Join us for the free, family-friendly 31st Annual Wildlife Festival to celebrate the wildlife at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge on September 26 from 10 am - 2 pm. Enjoy the engaging, hands-on activities at each booth, explore refuge wildlife and management, observe live animals and more!
Event Schedule Activities Open refuge roads food Event partners Driving Directions Accessibility
Event Schedule
Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Several Refuge Service Roads Open to Vehicles |
| 8:30 AM | Guided Photography Tour Join members of the Sherburne Photography Club for a hour-long guided photo tour on refuge roads only open to vehicles during the Wildlife Festival. Meet at the School House parking lot near the Old School House Loop. This tour is ideal for all ages and experiences. |
| 9:30 AM | Guided Photography Tour Join members of the Sherburne Photography Club for a hour-long guided photo tour on refuge roads only open to vehicles during the Wildlife Festival. Meet at the School House parking lot near the Old School House Loop. This tour is ideal for all ages and experiences. |
| 10:00 AM | Wildlife Festival Begins at Oak Savanna Learning Center |
| 10:30 AM | Amphitheater Program: Bird Banding Demonstration Enjoy a 45-minute program that offers a rare close-up look at local and migratory songbirds while Migratory Bird Biologist, Kris Spaeth, measures, weighs, bands and safely releases birds. Learn how to identify birds and why banding is important for conservation efforts. This program is perfect for bird lovers of all ages. |
| 10:30 AM | Guided Photography Tour Join members of the Sherburne Photography Club for a hour-long guided photo tour on refuge roads only open to vehicles during the Wildlife Festival. Meet at the School House South parking lot near the Black Bear Loop. This tour is ideal for all ages and experiences. |
| 11:30 AM | Amphitheater Program: Minnesota Raptors Learn why raptors rule the sky in this 45-minute program featuring live hawks and owls from the Wildlife Science Center. Nature-lovers of all ages will enjoy this program. |
| 11:30 AM | Guided Photography Tour Join members of the Sherburne Photography Club for a hour-long guided photo tour on refuge roads only open to vehicles during the Wildlife Festival. Meet at the School House South parking lot near the Black Bear Loop. This tour is ideal for all ages and experiences. |
| 12:30 PM | Amphitheater Program: Minnesota Reptiles and Amphibians Meet a bull snake, black rat snake, hognose snake, and grey tree frogs from Long Lake Conservation Center in a 45-minute program about some of Minnesota's reptiles and amphibians. This program will be fun for curious minds of all ages. |
| 12:30 PM | Guided Photography Tour Join members of the Sherburne Photography Club for a hour-long guided photo tour on refuge roads only open to vehicles during the Wildlife Festival. Meet at the School House South parking lot near the Black Bear Loop. This tour is ideal for all ages and experiences. |
| 1:30 PM | Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Silent Auction Ends |
| 2:00 PM | Wildlife Festival Ends and All Refuge Service Roads Close to Vehicles |
Activities
- Watch a Bird Banding Demonstration
- Observe Live Reptiles and Amphibians
- See Live Raptors
- Embark on a Guided Photography Tour on Open Refuge Roads
- Learn About Refuge Wildlife and Management
- Try Your Hand at a BB Gun or Nerf Archery Range
- Meet Puddles the Blue Goose
- Investigate Aquatic Invertebrates
- Experience Native Seed Cleaning
- Explore Native Pollinators
- Add to the Chalk Mural
- Make and Take Home Pine Cone Bird Feeders
- Craft Bird Nest Ornaments
- Learn About the History of the Refuge
- Test Your Home Water Nitrate Levels*
- Discover Wild Birds with Spotting Scopes
- Look at Grazing Goats
- Meet Conservation Professionals like a Refuge Manager, Wildlife Biologist, Wildland Firefighter, Maintenance Professional and Park Ranger
- Check Out the Eagles Nest Nature Store
- Shop at the Friends of Sherburne Silent Auction
- and more!
*Water Nitrate Testing:
To test home water nitrate, make sure to bring at least one-half cup of water in any type of labelled, clean container within 24 hours of the festival. For the best sample, make sure to run the water for 3 minutes before before filling the container. If you have a water treatment system, other than a softener, bring a "before" treatment and "after" treatment sample.
Open Refuge Service Roads
Several refuge service roads will be open to vehicle traffic from 8 am to 2 pm to provide visitors a rare opportunity to see areas of the refuge that are not typically open to vehicles. Gates to access these roads will be closed and locked at 2 pm. Please plan to be out of those areas at that time.
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge opens up certain service roads to vehicles each year only on the day of the Wildlife Festival event.
An open roads map will be available closer to the date of the event.
Food
Cantina Del Rio and Freshwaters Hot Dog Meals will be on-site to serve a variety of food at a reasonable cost.
300 visitors will receive free popsicles, thanks to Jonny Pops' donation!
Event Partners
- Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
- Bluebird Program of Minnesota
- John Beach
- Long Lake Conservation Center
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Minnesota Herpetological Society
- Minnesota Women in Conservation
- Sand Dunes Gobblers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation
- Sherburne County Parks and Recreation
- Sherburne History Center
- Sherburne Photography Club
- Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District
- Minnesota Deer Hunters Association - Sherburne County Swampbucks
- Minnesota Master Naturalist
- University of Minnesota Bee Lab Pollinator Ambassadors
- Urban Bird Collective
- US Fish and Wildlife Service - Ecological Services
- US Fish and Wildlife Service - Migratory Birds
- US Fish and Wildlife Service - Partners for Fish and Wildlife
- US Wildland Fire Service
- Wildlife Science Center
- Zimmerman Ducks Unlimited
Driving Directions
From Zimmerman and Princeton
- Follow Highway 169 north (Zimmerman) or south (Princeton) to County Road 9 and take the exit
- Follow County Road 9 west for 5.5 miles and turn left at the entrance to the Oak Savanna Learning Center
From Big Lake and Monticello
- From Highway 10 in Big Lake, take Sherburne County Road 5 north approximately 10 miles to the intersection with County Road 9 and take a right
- Follow County Road 9 east for 2 miles and turn right at the entrance to the Oak Savanna Learning Center
From St. Cloud
- Take Highway 23 east through St. Cloud to the turn off for Highway 95
- Follow Highway 95 east 15 miles to the intersection with Mille Lacs County Road 7 and take a right
- Go south 6.5 miles on Mille Lacs County Road 7 (which becomes Sherburne County Road 5) to the intersection with County Road 9 and take a left
- Follow County Road 9 east for two miles and turn right at the entrance to the Oak Savanna Learning Center
From Minneapolis and St. Paul
- Take I-94 west to the Highway 101 (Rogers) exit
- Follow Highway 101 north until it turns into Highway 169
- Follow Highway 169 north through Elk River and Zimmerman to County Road 9 and take the exit
- Follow County Road 9 west for 5.5 miles and turn left at the entrance to the Oak Savanna Learning Center
Accessibility
Restrooms and water fountains will be available inside and outside the Oak Savanna Learning Center building. Trails behind the Learning Center are considered accessible with a crushed granite surface. Amphitheater behind the Learning Center is considered accessible with a concrete surface.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to these events for all participants. Please direct all requests for accommodation to Refuge Headquarters: 763‐389‐3323, sherburne@fws.gov, or TTY 800‐877‐8339 at least two weeks before the event.
Event Schedule Activities Open refuge roads food Event partners Driving Directions Accessibility