the Root
River or the Shell Rock River.
FULL Root River or Shell Rock River Youth Canoeing Ages 12-14+
August 19 & 20
Fee: $20.00 (Full Scholarships are available)
August 19: Geocaching contest at the Nature Center from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, then
canoe practice from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Dobbins Creek to East Side Lake. Please bring
your own lunch on August 19 or eat lunch at home and return at 1:00 p.m.
August 20, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Enjoy canoeing the Root River or Shell Rock River.
Please bring your own lunch on August 20. River water levels may change the river
destination and activities for this trip. Space is limited to 9 participants and full
scholarships are available.
2013 SUMMER ADVENTURE SCHOLARSHIPS
Full scholarships are available for the Root River (or Shell Rock River) Canoe Trip;
Monarch tagging classes, Radical Raptors class; 2-day Nature Photography classes, and
new Bison/Prairie Class. 1/2-fee scholarships are available for the Exploring the
Blufflands Root River Canoe trip and Heritage Survival Class. To receive a scholarship, a
student must write three to five complete sentences as to why they want to attend a
specific summer adventure class, and thank the donors. Please submit to the Jay C.
Hormel Nature Center as soon as possible. (One scholarship allowed per child.) Please
include the following information: name, address, city, state, zip code, phone number,
and age. The scholarships will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Please
submit your request and paragraph to Larry Dolphin, Julie Champlin, or staff at the
Visitor Center. You can mail your request to the Nature Center at P.O. Box 673, Austin,
MN 55912. If you have any questions, please call 507-437-7519. We gave out 95
scholarships to area children in 2012!
The 2013 scholarships are donated by Austin Audubon, Austin Izaak Walton League,
Mable Hjelmen, Shirley Ensberg and Margaret Brandon memorials, and the Friends of
the Hormel Nature Center. Thank you, donors!
FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE, AND NO REGISTRATIONS ARE ACCEPTED
BY PHONE or EMAIL.
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Registration begins
April 2. Call soon,
classes do fill up!
Email
jchnatur@smig.net or
call 507-437-7519.
April 2. Call soon,
classes do fill up!
jchnatur@smig.net or
call 507-437-7519.
