1 Walk-it-off nature hike
Fort Snelling State Park, Nov. 29, 1-3 p.m.
Yesterday's feast calls for an afternoon of brisk walking. This hike comes with the added bonus of naturalist-led observations on animal tracks and other signs of late-season wildlife. 612-725-2724 or www.mndnr.gov.
2 Turkey sightings
Richardson Nature Center, Nov. 30, 1-2:30 p.m.
Get smart about wild turkeys — their tracks, their habitats, their calls. Then take a family-friendly hike through Hyland Lake Park Reserve to try your luck at spotting turkeys mid-strut. $5. Ages 3-plus. More information: www. threeriversparks.org.
3 American fiddling
Kroening Interpretive Center, Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-noon
Head for the urban oasis of North Mississippi Regional Park for an intimate concert of Appalachian-style strings. Led by fiddler Larry Greenstein, this session includes folk songs from the 1800s to the 1920s as well as an opportunity to play a mountain dulcimer. $5. More information: www.threerivers parks.org.
4 Winter camping basics
Midwest Mountaineering, Dec. 4, 6:30-8 p.m.
Don't stay indoors half the year; learn to camp comfortably and safely during the frozen months ahead. This two-part program covers everything from cold-weather dressing to outdoor cooking in the snow. The second installment is scheduled at William O'Brien State Park Visitor Center on Dec. 14, 2-3:30 p.m. Reservations required; 612-339-3433 or www.mndnr.gov.
5 Bird watching trek
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Dec. 7, 8-10 a.m.
Meet at the refuge's Wilkie Unit, in Shakopee, for a naturalist-led hike in search of trumpeter swans, ducks, rough-legged hawks and other winter birds. 952-854-5900 or www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota_valley.
