Family Friendly
Fridays during summer 10 am – Noon
Friday, July 25
Friday, August 1
It’s a Fun Friday at the Institute! Join us for hands-on activities, special guests, games, and crafts centered around a new theme each week! This is a come-and-go event, and all caregivers must remain with their children during this event. Explore and play alongside your children. Fun Fridays at the Institute are fun for everyone!
Free (please register online)

Join us for a social hiking experience. Bring a friend, or make a new one! Trails will have rocks, uneven terrain, mud, and great views! Each month, we offer a Thursday morning hike, a Thursday evening hike, and a Saturday hike.  Check out the schedule, and register to hike with us! 

All hikes are FREE. (Water is required to hike. This is a safety precaution to prevent dehydration on the trail.) 

This is a 2.2 mile hike open to all.

(Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult)

Thursday, August 7 | 10 am – Noon

Interested in wild foraged drinks, but not interested in hiking the trails? This is for you! Tour and taste along the institute’s trails from the comfort of an all-terrain vehicle. Learn to ID the plants that make excellent teas, sodas, mocktails, and more!
Member $7 | Non-Member $10

Wednesday, August 6      
6:30 – 8:30 pm
7 pm – Writers’ Readings

Join us for an end-of-summer celebration with the Institute’s Field Station. Don’t miss the opportunity to interact with student researchers, artists, writers, and stewardship fellows and see the results of their summer work. Explore research results in a poster walk, enjoy a gallery of student artwork, and listen to writers share pieces of the work they have been crafting all summer.
Free

(Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult)

Wednesday, August 6 |10 am – Noon
Thursday, August 7 | 10 am – Noon

Interested in wild foraged drinks, but not interested in hiking the trails? This is for you! Tour and taste along the institute’s trails from the comfort of an all-terrain vehicle. Learn to ID the plants that make excellent teas, sodas, mocktails, and more!
Member $7 | Non-Member $10

 (Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult)

Friday, August 8 6 – 8 pm

Grab a friend and join us for a foraged “happy hour.” Take a leisurely stroll through our beautiful property and sip on the flavors of summer. Along the way, we’ll learn to identify the plants that make excellent teas, sodas, mocktails, and more! 

Member $5 | Non-Member $8

Join us for a social hiking experience. Bring a friend, or make a new one! Trails will have rocks, uneven terrain, mud, and great views! Each month, we offer a Thursday morning hike, a Thursday evening hike, and a Saturday hike.  Check out the schedule, and register to hike with us! 

All hikes are FREE. (Water is required to hike. This is a safety precaution to prevent dehydration on the trail.) 

This is a 2.1 mile hike open to all.

Join us at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute on Saturday, August 9 from 11 am – 2 pm for a FREE Open House! Whether you’re brand new or it’s been while since your last visit, let us show you everything Pierce Cedar Creek Institute has to offer!

Bring the whole family for a fun-filled afternoon including:

• FREE MOO-ville Creamery Ice Cream
• FREE Hotdogs and Treats
• Yard Games and Activities
• Explore our Trails and Facilities
• See the New Art Exhibit

Play, learn, and connect with nature– we can’t wait to see you!

We will email out a reminder closer to the event date. 

(Family-friendly)

Thursday, August 14
3 – 5 pm 

Fish Hatchery Park in Hastings

Join us for a fun family event to close out the summer season. Bring your family out to play in foam, eat some ice cream, choose a free book, explore local preschool options, and visit with community organizations. 

Free, no registration required.

Join us for a social hiking experience. Bring a friend, or make a new one! Trails will have rocks, uneven terrain, mud, and great views! Each month, we offer a Thursday morning hike, a Thursday evening hike, and a Saturday hike.  Check out the schedule, and register to hike with us! 

All hikes are FREE. (Water is required to hike. This is a safety precaution to prevent dehydration on the trail.) 

This is a 2.1 mile hike open to all.

Join us for a social hiking experience. Bring a friend, or make a new one! Trails will have rocks, uneven terrain, mud, and great views! Each month, we offer a Thursday morning hike, a Thursday evening hike, and a Saturday hike.  Check out the schedule, and register to hike with us! 

All hikes are FREE. (Water is required to hike. This is a safety precaution to prevent dehydration on the trail.) 

This is a 2.3 mile hike open to all.

(Ages 15+, under 18 with an adult)

4th Thursday of the Month 
6:30 – 8 pm 

August 28 (Accessible program)

September 25 (Sunset program)  

Join Certified Forest Therapy Guide Katie Venechuk as she introduces the practice of Shinrin-Yoku  (also known as “forest bathing”)! This restorative series will help you experience nature in a new way—encouraging you to slow down, notice new things in the world around you, and enjoy the peace of nature. At the beginning of each program, you’ll learn about the history of forest bathing, the science behind the health benefits, and how it differs from a hike in the forest. Then, you’ll experience guided forest bathing firsthand! Each program in this three-part series is different. Participants can register for one or all three sessions to deepen their practice and personal connection to nature over time. The Institute has partnered with In Your Element Wellness to offer a special, discounted rate for this series.  

Member $18 | Non-Member $23 (per session)  

Register for all three program dates and receive 15% off your total!  

Programs will include a small snack. Please list any allergies when registering.