Learn how to create bird-friendly native landscapes and prep your yard for the winter without taking away food and habitat for birds and the insects they eat. Learn which trees and shrubs are good songbirds, how to enhance existing gardens with native plants, and where to find resources to get started.

This MPCA Smart Salting for Roads Certification Training class offers more efficient winter maintenance best practices for plowing, de-icing and anti-icing application, storage, and more. The new chloride requirements in the recently released MS4 permit will also be covered. Participants will learn how to integrate science with practical winter maintenance on roads while minimizing impacts on the environment. Learn more and register.

Join Washington County Master Gardeners to learn how to harvest, clean and store native seeds. Also included is an introduction to winter sowing of native seeds.

Stop by Lakeview Hospital's bistro to learn about native gardens, watersheds, and family-friendly outdoor adventures. There will also be PowerUp games, led by Lakeview's Green Team.

Join Washington County Master Gardeners to learn how to save native perennial seeds. You'll learn why it’s important to save native perennial seeds, the basics to get you started with seed saving, and some seed cleaning and sorting tips.

Learn how to identify and manage buckthorn, an invasive shrub that harms our native habitats. This online course is taught by Washington County Master Gardeners.

Long Lake in Stillwater has already been impaired by salts, but there is a lot we can do to prevent it from getting worse. Learn how our lakes and streams are impacted by salts and what we can do to prevent it. 

Learn strategies for protecting lakes, rivers, and wildlife habitat in small communities and rural areas of the Lower St. Croix Watershed. During this workshop, local leaders will learn about tools available to help small communities guide where and how development happens, as well as strategies for promoting conservation in rural and agricultural areas.

Learn more and register at https://tinyurl.com/stcroixwowland.

The annual festival is produced for 4th grade students in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area and is held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Registration for school groups opens on Feb. 15. Or, volunteer to help with this event!

There is also a virtual festival with resource and learning modules available to be used year-round: https://metrocwf.org/festival/#virtual

Join WCD educator Angie Hong and Belwin volunteers for a hike on Belwin’s newest trail system, just north of downtown Afton on St. Croix Trail. This 30-acre parcel of land includes 1.25 miles of trails overlooking Valley Creek, and is a great place to see birds and fall colors.

Join us for this FREE, fun, family friendly nature event hosted by the Brown’s Creek Watershed District and Sustainable Stillwater MN.

Are local lakes and rivers getting better or getting worse? During this presentation Angie Hong will share watershed updates from around the region, highlighting local projects and long-term trends.

There is reason to be hopeful, with more than 20 lakes and streams delisted in Chisago and Washington Counties over the past four years, and nearly 4000 rural and urban conservation projects completed in Washington County since 2006.

Looking for more volunteer opportunities in the St. Croix Valley? Or perhaps you’re a volunteer coordinator seeking fresh inspiration? Join us for an enjoyable and empowering evening tailored just for you!

This free event offers a fantastic chance to network, learn, and share experiences. Enjoy delicious appetizers and beverages while connecting with fellow volunteers and coordinators. Click to register. https://tinyurl.com/yxmu667x

Bring on the butterflies while you enjoy a pint at Dual Citizen Brewing! Your yard can help to support songbirds, pollinators, wildlife — AND look beautiful. During this happy-hour workshop with WCD nature educator Angie Hong, we'll talk about what to plant, how to get started, where to buy native plants in Minnesota and western Wisconsin and where to find additional support for planting projects. Learn about native gardens, bee lawns, prairies and flowering trees and shrubs. This event is hosted by Friends of the Mississippi River.

Join Friends of Pool 2 for an educational happy hour at the floating clubhouse of the St. Paul Yacht Club in the upper harbor at Harriet Island - Friday, Sept. 6, 5-7pm.

Angie Hong will share updates on recent conservation initiatives in the East Metro area, including the rewilding of Trout Brook in Afton State Park, a brand new storm water park in Woodbury, a redevelopment project in St. Paul at the site of the former Ford Plant, and an ongoing Army Corps of Engineers study that could lead to removal of the Ford and Lower St. Anthony Falls Dams.

Join Brown’s Creek Watershed District to learn about the restoration work being completed along Brown's Creek at Brown's Creek Park in Stillwater.

Buzzing for information on everything pollinators? Join us for the Buzzin’ Backyards native plant and pollinator festival. This FREE event runs 12-4 PM and will feature local organizations, speakers, and activities for all ages highlighting our native plant and pollinator communities.

At the Carpenter Nature Center Wisconsin Campus.

Bring on the butterflies while you enjoy a pint at Dual Citizen Brewing! Your yard can help to support songbirds, pollinators, wildlife — AND look beautiful. During this happy-hour workshop with WCD nature educator Angie Hong, we'll talk about what to plant, how to get started, where to buy native plants in Minnesota and western Wisconsin and where to find additional support for planting projects. Learn about native gardens, bee lawns, prairies and flowering trees and shrubs. This event is hosted by Friends of the Mississippi River.

Join local authors Angie Hong and Tom Anderson for a Book Reading and Q & A at North Branch Area Library. This will be the final event for the We Are Water MN exhibit in Chisago County, which will close on Aug. 12.

Join the Washington Water Consortium for a driving tour by bus to visit three innovative examples of conservation development and permanent land protection in Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, and May Township.

Learn more and register at https://tinyurl.com/stcroixconservtour.

Join Angie and Franconia staff for a walk along Franconia's 43 acres of trails, to learn about the sculptures in the park and the growing movement to restore native landscapes. Stick around for an author talk and book signing behind the Franconia Commons building.

Angie has been a WCD nature educator since 2006 and is author of Exploring the St. Croix River Valley: Adventures on and off the Water. 

Visit spectacular gardens designed, created and maintained by volunteers with the Washington County Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Volunteers will be stationed at each garden to answer your questions.

Join Brown’s Creek Watershed District to learn about turf alternatives such as low mow lawns and other native plantings that benefit our local pollinators! This is an outdoor event, hosted by BCWD Board President, Klay Eckles as he opens his yard to show what he has learned.

Join us aboard St. Croix River Cruises’ Grand Duchess on Monday, June 24 for our 16th Annual St. Croix River Workshop on the Water (WOW). This event is specifically designed for local leaders such as city councils, planning commissions, township boards, county commissioners, SWCD boards, and watershed boards.

This year’s workshop will focus on actions local communities can take to protect their shorelines, strategies for dealing with sticky issues and variance requests, and Better Site Design for development and redevelopment projects. 

 Your ticket includes dinner and a cash bar. $30 per person. Register today.

This free, family festival on Lake Phalen is filled with activities, such as canoeing, kayaking, fishing, face-painting, live music, food trucks, art and activity stations, and a native plant giveaway.

Market: Purchase MN native plants from multiple growers. No systemic insecticides.

Expo: Learn to select and grow native plants for pollinators, wildlife, and water quality. Visit with educators and experts from conservation and environmental organizations. Get your landscaping questions answered.