The Wright County Parks Department will be hosting six programs at the Ney Nature Center, near Maple Lake.
For more information, contact the Parks Department at (763) 682-7693, Monday through Friday.
• Saturday, Feb. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. a candlelight cross-country ski event is offered.
Enjoy a great night of cross-country skiing at Ney Park.  Luminaries will help provide light to the groomed trail. The Nature Center will be open for refreshments, and a fire outside will help to warm the toes.
Participants should provide their own skis. Rentals are not available.
There is no charge for this program.
• Sunday, Feb. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. a candlelight-sweetheart hike is planned.
Bring a sweetheart out for a romantic stroll through the woods around Ney pond. Luminaries will help provide light to the trail. The Nature Center will be open for refreshments, and a fire outside will help to warm the toes.
There is no charge for this program.
• Sunday, Feb. 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. see the remarkable reptiles.
The remarkable reptile program gives an up close look at an assortment of Minnesota reptiles, including the protected timber rattlesnake and a blandings turtle.
This program is for people of all ages and abilities.
James Gerholdt will be speaking.
The cost is $5 per person, with a maximum class size of 35. The pre-registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 12.
Registration: Contact the Wright County Parks Office at (763) 682-7693 or marc.mattice@co.wright.mn.us
• Sunday, March 7 from 2 to 3 p.m. learn duck identification.
Come to the Ney Nature center and learn different techniques on how to identify waterfowl. This is a great program for beginner and seasoned water fowlers alike.
Jeff Putnam will be speaking.
The cost is $5 per person, with a maximum class size of 30. The pre-registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 26.
Registration: Contact the Wright County Parks Office at (763) 682-7693 or marc.mattice@co.wright.mn.us
• Saturday, March 13 from 2 to 3 p.m. learn woodworking for wildlife.
A great program for the whole family, the opportunity to build a birdhouse and learn how to install and maintain it. Bring a drill, or one will be provided.
Speaker: Kurt Eich, Wright County Parks Naturalist
The cost is $5 per birdhouse (limit two houses per family), with a maximum class size of 30. The pre-registration deadline is Friday, March 5.
Registration: Contact the Wright County Parks Office at (763) 682-7693 or marc.mattice@co.wright.mn.us
• Sunday, March 14 from 2 to 3 p.m. create buckthorn hiking sticks.
Select, cut, and create a buckthorn hiking stick. Learn about invasive species, how to identify buckthorn shrubs, and why it’s important to remove them from the Park District.
Kurt Eich, Wright County Parks Naturalist will be speaking.
There is no charge for this program
This class is for ages 8 and up, with a maximum class size of 20. The pre-registration deadline is Friday, March 5.
Registration: Contact the Wright County Parks Office at (763) 682-7693 or marc.mattice@co.wright.mn.us
Ney Nature Center
The Ney Nature Center is open to the public every Saturday through March 13 from noon to 4 p.m.
• Check out a variety of displays.
• Observe a large selection of pelts and mounts.
• The birds and squirrels will entertain at feeder displays.
• Traditional cross-country ski trails (6.4 kilometers) and skate ski trails (4.8 kilometers). Bring your own skis.
• Try out the park’s snowshoes for free.
• Consider donating unwanted cross country skis to the Wright County Parks.
To make a donation, contact the Wright County Parks Office at (763) 682-7693 or marc.mattice@co.wright.mn.us
Looking to plan for the summer?
Planning a family get together, reunion, work picnic, or another fun summer time occasion? Now is the time to reserve a picnic shelter through Wright County Parks.
Reservations are being accepted for Beebe Lake Regional Park, near St. Michael; Otsego Park, near Elk River; and Clearwater/Pleasant Regional Park, near Annandale.
A fee is charged for the reservation.
To reserve a shelter, call (763) 682-7693, or make online reservations at www.co.wright.mn.us, and click on departments and services.
Parks are open for reservations May through September.