Upcoming Events
Vehicle Admission into the park is required for all events.
Outdoor events are weather-dependent.
Free Nature Journaling
Weekly on Tuesdays in June from 1-3pm. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center Beach Pavilion. If inclement weather, meet at the Nature Center Classroom.
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Join us weekly for Nature Journaling, a relaxed program welcoming both beginners and experienced journalers. Explore guided prompts, practice observation skills, and capture the natural world on the page. All materials are provided, and each session stands on its own. Come once or return all summer.
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This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Pollinator Discovery Table -National Pollinator Week
Friday, June 26th at 10 am to 12 pm. Meet at WIllow River State park near the Beach Pavillion.
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Stop by our pop-up table to learn about Wisconsin Pollinators as we continue celebrating National Pollinator Week! Our table will include information and fun activities perfect to stay and play or stop for a quick peek.
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This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Pollinator Make & Take - National Pollinator Week
Friday, June 26th at 6 PM. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
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Come down to the Nature Center and learn about bees and butterflies and their roles as pollinators while you make a solitary bee house or butterfly puddler to bring home!
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This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Raptors 101
Saturday, June 27 at 11am. Meet at the Willow River State Park Beach Pavillion.
Join us for an exciting, educational and interactive presentation from River Valley Raptors. Learn unique features of several different raptor species and how they have adapted to survive the habitats in which they live! Bring a camera and any questions you have about raptors along with you! River Valley Raptors is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the conservation of raptors and other wildlife through education.
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This event is free to attend but vehicle admission into the park is required. $5-$10 donations are welcome and are what make programming possible.
Plants for Pollinators - National Pollinator Week
Saturday, June 27th at 2 PM. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
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Join our volunteer Karen Swisher as she takes you around the native plant gardens outside the nature center and learn about planting for pollinators on this interpretive walk. You may even have the chance to bring home a free native plant plug!
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This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Moths as Pollinators - National Pollinator Week
Saturday, June 27th at 8:30 PM near the Nature Center.
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Join us for an evening under the stars as we lure moths in and learn about their role as important Wisconsin pollinators. Feel free to bring a chair or blanket to sit on and don’t forget your bug spray!
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This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Wings & Wilderness Walk
Sunday, June 28th. Hike leaves at 10 am sharp. Meet at the Willow River State Park Nature Center.
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Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly hike! This short trek will lead us through some of the best local habitats for spotting wildlife. Bring your binoculars (or borrow a pair of ours) and learn to identify a variety of feathered friends by sight and sound. Our guide will share tips on spotting wildlife and help you discover what makes our local species unique.
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This event is free to attend, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Prairie Ecology Walk
Thursday, July 2nd at 1pm. Meet at the gravel parking lot across from the Willow River State Park Group Campground.
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Take a family‑friendly walk through a short‑grass prairie and explore what makes this ecosystem unique. We’ll talk about the animals that live here, the remarkable adaptations of prairie plants, and how fire helps keep the landscape healthy and thriving.
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This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Independence Day Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, July 4 anytime from 12-3pm. Meet at the Willow River State Park Nature Center.
Celebrate Independence Day with a fun, family-friendly outdoor adventure! Stop by the Nature Center to pick up your scavenger hunt sheet, then set out to explore the park as you hike to 10 marked locations along the trails. At each stop, search for a hidden American flag and discover a riddle to solve, then head back to the Nature Center to check your answers and receive a small participation prize!
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This event is free to attend, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Sunday, July 5th anytime from 12-3 pm. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
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Stop by the Willow River State Park Nature Center and pick up one of our scavenger hunts to kick off your adventure! This self-guided, drop-in hike is the perfect way to explore the park at your own pace while discovering the beauty of spring. We’ll provide everything you need—just swing by the Nature Center for your scavenger hunt sheet and head out on the trails to see what you can find!
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This event is free to attend but vehicle admission into the park is required.
A Waste-Free Walk Along The Willow
Tuesday, July 7 at 9am. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
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Holiday weekends can be tough on this park we all know and love. Join us on the Tuesday following 4th of July weekend for a parkwide trash-clean up day. We’ll provide trash bags, gloves, and/or litter pickers and head out on various trails, parking lots, and beach and picnic areas to gather trash and turn a negative into a positive. Please dress for the weather and bring along plenty of water, and good hiking boots.
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Vehicle admission into the park will be waived for participants helping with the clean up.
Underdogs Species: Villain or Vital?
Tuesday, July 7 at 10am. Meet by the Willow River State Park Beach pavilion.
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Drop in to discover why this often‑misunderstood animal deserves a second look. We’ll share quick facts about its reputation, its real ecological value, and the ways it helps keep the environment healthy.
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This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.