Nature Detectives
Are you ready to solve the mysteries of the natural world? Each week, we’ll investigate something new as we explore the park like real outdoor detectives! From searching for clues on the forest floor to scanning the skies above, this hands-on program will get you thinking, exploring, and discovering.
Each week, we will meet at the Picnic Flats parking lot (the first parking lot on the left) and take up to 1-mile walk through the park. Please wear closed-toe shoes, bring water, and don’t forget your detective skills!
Designed for 9 to 11-year-olds, but all ages are welcome. Registration is required.
Cost: $6 per person + park admission
Meeting Location: Picnic Flats Parking Lot
Time: 10 am - 11:30 am
Weekly Topics:
June 9th Week 1: Bugs Beneath Our Feet
A secret world is hiding right under your shoes! Join us as we become forest floor detectives and uncover the tiny critters that help keep the forest alive. From millipedes to rolly pollies, we’ll search for nature’s clean-up crew, learn fun bug facts, and discover why these little creatures are so important. Then, we’ll finish by building a Bug Hotel to create a safe home for our forest helpers!
June 23rd Week 2: Nature Detectives – Sky Patrol
Look up! Something is flying above us… but what is it? A bird or something else? Join us on an exciting investigation to discover flying animals, how and why they rule the skies, how they sound different, and what we can do to help them!
July 7th Week 3: Tracks & Scat
Something was moving through the forest! We didn’t see it, but it left clues behind. Join us as we become nature detectives and learn to decode tracks, scat, and other signs to discover which animals have been nearby.
July 21st Week 4: Tree Time Travelers
Trees have been standing here for decades, even centuries. What clues do they leave behind? Join us as we explore what trees drop, count their rings, and create bark rubbings to uncover the stories they and other plants reveal about life in the forest.