Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center

Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center

Comments

Join Brave Kids Art Club host and professional Illustrator Brad Woodard for a FREE family event. Come learn more about peregrine falcons, and how to draw them. There will even be a LIVE peregrine falcon, Wilson, there to meet! Free registration required for kids. Parents must attend with child (no registration necessary for parents). https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kids-drawing-event-at-mk-nature-center-tickets-479554990887
If you missed our Bird Seed Sales Fundraiser, we still have seed left over, as well as great gifts for everyone on your shopping list. Open Tuesday through Sunday 10 to 3 pm.
Questions: contact [email protected]
Don't miss our Bird Seed sale fundraiser and Family Activities, TODAY at the MK Nature Center. 9 to 5 pm. With our wonderful sponsors from Wild Birds Unlimited.
Live bird presentations featuring, a Peregrine Falcon, and Great Horned Owl, at 11:30, 1230, and 1:30. Also Free kids craft from 11 to 2 pm.
Bird Seed Sale Fundraiser and Holiday shopping starts today! We're open 9 to 5 pm Friday and Saturday. Questions? contact Sue Dudley @ [email protected]
Bird Seed Sale Fundraiser starts tomorrow. December 2nd and 3rd, 9 to 5 pm. Hope to see you there 😊
One quick lap around the Nature Center!
This is a great week to do holiday shopping at MK Nature Center. All store product is out for browsing. Come for a nice walk and then do some shopping. Open from 10 to 3 pm, except for Dec. 2nd and 3rd we will be open from 9 to 5 pm for Bird Seed Sale Fundraiser.
Don't miss MK Nature Center's Bird Seed Sale Fundraiser this Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2nd and 3rd from 9 to 5 pm.
All proceeds go towards education programs and day to day operations of the nature center. Questions: [email protected].
Nature Center is open from 10 to 3 pm today, if you are out and about stop by for a nice walk and some holiday shopping.
If you are wanting to buy local, consider doing your holiday shopping at MK Nature Center gift shop. We have a fun selection of natured themed gifts for everyone on your list. Open Tuesday through Sunday 10 to 3 pm.
If you are out holiday shopping this weekend, stop by the Nature Center's gift shop. We carry unique nature themed gifts, like these collapsible flowers vases and smokeless, drippless candles. We will be open Friday through Sunday 10 to 3pm.
Mark your calendars for next Friday and Saturday, December 2nd and 3rd, from 9 to 5 pm, the Nature Center will be having their annual Bird Seed Sale Fundraiser!
If you feed birds during the winter, consider supporting your local nature center and buy your seed from us!
We will have several types high quality seed from Wild Birds Unlimited. Here are just a few of the types.
Support your local nature center and get some great gifts for the holidays!

Bird Seed Sale Fundraiser Dec. 2nd and 3rd, from 9 to 5 pm. Free family activities on Saturday Dec. 3rd
Live bird presentations at 11:30, 12:30, and 1:30 pm. Kid's craft from 11 to 2 pm.
Family friendly activities Saturday Dec. 3rd during our Bird Seed sale fundraiser.
Live bird presentations at 11:30, 12:30, and 1:30 pm.
Kid's take home craft from 11 to 2pm. Contact Sue Dudley at [email protected] for questions.

The Morrison Knudsen Nature Center offers a one-of-a-kind fish and wildlife experience on a 4.6-acre Admission is always free! Hours vary by season.

The Idaho Fish and Game MK Nature Center offers a unique wildlife experience on a 4.6-acre site along the Boise River Greenbelt. The StreamWalk is free and open dawn to dusk all year and underwater viewing windows give visitors a fish-eye view of the world. The Visitor Center has a museum and animal displays to provide a glimpse of Idaho's many landscapes and abundant wildlife. The MK Nature Center also offers educational programs and tours year-round.

Operating as usual

09/22/2023

Kindergarten students enjoying a morning field trip. This group is learning about chickadees and how their chick-a-dee-dee-dee calls alert other birds to potential danger. More than three dees in their call means danger! Other birds like red-breasted nuthatches and downy woodpeckers pay attention.

