Girl Scouts

Note: Girl Scouts USA has discontinued Try-It badges in favor of new "Journey" books. We are currently modifying programs to fit in with this new structure. Some Try-It badges may be swapped for the appropriate Journey Awards as they become available.

The Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center, Minnesota's oldest private nature center, is located in northern Washington County and offers a wide variety of program opportunities for scouts of all ages. We offer the pre-scheduled programs as well as custom programs on a select number of dates. Call (651) 433-2427 ext. 13 to find out more about custom options.

Custom badge-based programs:

• Daisy
• Brownie
• Junior
• Cadette, Senior and Ambassador

2011-2012 Girl Scout Calendar

We're offering a limited number of pre-scheduled programs this year but also have openings to book custom programs on other dates. Call (651) 433-2427 ext. 13 to register for one of these programs or to set up a custom date. Queries about open dates can be sent to .

October 2011

Water Everywhere Try-It
(For Brownie Girl Scouts)
Come explore the lakes of the nature center by dip netting for aquatic critters. What will you find lurking beneath the water? Inside, join in on some wacky science experiments to investigate the mysterious properties of water. Enjoy an autumn day of water fun with three hours at the nature center. Every girl will receive the Water Everywhere Try-It for free at the end of the program. Please bring a snack.
Saturday, October 22, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Saturday, October 22, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Price: $8.00 (No charge for adults)

December 2011

Space Explorer Try-It
(For Brownie Girl Scouts)
Come join us in this evening of stars, telescopes and stories. Take part in an exciting ancient storytelling about constellations and then learn how to use a moon journal you get to take home. Learn why the moon has phases and then if weather permits, you'll even head outside to find your new constellation friends in the sky and look at the moon and Jupiter through a large telescope. Every girl receives the Space Explorer Try-It for free at the end of this two-hour program. If it is cloudy we will enjoy the stars in our inflatable planetarium.
Saturday, December 17, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Price: $8.00 (No charge for adults)

January 2012

Sky Search Badge
(For Junior Girl Scouts)
Come join us and learn tales about the constellations as you experience the night sky! Make a planisphere sky chart to take home. Learn how to find the north star using the big dipper and discover why the moon has phases. Take part in a fun ancient storytelling about constellations. Weather permitting, head outside to look at the stars, moon, Jupiter and nebulas through a large telescope! Receive the sky search badge for free at the end of the program. If it is cloudy we will enjoy the stars in our inflatable planetarium.
Saturday, January 21, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Price: $8.00 (No charge for adults)

February 2012

Frosty Fun Badge Day
(For Junior Girl Scouts)
Earn the Frosty Fun badge in style! Snowshoe your way around Warner's woods. Learn how to dress for the winter and always stay warm. Investigate snowflakes, do winter experiments, track animals in the snow, and learn about the dangers of hypothermia. This three-hour program fulfills all Frosty Fun badge requirements, and you receive the badge for free at the end of the day. If there is insufficient snow to snowshoe groups will go on a winter hike instead. The program meets badge requirements even if we cannot snowshoe. Troops should bring a snack.
Saturday, February 4, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Saturday, February 4, 1-4 p.m.
Price: $8.00 (No charge for adults)

March 2012

Maple Syruping
(For Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior & Ambassador)
Come learn about the only sugar native to North America in this two-hour program. Take a hike through the hardwood forests of the nature center, learn the history of maple syruping, help tap maple trees, learn how sap is refined into syrup and taste the difference between real syrup and commercial artificial syrups. You'll also get to see the ancient art of rock boiling where glowing hot rocks from a fire are used to boil sap. Unforgettable!
Saturday, March 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Saturday, March 10, 1-3 p.m.
Saturday, March 17, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Saturday, March 17, 1-3 p.m.
Price: $8.00 (No charge for adults)

April 2012

NEW! Hiker Skill Builder
(For Brownie Girl Scouts)
Awards Connection: It's Your Planet: Hiker Skill Builder (formerly Outdoor Adventurer Try-It)
Learn what it takes to hike in the woods and earn your Hiker Skill Builder Badge. We'll plan our route, learn about hiking gear and make a "walking salad" before heading out on our hike. When we reach our destination we'll use a spotting scope to spy on an active bald eagle nest and then we'll learn about leave no trace ethics before choosing a new route home. Program is two hours in length and includes the badge.
Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Saturday, April 14, 1-3 p.m.
Price: $8.00 (No charge for adults)

May 2012

Canoeing for Small Craft Badge
(For Junior Girl Scouts)
Earn your small craft badge in just 3 hours in a designated wilderness area! There are no houses on the wilds of Terrapin Lake! Learn how to load and launch a canoe, use a PFD, safely change places, keep an eye on the weather, and take care of gear. You'll also learn the three basic canoe strokes once we're on the water. Experienced staff leads every program. Every girl receives the Small Craft badge for free at the end of this three-hour program. This is a very popular class that fills quickly.
Saturday, May 12, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Saturday, May 12, 1-4 p.m.
Price: $10 (No charge for adults)

NEW! Kayaking for Small Craft Badge
(For Junior Girl Scouts)
New for 2012, you can now earn your small craft badge by kayaking instead of canoeing. Learn how to get in and out of a kayak, use a PFD, paddle, keep an eye on the weather, and take care of gear. Our sit-on-top kayaks are very easy to learn how to use and provide a stable learning platform. Experienced staff leads every program. Every girl receives the Small Craft badge for free at the end of this three-hour program. There are only 12 spots in this class so sign up quick!
Saturday, May 19, 1-4 p.m.
Price: $10 (No charge for adults)

June 2012

Fossil Hunt!
Join a naturalist from the Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center on a fossil hunt near the banks of the Mississippi. We meet at Lilydale Regional Park in St. Paul to explore sites rich in fossils from over 400 million years ago! Take home a few fossils you find to start or add to your collection. There's no better way celebrate the beginning of summer!
Saturday, June 9, 9:30 a.m. 12 p.m. (For Brownie Girl Scouts)
Saturday, June 9, 1-3:30 p.m. (For Junior, Senior & Cadette Girl Scouts)
Price: $8.00 (No charge for adults)