The ultimate Minnesota spring to-do list

March

Watch raptors take flight

Wabasha's National Eagle Center uses prime eagle-watching season for its month of Soar with the Eagles weekend programs that showcase owls, kestrels and other birds of prey, animals and nature topics from stargazing to butterflies. Leave plenty of time (and don't forget the binoculars) to watch wild eagles along the Mississippi River, or use the spotting scopes at the museum's observation deck. (651-565-4989, nationaleaglecenter.com)

Tapping into tradition (Ongoing)

Before March closes, consider learning about the process of maple sap to maple syrup. There are workshops and events at several state parks this weekend and next. (mndnr.gov/ptcalendar).

Climate change and Minnesota (March 31)

Frontenac State Park will host a screening of "Minnesota Stories in a Changing Climate," which focuses on community response. (mndnr.gov/ptcalendar)

Children get a hands-on look at life in the 1800s with monthly Frontier Families workshops at The Landing in Shakopee. Activities at the 88-acre collection of historic buildings and paths along the Lower Minnesota River Valley follow a seasonal theme: tapping maple syrup Saturday; Victorian Easter Egg Roll March 26; heirloom gardening and seed-saving April 10; and finding wild edibles May 15 (763-694-7784; threerivers­parks.org).

Plan summer's epic bike rides

This is the time to start planning if you're ready to pedal some serious miles while enjoying some of the state's best scenery. Take one of four guided Great Lakes, Great Brews tours from Duluth to Grand Marais in May and September (beerandbiketours.com) — with the added incentive of beer. Cyclists can choose 32-, 50-, 72- or 100-mile options on the Tour de Pepin that follows the Great River Road and circles Lake Pepin on June 4. Those choosing the shorter rides can return to Lake City on a paddle wheel riverboat (lakecity.org). Up for a week of riding? Start the July 10-17 Headwaters to Hills tour with a blessing of bikes at Itasca State Park before embarking on an 800-mile journey that follows the Mississippi River Trail from northern Minnesota to the southeast border of the state (bikemn.org/headwaters-to-hills).

Build a garden sanctuary (April 7)

Author Rhonda Fleming Hayes talks about creating pollinator-friendly gardens at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Use the information to draw bees and butterflies to your own backyard. (arboretum.umn.edu, 952-443-1400)

Pull on some grubby clothes to join in the cleanup at 9:30 a.m. at Minneapolis parks. The annual effort has removed more than 140,000 pounds of garbage over the years, freshening the parks and protecting the Chain of Lakes, Minnehaha Creek, the Mississippi River and other lakes. (minneapolisparks.org, 612-230-6400)

Earn a ranger badge (April 23)

Kids can learn and earn a National Park Service junior ranger badge at the Mississippi River Visitor Center. The center, in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, will have myriad activities as part of Junior Ranger Day. If you can't make it, badges can be earned year-round (nps.gov/miss, 651-290-4160)

Adventure over to Outdoor Expo (April 22-24)

Find inspiration for exploring at the Outdoor Adventure Expo hosted by Midwest Mountaineering and the University of Minnesota. Look for almost 100 exhibitors and more than 100 presentations on climbing, paddling, backpacking and more. No admission is charged, but tickets go on sale March 19 for the Radical Reels Tour, featuring high-adrenaline films Saturday evening. (outdooradventureexpo.com)

Join adrenaline junkies or the spectators who watch them as they kick off Minnesota's whitewater paddling season at Sandstone's Kettle River Paddle Festival at Robinson Park and Banning State Park. The event includes a race down the roiling rapids, stunts at the Whitewater Rodeo and a gear swap. (kettleriver­paddlefest.com)

Free fishing clinic (May 7)

With a free lunch, goody bags, gear to borrow and fishing lessons, it's a win-win along the banks of the Mississippi River at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park (anokacounty.us, 651-429-8007).

Run with the blossoms (May 15)

Enjoy a good morning run (2K, 5K, 10K and half-marathon) with the scenic incentive of orchards in bloom with the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center's Apple Blossom Races. The half-marathon stretch includes hilly terrain and valley vistas. (bit.ly/carprun)

Detroit Lakes takes advantage of its location near tallgrass prairie, northern hardwoods and conifer forests — ecosystems that collectively draw close to 200 bird species — for the annual Detroit Lakes Birding Festival. The event brings together birding experts for workshops and guided outings. Check the area's best birding spots year-round on the Pine-to-Prairie International Birding Trail that stretches into Canada. (bit.ly/detbirds)

Run with your dogs (May 21)

Prefer to run with your favorite four-legged best friend? Try the Fast and the Furry races at Harriet Island with either a 5K run/walk or an 8K run. The event runs in conjunction with a free pet expo (fastandthefurry.com).

Celebrate trails (June 4)

Join hiking groups across the country celebrating National Trails Day. Itasca State Park offers a guided glacial hills hike from 1 to 4 p.m. along the North Country Trail — America's longest National Scenic Trail.(northcountrytrail.org). The Superior Hiking Trail Association hosts two hikes starting at 10 a.m. near Finland: a 7.6-mile route past the Baptism River and lakes or a 4.6-mile route through maple forests to Egge Lake (shta.com)

With warblers and songbirds back for the season, stop by the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden to learn the basics of birding, identify birds by their songs, try birding from a canoe, and help count birds spotted in the gardens (minneapolis.org).

Take a kid fishing (June 10-11)

Adults who fish with a child 15 or younger don't need a license during the Department of Natural Resources "Take a Kid Fishing" weekend. Some state parks also have fishing equipment you can borrow, and Minnesota residents can fish in many state parks all season without a license. Want to learn about trout fishing in southeastern Minnesota's spring-fed streams? Check out the "I Can Fish" workshop June 4 at Carley State Park. (dnr.state.mn.us, 888-646-6367)

Lisa Meyers McClintick is a St. Cloud-based writer and photographer.