Love gardening and spending time by the water? Help us to plant native plants on Big Marine Lake at the Bliss Addition Stormwater Quality Project. By planting a variety of native species into stormwater basins leading to Big Marine Lake, we will help significantly reduce pollutants from draining into the lake, preventing algae growth and negative impacts to habitat.

Join the South Washington Watershed District in celebrating the brand new Hasenbank Park! Explore the trails, public art, restored Hasenbank Woods, and the park-wide stormwater filtration system that brings it all together. Take a self-guided tour through the park and follow the path of water as it moves through the system. Get to know the story behind the public art offerings, and learn about the restoration efforts in Hasenbank Woods.

Join Blue Thumb - Planting for Clean Water for an in-person workshop hosted on-site at a restored shoreline at Lions Park in White Bear Lake. Designers from Metro Blooms Design+Build will discuss site assessment, unique shoreline considerations, native plants for shorelines, buffer plantings and more!

Participants will also receive a Resilient Shorelines workbook and access to an accompanying online learning series.

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.

9am-1pm + Food Truck

From seepage springs filled with skunk cabbage and marsh marigold, to floodplain forests, marshes, and golden tamarack bogs, the St. Croix watershed is home to many different wetlands. 

Learn about some of the unique wetland habitats you can visit in Afton and the greater St. Croix watershed and get advice on how to enhance wetlands on your property with native plants and other landscaping features that add beauty, provide habitat, and help to protect water quality.

This is a free event, hosted by the Afton History Museum, with light refreshments provided. 

Join Great River Greening to plant native nannyberry, serviceberry and highbush cranberry near the new trail along North Shore Trail on the north side of Forest Lake.

Groups and individuals welcome! This is a family-friendly event and all ages are welcome!

This free, family festival celebrating our clean lakes provides an opportunity for outdoor hands-on learning about clean water, wildlife, and land and water conservation.

Enjoy food trucks, live music and performances, fishing lessons and competition, canoe and boat rides, games, activities, learning stations, and more!

Meet us at Belwin Conservancy's Bison Festival in Afton.

Watch bison run off the truck into the prairie and enjoy food and music while learning about native plants and habitat restoration.

Join the Brown’s Creek Watershed District Citizen’s Advisory Committee on a tour of recent restoration projects to the Brown’s Creek Tributaries.

This casual hike will explore the changes in the stream corridor in Brown’s Creek Park, in Stillwater, following the vegetation and hydrologic restoration work done in 2021. Be prepared to walk approximately 1 mile on mowed trails, but also venture into the unmowed buffer areas.

Join Great River Greening to restore native habitat at Lumberjack Landing in Stillwater. Volunteers will learn to identify and remove invasive garlic mustard and Dame’s rocket and will help plant native shrubs, plants and seeds to replace them.

Groups and individuals welcome! This is a family-friendly event and all ages are welcome!

Join City of Woodbury for a morning of hands-on environmental stewardship as we give some love to the city raingarden at Menomini Park! This clean-up event helps ensure the raingarden continues to thrive—filtering stormwater, supporting pollinators, and beautifying the community.

Join WCD and Sustainable Stillwater MN’s Adopt-A-Raingarden program to help clean-up raingardens in Stillwater. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors, help beautify the landscape, and protect the St. Croix River and our lakes by ensuring raingardens can continue functioning properly.

Pick up your pre-purchased trees and native seed packages at the Washington County Fairground.

Trees and seeds can be ordered online at www.mnwcd.org/tree-sales.

Join Brown’s Creek Watershed District to help plant native trees and shrubs at the Brown's Creek restoration site in Stillwater.

Pick up your pre-purchased trees and native seed packages at the Washington County Fairground.

Trees and seeds can be ordered online at www.mnwcd.org/tree-sales.

Do you live on or near a marsh or wetland?

Learn about the unique plants and animals that are found in wetlands, what makes wetlands special, invasive species, and rules that affect what landowners can and can’t do with wetlands on their properties.

Get advice on how to enhance your wetland yard with native plants and other landscaping features that add beauty, provide habitat, and help to protect water quality.

