Spark Bird:
Igniting Children's Connection to Nature through Birding
Christine Petersen
Wednesday April 30th 6:30-8pm
Location: Minnnetonka Community Center (14600 Minnetonka Blvd.)
Advance registration is required.
Watching birds with children can ignite their lifelong appreciation for nature – and it provides a fun way to spend time outdoors. Join us to learn why birding matters and get ideas to help kids appreciate these amazingly diverse animals. This program is intended for parents and grandparents, childcare workers and educators, or other adults interested in connecting kids with nature. Brought to you by Wild Ones Prairie Edge in collaboration with the City of Minnetonka.
Christine Petersen is Natural Resources Engagement Coordinator for the City of Minnetonka. In her free time, she’s an enthusiastic wildlife-watcher and frequent contributor to the Young Naturalists section of Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine.
Igniting Children's Connection to Nature through Birding
Christine Petersen
Wednesday April 30th 6:30-8pm
Location: Minnnetonka Community Center (14600 Minnetonka Blvd.)
Advance registration is required.
Watching birds with children can ignite their lifelong appreciation for nature – and it provides a fun way to spend time outdoors. Join us to learn why birding matters and get ideas to help kids appreciate these amazingly diverse animals. This program is intended for parents and grandparents, childcare workers and educators, or other adults interested in connecting kids with nature. Brought to you by Wild Ones Prairie Edge in collaboration with the City of Minnetonka.
Christine Petersen is Natural Resources Engagement Coordinator for the City of Minnetonka. In her free time, she’s an enthusiastic wildlife-watcher and frequent contributor to the Young Naturalists section of Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine.
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Family Birding Walk
with Christine Petersen
Saturday May 3rd 4-5pm
Location: Minnnetonka Community Center (14600 Minnetonka Blvd.)
west side of the parking lot
Advance registration is required.
Join Minnetonka Natural Resources staff for an afternoon stroll to look and listen for birds at Civic Center Park. The path is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, and this program is open to participants of all ages. Brought to you by Wild Ones Prairie Edge in collaboration with the City of Minnetonka.
with Christine Petersen
Saturday May 3rd 4-5pm
Location: Minnnetonka Community Center (14600 Minnetonka Blvd.)
west side of the parking lot
Advance registration is required.
Join Minnetonka Natural Resources staff for an afternoon stroll to look and listen for birds at Civic Center Park. The path is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, and this program is open to participants of all ages. Brought to you by Wild Ones Prairie Edge in collaboration with the City of Minnetonka.
Urban Meadows
with Michael Keenan
Wednesday May 14th 7-8:45pm
Location: Eden Prairie Community Center (16700 Valley View Rd. Eden Prairie)
Cambria Room
Urban Meadows: a novel approach to urban prairie restoration
Prairie restoration has become an increasingly common practice in urbanized landscapes. Highly visible examples can be found on corporate campuses, public parks, and even large rooftops. Unfortunately, many high profile examples exist where restored prairies that once replaced large lawns of turgrass were ultimately returned back to turf grass. In these cases, particular spatial and aesthetic issues motivated the removal of the prairie. Environmental perception research indicates a number of key factors that affect how a naturalistic landscape is perceived by the general public. This presentation will explore those perception factors and suggest an alternative approach to creating meadow plant communities in high profile locations that will appeal to a wider audience and ultimately be more sustainable as a result.
Michael is a landscape architect and co-founder of Urban Ecosystems. Michael is passionate about plants, water, and how people interact with them. His knowledge of natural processes inspire the creation of dynamic planting systems, landscapes, and green infrastructure systems. He has traveled extensively throughout the US and abroad to study plants and their use in the landscape. His passion for plants can also be found in his garden, where he experiments with planting and soil combinations that advance new knowledge for Urban Ecosystems.
