Nature Fest: Cultivating Community

Where culture and nature bring us together
Every year, we gather to celebrate what connects us all: our cultures, our community, and the nature we share.

Nature Fest: Cultivating Community is a free, family-friendly festival featuring music, dance, art, food, outdoor activities, and interactive experiences in one of the metropolitan area’s most beautiful natural spaces. The event is organized by the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the City of Bloomington, the Minnesota Zoo, Indigenous Roots, Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends, and Huellas Latinas.

More than just a festival, it is an invitation to discover the refuge, meet new organizations, enjoy activities for all ages, and celebrate the cultural richness that strengthens our communities.

🎶 Music and cultural performances
🌿 Nature activities and environmental education
🎨 Art, workshops, and interactive experiences
🌮 Food trucks and family-friendly areas
💛 Free admission; open to the entire community

Nature Fest is made possible by the commitment of dozens of volunteers who bring this celebration to life each year. If you would like to experience the festival from a different perspective, we invite you to join our volunteer team and help us continue cultivating community.

We look forward to celebrating, exploring, and connecting with nature together!

Hike & Yoga

Movement, nature, and wellness.

Let’s celebrate Latino Conservation Week with a morning dedicated to moving our bodies, breathing, and connecting with nature and our community.

Join Huellas Latinas and Dakota County Parks at Jensen Lake for a guided hike of approximately 3 miles, followed by an outdoor yoga session focused on movement, breath, and wellness.

No prior hiking or yoga experience is needed. Just bring your curiosity and a desire to enjoy nature in a new way.

🥾 Guided hike
🧘 Outdoor yoga
🌿 Connection with nature
💚 Wellness and community

Let’s celebrate Latino Conservation Week together!

Huellas Latinas Sunset Cruise – 2026 Edition

Five years of connecting our community with nature. A night to celebrate it together.

Join us for a special evening cruising the Mississippi River as we celebrate the 5th Anniversary of Huellas Latinas and the impact we have built together over the years.

The Huellas Latinas Sunset Cruise is much more than just a boat ride. It is a night to bring our community together, recognize our allies, and celebrate the power of nature to promote well-being, strengthen our sense of belonging, and inspire new opportunities for Latino families in Minnesota.

Enjoy a beautiful sunset, a delicious dinner, music, dancing, a charity auction, and special moments that will help us continue advancing the mission of Huellas Latinas.

Your participation helps more individuals and families discover the benefits of nature through outdoor experiences, environmental education, and community-building programs.

Let’s celebrate five years of history—and take the next step into the future together.

Family Hike with Huellas Latinas

Nature, well-being, and community.

We invite you to spend the morning exploring the trails at Lebanon Hills Regional Park with Huellas Latinas.

We will go on a guided hike of approximately 3 miles at a comfortable pace, creating opportunities to move our bodies, observe nature, and connect with others in the community.

No prior experience is needed. This is an invitation to discover the park, enjoy the benefits of being outdoors, and feel that nature is a place where we, too, belong.

🥾 Guided hike
🌿 Nature and exploration
💚 Well-being
🤝 Community and belonging

Come walk with us!

Birdwatching

Observe. Listen. Discover.

We invite you to discover the fascinating world of birds at Roberts Bird Sanctuary through a guided experience of observation, learning, and connection with nature.

We will learn how to use binoculars, observe and listen to birds, gain a better understanding of their habitat, and discover why protecting our natural spaces is important for the species that inhabit them.

This is the third event of the Latino Park Stewardship & Leadership Initiative, a program that connects nature, well-being, conservation, and community leadership.

🔭 We provide the binoculars.
🌱 No prior experience is needed.
🐾 Pets are not allowed.

Come observe, listen, and discover our parks from a new perspective!