Wellness by the Water: Nature Journaling
Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10-11:30 a.m.
Meet at the picnic shelter near the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.
Nature journaling is a meditative practice that sharpens observation of the natural world through drawing and writing. On the shores of Lake Itasca, we’ll explore life on land and in the lake – and the connections between them. Whether you’re new or experienced, join us to practice in this inspiring setting. This event is led by Dr. Jennifer Powers, Itasca Drawn to Nature(opens in new tab) instructor and Professor of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota.
Waterwise Science Talk: Tracking Dragons: The Science of Dragonfly Migration
Monday, August 3, 2026, from 10-11 a.m.
Meet at the Biome Center, University of Minnesota- Itasca Biological Station (along Main Park Drive, watch for signs)
Ever wonder how science helps us understand nature? Tag along with a scientist! Today’s guest is Dr. Emily Schilling, Associate Director of the Itasca Biological Station. Did you know that dragonflies are aquatic insects, spending most of their lives underwater before emerging as powerful fliers? Discover the remarkable journeys of North America’s largest dragonflies — the darners. Learn how researchers study their long-distance migrations, explore their underwater nymph stage up close, and watch for flying adults during this hands-on program. This program is coordinated by the University of Minnesota’s Itasca Biological Station and Itasca State Park.
Wellness by Water: Yoga by the Lake
Saturday, August 8, 2026 from 10-11 a.m.
Meet in the picnic grounds by the Lakeside Museum.
Relax and unwind with Yoga by the Lake, catered to all ages and levels of physical fitness! Enjoy nature while benefitting from yoga as the calming view of Lake Itasca and the towering pines overhead center you. Notes: Participants should bring a mat, blanket, or beach towel and should wear comfortable clothing. Led by personal yoga trainers. All levels welcome. Following the yoga program check out the “We are Water” traveling exhibit located inside the Lakeside Museum. The exhibit is from June 18-August 10, 2026.
Nature of Science: Eyes on the Skies: Birds as Indicators of Ecosystem Health
Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 11 a.m.– noon
Meet at the Biome Center, University of Minnesota Itasca Biological Station (along Main Park Drive, watch for signs)
Ever wonder how science helps us understand nature? Tag along with a scientist! Today’s guest is Victoria Ricke, Station Scientist, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, and this program will focus on how bird populations can tell us about the health of their habitats. Come learn about some of the ways researchers study birds to track their populations and behaviors. Take a look at the Itasca Biological Station’s bird collections and see how different species specialize for their habitats. This program is coordinated by the University of Minnesota’s Itasca Biological Station and Itasca State Park.
Itasca’s Music Under the Pines Series for August
Music Under the Pines: The Hoot Owls
Sunday, August 2, 4-5:30 PM
Forest Inn
The Hoot Owls play an eclectic mix of roots, Americana, bluegrass, and folk music on traditional stringed instruments. You’ll feel the energy in every strum! Summer concerts are sponsored in partnership with the Friends of Itasca State Park. The Friends will host an ice cream social at this event.
Music Under the Pines: Jim and Molly Bauer
Sunday, August 9, 4-5:30 PM
Forest Inn (near Douglas Lodge)
Jim and Molly Bauer’s performances are inspired by tradition and memories of Itasca State Park. Tap your toes, sway, or sing along to a fun mix of folk and camp song favorites! Summer concerts are sponsored in partnership with the Friends of Itasca State Park.
Music Under the Pines: Basement Brass
Saturday, August 15, 7-8 PM
Lake Itasca Amphitheater (Forest Inn if raining)
LIVE MUSIC at the Lake Itasca Amphitheater!
This is an outdoor event. Bench seating is provided, or bring your own lawn chair or blanket. Pets on leash welcome. This event will move to the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center in case of poor weather conditions.
The Music Under the Pines summer concert series is sponsored in partnership with the Friends of Itasca State Park. The Friends will host an ice cream social at this event.
Music Under the Pines: Bill and Julie Kaiser
Sunday, August 23, 4-5:30 PM
Forest Inn
LIVE MUSIC at the Forest Inn!
This is an indoor event. Seating is provided.
The Music Under the Pines summer concert series is sponsored in partnership with the Friends of Itasca State Park.
