Boyce Park Nature Center 

 

WINTER SEASON (January - March)

Winter programs/activities scheduled as weather & conditions permitting!

DATES

2013 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES
1/5 - 3/8  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 
1/10 - 10/10 Native American Stories & Wildlife Activities - Unique tales connecting Environmental/Historical Projects.
 BP HH+ All Ages
1/11 - 2/8 Natural Art - Share your "calming" talents drawing and painting nature subjects. BP HH WO All Ages
1/12 - 3/14 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Therapeutic activities with nature and botanical topics.
(Art Therapy also at both parks)		 BP WO All Ages
1/18 - 3/14 Signing & Stories - Environmental tales told, read with the practice of nature "sign language." BP HH
WO		 All Ages
1/11 - 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 - 2/23 Mini-Maple Steps - School groups ONLY. Maple sugaring "beginnings" explained in an outdoor setting. BP DL
HH HW		 All Ages
3/16 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

HH+ = Outdoor Classroom
WO** = Health & Wellness Center    

SPRING SEASON (April - June)

DATES

2013 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES
4/6 - 6/1 Signing & Stories - Environmental stories read, told and shared along with "sign language" practice! BP DL HH+ HW WO All Ages
4/11 - 6/20 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. BP DL
HH HW WO		 All Ages
4/11 - 6/27 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Nature/Botanical activities with mentally and physically challenged individuals. (Art Therapy available at both parks) BP WO**
 All Ages
4/12 - 6/15 Senses Awakened - Observing nature "close-up" with the use of your special senses! BP DL HH+ HW 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 - 4/27 Earth Activities - Awareness projects concerning our natural world! (shrub, tree share) BP DL HH HW NPMI++ WO All Ages
4/27 - 6/15 Horticultural Series: Transplanting (Greenhouse) - Practice transplanting techniques with various organic grown plants BP WO** HH+ All Ages
5/2 - 10/24 Mini Fairy Gardens & Creatures  (Greenhouse) - Imaginative, small special places BP HH+ 
WO** HW

All Ages
5/9 - 10/19  Wetlands - Explore park ponds, streams, lakes and discover fascinating plant, animal and insect life activities. BP HH DL WO All Ages
5/16 - 5/23 Journal Memories - Creating an "easy-to-make" recording of your nature observations! BP DL HH+ HW WO  
5/16 - 9/26 Wings - Butterflies, birds & other "flying" species' lifestyles studied.

BP DL HH+
HW WO

 All Ages
5/16 - 10/19 Environmental Children's Gardening (Greenhouse) - Creating amazing never ending niches. BP HH+ All Ages
5/23 - 8/15 Beyond Borders (Greenhouse) - Transporting organic-grown container plants to various garden/habitat sites for planting! (shrub, tree share) BP HW
WO HH NPMI++		 All Ages
6/6 - 6/20 Botanical Recipes - Learning how to identify and prepare wild edible and garden plants! BP DL HH
HW WO		 All Ages
6/6 - 9/12 Kitchen Gardens (Greenhouse) - Utilizing resourceful style botanicals. BP HH+ WO** All Ages

HH+ = Outdoor Classroom
WO** = Health & Wellness Center 
NPMI++ = Special planting projects with shrub, tree, plant, or seed share

SUMMER SEASON (July - September)

DATES

2013 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES
7/6 - 9/17 Horticultural Series: Containers (Greenhouse) - Help transfer container plants to their new growing habitats attracting bees (pollinators) and other living visitors. BP WO** HH All Ages
7/10 - 9/21 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Therapeutic activities with nature and botanical topics. (Art therapy available at both Parks) 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
7/11 - 8/22 Small & Mighty - Observing our parks' seasonal insects with some hand lens use! BP DL HH HW WO** All Ages
7/13 - 9/21 Signing & Stories - Environmental stories read, told and shared along with "sign language" practice!" Also special "connection" activities. BP DL HH+ HW WO 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
WO		 All Ages
7/19 - 8/29 "Caution" Botany - Exploration and identification of the parks' poisonous plants! BP DL HH HW
WO		 All Ages
8/1 - 9/5 Healing Treasures - Uses and identification of medicinal plant species! BP DL HH HW
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 WO All Ages

HH+ = Outdoor Classroom
WO** = Health & Wellness Center 

AUTUMN SEASON (October - December)

DATES

2013 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
HW 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
WO		 All Ages
10/4 - 11/2 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Botanical/Nature activities with mentally and physically challenged individuals. (Art therapy is available at both Parks) 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 - 10/24 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
11/16 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

HH+ = Outdoor Classroom
WO** = Health & Wellness Center 
NPMI++ = Special planting projects with shrub, tree, plant, or seed share

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