Nature Education Programs

Discover where you live - Unearth all of nature’s gifts, treasures, and health benefits at Oakland County Parks and Recreation’s nature centers.

WINTER 2020WINTER 2020INDEPENDENCE OAKS COUNTY PARK9501 Sashabaw RoadClarkston, MI 48348248-625-6473Preregistration with payment required. Call 248-858-0916 weekdays or Wint Nature Center on Saturdays.

Jan. 11Brownies: Senses

Feb. 1Jr. Girl Scouts: Space Science Investigator

Feb. 22Brownies: Potter

March 7Wolves: Digging into the Past

SCOUT BADGE DAYS - Wint Nature Center

Life Under the Snow Saturday, Jan. 18, 10-11:30 a.m.With the arrival of winter our world can become covered in snow and ice. Some animals head south while others sleep the winter away, but how do the animals that stay active survive the winter months? Discover the adaptations that help these animals endure the cold and snowy season, then take a winter walk and enjoy a small snack. Suitable for all ages. $7/person.

Happy Birthday Michigan Saturday, Jan. 25, 1-2:30 p.m.Michigan became a state on January 26, 1837. Join us in an early birthday party celebrating our great state of Michigan with an afternoon of Michigan fun facts, history and other things that help make Michigan a great place to live. A Michigan-themed craft and snack are included. Suitable for all ages. $7/person.

Owl Prowl Saturday, Jan. 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m.Some of the most beautiful moments in nature can only be viewed by the light of the moon. Search for some of nature’s most fascinating nocturnal creatures – owls. Learn about the types of owls found in Michigan and how to recognize them by their voices, then head out for a chance to see them in the woods. Quiet nature lovers are a necessity for this event. Suitable for participants ages 6 and up. $7/person.

Tiny Twigs Tuesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18 & 25, 10-11 a.m.Looking for a fun way to spend an hour with your preschooler? Head to the nature center for Tiny Twigs Hour. We will engage your child with a story, story-related craft and activity. Each session will focus on a different theme, so attend as many sessions as you like as you increase your knowledge and love of nature. $4/child.

DIY Great Lakes Stone Pendant Saturday, Feb. 8, 1-3 p.m. Our beloved lakes have created a beautiful stone for you. Choose one that speaks to you, then use it as your inspiration to make a pendant. Use oven-bake clay to create the pendant that will hold the stone. (Non-toxic clay pendant will need to be baked in a standard home oven after class). All materials including necklace are provided. No experience necessary. Program is suitable for ages 6 and up. $16/pendant.

The Dating Game Friday, Feb. 14, 6:30-8 p.m.Count the ways animals show their affection during this Valentine’s Day-themed event. Go on a mini owl prowl to look for love birds, create a nature gift for your own loved one and learn a few dance moves that only nature can teach. Bring your significant ‘otter’ for a date to remember. Program is suitable for ages 16 and up. $10/person.

Ice Fishing Saturday, Feb. 15, 3-5 p.m.Enjoy Michigan’s free winter fishing weekend by trying the exciting sport of ice fishing. Begin by learning how to operate ice fishing equipment, make a jig lure, practice fishing knots, observe an auger demonstration and try to reel in some fish. Because this program takes place on a free fishing weekend, no fishing license is necessary to participate. Program is suitable for school-aged children and adults. $10/person.

Bluebird Nest Box Season Kick-off Sunday, March 1, 1-3 p.m.Be a Citizen Scientist. Oakland County Parks and Recreation manages nest boxes at seven parks for the Eastern Bluebird and other cavity-nesting native birds. Nest boxes are monitored by trained volunteers. Information about the birds, monitoring techniques and other volunteer requirements will be presented. Volunteers are asked to check nest boxes routinely from March-August. Nests are tracked in NestWatch through Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Training is free and open to the public.

Woodpecker Walk Saturday, March 14, 1-3 p.m.

Find out which of Michigan’s eight woodpecker species come knocking in our neck of the woods. Learn about their diets, see examples of woodpecker feeders, and make a woodpecker feeding station for your backyard. Get out on the trail to learn what signs to look and listen for and search

for woodpeckers for yourself. All ages welcome. $7/person.

