Ballard Nature Center

Animal Vote
2024-11-05 09:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Come out from 9am-3pm to learn about 5 animals and then vote for the one you think is “the most special animal.” Follow a designated trail. Held in the visitor center if raining.

Annual Fundraiser
2024-11-02 17:30
2024 invite 2

Spooky Night
2024-10-26
A 6pm or 7pm time to choose from. Help a witch make a brew, participate in a story & song, and take a walk on a trail complete with spooky decorations. There will also be Halloween-themed yard games and a candy hunt, so bring a flashlight. Fee of $5 per child. Registration open Oct 17 through Oct 25. Send an email or call to register.

Astronomy Night
2024-10-12 19:00 - 21:00
The Riverbend Astronomy Club with be here with telescopes to help you explore the night sky. For all. No registration. Come anytime 7-9pm.

Family Campfire
2024-10-12 18:00
We’ll learn about animal skeletons during this family program. Listen to the book Halloween Forest, sing some campfire songs, roast marshmallows, & take a hike in the woods to look for skeletons. Register by facebook message, email, or phone. No Fee.

Owl Presentation
2024-10-10 18:00
Presentation by Mark Glenshaw, an award-winning naturalist. He has studied wild Great Horned Owls that live in Forest Park, a large urban park in St. Louis, since 2005. A presentation on the owls lasts approx. 75 minutes and covers how he found these owls, basic facts about the species, and many photos and videos to illustrate the amazing behaviors of these beautiful owls.

Walk with Llamas
2024-10-05 13:00 - 15:00
Come join some llamas and 4-H kids for a fun walk on the trail. Learn about llamas, too. There will also be some games in the front yard of the visitor center and we will have the nature train going. No registration needed. Come anytime from 1-3pm. No fee. Inclement weather cancels this event.

Wild Times
2024-09-28 13:00
Wild Times Exotics, from Springfield, will be here for an awesome presentation with live animals. The program will last one hour. Registration is required by facebook message, email, or phone. For all ages. Registration will begin starting on Sept. 13.

Family Campfire Night
2024-09-20 18:30
Includes activities about night creatures, roasting marshmallows, and a fun hike. Registration required.

Archery Shoot Fundraiser
2024-09-14 07:30 - 2024-09-15 16:00
Thirty 3D targets throughout the trails. $30 for adults, $20 for ages 12-18, and $10 for under 12 – price includes a meal. No pre-registration needed.

Pressed Flower Craft
2024-08-29 18:00
Join BNC volunteer Jane Ann Zerkel for a fun evening. We’ll learn a bit about flowers and the art of preserving them by pressing. We’ll use pre-pressed flowers (collected from the center) to create a beautiful lighted wine bottle.
Registration required. Space is limited. $10 fee. Adult program.
Register with a facebook message, email, or phone call.

Sky Orientation
2024-08-10 20:00 - 22:00
Join Randy Harrison (Master Naturalist) to tour the Heavens above learning/viewing the summer constellations, bright stars, location of deep sky objects, Milky Way, and the moon. Our summer skies are loaded with wonders. 2024 has been and exciting year, but there is more to come! On August 10, we should enjoy some of the meteors as the Perseid meteor shower is active July 17-Aug 24. Also, the T-Blaze Star in the constellation Corona Borealis could brighten. This event is open to all, weather permitting.

Buzzy Bees
2024-08-05 09:00
Join Angie Moeller in learning about important pollinators, especially honeybees. We will learn how bees get nectar, the parts of a flower, and beekeeping. Activities include games, honey tasting, & info about beekeeping equipment. Also, an optional walk after the program to watch bees in action.
Family Program – Recommended for kids ages 6 and up. Register by Facebook message, email, or phone.

Nature Detectives
2024-07-22 18:00
There’s a mystery to be solved at the nature center. Put on your “thinking caps” as we solve riddles, find clues, and do some sleuthing on the trail! Register by email, phone, or facebook. Registration begins July 8. Family program.

