Beginning birding
Fort Snelling State Park
10-11 a.m. Saturday
Join the naturalist for a birding hike, and learn about the basic techniques of bird identification. Binoculars are provided. Registration required; call 612-725-2724. (mndnr.gov)
Archaeology and camping
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday
Step back in time as we look at artifacts. Take a short walk to locations where archaeologists found evidence of a village from the 1600s and a campsite dating to more than 3,000 years ago. Meet at the interpretive center. (1-320-532-3523,mndnr.gov)
Halloween howl
Lake Maria State Park
5-7 p.m. Saturday
See live owls and learn how they hunt at night at a presentation by the Audubon Center of the North Woods. Children's activities begin at 6 p.m. Registration required for children's events; call 763-878-2325. (mndnr.gov)
Candlelight walk
Whitewater State Park
6-8 p.m. Saturday
Join an evening walk in a ghost town cemetery. Hear stories of pioneers, Civil War veterans and others who have lived in the Whitewater Valley. Bring your own transportation; the cemetery is located 5 miles north of the park. (1-507-932-3007, mndnr.gov)
Geocaching 101
Fort Snelling State Park
1-2:30 p.m. Sunday
Learn how to use a global positioning system (GPS) unit to find hidden treasures at Minnesota state parks. There are a limited number of GPS units available. Registration required; call 612-725-2724. (mndnr.gov)
Raptors
Lowry Nature Center
2-4 p.m. Sunday
Meet and learn about captive raptors. Bringing cameras is OK. Children 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. (763-694-7650, threeriversparks.org)