Family Campfire
2024-10-12 18:00 (America/Chicago)
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.

Paint Class
2025-01-20
Paint a winter rabbit. For kids ages 7-12. $15 Two times to choose from 10-11:30am or 1-2:30pm. Registration required – call or email.

Night at the Races
2025-01-31 18:00
A fun event that recreates the excitement of being at a horse race. Details to come.

Wood Slice Craft
2025-02-08 10:00
Join us to make this cute craft, perfect to hang in a sunroom, patio, or kid’s room. We’ll also learn some fun facts about the 3 featured animals – fox, owl & raccoon.
This program is for adults, young adults, & kids ages 10 and up with adult. $5 fee. Registration required by Feb 6. Register with a private facebook message, email, or phone call.

Camouflage Critters
2025-03-01 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-03-03 09:00 - 15:00
Look at examples of different camouflage, do a fun craft, and trail activity. Family program. Come and go at your convenience. No registration need. No fee.

Paint Class
2025-03-13 10:00
Come paint a butterfly and learn about the common butterflies of Ballard Nature Center. For adults of all ages. $5 fee. Register via email, phone, or facebook message.

Owls, Hiding in Plain Sight
2025-03-15 13:00
Mark H.X. Glenshaw is an award-winning naturalist who has closely observed and documented the lives of Great-Horned Owls in Forest Park, a large urban park in St. Louis, since December 2005. Mark’s talk will cover how he found these owls & basic facts about the species. He uses his photos and videos to illustrate the amazing behaviors of these beautiful birds. Open to all ages. Popcorn provided. No fee.
For registration: email ballardnc@frontiernet.net, Facebook message us, or call 618-483-6856.

UKC Shed Dog Nationals
2025-03-28 - 2025-03-30
Dogs will compete in finding deer antlers. Visit the UKC website for more information.
The general public is welcome to watch, but please follow the UKC rules. Some trails will be closed to the public.

Sounds of Spring
2025-04-11 18:00 - 19:00
Come learn about the animals who make their voices heard in the spring! We’ll have a sweet book, play fun games, and go on a trail walk to enjoy nature in spring. Register via email, phone, or facebook message. No fee. Family program.

Mushroom Story Trail
2025-04-17 09:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-18 09:00 - 15:00
Read a story, learn about mushrooms, and do activities while walking our special self-guided trail.

Shed Hunt
2025-04-26 09:00
Whitetails Unlimited is hosting their annual shed hunt. Kids search for antlers, a bit like an Easter egg hunt. Open to all ages. No fee. No registration required.

Spring Ephemeral Wildflower Walk
2025-04-26 13:00
Spring is here! That means some of our most beautiful wildflowers are in bloom–but not for long. Join IL Extension Horticulture Educator Sreelakshmi Suresh on a leisurely hike through the woods of Ballard to learn about and see some of our native Illinois wildflowers. No fee. Open to all ages.

Star Gazing
2025-05-03 20:00 - 21:30
Join Randy Harrison for a night under the stars. He will help you view constellations, planets, and more. No registration required & no fee. Program is for all ages.

Weather Wonders
2025-05-29 10:00
April showers bring May flowers! We’ll talk about the weather & how it affects nature. Enjoy a fun activity and hike as well. Family program.
To register: email us ballardnc@frontiernet.net, call us 618-483-6856, or send a private message on Facebook. Once you have registered, if you find that you cannot attend, please let us know since program size is limited.

Busy Beavers
2025-06-03 | Ballard Nature Center, 5253 E US Highway 40, Altamont, IL, 62411, US
Learn all about beavers & their relatives
Kids ages 5-6
Two camp times-
9:00 am – 10:30 am
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Ticket cost- $10

Fossil Hunters
2025-06-06 09:00 - 11:00 | Ballard Nature Center, 5253 E US Highway 40, Altamont, IL, 62411, US
Bringing the past to the present as we look at prehistoric animals & do fun activities
Kids ages 9-11
Ticket Cost: $12

Trivia Trail
2025-06-10 09:00 - 2025-06-17 16:00
Test your wildlife knowledge as you walk the Ridgetop Trail! Grab an answer sheet & answer the questions posted along the trail. Turn in your paper at the visitor center or place in the frog donation box with your name and phone number for a chance to win a prize. One entry per person. Open to all ages.

Sticks & Mud
2025-06-11 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Ballard Nature Center, 5253 E US Highway 40, Altamont, IL, 62411, US
Lots of fun in nature playing games and crafting using sticks & mud/clay
Kids ages 6-9
Ticket Cost: $12
