Preschool Nature Explorers at Parker River NWR

This is a new series of hands-on nature classes for 4 and 5-year-old children (and their caregivers).   Sign up for individual sessions or the entire series!   Some sessions will be held at the refuge visitor center, while others will be conducted on the refuge at the parking lot 1 visitor contact station.  

The theme of these classes will be “spring events in nature” (e.g., plants and animals adjust to the warming weather and migrating birds return from their wintering grounds).  Children will be encouraged to make observations and explore nature.  Part of each session will be held outdoors, so dress appropriately (including boots).   The series of classes will include making and keeping a journal and doing nature-related crafts/projects to bring home.   Each class session will be limited to 12 children.  Parents/caregivers must remain with their children during the session.   Preregistration is required.  Here are the class-specific themes:

• May 9: Hibernating animals awake; migrating birds return; frogs croak; insects buzz.  Explore and make a journal to show what we find.  (Meet at the refuge visitor center.)
• May 16:  Sand and tide; wind and waves; animal tracks in the sand; shell sorting.  Make a wave bottle to take home.  (Meet on the refuge at the parking lot 1 visitor contact station.)
• May 23: on the Refuge at Lot 1 – creatures in the wrack line – who lives in the salt marsh – nesting on the beach.  Make a piping plover chick to take home.  (Meet on the refuge at the parking lot 1 visitor contact station.)