Michael has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota, where he led graduate courses in planting design, ecological design, integrated rainwater management, and landscape construction. He is also co-author of Lake Minnetonka Guide to Shoreline Gardens. As Director of Design and registered landscape architect, Michael oversees a variety of site design projects that aim to restore ecological function to degraded landscapes and create a shared vibrancy for all living things.
with Michael Keenan
Wednesday May 14th 7-8:45pm
Location: Eden Prairie Community Center (16700 Valley View Rd. Eden Prairie)
Cambria Room
Urban Meadows: a novel approach to urban prairie restoration
Prairie restoration has become an increasingly common practice in urbanized landscapes. Highly visible examples can be found on corporate campuses, public parks, and even large rooftops. Unfortunately, many high profile examples exist where restored prairies that once replaced large lawns of turgrass were ultimately returned back to turf grass. In these cases, particular spatial and aesthetic issues motivated the removal of the prairie. Environmental perception research indicates a number of key factors that affect how a naturalistic landscape is perceived by the general public. This presentation will explore those perception factors and suggest an alternative approach to creating meadow plant communities in high profile locations that will appeal to a wider audience and ultimately be more sustainable as a result.
Michael is a landscape architect and co-founder of Urban Ecosystems. Michael is passionate about plants, water, and how people interact with them. His knowledge of natural processes inspire the creation of dynamic planting systems, landscapes, and green infrastructure systems. He has traveled extensively throughout the US and abroad to study plants and their use in the landscape. His passion for plants can also be found in his garden, where he experiments with planting and soil combinations that advance new knowledge for Urban Ecosystems.
Michael has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota, where he led graduate courses in planting design, ecological design, integrated rainwater management, and landscape construction. He is also co-author of Lake Minnetonka Guide to Shoreline Gardens. As Director of Design and registered landscape architect, Michael oversees a variety of site design projects that aim to restore ecological function to degraded landscapes and create a shared vibrancy for all living things.
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Foraging Fall Fungi
with Jaime Rockney
Wednesday October 8th 7-8:45pm
Description of Presentation: Explore the basics of mushroom foraging and how to safely identify a few seasonal mushrooms (along with their lookalikes). This presentation will help you start foraging safely and with confidence.
Bio: Jaime Rockney, known as “Chick of the Woods,” is a foraging educator with a deep passion for the forest and fungi. Since discovering her love for foraging in 2008, she has been on a mission to inspire others to appreciate the wonders of nature. In 2019, she founded Chick of the Woods Foraging, LLC, and shortly after turned her passion into a full-time career, teaching others about edible wild mushrooms, berries, and plants. Jaime is an active member of the Minnesota Mycological Society, Wisconsin Mycological Society, and the North American Mycological Association and holds three certifications for mushroom identification and sales. Through her classes and events, she empowers others to forage with confidence while fostering a deep respect for the forest’s rich biodiversity. Learn more about Jaime and her classes on Facebook (@chickofthewoods), Instagram (@chick.of.the.woods), or her website at chickofthewoods.com.
with Jaime Rockney
Wednesday October 8th 7-8:45pm
Description of Presentation: Explore the basics of mushroom foraging and how to safely identify a few seasonal mushrooms (along with their lookalikes). This presentation will help you start foraging safely and with confidence.
Bio: Jaime Rockney, known as “Chick of the Woods,” is a foraging educator with a deep passion for the forest and fungi. Since discovering her love for foraging in 2008, she has been on a mission to inspire others to appreciate the wonders of nature. In 2019, she founded Chick of the Woods Foraging, LLC, and shortly after turned her passion into a full-time career, teaching others about edible wild mushrooms, berries, and plants. Jaime is an active member of the Minnesota Mycological Society, Wisconsin Mycological Society, and the North American Mycological Association and holds three certifications for mushroom identification and sales. Through her classes and events, she empowers others to forage with confidence while fostering a deep respect for the forest’s rich biodiversity. Learn more about Jaime and her classes on Facebook (@chickofthewoods), Instagram (@chick.of.the.woods), or her website at chickofthewoods.com.
