Education & Community

Aris Pediatric Behavioral Health Clinic is opening a second Woodbury site to address care shortages for youth ages 5 to 18 in the five-county metro area and western Wisconsin. All are welcome to attend the free grand opening of Aris Clinic - Woodwinds, 4 - 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26 (ribbon cutting is at 4:30) at the newly constructed building at 2040 Woodwinds Drive, Woodbury. Enjoy refreshments, tours, and information about Aris Clinics' outpatient services for youth, as well as families and adults. Learn more at Aris-clinic.com. Read more about Grand Opening of New Aris Clinic

Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf (CCEFS) hosts its annual Connecting Community Breakfast this month. A $25 ticket includes breakfast and a seat at the table to watch keynote speaker Mark Scharenbroich, an Emmy winner who will share his story, “Nice Bike,” an inspiring tale about connecting with others (a fitting theme for an event that’s all about supporting neighbors, especially over a meal). Read more about Connecting Community Breakfast

What inspires us at Lil' Kickers? Kids! Plain and simple: we are a family business. When we started Lil’ Kickers in 1999 we wanted to build a kids’ program that was fundamentally sound and outrageously fun. What we started at Arena Sports indoor soccer facilities in Seattle, Washington, has now grown into a national franchise with more than 100 locations in 27 states and provinces, with a total enrollment of 900,000 kids and growing!

We are now in Woodbury, MN! Come join us for our free Lil' Kicker classes. Read more about Lil' Kickers is coming to Woodbury!

Earn your stripes and join the Minnesota Zoo for their annual Tiger Tracks 5K to raise money for wildlife conservation. The race starts at the Shady Oaks Picnic area and follows a course through the zoo on outdoor trails. Registered participants will receive free admission to the zoo on the event day and a commemorative t-shirt. Strollers are welcome. Read more about Tiger Tracks 5K and Family Run/ Walk

Celebrate the annual great migration of the monarchs from Minnesota to Mexico at Lake Nokomis this fall. Break out your best orange and black to walk in the costume parade or learn more about these incredible butterflies by tagging and releasing your own. You can explore the butterfly naturescape by the lake and even find out how you can help to protect the species in the future. Read more about Minneapolis Monarch Festival

Experience a Taste of Greece at the Minneapolis Greek Festival at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. Try authentic Greek food, from gyros to baklava, while participating in the various cultural experiences available. It will be a weekend full of bookstores, boutiques and dancing finished off with a 5K run for Chloe’s Fight Rare Disease Foundation. Read more about Minneapolis Greek Festival

Join us for the 2nd Annual ‘Shout Out Loud’ Suicide Prevention and Resource Awareness event! Our main goal with Shout Out Loud is to normalize the conversation about suicide prevention in our community and encourage participation in local wellness resources. Our goal with Shout Out Loud is to normalize the conversation about suicide prevention in our community and encourage participation in local wellness resources. Read more about Shout Out Loud Minnesota - A Suicide Prevention Charity Event

(ALL AGES)

It is FUN to be outside in the wintertime! Take a hike or snowshoe down to the pond for a fun exploration then make S’mores.

Fee: $5/person. Register by Thursday, Dec 28  Read more about S'more Nature Fun

(ADULTS; CHILDREN AGES 8 AND UP WITH ADULT)  

Drop in to watch and record winter birds on our trails or at our feeders. Enter your sightings using the eBird app or hand-write a list for the naturalist. Double the fun by renting a pair of snowshoes for $5/pair (if 6” snow on ground)!

FREE! Drop-in Program.  Read more about December Brrrrd Count

Walk when the Moon is full to listen and look for these flying mousetraps! Great horned and barred owls make the nature center home. Back inside, dissect an owl pellet to identify the teeth and bones of the creatures they eat. Learn to identify 5 owl calls and practice calling, too! Bring a mug for a hot beverage afterward! Small scout or youth groups welcome.

Fee: $5 per person, Register online by Tuesday, December 10. Read more about Full Moon Walk