2013 Summer Children’s Programming at the VIC
The fourth week in July 2013 marks the beginning of summer children’s programming at the VIC. These programs require preregistration by 5:00 PM the previous day. The goals of both programs are to get children outdoors, to have fun, to encourage children to care about the environment and to enjoy being outdoors. Please note that with summer kid programming, snacks are not included. Please contact Lauren Richard with questions regarding these programs.
Junior Naturalist Program
Mondays, beginning 22 July 2013
This program begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 3:00 PM. It is designed for children ages 7-11. The first session -- Monday, 22 July -- will be an Animal Detectives Day. This program, with different themes, will continue on Mondays through August. Children should bring a healthy snack, lunch, water bottle, a rain coat, sunscreen, bug dope, and appropriate footwear to head out on the VIC trails. $35 per child, or $25 for Friends of the VIC.
- 7/22:
Animal Detectives
Discover who lives at the VIC! Spend the day exploring several different habitats to find clues from different wild animals. Take home a plaster track mold or a leaf or tree rubbing.
- 7/29:
Wetlands: Nature’s Filters
Explore nature’s coffee filters and learn about their ecological importance in water filtration, animal habitat, and more! Observe the plants and animals who make their homes at the VIC's wetlands and learn about their special adaptations.
- 8/5:
A Day in the Life: Forest Animals
Visit different forest habitats on the VIC property and find out what types of plants and animals make their homes there and how they survive in their environments. Participants will do some hands-on exploration of the forest floor to see who is hiding underneath!
- 8/12: Nature Arts and Crafts
Come create with us! Projects will include a plaster leaf casting, make your own painted rock pet, and make a mobile. Arts and crafts will be interspersed with nature games and exploration, and of course snack time and lunch!
- 8/19: A Day in the Life: Birds
Visit different habitats on the VIC property and find out what types of birds live there and how they are adapted to their environments. Learn how scientists study birds and what kinds of things they figure out. Look for songbirds, wading birds, water birds, and birds of prey!
- 8/26: A Day in the Life: Butterflies and Other Insects
Visit our butterfly house and habitat to see different butterflies and moths in various life stages. Take home a butterfly craft and observe a Monarch tagging.
Little Bobcats Program
Wednesdays, beginning 24 July 2013
This program, which is for pre-K children ages 4-6, runs from 9:00 AM to noon. Children must be accompanied by a parent or grandparent. The first session -- 24 July -- is Summer Sensory Exploration Day. Each consecutive Wednesday through August will have a different theme. Children should come with a healthy snack, water bottle, rain gear, and appropriate foot wear to head out on the VIC trails. $20 per child, or $15 for Friends of the VIC.
- 7/24: Summer Sensory Exploration
This is a trail-based program. Participants will take a short nature walk, stopping for activities using the five senses. Participants will use basic tools, such as magnifying glasses and crayons, to become explorers and scientists.
- 7/31: Marsh Muck
Participants will spend this time down at the marsh, exploring and getting dirty. Participants will make mud paintings and use dip nets to see who lives in the muck.
- 8/7: Animal Detectives
Become a super sleuth! This is a nature-based program. Along the trail, participants will look for clues to find out who lives at the VIC and what they have been up to.
- 8/14: Nature Arts and Crafts
Come craft with us! Using natural materials, we will create several take-home projects such as leaf rubbings, nature collages, and pine-cone jewelry. Arts and crafts time will be interspersed with nature exploration and games.
- 8/21: Teddy Bear Picnic
Children are encouraged to bring along a teddy bear and a bagged lunch. We will have a bear-themed day, making shelters for our bears, learning about wild bears, and sitting down for our picnic around 11:30 AM.
- 8/28: Butterflies and Friends
Today we will visit our Native Butterfly House to learn all about butterflies and moths. Weather permitting, we will explore the meadow for free-flying insects, and look under leaves for eggs and caterpillars. As a special treat, our Butterfly House experts will hold a Monarch tagging demo!