Music Under the Pines: North Wind Clarinets
Sunday, August 30, 4-5:30 PM
Forest Inn
LIVE MUSIC at the Forest Inn!
This is an indoor event. Seating is provided.
The Music Under the Pines summer concert series is sponsored in partnership with the Friends of Itasca State Park. The Friends will host an ice cream social at this event.
Wet and Wild Mississippi River Event Day
Wet and Wild Mississippi River Event Day
Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Meet at the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center and the pathway to the Mississippi Headwaters and the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.
Come explore water and life along the Mississippi River at a variety of information and activity stations. Learn about water, wildlife, plants and people that make the river home. Stop and investigate stations from the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center to the Mississippi Headwaters and along the path to the Lakeside Museum. Inside the Lakeside Museum you can check out the “We Are Water” exhibits. This come and go event is family friendly and has activities for all ages.
Poetry and Prose Open Mic Night
Writing the Wild: Poetry and Prose Open Mic Night
Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 7:30-9 p.m.
Meet at Lake Itasca Amphitheater in the picnic grounds. If raining, meet at the Biome Center, University of Minnesota Itasca Biological Station (along Main Park Drive)
Come and present — or listen to — prose and poetry about nature as the students from the Itasca Biological Station present their work from the class Writing the Wild. Essayist and poet Kathryn Nuernberger and biologist and author Marlene Zuk, along with their students, will showcase the writing from their class. Audience members can contribute their own short works for everyone to enjoy, or if there’s a passage from a favorite writer that you’d love to share, feel free to do that as well. There will be an open mic portion of this reading. Share your writing inspired by Itasca (3 minutes or less please) or read a favorite poem or short writing by someone else that captures the spirit of Itasca. Look for the sign-up sheet when you arrive.
Minnesota’s Wild and Rare Landscapes
Wild Places Worth Knowing: The Scientific and Natural Area Story
Friday, August 7, 2026, from 6-7 p.m.
Meet at the Lake Itasca Amphitheater in the picnic grounds. If it is raining, meet at the Forest Inn, near Douglas Lodge.
Find wild places in Minnesota! Are you looking for solitude and an uncommon experience? A place to immerse yourself in native plant communities, populations of rare species, and unique geologic features? Connect with Minnesota’s wild places at tonight’s program. Learn what the Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) program does, how you can visit Minnesota’s SNAs, and learn more about some of our most iconic sites across the state.
Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 10-11 a.m. (option 1) and 12-1 p.m. (option 2)
Due to limited vehicle parking, registration is required for these 2 hikes.
Walk amongst towering red and white pine as we wind our way to the scenic overlook at Bohall Lake. Join Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) staff for a walk amongst the old growth pines of the Itasca Wilderness Sanctuary SNA. Learn more about the SNA program on this ½ mile one-way walk as you enjoy this special site. To register for a hike, email: sna.dnr@state.mn.us(opens in new tab)
Notes: Bohall Trail is located 4 miles from the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center Parking lot along Wilderness Drive. Bohall Trail is a narrow, backcountry trail. The gravel trail surface does have some roots and rocks in the path.
Naturalist Programs August 1-18
August 2026
Mysteries in History: The Douglas Lodge Area
- Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 11 a.m.-Noon
- Friday, August 7, 2026, from 11 a.m.-Noon
- Friday, August 14, 2026, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Meet in Douglas Lodge Lobby.
Once proclaimed a “jewel set in mud,” Douglas Lodge is a point of pride in Itasca State Park and is Itasca’s oldest surviving structure. Join us on a walking tour around Douglas Lodge and its surroundings to learn more about this “jewel” and how the park developed the “mud” surrounding it into a hotspot of activity. Walk will be about one-third mile in length.
Old Timer’s Cabin and the Civilian Conservation Corps
- Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 1:30-3 p.m.
- Monday, August 10, 2026, from 1:30-3 p.m.
- Friday, August 14, 2026, from 1:30- 3 p.m.
- Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 1:30-3 p.m.
- Monday, August 17, 2026, from 1:30-3 p.m.
Held at the Old Timer’s Cabin, located along the boardwalk of Dr. Roberts Trail, below Douglas Lodge, (come and go at your leisure)
Only 4 (massive) logs tall, learn more about this Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed building as well as what life was like in the CCC. Feel free to stop by at your leisure.
