Upcoming events
More information about our special events is listed below. Explore our tours to see what else we have going on the summer!
Devil’s Club Bead-Making at Inspiration Ridge Preserve
Celebrate the many uses of the familiar Devil’s Club at Inspiration Ridge Preserve with a bead-making workshop! All materials provided.
What Can Rocks Tell Us About the Earth’s Future?
Join Dr. Steven Anderson for an engaging talk about geology and volcanology (the study of volcanoes), and how these fields offer us a unique glimpse into the Earth’s past and future. Dr. Anderson studies volcanoes in Alaska, across the globe, and on other planets. He currently resides in Ninilchik. Free presentation!
Cyanotyping at Inspiration Ridge Preserve
Learn the basics of cyanotype printing at Inspiration Ridge! Join us for a short hike and an afternoon of printing with natural materials on paper and fabric.
Berry Workshop at Inspiration Ridge Preserve
Join us for a responsible berry harvest and processing party. We will go over the basics of edible berry identification and honorable harvesting practices, and then turn the fruits of our labor into jam!
Marine Debris: Changes over Time, Impacts & Solutions
Join a panel of experts for an engaging discussion about the pervasive issue of marine debris. Explore how our understanding of debris has changed over time, how it impacts our environments, and what solutions are available. Free presentation!
Wildcrafting Wednesday: Rubber Stamp Carving
Learn to carve your own rubber stamp designs inspired by nature! Design, carve, and create prints from your very own stamp pad. All ages!
Herbal First Aid at Inspiration Ridge Preserve
Learn about common medicinal plants found all over Alaska and most likely in your own backyard! Learn to identify common medicinal plants and use them for herbal first aid in the field or at home for cuts, bruises, bites and more.
Wildcrafting Wednesday: Berry Painting
Revel in the harvest of late summer berries! Naturalists will help you harvest berries and create your own paints to make beautiful berry-pigmented art. All ages!
Nettle Cordage at Inspiration Ridge Preserve
In this workshop, learn how to harvest stinging nettles and process them to make cordage or rope out of the fibers.
Salve Making at Inspiration Ridge Preserve
In this workshop, we’ll go over the basics of a few medicinal plants, how to identify and respectfully harvest them, and then harness their power into a healing salve to take home with you.
Tea Blending at Inspiration Ridge Preserve
Harvest your own herbs and share a cup of tea! No previous experience required, all materials included.
"Resilient Earth, Resilient Communities" Exhibit Kickoff
Kick off the opening of the traveling exhibit at the Wynn Visitor Center! Explore the exhibit, listen to speakers, and learn more about the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Free event!
Wildcrafting Wednesday: Flower Pressing
Join Wynn Naturalists for a flower phenomenon! Harvest fresh blooms for pressing, make your own flower press, and learn how to savor summer colors all year round. All ages!
Celebrate Pride! - Creatures of the Dock 🌈
Join us on a free dock tour to celebrate Pride month! Get to know the fascinating queer lives of sea stars clinging to the docks, seagulls nesting on the rocks, or orcas that venture into the bay.
Wildcrafting Wednesdays: Wild Tea Blending
Join us for a short hike and learn about the uses of native Alaskan flowers and herbs, and then collect your own. We will demonstrate how to properly dry out the plants, and share a cup of fresh tea.
Celebrate Pride! - Hike at the Wynn Nature Center
Join us for a 1.5 hour guided hike of the Wynn Nature Center while learning about queer animals and occurrences in nature that blur the binary. 🌈
Spring Fling: An Octopus's Garden
You’re ink-vited to the tenta-coolest event on the Kenai Peninsula! It’s our Spring Fling Fundraiser! Join us in the Octopus’s Garden on May 31st, 2025.
Nature Journaling Retreat with Kim McNett
Join Homer artist Kim McNett for an artistic retreat at our Peterson Bay Field Station.
Youth Regulation Workshop
Delve into youth development, strategies for regulation, and tools to teach. Free event, childcare and pizza provided!
