Find Spring Adventures At Afton State Park

Via the MN Department of Natural Resources:

Saturday, March 12 10 a.m. Geocaching for Beginners

Have fun learning how to use a GPS unit to geocache and discover hidden treasures in Minnesota State Parks. This program is designed for beginners. We will provide a limited number of GPS units for you to use or you may bring your own to find specially placed caches. Meet at the visitor center.

Sunday March 13 1-2 p.m. All About Bluebirds

Bluebirds are one of Minnesota’s most admired songbirds, yet most people have never seen a bluebird.  Learn about the life history of bluebirds and how you can help restore their populations.  Sign up to become an Afton State Park Bluebird Trail monitor!

Saturday March 19 9-11:30 a.m. Fly Tying for Beginners, Afton State Park

Geared for those with little or no fly tying experience, this clinic is designed to teach you basic fly tying skills with “hands on” instruction.  Register at 651-231-6968 or Linda.Radimecky@state.mn.us.

1-3:30 p.m.  Fly Tying for Women, Afton State Park

Geared for those with little or no fly tying experience, this clinic is designed to teach you basic fly tying skills with “hands on” instruction.  Register at 651-231-6968 or Linda.Radimecky@state.mn.us

Saturday April 9 9 a.m. Bird Walk

Spend your morning with the park naturalist on a two mile bird hike through the prairie and floodplain forests. A limited number of binoculars and field guides are available for use. Meet at the visitor center.

April 15, 22, 29 7:30-9 p.m. Timberdoodle Dance

Timberdoodle is the nickname given to a ground nesting, long beaked little bird called the American Woodcock.  The mating flight and dance of this little bird is pretty amazing.  651-231-6968.

April 16, 9:30-11:30 a.m.  Birds, Buds and Blooms Walk – Brown’s Creek State Trail – Stillwater Trailhead.

Tree buds and flowers are some of the first buds and blooms to show themselves.  Join the Naturalist on the 4 mile walk along Brown’s Creek Ravine to see what’s up and open.  Call 651-231-6968.

April 23, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Hastings Area Bird Festival

Celebrate the many birds of Minnesota at the Hastings area Earth Day Birding Festival. This is the fourth year the Hastings Environmental Protectors has teamed up with CNC for the Birding Festival. Some of the highlights include an “Introduction to Birding” class, a “Raptors 101” class, bird banding demonstrations and guided bird trips in the Hastings area including Afton State Park.
Registration is required. To RSVP call 651-437-4359. Program fee is $5 per person or $15 per person including a box lunch

May 7, 9-3 p.m.  Women’s Fly Fishing Clinic, Afton State Park

Join us to learn what you need to know to fly fish. In the morning we will learn about fish and what they eat while learning to tie flies, in the afternoon pick up new tips and tricks on how to cast more accurately. If conditions permit we will fish on the St Croix River.  Register at 651-231-6968.

May 12, 7 – 8 p.m.  Tropical Wings Bird Migration Celebration

Renowned bird researcher and enthusiast Carroll Henderson will share some of what he knows about Neotropical migrants and the connection between Costa Rican National Parks and our local National Parks, State and local parks.  Help us kick off International Migratory Bird Weekend!