Just Ducky
2024-07-11 10:00
You’ll “quack up” as we have lots of fun learning about ducks with a book and silly games. Register by email, phone, or facebook. Family program. Registration begins on June 27.

Flutter and Hop
2024-06-21 10:00
Enjoy a book, The Caterpillar and the Polliwog, and learn about butterflies and frogs. We’ll search for them on the trail, too. Register by email, phone, or facebook. Registration begins on June 7. Family program.

Burrower Bash
2024-06-13 10:00
Join us as we learn about the creatures who live under our feet! We’ll read a story, get on the trail, and enjoy a fun snack. Register by email, phone, or facebook. Registration begins on May 30. Family program.

Campfire Night
2024-05-29 18:00
Gather ‘round the fire for songs & stories as we learn about bats. We’ll also roast marshmallows & and take a hike on a trail. Registration required by email, phone, or facebook.

Cicada Fun
2024-05-28 13:00
They are coming whether you are ready or not. Are you excited for this natural phenomenon? Or are you dreading it? Either way, join us as we have some fun learning about the amazing periodical cicada. We’ll have a book, snack on cicada shaped cookies, make a fun craft, test our ability to identify different animal sounds, and go on the search for cicadas to get up close with them.
For all ages. No fee.
Registration required. Register by phone, facebook message, or email.

Walking with Llamas
2024-04-27 13:00 - 15:00
THIS IS CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN COMING IN ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. Come out and walk on the trail with llamas. We’ll also have some yard games for kids. No registration or fee.

Summer Camps
2024-04-27
Summer camp sign up begins. See our page on our summer camps to get the schedule.

Spring Babies
2024-03-29 10:00 - 11:30
Springtime is baby time in nature. We’ll learn about baby animals and their family lives. A windchime craft is part of the fun. Registration required-call or email. $5 fee.

Sounds of Spring
2024-03-28 13:00
Come learn about the animals who make their voices heard in the spring, along with other changes that the season brings. We’ll play games, craft, and go on a trail walk. Family program. Registration required-call or email. No fee.

UKC Shed Dog Event
2024-03-22 08:00 - 2024-03-24 16:00
The United Kennel Club is holding the Elite Shed Dog Series Nationals. Some trails will be closed to the public.

Under the Stars
2024-03-16 19:00
Join Randy Harrison, a Master Naturalist, for a night under the stars! Please dress to be outdoors and bring a comfortable chair if you would like and stay a while. If you have a pair of binoculars, bring them along. We will tour the visible constellations at this time of year, as well as use Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA) to see galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters! We hope you will join us for a night of star hopping through the sky. Come anytime from 7-9pm. No registration needed. No fee. For all ages.

Starry Night
2024-02-23 18:00 - 19:00
Our classroom will be transformed into a magical starry night by the “campfire.” We’ll learn to recognize some constellations in a fun way, listen to campfire stories, sing a few songs, & play nocturnal animals bingo. We’ll go out to look at the stars & do an activity on a short night hike. Family program.
Registration required. Register by email, phone, or private FB message. No fee

Starry Night
2024-02-09 18:00
Our classroom will be transformed into a magical starry night by the “campfire.” We’ll learn to recognize some constellations in a fun way, listen to campfire stories, sing a few songs, & play games. We’ll go out and look at the stars on a short night hike. A great way to relieve some of your cabin fever! Family program.
Registration required by Feb 8th. Register by email, phone, or private FB message. No fee

Night at the Races Fundraiser
2024-02-02 18:00
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Backyard Birds
2024-01-27 14:00
Adult program. Come learn about the birds in your backyard during a slide show and fun activity. Learn tricks to identify them and attract them to your yard. You will go home with a log peanut butter feeder. Program fee: $5 Registration required. Register by email, phone, or FB message.

Owl Fun
2023-12-28 10:00 - 11:30
Kids ages 7-10 will learn about owls, take a hike, and make a really cute craft. $10 fee. Registration required by email or phone.
