Classes, Camps, & Events

Join us for weekly sessions of stories, activities, and information about animals and their habitats. Each week, a new topic will be presented, and outdoor activities are planned, so be sure to come prepared. Parents are required to attend with their preschoolers and are encouraged to participate. Registration for the entire session is required in advance, and the program takes place every Tuesday.

Visit the nature center for pancakes and find out if Kansas is really flatter than a pancake! While enjoying breakfast, learn how the geology of Kansas shaped its flat terrain and rolling hills. Discover how sedimentary rocks, like limestone and sandstone, reveal the story of ancient oceans. Join us for delicious pancakes and fascinating insights into Kansas’ natural history!

Learn about the vital role bats, including vampire bats, play in our ecosystems and conservation efforts. Build a foolproof bat house to attract these incredible creatures to your home and support local initiatives. Leave with a greater appreciation for bats and your own crafted bat house!

Looking for a fun and engaging activity for the whole family, a group of friends, or a special date night? Consider archery lessons! Whether you're a beginner or interested in becoming a competitive archer, our classes offer a variety of skill-building exercises and games fun for ages 7 and up. Choose the class that fits your schedule and start your archery journey today!

Have you heard the hype behind the mushroom boom? Venture out with a mushroom specialist and discover the diversity of our local fungi. Our instructor will teach you easy, convenient ways to identify native mushrooms. Learn which fungi are edible and which you shouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Children 2 and younger free.

Can you help save the peregrine falcons? Join us for an exciting escape room adventure designed especially for children! Participants will solve puzzles, crack codes, and uncover clues while learning about the amazing world of peregrine falcons—the fastest animals on Earth. Working together as a team, kids will discover fascinating facts about falcon habitats, hunting skills, migration, and conservation. Each challenge brings them one step closer to completing their mission before time runs out!

Enjoy a basic yoga practice with turtles! Breathe, stretch, and move the spine through a gentle standing and floor series designed to increase circulation, relax themind, and boost endorphins with happy turtle encounters. The class will end with one on one turtle time! Please bring a yoga mat and water. Children aged 2 and under can enter for free when accompanied by a registered adult.

Our holiday possum gram includes a stuffed animal, chocolate, and a personalized card. Please make sure that you use a valid email when you sign up. After you have enrolled, you will be emailed about your card message and the delivery address. Our naturalists can deliver to residences or workplaces within the Lawrence city limits. Please ensure permission and access to the delivery location, especially for business locations. Note that we do not deliver to schools or KU Campus.
For any inquiries, please contact Prairie Park Nature Center at (785) 832-7980 or naturecenter@lawrenceks.gov

Come discover the beauty of Mary's Lake with our self-guided paddling event. After enrolling in advance, swing by Prairie Park Nature Center to pick up your ticket, then enjoy a short, scenic stroll to the lake. From there, pick up your equipment at the boat house and spend up to two hours soaking in the fresh air, smooth waters, and sunshine as you keep an eye out for wildlife on the lake. you can even bring your own fishing gear to see what you might catch! Just make sure to keep a life jacket on at all times on the water, and return your equipment when you're finished! Enrollment is per boat - grab a kayak for solo exploring, or team up with two others in a canoe for a shared journey. whether you're a seasoned paddler or a curious first-timer, Mary's Lake offers the perfect backdrop for an awesome aquatic outing.

Embark on a nocturnal hike with a naturalist at the Prairie Park Nature Center Preserve and observe the wildlife that emerges at night. Catch glimpses of bats, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, and more with handheld red lights. There will also be opportunities for up-close encounters with some creatures of the night. A registered adult must accompany children under the age of 14. Children aged 2 and under can enter for free when accompanied by a registered adult.

Join us for a Spooktacular Night at the Nature Center! Dress in costume and trick-or-treat on the prairie (weather permitting), then step inside to explore the Nature Center in a whole new way—by red light. Discover our resident critters and see nocturnal animals in action as you experience the sights and sounds of the night. Enjoy balloon animals, lively games, a Halloween dance party, and a delicious caramel apple bar.

Kids aged 2 and under get in FREE with a registered adult!

See the magic and pet some merry ponies, goats, and other nature center critters. Visit the Nature Center's holiday elf for a special surprise and enjoy a hot cocoa bar, holiday games, animal balloons, and crafts while viewing our animals under the twinkling lights. Don't forget to check out the winter wonderland photo booth and get an instantly shareable photo. Staggered entry throughout the event to alleviate crowding and ensure building capacity is not met.

$10 per person. Kids aged 2 and under get in FREE with a registered adult!

Take a break from school and get wild with animals, games, hikes and crafts at the nature center. Bring a sack lunch, suitable clothes and shoes for some awesome outdoor adventures.