Happy Dancing Turtle

06/01/2026

Are you seeing more pollinators outdoors? Great family event to learn all about them!

It's almost time! We can't wait to explore the wonderful world of pollinators two weeks from this Sunday. Join us and our friends from WonderTrek Children's Museum for a morning of interactive activities, hands-on learning, nature arts and crafts, and fun for the whole family! Learn more at https://www.greatrivergreening.org/pollinator-party.

05/30/2026

School is out (or almost out), and you might find you have some extra time on your hands! Want to know what else could be on your hand? A chickadee! Join Nora for this week's storytime to learn how you can feed a wild chickadee straight from your palm this summer!

To learn more about birds and for activities/resources, visit: bit.ly/SpringBirding

05/29/2026

The recent wildfire near Flanders Lake left many concerned about other fires. Take a deep dive with HDT staffer Jim Chamberlin of Island Lake Farm who lives in the area and has studied fire for many years in this week's blog: https://www.happydancingturtle.org/post/fire-has-its-season-but-managing-even-better

05/29/2026

Just over a week until summer officially kicks off at Happy Dancing Turtle with the first week of Eco Camp! Didn't get your kiddo registered? You're in luck, there's still time! Visit www.happydancingturtle.org/eco-camp for more information.

Eco Camps are nature-based day camps where campers will learn about various environmental topics through activities, games, crafts, stories, outdoor exploration & recreation, play, and a whole lot of fun! Each session has a maximum of 15 campers. To fully engage campers & provide age-appropriate ac...

05/27/2026

Be a model steward with Happy Dancing Turtle! Check out the four beautiful designs and many colors of HDTs t-shirts, designed in-house. Sweatshirts also available! See all the choices here: https://happy-dancing-turtle-shop.printify.me

05/27/2026

As another school year comes to a close, we are feeling incredibly grateful for the relationships and connections we’ve built with our local schools and students throughout the year.

We had the opportunity to visit 1st–4th graders for a variety of lessons and hands-on activities including nature walks, learning about the water cycle, exploring plants and pollinators, and so much more!

A huge thank you as well to the schools that visited our campus for field trips and outdoor learning experiences. We love being able to provide a new space for exploration of and connection to nature.

We also wrapped up another fabulous year of Nature Club, our after-school outdoor program offered at Pine River-Backus School. It has been so much fun spending time outside with these students and watching their confidence and appreciation for nature grow throughout the year.

Thank you to all of the teachers, staff, students, and families who make these partnerships possible. We are already looking forward to next year’s adventures!

05/25/2026

Handy reminders for people who travel by car! Also, you can join Environment Minnesota's Wildlife Casualty Count through this Friday--you do no need to count everyday! A great way to get started on a citizen science project!

05/23/2026

A few weeks ago, Nora shared a story about a wren building a nest. In this storytime from 2022, Nora shares another next book, Whose Nest by Victoria Cochrane. It covers nests of all kinds of creatures! Can you guess who made each one? Accompanying resources & activities: https://bit.ly/HDTNests

05/22/2026

🪲 Can the bugs in our lakes could tell us how healthy the water is? 🌊

Explore how dragonflies, mayflies, frogs, loons, and trout act as “indicator species,” helping us understand the health of our freshwater ecosystems. If you love fishing, swimming, boating, or simply enjoying lake life, this is a fascinating look at the connections between clean water and wildlife. 💙💚

✔️ How aquatic insects survive winter

✔️ Which species signal clean water
✔️ Simple ways to help protect Minnesota lakes

Learn more here: https://www.happydancingturtle.org/post/assessing-water-health-by-looking-at-bugs

And learn even more about loons with our friends at National Loon Center

05/21/2026

We loved seeing the signs of spring through your photos during the Spring Bingo Scavenger Hunt. A big thank you to all the individuals and families who participated!

Congratulations to our winners this round! Our grand prize winner, Cathy W. and family, will have a $50 donation in their name go to a local nonprofit. Sarah S. and family won the prize for picking up litter, and Elizabeth F. was the winner for completing all four action corners.

Get ready for more time out in nature - the summer hunt is just around the corner! ☀️