09/16/2023

The MK Nature Center has FANTASTIC volunteers. Nearly everyday, dedicated nature enthusiasts come to help us do all sorts of tasks. These three women are regular educators with us. Thanks to Patrice Davies, Linda Jarsky, and Bronwyn Myers! And thanks to all our dedicated supporters who make things happen at MK Nature Center.

08/17/2023

The MK Nature Center Evening Lecture Series schedule for September-December is out! Lectures are for adults and start at 6:30 pm at MKK Nature Center.

September 14th-Chronic Wasting Disease.
October 24th -Evening in the Owyhee.
November 16th– Wild Turkeys.
December 5th-Wild Horse Management in the West.

08/11/2023

We are having some tree trimming done today throughout the nature center. Please be aware of this activity and avoid areas coned off to help the arborists as they do their work. Your patience is appreciated!

07/28/2023

This little western screech owl spent some time in the bird-viewing area this morning. They are common small owls in many parts of Boise, living in wooded neighborhoods and parks as well as along the Boise River. Screech owls eat small
rodents and birds along with large insects. They have even been see hunting small fish and eating crayfish! The nature center hosts these owls all year and it’s a treat to get to see one.

07/26/2023

This tiny toadlet found a cozy spot under an uprooted paver in the nature center path. Both western and Woodhouse’s toads are found in our area. They are efficient predators of many insects we consider pests. Toads cannot give you warts, but their skin has glands containing toxins that can irritate the skin. They also make toads taste awful and can make the animal that grabbed the toad in their mouth, sick. That’s usually all it takes for the predator to steer clear of toads in the future.

07/21/2023

Chinook salmon in the smaller Alpine Lake viewing window. Several salmon, including a large adult have been hanging out in this area. Stop by an take a look at these amazing fish!

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 07/19/2023

Read our summer newsletter to get all caught up on what happened this spring and what is going on this summer!
https://idfg.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/mk-nature-center-summer-newsletter-0723.pdf

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 07/14/2023

It’s always an exciting day when fish arrive! A big shout out to our colleagues in Fisheries for bringing the nature center chinook salmon. Having these beautiful fish on display in the Alpine Lake makes for some excellent viewing opportunities for our visitors. Come by and check them out!

07/13/2023

The orange structure on this bumblebee’s leg is a corbicula or pollen basket. This is a specialized structure for gathering pollen. The bee presses pollen collected by comb and brush structures on the inside of the legs into the corbicula. It is an efficient way to transport pollen back to the hive. Pollen is an important source of protein and minerals, especially for larvae, but adult bees will eat pollen as well. Honey bees, bumblebees, orchid bees and stingless bees have corbicula.

07/10/2023

This young mule deer buck was noshing on dogwood leaves first thing this morning. He stopped to pose for a photo taken using a zoom setting so as not to get too close and disturb him.

06/16/2023

The bees go marching. Maintaining the observation hive is an important task to keep the hive clean and healthy. Quite a few bees are left outside once the hive is closed and brought back inside. This run for the entrance might look haphazard, but the bees process inside in a reasonably orderly fashion. Less than an hour after this photo was taken, the bees were all back inside the hive, resuming their busy lives.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 06/09/2023

Pollinator Event tomorrow!
Great activity for the whole family! Saturday June 10th from 10 to 3 pm.
Cost is $5 per person ages 3 and up.

Lots of education stations, face painting, games, honey tasting and much more!
Tacos y Tortas El Paco will be on site for lunch 😁.

We only accept cash, check or debit cards, no credit cards.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 06/07/2023

Bumble Bees are amazing!
Bring your families down to the MK Nature Center Saturday June 10th from 10 am to 3 pm, to learn about Idaho's pollnators nators. We will have several education booths, craft activities, honey tasting and games. $5 per person ages 3 and up.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 06/05/2023

Do you like to EAT?

Come this Saturday June 10th from 10 to 3 pm, to the Nature Center to learn why Pollinators are so important in providing the food you eat.
Event fee is $5 per person ages 3 and up.

05/30/2023

Mark your calendars for next Sat. June 10th, 10 am to 3 pm. The MK Nature Center is putting on a family friendly event, come learn all about pollnators.
Cost is $5 per person ages 3 and up. We accept debit, check or cash only.

