Under the Stars
2024-03-16 19:00 (America/Chicago)
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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Animal Vote
2024-11-05 09:00 - 15:00
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.

Turkey Hunt
2024-11-15 18:30 - 19:30
Learn about wild turkeys, listen to a story, and go on a turkey hunt. Some turkeys will have treats or other surprises in them. Family program. Pre-registration required by noon on the 15th. Call, email or facebook message us to register.

Holiday Tree Trek
2024-11-28 - 2024-12-31
Signs with a Christmas trivia question are tied to 7 trees on our trails. A informational sign is posted by the visitor center. Contest is from Nov. 28 – Dec. 31. For adults and kids.
What To Do:

Find all 7 trees to be entered into the prize drawings.
Take a group (or personal) selfie with one of the decorated trees.
Answer the trivia question posted on each of the seven trees.
Send your photo and answers to us via email at ballardnc@frontiernet.net. Include your name with the photo. Write Tree Trek in the message line.
In the email, tell us if you are registering for a chance at the adult or the kid prize.
One entry per family or person.
You don’t have to have all the questions right to enter into the drawing, but you need to give an answer for each question.

Luminary Walk
2024-12-06 17:00 - 19:30
Come enjoy a trail lit with many luminaria of varying types and other decorations. For all ages. No registration needed. Free-will donations will be accepted. Hope to see you! Rain/Wind will cancel this event & we will reschedule. 5-7:30pm.

Stick Man
2025-01-03 13:00 - 15:00
All kinds of fun with sticks! We’ll have a book, Stick Man, go on a fun hike, play games, and make a craft. For kids in 1st-3rd grades. $10 Registration required-call or email.

Snowman Fun
2025-01-18 13:00 - 15:00
Family program – a come and go style program. A fun “I Spy” trail activity, winter-themed games, and a craft. No registration or fee.
