Creekside Shop

The Creekside Shop is a great stop any time of year, not just the holidays! We’ve stocked merchandise with special attention to USA and Iowa-made products! Plan to spend a little time looking around because you’re sure to find something you’ll love!

These beautiful leaves preserved in gold, silver and copper by Still Life Gifts are almost too perfect to be real, but they are!  Created in California,  a special process bonds 24k gold, sterling silver or iridescent copper  to real leaves.  The detail is simply amazing! Some people use them as ornaments but we think they’re so stunning, you’ll want to find a place in your home to show them off all year ’round.  This year, we added some nightlights to the collection that are truly beautiful.

Hanging on our pine tree are beautiful pieces of jewelry from Wired Woman Jewelry, made right here in Cedar Rapids. Natural materials and inspiration from nature helped this local artisan create beautiful earrings, bracelets, and necklaces…all unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. You really need to come look at these beautiful creations.

Foster your child’s natural curiosity with fun toys and games from our Kids’ Corner! How long since you’ve seen handmade wooden puzzles for kids? Look no further than the Creekside Shop! Expertly crafted in Cedar Rapids, your little ones will love assembling their favorite critters over and over. Beware…they’re more challenging than they look! And if your kids are a little older, we have fun things for them as well!  Books, games, puzzles, critter nets, novelties like  Flash Rocks, Owl Pellets, Glux and more are so much fun the kids won’t even realize they’re learning while they play! We have cool new Young Scientists Club kits for junior archaeologists, gardeners and explorers.  Pick up one of our nature-inspired bingo games for your next family game night. We also have great children’s books for toddlers to teens.

Stop at the Creekside Pantry and check out our nature-themed cookie cutters – frogs, snakes, butterflies, chickens, turtles, fish and more. These cutters are made in the USA, have handles perfect for little helping hands and are BIG enough for creative decorating!  Each cutter comes with a cookie and frosting recipe but you know, there are lots of other uses! Cut sandwiches, pizzas, Jello or modeling clay, or fill one with your favorite fudge or brownie recipe and give as a unique gift (with the recipe, of course!) Fun in the kitchen is another chance for family interaction while learning the MATH of measuring in fractions and weights and the SCIENCE of baking formulas!

Another special item in the Creekside Pantry is our cutting board in the shape of the Nature Center’s barn. Hand-cut from oak or cherry, these boards make handy serving pieces for cheese or breads or they look great just hanging on the wall.  Come and choose your favorite, as no two are exactly alike.  This is a very unique gift for anyone who has ever spent time at the Nature Center.  These coasters were made specially for us by another local artisan and also make a great memento of your Nature Center visit.

We’re very excited about this new addition to the shop! Actually, it’s a new “old” design of the original Nature Center t-shirt 40 years ago. To celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’re offering this new shirt with the same front design and our anniversary logo on the back. Available in children’s sizes Sm-M-Lg and adult sizes Sm-M-Lg-XL-2X and 3X. Thanks to Naturalist Jennifer Rupp for modeling these fun t-shirts.

These new “brushy” animals are just too cute for words! Made of Buri palm fronds, they’re totally eco-friendly and check out our new Blooming Expressions gift tags and cards. They are made of paper embedded with wildflower seeds and the whole thing can be planted after gift-giving time! Also new, these cute finger puppets will keep kids busy and engaged for hours.

The shop offers a variety of books ranging from field guides to practical books to get your urban homestead off the ground, nature journals, note cards and more.  Find fun, seasonal items  and even concessions when you need a refreshing break from hiking and exploring.

The Creekside Shop is located in the Nature Center barn. It is open six days a week for your shopping convenience. Regular hours are:

Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturdays: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm