Swamp Oak Wanderers
Discover the nature of Prairie Island Park
Prairie Island Park is a critical habitat for wildlife that depend on the diversity of plant communities in the Mississippi River watershed.
In partnership with the Will Dilg Chapter of the Izaak Walton League (IWLA) and their Youth Green Crew, the community is invited to observe these seasonal relationships more deeply on Saturday mornings 10-11:30am.
The accessible trails for hiking and canoeing make observing birds, insects, and plants.
Saturday evening art activities give time and space across generations to be creative together. Activities are open to campground guests and Winona community families alike, serving up to 15 participants each weekend.
Learn more about specific activities, registration and the Will Dilg Chapter in Winona of IWLA by clicking on the button below.
Macroinvertebrate inventory
Environmental Education Activities
“Save Our Streams” inventory aquatic macroinvertebrates & chemistry of the water
Inventory plants and animals of floodplain forest & prairie
Track phenology and upload data to Nature’s Notebook
Plant foraging
Arts & crafts
Practicing Leave No Trace
Mushroom walks
Shore fishing
Invasive species removal
Swamp Oak Wanderers taste-testing produce.
Community Garden
The PIC Community Garden and Patio was built to promote healthy eating, serve as a gateway to outdoor recreation, engage community members with multiple perspectives, provide learning opportunities for youth, and sustain biological diversity.
This central gathering space fosters interaction between PIC guests as well as Winona area community members by hosting art and culture: Campfire Concert Series, informational events, arts and crafts opportunities, and films.
A mayfly or damselfly?
Swamp oak terrace
The outdoor classroom space was developed from the support of the Minnesota Department of Health - Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) and Front Porch Management.
The Prairie Island Adventure Club (PIAC) is a free and accessible summer program for youth. This program invites children, aged roughly 5-13 years old, to be engaged in programming that facilitates opportunities for social emotional learning, embedded in an active environmental education program.
In the 2026 season, in partnership with the Will Dilg Chapter of IWLA, PIC will host (11) 5-hour sessions, June - August. PIAC aims to provide structure, community, and support to underserved youth in the Winona area, building positive relationships between program facilitators, participants and their families, and the environment of Prairie Island Park.
