As winter rolls in, the Wright County Parks & Recreation Department is gearing up for a season of frosty fun with a full slate of winter activities for the young and young at heart. Kicking things off for the kiddos, the "Little Naturalist" program invites tots aged 1-5 to embrace the chilly outdoors with story time, crafts, and nature play at the Robert Ney Nature Center, as listed in their Winter Events Schedule. Schedule your alarms for 10:30 a.m. on February 14 and March 13 if your children are interested.
For the slightly older adventurers, ages 6-12, the center offers "Nature & Learn" sessions, which feature basic cross-country skiing skills complete with equipment provided if you haven't got your own set. There are two sessions on January 11 to choose from, ensuring that homeschoolers and group learners can hit the trails during a timeslot that suits their schedule. The cost for a session stamps in at $8 per child. While everybody is broadly attuned to social media and the internet, not enough kids these days get the chance to strap on skis and genuinely commune with nature — Wright County Parks & Recreation aims to change that.
Adults and families aren't left out in the snowy cold — they're invited to light up the night on January 20 at the "Lantern Ski". Glide down beautifully groomed tracks bathed in the soft glow of lanterns in Ney Park, then kick back with warm drinks and treats while basking in the heat of an outdoor bonfire. It's a BYOS (bring your own skis) event, though rentals are available for a nominal $5 fee.
Rounding out the season of snowy escapades and high-energy outings are unique events like a "Sweetheart Snowshoe Hike" on February 10, complete with a catered meal and a dessert social — all for $50 per couple. Finally, on March 10, you can get hands-on in the fight against invasive species with the "Buckthorn Hiking Sticks" workshop. For a mere $5, you either learn the dark history of buckthorn in the local parks system and help make a change, or you can choose to just keep the focus on crafting your own hiking stick in the family session. Remember, these events require pre-registration, so call up Wright County Parks & Recreation at (763) 684-2387 to snag your spot.