Jr Naturalist: Animal Tracks
Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 2:30-3 p.m.
Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center.
Calling all animal track detectives! We have some mystery tracks to solve! Join us on a walk as we talk about animal tracks and learn about the animals that leave them behind.
All About Loons, Campfire
Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 7-7:30 p.m.
Meet by the council ring outside the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds (in between Lake Itasca and the picnic shelter).
WooOOoo! Wail, tremolo, yodel, and hoot – come learn all about loons! We will learn fun facts, cool calls, and amazing adaptations of loons! Make sure to bring smores fixings for our campfire!
Five Facts in Five Minutes Series
Near the Mississippi Headwaters (under the porch of the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center if rain.)
- Sunday, August 2, 2026, from 1-2:30 p.m.—Deer
- Sunday, August 9, 2026, from 1-2:30 p.m.—Eagles
- Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 10 a.m.-Noon— Red, White & Black: The Common Loon, Our State Bird
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon—Weasels
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 2-3:30 p.m.—Porcupines
- Friday, August 14, 2026, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon—Sculpting the Mississippi Headwaters
- Monday, August 17, 2026, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon—Monarch Butterfly
Only have a minute to learn about Itasca State Park? Check out a unique feature at the naturalist station as you visit the Headwaters of the Mississippi River.
Trees of Itasca, Walk
Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Meet at the campfire circle by the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.
Interested in learning about the trees of Itasca? Join the naturalist for a talk and short walk as we discover some trees and how to identify them.
Mysteries in History: The Picnic Grounds
- Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 1-2 p.m.
- Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, August 18, 2026, from 1-2 p.m.
Meet at the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds
Have you ever had a picnic in Itasca State Park’s picnic grounds and wondered who had eaten a meal in the same place? What would their view have been? Who would they have seen? What kinds of activities could they have done nearby after lunch? Come along on a hike through this area to visualize and learn more about the buildings both past and present, the previous residents, and how the area came to be the picnic grounds.
Family Fun: Knot Tying
Wednesday, August 5, 2026, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Meet at the campfire circle by the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.
Join us in learning a timeless skill of knot tying. Whether you enjoy camping, fishing, paddling, or just want to learn some basics, these knots will be helpful in any outdoor adventure. You will learn knots that help from securing a tent to tying on a fishhook. All you need to bring is the willingness to learn this fun skill!
Woods and Wildflower Walk
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026, from 2-2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, August 18, 2026, from 10:30-11 a.m.
Meet outside Douglas Lodge.
Interested in the plants of Itasca State Park? Join us on a short walk to see what wildflowers are blooming along with the trees around them. We will be walking along the Dr. Roberts Trail, a trail noted for its variety of plants and bog boardwalk!
Jr. Naturalist: Mississippi Headwaters River Walking
Wednesday, August 5, 2026, from 2:30-3 p.m.
Meet at the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center.
Kids and families come to walk in the water and explore the first stretch of the Mississippi River. This walk in the river will investigate and search for the critters and plants that live along this water trail. Notes: Wear clothes that can get wet, wear water shoes to protect your feet. Water is quite shallow 1-2 ft in depth but may be deeper in some sections. Small children may need to have life jackets. Adults must accompany children.
Family Fishing Fun
- Friday, August 7, 2026, from 10-11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 10-11:30 a.m.
Meet at the Lake Itasca Fishing Pier, below Douglas Lodge.
Kids and adults, are you a ‘first time’ fisherperson wanting to try the new skill of fishing? Learn to identify common fish species in Minnesota, do a craft, and have the chance to catch some fish. Suitable for ages 6-12. NOTES: An adult must accompany children. Bring your own fishing pole or use one provided (limited number). Poles are available on first come first serve basis. Bait provided. Non-Minnesota residents will need a fishing license.
Jr. Naturalist: Nature Photo Scavenger Hunt
Friday, August 7, 2026, from 2-2:45 p.m.
Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center.
Come join the naturalist as we learn the very basics of nature photography. Bring a cellphone or borrow a digital camera to test your newly learned skills as we head out on a short walk to find and photograph some of nature’s common sights. At the end you’ll be able to choose your favorite picture to print and bring home with you!
Mississippi Headwaters Mysteries Walk
- Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 2– 2:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 11– 11:30 a.m.
Meet at the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center.
