Parks programs

Parks programs May - June 2025

Accessibility options: Olmsted County Parks offer a variety of accessibility accommodations for park visitors and our public programming. Ranging from accommodations for mobility like our Action Trackchair, sensory sensitivities including our free rental kits, American Sign Language interpreter, and a microphone/speaker system for improved acoustics for hearing with certain programs. We know everyone’s experience is unique. For more information on these resources, contact oxbow@olmstedcounty.gov or call 507-328-7340. Please let us know of needed accommodations at least two days in advance, two weeks for an ASL interpreter.

Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo

The following events take place at Oxbow Park and are subject to change.

Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. - Turkey Calling 

Listen and you can hear a thundering gobble crack the silence of a spring forest. Venture out with a naturalist to invade the wild turkey territory and talk turkey.

Sunday, May 4, 1 p.m. - Nature Self Portraits Craft

Join a naturalist on a short hike to collect items from nature and create your own self-portrait from what you found. Meet in the nature center.

Saturday, May 10, 1 p.m. - Spring Wildflower Hike

Spring offers a short time for flowers of the forest to collect enough sunlight to bloom before the tree canopy grows and shades these ephemeral flowers.  This hike will include identifying and learning the names of the flowers. After, color the mom in your life a beautiful flower bouquet coloring page!

Sunday, May 18, 1 p.m. - Feed the Deer and Elk

A short hike over to the elk and deer pens will allow participants to get a closer look at these spectacular creatures. Learn more about antlers, deer and elk behavior, and see them eat! Meet at the nature center. (Accommodations CAN be made for non-hikers, seniors, etc.)

Saturday, May 24, 11 a.m. - Feed the Bear

Our resident black bear is awake and very hungry!  Join us as we share some natural history facts about black bears.  We will tempt her with a wide variety of foods.  What will she eat first?  Come to this program to find out! Meet at the bear exhibit.

Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. - Mindful Meander

Join a Naturalist to learn about the many benefits being immersed in nature has on your health. You will learn about and have the opportunity to participate in a few mindfulness activities. Meet at the Nature Center.

Sunday, June 1, 11 a.m. - Totally Turtles

Minnesota is home to nine different species of turtles. Turtles are one of the longest living species in the world dating back to the era when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Learn the yearly events a turtle lives through that have allowed this animal to live for many centuries. Also meet the zoo’s resident turtle.

Saturday, June 7, 9 p.m. - Fireflies

Meet at the campground restroom building to learn about the interesting insect that produces its own light. Wait until dark and watch the fireflies light up the night.

Sunday, June 15, 1 p.m. - Fire Starting

Have you wanted to learn how to build the perfect fire? Meet at the Campground Host site (across from the Restroom building) to learn a trick or two about fire starting. Marshmallows will be provided.

Saturday, June 21, 1 p.m. - Intro to Skulls

A basic introduction to skulls. Learn some of the bones in the skull, how to use skulls to tell between predator and prey animals, and how teeth can help you identify what an animal eats. Meet in the Nature Center classroom and be prepared for a brief walk around the zoo.

Sunday, June 29, 1 p.m. - Karst Geology

Oxbow Park is home to a unique landscape underground. Karst is full of fascinating features of caves, cracks, and fissures in the bedrock. A mile hike with a naturalist will reveal the beauty of karst and waterfalls that accompany this rock feature. Meet at the Nature Center.

2025 Oxbow Homeschool classes:

Oxbow Park is now offering Naturalist Programs reserved for homeschool families! Sign up will be required and Oxbow Park reserves the right to cancel the program if there are not enough participants signed up. The fee is $5 per student, 3 years and older (parents and 2 and under are free)

  • Payment is required to sign up for the class. No refunds will be offered.
  • Please call 507-328-7340 to sign up.

Homeschool classes:

  • Wednesday, April 2 at 1 p.m. - Feed the Bison
  • Thursday, June 5 at 10 a.m. - Feed the Bear - FULL
  • Thursday, July 17 at 11 a.m. – Life cycles
  • Wednesday, August 6 at 10 a.m. - Feed the Bear 

Chester Woods Park

Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m. - noon - FOCW Spring Clean Up Day

Join Friends of Chester Woods for the annual spring clean up day. Meet at the park office for coffee and doughnuts before heading out to the park to help get things ready for the busy spring and summer season!

Sunday, April 27, 9 a.m. - noon - ZVAS Bird Walk at Root River Park

Located just south of Rochester near Simpson, Root River has a nice 2-mile loop walking trail and good diverse habitat for a wide variety of birds. We'll look for early blooming wildflowers, newly arriving migrants like Golden-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and other signs of spring. Dress for the weather. Meet in the parking lot near the picnic tables. Trails can be slippery when wet. This trip will be cancelled if it's raining harder than a light sprinkle.

Saturday, May 10, 8 a.m. - noon - ZVAS Big Birding Day

This year’s event takes place at the peak of spring migration so we should see a wide variety of birds. Meet in the boat landing parking lot. If you didn't go to the earlier walks, we recommend you be at Chester Woods by 7:45 am in case we arrive early. - no pre-registration needed. Event will be cancelled if it's raining more than a light sprinkle or if thunderstorms are present.

Friday, May 23, 10 a.m. - Beach and Watercraft Rentals open for the season!

Saturday, May 31, 6:45 a.m. - ZVAS Bird Song Walk

Meet in the boat landing parking lot. With the spring migration over, birds are busily defending territories, nesting, and raising young birds. The birds are difficult to see but very vocal. This trip will focus on learning many of the songs and calls of the local breeding birds. 

June 7-9 MNDNR Take a Kid Fishing Weekend

Fish for free!  Minnesotans 16 or older who take a child 15 or younger fishing don't need a license on this special weekend.

Saturday, June 14, 8:30 p.m. - Moonlight Hike

Sunday, June 15, 2 p.m. - Damsels and Dragonflies

Meet by the kiosk near the boat ramp. Dragonflies and damselflies are amazing creatures – fantastic flyers, with incredible body shapes, beautiful colors, and a distinctive life cycle. Join us to catch some of these alien-looking creatures to examine up close. Families with children are welcome at this fun activity.​ Free and no registration required.

Thursday, and Friday, June 26 and 27, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Rochesterfest Family Fun Night

Bring the family down to Soldiers Field Park and check out all the fun activities and booths for kids and adults.  Olmsted County Parks will be there with a few critters as well!

Sunday, June 29 - 5th Annual Youth Bass Classic

Project MN Youth Outdoors is once again holding this exciting free event for youth ages 3-15.  Registration starts at 7:00am with the blast off at 8:00am!  All the information can be found on the Project MN Youth Outdoors Facebook page.