JUST FOR TEACHERSNature center programs meet numerous Michigan Department of Education Science Standards K-12 and make ideal hands-on experiences for students. When applicable, programs include use of pelts, taxidermy and limited live animals (reptiles and amphibians). School and Home School Field Trips are available to enrich your science curriculum.

ATTENTION SCOUT LEADERSBoth nature centers offer Scout Badge Days –interactive sessions designed specifically for Girl, Cub and Boy Scouts of all ages and ranks. Scouts complete all requirements to earn their badge. Badges are not supplied by the nature center.

Most sessions include hands-on activities and snack. Sessions are held on Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon or 2-4 p.m. (unless otherwise noted). Cost is $7/scout; $3/adult. Space is limited and preregistration is required. Park entry fee is waived if registered by end of business day prior to event. For a full schedule, visit OaklandCountyParks.com.

PROGRAM REGISTRATION Pre-registration with payment is required for all nature center programs. Park entry fee waived if registered by end of business day prior to event. If openings are available, day-of-event registrants will be charged park vehicle entry and program fees. There is no refund for advance payment unless program is cancelled.

Register and pay: Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express are accepted. Call 248-858-0916 to register during regular weekday business hours or the nature centers on Saturdays.

Programs take place rain or shine. Dress for the weather, as portions of programs may be held outdoors.

RED OAKS COUNTY PARK30300 Hales StreetMadison Heights, MI 48071248-585-0100Preregistration with payment required. Call 248-858-0916 weekdays or Red Oaks Nature Center on Saturdays.

SCOUT BADGE DAYS - Red Oaks Nature CenterJan. 11Daisies: Sunny

Feb. 1Bears: Forensics

Feb. 8Webelos: Earth Rocks

Feb. 15Brownies: Space Science Adventurer

March 7Daisies: Space Science Explorer

X Marks the SpotSaturday, March 14, 10:30 a.m.-noon Where have those sneaky leprechauns gone to? Find them at the nature center. Join in an afternoon of trickery and treasure hunting and explore the activity of letterboxing to find hidden treasure. Plan for a craft, snack and outdoor excursion. Feel free to sport your St. Patty’s Day green. Irish or not, luck is on your side today. $7/person.

Ecosystem Engineers Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m.-noonBeaver in your own backyard? Believe it or not, Oakland County is home to a thriving population of Michigan’s largest rodent. Feel its fur, touch beaver teeth, and enjoy an ecosystem talk on how beavers transform wetlands. Each participant will engineer their own unique ecosystem in the form of a tiny take-home terrarium. $8/person.

Morning MunchkinsFridays: 10:30-11:15 a.m. Jan. 3: A Stone Sat Still; Feb. 7: Woodpecker Wham!; March 6: Maple Syrup from the SugarhouseBring your preschooler to the nature center for a favorite story and a related hands-on, nature-based discovery activity. This series will be offered the first Friday of each month. $4/child.

Hoot-en-anny Saturday, Jan. 18, 4-6:30 p.m.Learn about owls through a presentation and dissection of an owl pellet. Make an owl mask to see through the eyes of an owl, then head outside for an owl hoot hike, calling for owls and observing creatures of the dusk. $10/person.

A Frozen Encounter Saturday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. OR 3-4:30 p.m. Join us on a Frozen-themed adventure as we discover how caribou and others can fare in a winter world. Make a “happy snowman” craft, enjoy a cozy campfire, snack and cold weather activities. Participants must wear boots. $7/person.

Glorious GroundhogsSunday, Feb. 2, 2-3:30 p.m. Did you know that another name for a groundhog is a “whistle pig”? Learn the story behind Groundhog Day and its famous mascot, Punxsutawney Phil. Experience the life of a groundhog through a game and make a groundhog-themed craft and snack. $7/person.

Polish Your Own Petoskey Stone Saturday, Feb. 22, 2-4 p.m. Michigan’s state stone is the Petoskey stone, a fossil colonial coral. Using different sandpaper grits and some ‘elbow grease,’ participants will choose and polish a stone to take home while

learning about other local fossils and minerals. All materials provided. $8/person.

Leap Day Saturday, Feb. 29, 2-4 p.m. Get up close and personal with our resident nature center amphibians. Do toads really cause warts? How far can a frog really jump? Are salamanders lizards? All these questions and more will be answered. Have fun making an amphibian-themed craft. Suitable for ages 6 and up. $5/person.