05/17/2023

Good Morning, babies are waking up for the day and taking their first swim. They hatched yesterday.

05/16/2023

The pollinator garden planting has begun! We are so excited to see this project come together and hope local pollinators and our visitors enjoy this space. Many thanks to all the donors to the Friends of MK Nature Center for making this project possible. Thanks also to the Ada County Soil and Water Conservation District for the grant funding the Friends received for the project.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 05/11/2023

Penstemon is a favorite flower of hummingbirds and insect pollinators. The nature center still has these lovely flowers as well as other native plants for sale. Stop by and add some beautiful pollinator favorites to your yard.

05/10/2023

The nature center path near the kiosk will be blocked for the next few days. Work is being done to regrade the path and extend the pavers to provide a better area for visitors. It is recommended that visitors access the grounds via the Greenbelt or Municipal Park entrances. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 05/03/2023

They’re BACK!!! Honeybees are once again in-residence. A colony was placed in the observation hive this afternoon, and the bees are settling into their new home. The queen can be seen in the middle of the first photo. She’s much longer than the workers and has a amber-colored, unstriped abdomen. Come by and check out the bees!

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 05/01/2023

Save the date for Nature Center's Pollinator Event, Saturday June 10th, 10 to 3 pm. $5/person ages 3 and up. Various education stations will be available for visitors to learn about the importance of pollnators. Questions: contact [email protected]

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 05/01/2023

Idaho Gives is today-Thursday. Consider donating to our AWESOME friends group, "Friends of MK Morrison Knudsen Nature Center!" https://www.idahogives.org/organizations/friends-of-mk-nature-center

Last year, they raised funds for a pollinator garden, which is being installed this month. This year, they are fundraising for an outdoor classroom for the nature center! We are so excited and thankful for all their work and contributions that make the Nature Center so amazing. We hope you help support them....and us!

04/28/2023

The railing project is coming along and visitors can once again access the west end of the bridge to view the fish. The rest of the bridge is still blocked off, but we anticipate the railing being finished mid-week next week. Once again, we appreciate your patience as this project progresses.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 04/28/2023

The beaver taxidermy waits for a large group of second graders this morning. Sunlight on the new bridge railing.

04/27/2023

Your donations at work at the MK Nature Center. Local artist Nels Jensen and owner of Picture This Gallery and Frame Shop downtown Boise putting the final touches on the recently added Arrowleaf Balsamroot sculpture in the new pollinator garden.

04/26/2023

This young mule deer is demonstrating that habitat is indeed home.

04/26/2023

Just a reminder to visitors that the nature center’s main bridge remains closed as the new railing is installed. For your safety, the grounds also remain closed between 5pm-8am. Your patience is appreciated.

04/24/2023

Visitors please note that the nature center’s main bridge will be closed this week due to a new railing installation. In addition, the grounds will be closed from 5pm-8am for public safety. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for the inconvenience.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 04/21/2023

We are excited to announce that the artwork in the new pollinator garden has been installed! This lovely arrowleaf balsamroot sculpture was created by Boise artist Nels Jensen. Many thanks to the Friends of MK Nature Center and their many donors for making this possible. We are looking forward to the completion of the garden in May.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 04/21/2023

In spite of the lack of springtime temperatures, plants and critters have faith that longer days mean eventual warmth and sunshine. Come by the nature center to check out the signs of spring!

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 04/11/2023

Canada geese are a familiar presence in our community. It’s easy to get frustrated with their less-appealing behaviors, but something about fuzzy yellow goslings makes everyone smile. Two pairs of geese are nesting at the nature center this spring. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see their goslings leave the nest by jumping out about 24 hours after hatching.