This FREE training will give you the knowledge to help care for trees in your community. As a Tree Steward, you will be trained in: basic tree biology and identification, best practices for planting, mulching, watering, staking, fertilizing, and trunk protection, developmental pruning of young trees, pruning suckers and sprouts, and common tree disease, pests, and defects.

Join RWMWD staff to learn more about rain garden maintenance! We’ll give an overview of routine maintenance and how to determine if your rain garden needs extra care. Staff will also discuss tips and tricks for plant identification and other helpful resources to make your rain garden a success.

Learn how to design and maintain a thriving native plant garden and landscape, including:

• The benefits of native plants for pollinators, soil health, and water management

• How to choose the right plants and create a visually appealing, functional design

• Tips for site preparation, planting, and long-term care

• How to balance aesthetics with ecological value and gain neighborhood support

Following the presentation, Benjamin will host a live Q&A to answer your questions.

Get started planning for spring and summer hiking, camping, and paddling adventures in the St. Croix watershed. Learn how the St. Croix came to be a federally protected Wild & Scenic River and where you can go to find old growth forests and remnant prairies. Presenter Angie Hong will also share conservation success stories to keep you inspired for action.

This FREE training will give you the knowledge to help care for trees in your community. As a Tree Steward, you will be trained in: basic tree biology and identification, best practices for planting, mulching, watering, staking, fertilizing, and trunk protection, developmental pruning of young trees, pruning suckers and sprouts, and common tree disease, pests, and defects.

Bring on the butterflies! Your yard can help to support songbirds, pollinators, and wildlife - AND look beautiful! During this workshop 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, flowering trees and shrubs, and prairies.

Whether you have a small urban lot or a large farm in the country, you can help to create pockets of habitat and connected corridors for pollinators and other wildlife in our community.

Plan now to be ready to compost yard waste! Composting is a microbial process that converts plant material such as grass clippings and leaves to a useful organic soil amendment or mulch. Many homeowners are finding it convenient and economical to compost leaves and grass clippings in their own backyards. Learn how to build and maintain a compost pile including troubleshooting tips as well as how to use the completed compost in your yard or gardens.

This class provides do-it-yourself instruction for anyone interested in creating a prairie; a natural landscape utilizing native grasses and flowers. No matter what size prairie you are interested in; from acreage to small plot, this class covers all steps of planning and preparation as well as maintenance to ensure your creation continues to thrive for years to come. The class also provides information about plants and which ones could be considered, or perhaps avoided, based on the desired outcome.

Lawns are America’s No. 1 irrigated crop, and we spend billions each year on their upkeep. Our love of lawns impacts water quality, our drinking water supplies, biodiversity, and our environment.  Learn how converting lawns to sustainable alternatives can be a win-win for people and the environment.

During this free, informative workshop, you’ll learn about state and local rules that apply to shoreline and wetland projects, as well as cost-share grants and technical assistance available to help landowners complete native planting and bioengineering projects. This year’s workshop will focus on how to repair ice heaves.

Bring on the butterflies! Your yard can help to support songbirds, pollinators, and wildlife - AND look beautiful! During this workshop 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, flowering trees and shrubs, and prairies.

Whether you have a small urban lot or a large farm in the country, you can help to create pockets of habitat and connected corridors for pollinators and other wildlife in our community.

Learn how to build and successfully maintain a compost pile, as well as how to use the compost in your yard and garden. 

A House Unbuilt’s Art & Water Space in Downtown Stillwater is collaborating with the Brown’s Creek Watershed District to provide a unique exhibition opportunity to area artists.

An Opening Reception showcasing the artworks will be held on March 6, 2025, 4-7pm. Angie Hong will be a guest speaker at the event, speaking about her new book on the St. Croix River Valley.

The exhibit space is open Jan. 24 - April 18, Mon - Fri., 10am - 3pm or by appointment.

The 8000 sq. mile St. Croix River watershed is a magical place that offers wilderness experiences, only an hour or two from home. During this presentation, local author and conservation educator Angie Hong will read excerpts from her new book and share favorite places to hike, paddle, and find charismatic wildlife like bison, skinks, and sandhill cranes. She’ll also talk about local conservation success stories in Scandia and nearby communities. Expect to leave feeling inspired and ready to explore the great outdoors!