Hike With a Naturalist

Introducing our Hike with a Naturalist fall series!

Join the Hike with a Naturalist fall series, led by Bennett Myhran, the City Forester for Wayzata, as you explore the Big Woods Preserve and Wood-Rill SNA with your family. These all-ages hikes offer a chance to learn about local wildlife, conservation challenges, and how humans connect with the natural world. Each class in this fall series will also include some appreciation for the mysterious science of autumn leaf color.

**Parent participation required

October 8: Get to Know Your Trees (all ages) 

If you live nearby, you probably spend most of your days surrounded by trees – but how well do you really know them? On this hike, we’ll talk about what makes these giants so impressive and what we can do to show them our appreciation.

October 10: Welcome to the Big Woods (all ages)

On this hike we’ll learn about the ins and outs of this unique woodland preserve. First-time visitors and lifelong enthusiasts are welcome! We’ll be stopping at a number of notable sites along the way to talk about trees, soils, wildlife, and how we humans fit into the equation.

October 17: Conservation 101 (all ages)

Woodrill SNA is home to an increasingly rare woodland ecosystem that once defined what is now the Twin Cities west metro area. On this hike, we’ll learn what makes an “old-growth” forest like this so special. We’ll discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by modern conservation managers in our area, and consider how we might borrow their insights.