Did you ever wonder: How did Lake Itasca get its name? Have those rocks always been there? Does the river ever freeze? Discover the answer to these mysteries about the Mississippi River and Lake Itasca as we walk to the headwaters.
Outdoor Kids Series
- Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 1-2:30 p.m.—Dragonflies
- Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 2-3:30 p.m.—Water Mammals
Meet by the Swim Beach/ Playground (at the south end of the picnic grounds on Lake Itasca; come-and-go at your leisure)
Kids of all ages come out and explore nature at your leisure. This program series allows kids to connect with nature through hands-on activities that focus on life around the lake. Have fun discovering Itasca while hanging out at the swimming beach or playground.
Nocturnal Animals, Campfire
Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 7-7:30 p.m.
Meet at the campfire circle by the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.
Come learn about some of the nocturnal creatures in Itasca State Park! Find out how these animals are adapted to use their senses to be active at night. We will have a campfire, so bring supplies if you would like to fix some s’mores.
Jr. Naturalist: Animal Defenses
Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 1-1:45 p.m.
Meet at the campfire circle outside the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.
Stripes, smells, and quills! Kids, come investigate the many defenses that animals have to help them survive in their habitats.
What’SUP? An Introduction to Stand-up Paddleboarding
Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 2—3:30 p.m.
Meet at the Canoe Carry-in Access at the Lake Itasca Public Boat Landing. Registration Required.
Stand-up paddleboards (SUP) offer a fun and relaxing way to play on the water. This activity is a fun, full-body workout using minimal gear to help you explore lakes and rivers. Meet at the boat access to learn the basics of stand-up paddleboarding. We will cover safety and a few basic skills before heading out on to the water. Paddleboard equipment will be provided. Life jackets are required. Bring your own life jacket or a limited number of sizes will be available. Space is limited. Email a park naturalist at Anna.Fairbanks@state.mn.us(opens in new tab) for a 45-minute time slot. Email by Noon on Tuesday, August 11 to register.
Focus on Field Science: Five Facts in Five Minutes
Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 1:30-3 p.m.
Near the Mississippi Headwaters (under the porch of the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center if rain.)
Only have a minute to learn about Itasca State Park? As you visit the Headwaters of the Mississippi River, stop by the nature cart and learn about what takes place at the University of Minnesota’s biological field station located in the state park. We will share information about research and education that takes place at this iconic and historic field station.
Jr. Naturalist: Hiking and Drawing in Nature
Thursday, August 13, 2025, from 2:30-3:15 p.m.
Meet outside Douglas Lodge.
Let’s get outside and get creative! Join us on a hike and draw the beautiful nature around you – the colorful flowers, tall trees, sparkling lake, and interesting animals! Come create art and learn about what you are drawing from a naturalist.
Itasca’s Mysteries in History: The Itasca Biological Station
Friday, August 14, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the new Tester’s Hub located at the Itasca Biological Station (along Main Park Drive, watch for signs).
In 1907, the University of Minnesota began its first field classes in Itasca State Park, a tradition that continues today at the Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories. On this tour, you’ll uncover the rich history of this iconic site while learning about cutting-edge biological education and research that takes place here. Visit the Biome Center, a modern hub for current field classes, before stepping back in time to the site of the historic State Park House, where Mary Gibbs once lived in 1903. Along the way, you’ll also explore one of the rare National Youth Administration (NYA) buildings from the 1930s that still stand at the park, a reminder of the era’s impact on the station. The tour also follows the path of the 1920-era Jefferson Highway, offering insights into how this historic route passed through the station and influenced the park’s development.
Jr. Naturalist: Birds!
Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Meet at the campfire circle outside the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.
Kids, come learn all about birds! From cool feathers to colors and sounds, so many fun things to explore about birds. We’ll take a short walk to see what birds we can find!
Misunderstood Animals, Campfire
Saturday, August 16, 2026, from 7-7:30 p.m.
Meet at the campfire circle by the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.
Not every furry face gets the love it deserves! Join us as we uncover the truth about some of Itasca’s most misunderstood animals. Discover how these animals play an essential role in our ecosystem and bust some common myths about these incredible animals. You may leave with a whole new appreciation for these amazing neighbors! We will have a campfire, so bring supplies if you would like to fix some s’mores.