1Savanna Restoration Bike Ride

St. Croix State Park, July 26, 3-4:30 p.m. Bring your own wheels for this 5-mile ride through the park's work-in-progress savanna restoration project. A staff naturalist will pedal along, providing help with identifying native plants and wildflowers. Registration required. 1-320-384-6615 or www.mndnr.gov.

2Bird Banding

Eastman Nature Center, July 27, 9 a.m.-noon You can observe, and perhaps even participate, as wild songbirds are safely trapped, studied and banded by staff experts. You might get to hold a winged creature in your hands. You might get to help with its release. 763-694-7700 or www. threeriversparks.org.

3Nature Photography

Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park, July 27, 1-4 p.m. Designed for novice photographers ages 8 and older, this one-time course involves a trek through the park with plenty of hands-on instruction. $15. Bring your own camera. Reservations required. 763-559-6700 or www.threeriversparks.org.

4Beauty and the Bluffs

Great River Bluffs State Park, July 27, 8:30 p.m. Start the evening with a guided hike through southeastern Minnesota's beautiful bluff country. End the evening with a short presentation on the area's natural history. 1-507-643-6849 or www.mndnr.gov.

5Beginner Trout Fishing

Whitewater State Park, July 28, 10:30 a.m.-noon Part of the DNR's I Can! series, this weekly primer (through Sept. 1) comes with everything an inexperienced angler needs: rods, reels, tackle and expert instruction. Fishing licenses not required, though you must provide your own bait. 1-866-857-2757 or www.mndnr.gov/ican.