Today I am going to tell you about the Naturalist-led classes/walk (offered every Tuesday at 5pm through out the summer!!!) that my kids and I take for FREE (still, they are super cheap for non-members) at River Bend Nature Center, but honestly these classes could be offered at any nature center. This particular class we learned about insects that call the nature center home in the woods, prairie and ponds. I knew this one would be a huge hit with my kids since we can my son the Bug Whisperer, seriously this boy can can any bug or frog or whatever and does it gently too.
Nature Centers are a great place to take affordable classes. As members, many of our classes are free or we receive a member discount. And why not become a member it is a great place to support, as well as being tax deductible. This was the first "class" my son has taken with me there, but my daughter has been taking them with me for several years. In fact, one of our favorites was a insect class on a humid and hot almost 100 degree day. Last year I think one of our favorite classes was learning Slack Lining, which they are offering again this year. We also took this awesome class on finding edibles in the forest; we both learned so much from that class.
We have also taken classes on Natural Dying and Natural Old World Toys (yes, we did make some to bring home, like Corn Husk Dolls and Jacob's Ladder and a couple others) and Paper Bowl Making and a Drawing Class (so out of my comfort zone, but awesome to learn about). I could go on and on about all the things we have learned about at River Bend Nature Center, but what I want you to do is tell me:
Where is your closest Nature Center?
Do you ever visit or take a class?
I am not sure what class we will be taking next, but my daughter will have a week of nature camp coming up next month.
Here in the UK we have country parks (different m national parks)and nature reserves, often small and near/ in semi urban areas. We have a "green corridor" beside a river near us which is a haven for birds and wildflowers. The best workshop/ class I went to was at one of these in the grounds of an old mill, where we did pond dipping, followed a trail and earned about the local flora and fauna and then made Hallowe'en lanterns then lit them at dusk.
ReplyDeleteHere in the UK we have country parks (different m national parks)and nature reserves, often small and near/ in semi urban areas. We have a "green corridor" beside a river near us which is a haven for birds and wildflowers. The best workshop/ class I went to was at one of these in the grounds of an old mill, where we did pond dipping, followed a trail and earned about the local flora and fauna and then made Hallowe'en lanterns then lit them at dusk.
ReplyDeleteI wish this type of class was offered in our area. Best I've seen was something put on by our local library, and the instructor was charging WAY too much.
ReplyDeleteI think the closes thing we have here is the Childcare's Museum which is hands on with reptiles and insects. Thanks for sharing great program.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea where the closest center is.. Maybe NYC?
ReplyDeleteI know that we have a nature center close buy but it is pretty expensive. I generally take the kids to the park in town. It has a wooded area and pond, so there is plenty of room to roam around and search for nature.
ReplyDeleteI haven't checked for that type of activities since we go camping often and our weekends are mostly trekking so my kids learn a lot about nature, but this is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI haven't checked for that type of activities since we go camping often and our weekends are mostly trekking so my kids learn a lot about nature, but this is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteThat looks super neat. There are a lot of free nature conservation things in Colorado (where I live)
ReplyDeleteHmm ... I'm sure there's a nature center around here. I've never been though. But I know you're right about the fact that it's one of the best places to learn.
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