03/31/2023

Our spring newsletter is here, even though spring is not here....yet:)
https://idfg.idaho.gov/d7/sites/default/files/mknc_stream_spring2023.pdf

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 03/30/2023

Snowy scenes this morning along the nature center path. While spring continues to be very coy, the mama Canada goose remains on her nest, convinced that winter will eventually fade.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 03/24/2023

An early spring snowfall decorates the nature center.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 03/23/2023

Spring is in the air and the wood ducks are checking out the nest boxes. This interesting object is the egg case of a preying mantis. The hard foamy case protects the developing eggs as they overwinter. With some warmer temperatures, the infant mantids will hatch out, looking like miniature versions of their parents. And like their parents, they are voracious predators of many insect pests. Help protect pollinators and other beneficial insects this spring by delaying your yard clean-up until daytime temperatures have been over 50 degrees for at least a week. This will give these insects time to leave their winter shelters.

Photos from Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center's post 03/01/2023

Last night’s snow provides some lovely scenes at the nature this morning. A great blue heron took a stroll across a bridge, leaving its tracks behind. Come over and enjoy the snow before it melts away

02/23/2023

Monday, March 13th at 6:30 pm, Bret Van Paepeghem will teach us about Firewise Landscaping. Make your yard beautiful, safe, and productive for native wildlife! Free and open to the adult public. MK Nature Center 600 S. Walnut Street, Boise, ID 83712.

02/14/2023

We love wildlife! Happy Valentine's Day from MK Nature Center!

Want your school to be the top-listed School/college in Boise?

Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.

Videos (show all)

There are a few amazing kokanee left in the Alpine Lake window! Come check them out!
Play is an important part of learning for youngsters of any species and deerfawns are no exception.  The twins were cert...
There is almost nothing cuter than a bathing baby screech owl.  This was captured exactly a year ago so watch for juveni...
Over the years, we have not had many rabbits at the MK Nature Center. I think that is about to change.
Check out our Celebrating Pollinators event on May 14th! This 1 minute video will give you a sneak peek into what you wi...
Wait for it 😊. Time lapsed sunrise at the MK Nature Center.
George, the MK Nature Center's education snake molted! See it! It's WILD!
How do you tell an adult sharp-shinned hawk from a Cooper's hawk? Find out in this one minute tutorial!
Chickadees!
Conifer Trees
Thankful for!
The annual Bird Seed Sale is coming up December 3 and 4! Check out what else you will find at this event!

Location

Category

Telephone

Address


600 S Walnut Street
Boise, ID
83712

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 3pm
Other Education in Boise (show all)
Wingtip Press Wingtip Press
530 W MYRTLE Street
Boise, 83702

Foothills Learning Center Foothills Learning Center
3188 N Sunset Peak Road
Boise, 83702

We are dedicated to promoting the preservation and improvement of the Boise Foothills.

Idaho TRIO Alumni Connections Idaho TRIO Alumni Connections
Boise, 83725

Welcome Idaho TRIO Alumni Family and Friends.....I am looking for as many Upward Bound, ETS, VUB, SS

The WaterShed The WaterShed
11818 W. Joplin Road
Boise, 83714

Increasing water and climate change awareness and inspiring action for people of all ages

Idaho Whitewater Association Idaho Whitewater Association
Post Office Box 6135
Boise, 83707

The IWA is for whitewater boaters, those with a passion and experience and those that want to learn a

Inglés pa mi gente Inglés pa mi gente
Boise

Inglés para hispanohablantes en US Visita mi pågina web www.inglespamigente.store

LEARN Idaho LEARN Idaho
Boise

Providing FREE education for mature adults, family caregivers, and the professionals serving them.

Hillcrest Elementary PTO Hillcrest Elementary PTO
2045 S. Pond Street
Boise, 83705

Providing support and connection for Hillcrest teachers, students and parents.

CPR Certification Boise CPR Certification Boise
800 W. Main Street Suite 1460
Boise, 83702

CPR Certification Boise AHA BLS CPR Classes and First Aid Training in Boise Idaho. American Heart As

Teacher Jennifer Teacher Jennifer
Boise

Teacher Jennifer is an experience English language teacher from America. TEFL & TESOL Certified

Idaho Pest Management Association-IPMA Idaho Pest Management Association-IPMA
P. O. Box 8841
Boise, 83707

To promote professionalism in the lawn care, pest control, and grounds management industries. Provid

Rejection Proof Selling Rejection Proof Selling
Boise

Join the free group designed to help business owners, entrepreneurs, and sales people find and close