Event list
Songs of Fire and Ice
January 15
Join CNY folk singers and Beaver Lake naturalists for a winter hike and sing-along in the snow followed by a cozy evening in front of the fireplace. Learn to sing traditional songs of the season for both wandering the woods and enjoying the fireside, plus discover all the magic of Beaver Lake in winter by lantern light! After a chilly outdoor adven ...
Trail Tales
January 16
Join a naturalist for a nature story and song before heading out on a special hike. This program is for children ages 3 , accompanied by an adult.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center
Friday Fire Talks
January 17
thru January 31
Stop by the outdoor fire pit to learn something new from a naturalist! Information on tracks we can see in winter, interesting animal pelts, snowflake formation, and more will be covered. Come with questions and spend some time warming up by the fire.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
The Great "Gingerbread" House Competition
January 18
Get your construction skills on at Beaver Lake! You will be supplied with milk cartons and cardboard for your base, and lots of wildlife-friendly decorations like seeds, acorns, fruit, and more! Participants will get 1 hour to construct their houses, then judging will take place. There are two judging categories: Apprentice (ages 12 and under) and ...
Sharing Nature with Your Child: Super Seeds
January 22
Discover Beaver Lake through the eyes of your preschooler! Each session brings a new opportunity for discovery through nature hikes, games, and crafts. Children ages 3-5 years old, accompanied by an adult. During this session, we'll learn all about how super seeds are! We’ll explore the life cycle of a plant and the importance of seeds and ...
Friday Fire Talks
January 24
thru January 31
Stop by the outdoor fire pit to learn something new from a naturalist! Information on tracks we can see in winter, interesting animal pelts, snowflake formation, and more will be covered. Come with questions and spend some time warming up by the fire.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Trail Tales
January 30
Join a naturalist for a nature story and song before heading out on a special hike. This program is for children ages 3 , accompanied by an adult.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center
Friday Fire Talks
January 31
Stop by the outdoor fire pit to learn something new from a naturalist! Information on tracks we can see in winter, interesting animal pelts, snowflake formation, and more will be covered. Come with questions and spend some time warming up by the fire.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene: Art Workshop
February 1
Drop in anytime during this workshop to be part of a large-scale civic engagement art project comprised of over 10,000 bird replicas. Participants will be led through the crafting process to create a replica of a bird that died in 2023 from window collisions along Chicago’s lakefront using donated fabric scraps that would otherwise end up in the ...
Sharing Nature with Your Child: Winter Critters
February 5
Discover Beaver Lake through the eyes of your preschooler! Each session brings a new opportunity for discovery through nature hikes, games, and crafts. Children ages 3-5 years old, accompanied by an adult. Let’s learn about animals in the winter! We’ll discover which animals are active all winter and which ones are not (and how they surv ...
Homeschool Days: Trotting through the Trees
February 6
Join a Beaver Lake educator once a month for a program designed to supplement science and natural history homeschool education through fun and interactive outdoor experiences. Geared towards children aged 7-12.Join a naturalist for a hike under the tall canopies around Beaver Lake! Come and learn about the important role that trees play in t ...
Block Printing
February 8
Learn to make prints using simple supplies! Create a cute design, then transfer it onto paper. All supplies are provided; just bring a good attitude and a creative mind! This program is geared toward children ages 6-12 years old.Registration: $6/child-member; $7/child-nonmemberPark admission fee ($5/vehicle) still applies
REGISTER NOW!
Trail Tales
February 13
Join a naturalist for a nature story and song before heading out on a special hike. This program is for children ages 3 , accompanied by an adult.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center
Nature's Valentines
February 14
Learn to make prints using simple supplies! Create a cute design, then transfer it onto paper. All supplies are provided; just bring a good attitude and a creative mind! This program is geared toward children ages 6-12 years old.Registration: $6/child-member; $7/child-nonmemberPark admission fee ($5/vehicle) still applies
REGISTER NOW!
Sharing Nature with Your Child: Winter Bird Watching
February 26
Discover Beaver Lake through the eyes of your preschooler! Each session brings a new opportunity for discovery through nature hikes, games, and crafts. Children ages 3-5 years old, accompanied by an adult. Let’s go winter birdwatching! We will discover which birds we can see at Beaver Lake and do a fun craft before heading out on a hike to ...
Winter Stargazing, Stories, and Song
February 26
Enjoy a guided tour of the night sky while learning the basics of stargazing, including how to find and identify various stars, planets, and constellations. The stargazing will be paired with stories and songs of the night sky. Registration: $6/Member; $7/Nonmember, park admission included
REGISTER NOW!
Trail Tales
February 27
Join a naturalist for a nature story and song before heading out on a special hike. This program is for children ages 3 , accompanied by an adult.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center