Contact:

Tom Knisely

Media Relations Specialist

763/694-7617

tknisely@threeriversparkdistrict.org

FAMILY PROGRAMS IN THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT

WEEK OF DECEMBER 15-21

IN THE NORTH METRO

Walk With a Naturalist: Winter Series

Sunday, December 15, from 1-2 p.m., at Silverwood Park, St. Anthony. Join us on an hour-long walk, keep your eyes and ears open for seasonal birds and other park happenings. This program is free and open to all ages.

Raptors in the Yard

Sunday, December 15, from 2-4 p.m., at Lowry Nature Center, in Carver Park Reserve, Victoria. Meet a captive merlin and barred owl and learn about amazing birds of prey. Cameras welcome! Drop in anytime. This program is free and open to all ages.

Make Your Own Survival Bracelet

Saturday, December 21, from 1-4 p.m., at Eastman Nature Center, in Elm Creek Park Reserve, Dayton. Create a survival bracelet out of paracord for mom, dad, or yourself. The bracelet holds 8 to 12 feet of rope and can be quickly unraveled. All materials will be supplied. Children can be dropped off. Cost is $5 and reservations are required. Call 763-559-6700 to make a reservation and reference activity number #112216-80. There is a 20 percent discount for groups of four or more. This program is for ages 8+.

Winter Solstice Celebration

Saturday, December 21, from 2-4:30 p.m., at Kroening Interpretive Center, in North Mississippi Regional Park, Minneapolis. Celebrate the longest night of the year with warmth, light and cheer and music by a local fiddler! Explore cultural origins of holiday traditions. Create a Yule log or a prayer stick. Hike or snowshoe to the prairie and tie down the sun. Enjoy refreshments by a bonfire. Cost is $5 and reservations are required. Call 763-559-6700 to make a reservation and reference activity number #116901-02. There is a 20 percent discount for groups of four or more. This program is for all ages.

IN THE WEST METRO

Stars of Winter, Inside

Saturday, December 21, from 9:30-11 a.m., at Lowry Nature Center, in Carver Park Reserve, Victoria. Crawl into Lowrys star dome, learn to recognize stars of winter and hear stories about them. Make glow-in-the-dark constellations. Cost is $5 and reservations are required. Call 763-559-6700 to make a reservation and reference activity number #111301-03. There is a 20 percent discount for groups of four or more. This program is open to all ages.

IN THE SOUTH METRO

Winter Solstice Hike

Saturday, December 21, from 6-8 p.m., at Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake. The shortest day of the year! Enjoy the night sky with a winter hike. Cost is $5 and reservations are required. Call 763-559-6700 to make a reservation and reference activity number #124629-00. There is a 20 percent discount for groups for four or more. This program is for ages 5+.

About Three Rivers Park District

Three Rivers Park District is a natural resources-based park system that manages park reserves, regional parks, regional trails and special-use facilities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Park District offers facilities for every season, including picnicking, swimming, creative play, boating, fishing, downhill skiing,

snowboarding, golf, camping and sledding; extensive trails for hiking, biking, in-line skating, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as program sites for nature, recreation, historic and farm education.

Three Rivers Park Districts mission is to promote environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system. The Park District owns and operates more than 27,000 acres and serves more than 9.5 million visitors a year.

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