Boyce Park Nature Center

 

WINTER SEASON (January - March)

Winter programs/activities scheduled as weather & conditions permitting!

DATES

2012 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES

1/6 - 3/16

  Winter Natural History Tours/Walks - Tours of the Natural History Museums, Boyce Park/Harrison Hills Park and interpretive hikes on the parks trails.
(WO - Historical Home)		 BP DL HH
HW WO 		 All Ages 

1/7 - 10/13

 Native American Stories & Wildlife Activities BP HH All Ages

1/11 - 2/11

 Natural Art - Share your "calming" talents drawing and painting nature subjects. BP HH WO All Ages

1/14 - 3/14

 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Therapeutic activities with nature and botanical topics. BP WO All Ages

1/18 - 3/17

 Signing & Stories - Environmental tales told, read with the practice of nature "sign language." BP HH
WO		 All Ages

1/22 - 2/1

  Winter Additions - Making "edible" ornaments and placing them along the nature trails to help active wildlife. BP HH
WO 		 All Ages

2/9 - 2/25

 Mini-Maple Steps - School groups ONLY. Maple sugaring "beginnings" explained in an outdoor setting.

BP DL
HH HW

 All Ages

3/10

 Maple Sugaring Festival! - Pre-register groups 4-H, clubs, scouts, special organizations; individuals and families.
During the month of the Maple Moon, sample the sweetness of the maple season. Learn the history & lore (pioneer/Native American) of the maple sugaring process. Experience first hand how to identify maple trees, tap,  collect sap & then reduce it to syrup!		 BP
 All Ages

3/21 - 4/11

 Horticultural Series: Seeding (Greenhouse) - Learn seed planting techniques concerning annuals, perennials, herbs, grasses and veggies, too. BP WO HH All Ages

SPRING SEASON (April - June)

DATES

2012 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES

4/3 - 6/19

 Signing & Stories - Environmental stories read, told and shared along with "sign language" practice! BP DL HH HW NPMI WO All Ages 

4/4 - 6/16

 Spring Natural History Tours/Walks - Guided tours of the Natural History Museums, Boyce Park/Harrison Hills Park with interpretive walks on the nature/hiking trails. (WO Historical Home) BP DL HH HW NPMI WO All Ages

4/11 - 6/27

 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Nature/Botanical activities with mentally and physically challenged individuals. (Art Therapy) BP WO
 All Ages

4/12 - 6/16

  Senses Awakened - Observing nature "close-up" with the use of your special senses! BP DL HH HW NPMI WO All Ages 

4/13 - 5/11 

  Arbor Days - Tree planting techniques, identification, uses, history and lore at various parks! (shrub, tree share) BP DL HH HW NPMI WO  All Ages

4/25 - 4/28

  Earth Activities - Awareness projects concerning our natural world! BP DL HH HW NPMI WO All Ages

4/26 - 6/14

 Horticultural Series: Transplanting (Greenhouse) - Practice transplanting techniques with various organic grown plants. BP WO HH All Ages

5/2 - 10/27

 Garden Compositions
(Greenhouse)

 BP DL HH 
NPMI WO

All Ages

5/3 - 5/23

  Journal Memories - Creating an "easy-to-make" recording of your nature observations! BP DL HH HW NPMI WO All Ages

5/9 - 10/20

 Wetlands - Explore park ponds BP HH NPMI WO All Ages

5/16 - 9/08

 Wings - Butterflies, birds & other "flying" species' lifestyles studied. BP DL HH
HW NPMI WO		 All Ages

5/19 - 10/19

Environmental Children's Gardening
(Greenhouse)

 BP HH All Ages

5/23 - 8/18

 Beyond Borders (Greenhouse) - Transporting organic-grown container plants to various garden/habitat sites for planting! BP HW
WO HH NPMI		 All Ages

6/1 - 6/20

 Botanical Recipes - Learning how to identify and prepare wild edible and garden plants! BP DL HH
HW WO		 All Ages

6/2 - 9/15

 Kitchen Gardens
(Greenhouse)		 BP HH WO All Ages

SUMMER SEASON (July - September)

DATES

2012 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES

7/5 - 9/18

 Horticultural Series: Containers (Greenhouse) - Help transfer container plants to their new growing habitats attracting bees and other living visitors. BP WO HH All Ages

7/10 - 9/21

 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Therapeutic activities with nature and botanical topics. BP WO All Ages

7/11 - 7/25

 Old-Thyme Herbs - History, lore and uses of unique herbal plant species. BP HW
HH WO		 All Ages

7/12 - 8/22

 Small & Mighty - Observing our parks' seasonal insects with some hand lens use! BP DL HH HW NPMI WO All Ages

7/13 - 9/21

 Signing & Stories - Environmental stories read, told and shared along with "sign language" practice! BP DL HH HW WO NPMI All Ages

7/18 - 9/19

 Summer Natural History Walks/Tours - Guided tours of the Natural History Museums, Boyce Park/Harrison Hills Park and interpretive walks on the nature/hiking trails! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages

7/19 - 8/29

 "Caution" Botany - Exploration and identification of the parks' poisonous plants! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages

8/2 - 9/12

 Healing Treasures - Uses and identification of medicinal plant species! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages

8/8 - 8/28

 Everlasting Flowers/Sketches/Notes/Photos - Observing nature through drawing/photography and pressing/drying flowers! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages

AUTUMN SEASON (October - December)

DATES

2012 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES

10/2 - 10/23

 Colors, Shapes & Textures - Examine unique "changes" with the trees and plants during this special season!

BP DL HH
NPMI WO

 All Ages

10/3 - 11/14

  Autumn Natural History Walks/Tours - Guided tours of the Natural History Museums, Boyce Park/Harrison Hills Park with interpretive walks on the nature/hiking trails! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages

10/4 - 11/2

 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Botanical/Nature activities with mentally and physically challenged individuals. Also, Art Therapy! BP WO All Ages

10/4 - 11/14

 Horticultural Series: Collections (Greenhouse) - Learn seed gathering techniques, selections and proper storage from the various gardens. Also, seed packet designs! BP HW WO
HH		 All Ages

10/9 - 11/9

 Signing and Stories - Environmental stories read, told and shared along with "sign language" practice! BP HH
WO		 All Ages

10/9 - 11/13

  Signs, Tracks & Homes - Study of various park animal habitats and activities!  BP DL HH
HW WO		 All Ages

10/10 - 10/27

 Wildflower/Wildlife Habitats - Creating a balance of ecosystems for our plant and animal species! (plant, seed share) BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages

10/16 - 11/13

 Woody Plants - Diverse plantings of trees and shrubs for wildlife and human uses! (shrub, tree share) BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages
11/10 Map & Compass Hunt/Hike - "Easy to follow" map route of park nature trails while practicing the basic use of a compass and following clues to nature treasures! BP All Ages

NOTE: Conservation/Community projects (trails, wildlife/habitat plantings) available all four seasons! Programs are for all ages – Tuesday thru Saturday – Pre-registration requested at (724) 733-4618.