OBSERVER Film Screening
There’s a universe everywhere you turn. Join us for the Alaskan premiere of OBSERVER. FREE screening and activities at the Alaska Maritime NWR Visitor Center!
Teen Science Café
Attention teens! This one’s for you! Connect with college students and explore their research in Kachemak Bay at this FREE Teen Science Café. Food provided.
Welcoming Spring - Wynnter Sundays
Join us to welcome spring with special spring-themed activities! Learn what spring looks like in the boreal forest. Free!
Iditarod Activities - Wynnter Sundays
Spend the afternoon exploring activities inspired by Alaska’s iconic dogsled race! Free program!
Meeting Giants: Lost science, ancient legends, and octopuses in Alaska
David Scheel, author of “Many Things Under a Rock” will give a presentation on Kachemak Bay’s local giant Pacific octopuses. A FREE presentation as a part of our Tuesday Night Lights event series.
Snow Science - Wynnter Sundays
How much water melts from a pile of snow? Come find out! Activity subject to change based on snowpack.
Bridging Cultures: A Tribe-University Partnership Through the Lens of Seabird Conservation
Non-breeding movements and habitat use of seabirds are crucial for identifying oceanic hotspots that support overwinter survival, yet remain poorly understood… A FREE presentation as a part of our Tuesday Night Lights event series.
Snow Shelters - Wynnter Sundays
Learn the science of snow shelters and try your hand at building one! Activity subject to change based on snowpack.
Current Status of Chinook (King) Salmon in Kachemak Bay
Join ADF&G area managers Mike Booz and Holly Dickson to hear the current status of Kachemak Bay’s population of Chinook salmon. A FREE presentation as a part of our Tuesday Night Lights event series.
Great Backyard Bird Count
Participate in the global event! Join naturalists to make observations and submit your own reports to help scientists continue to monitor, understand, and protect bird populations across the world.
Lofi Night: Beats to Relax/Color to
Join Coastal Studies staff for a relaxing evening of chill vibes, mocktails, crafts and nature-themed coloring! Bring your drawing projects, wear something cozy, and settle in.
All ages welcome, coloring supplies provided. FREE event as a part of our Tuesday Night Lights event series.
Wynnter Olympics - Wynnter Sundays
The torch is lit—let the 2025 Wynnter Olympic Games begin! Come test your skills in a series of winter races and competitions. FREE family event!
Opportunities & Challenges of Alaska's Seaweed Industry
Join Homer-local kelp farmer Lindsay Olsen to discuss kelp farming, the state of the industry in Alaska, and the opportunity it presents for Kachemak Bay. A FREE presentation as a part of our Tuesday Night Lights event series.
Winter Crafts - Wynnter Sundays
Spend a cozy afternoon crafting with us! All materials provided. FREE program.
Wildlife in the Homer Area
Homer is a wildlife enthusiast’s dream location—this talk will explain why! A FREE presentation as a part of our Tuesday Night Lights event series.
Shelter Building - Wynnter Sundays
Can you stay dry in a rainstorm? What’s important to stay warm and cozy in the wilderness? Learn essential tips and tricks for building a shelter in the forest!
Food and Fun with Fermentation
Join Two Sisters Bakery co-owner Sharon Roufa and Alasandro’s Market owner Jacob Chrisman to talk fermentation and the Alaskan Sourdough tradition, and enjoy a tasting! A FREE presentation as a part of our Tuesday Night Lights event series.
Tracking - Wynnter Sundays
Join naturalists at the Wynn Nature Center to learn who lives in the forest and learn the basics of tracking!
Fire Building - Wynnter Sundays
Build a fire and test its marshmallow-toasting power at this family-friendly activity!
Winter Scavenger Hunt - Wynnter Sundays
Welcome to Wynnter! Join naturalists for a special winter-themed scavenger hunt at the Wynn Nature Center.
Science Night 2024 Watch Party
Satch the Science Night talks with your community members at our local watch party! Join us for an evening of engaging talks on marine debris cleanup, whale entanglement response, oiled wildlife rescue, and more.
