Boyce Park Nature Center

Activities are scheduled in these County Parks. Check their home pages for addresses, phone numbers, map links, and more information:
  Boyce Park (BP) Deer Lakes Park (DL) Harrison Hills Park (HH)  
  Hartwood (HW) White Oak Park (WO) North Park Marshall Island (NPMI)
Next to North Park ice skating rink		  

WINTER SEASON (January - March)

Winter programs/activities scheduled as weather & conditions permitting!

DATES

2010 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES
1/09 - 2/6 Winter Additions - Making "edible" ornaments and placing them along the nature trails to help active wildlife. BP HH All Ages
1/09 - 3/17 Winter Natural History Tours/Walks - Tours of the Natural History Museums, Boyce Park/Harrison Hills Park and interpretive hikes on the parks trails. BP DL
HH HW WO		 All Ages
1/12 - 2/12 Natural Art - Share your "calming" talents drawing and painting nature subjects. BP HH WO All Ages
1/15 - 3/19 Signing & Stories - Environmental tales told, read with the practice of nature "sign language." BP HH All Ages
1/16 - 3/20 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Therapeutic activities with nature and botanical topics. BP WO All Ages
2/9 - 2/26
 Mini-Maple Steps - School groups ONLY. Maple sugaring "beginnings" explained in an outdoor setting.

BP DL
HH HW

 All Ages
3/13 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
3/20 - 3/31 Horticultural Series: Seeding (Greenhouse) - Learn seed planting techniques concerning annuals, perennials, herbs, grasses and veggies, too. BP All Ages

SPRING SEASON (April - June)

DATES

2010 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES
4/1 - 6/18  Signing & Stories - Environmental stories read, told and shared along with "sign language" practice!

BP DL HH HW WO NPMI

 All Ages 
4/3 - 6/12 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 NPMI WO All Ages
4/6 - 5/8 Arbor Days - Tree planting techniques, identification, uses, history and lore at various parks! BP DL HH HW WO All Ages
 4/9 - 6/18 Senses Awakened - Observing nature "close-up" with the use of your special senses! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages 
4/10 - 6/19 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Nature/Botanical activities with mentally and physically challenged individuals. BP WO All Ages
4/17 - 6/19 Horticultural Series: Transplanting
(Greenhouse) - Practice transplanting techniques with various organic grown plants.		 BP WO All Ages
4/20 - 4/24 Earth Activities - Awareness projects concerning our natural world! BP DL HH HW NPMI WO All Ages
4/24 - 6/19 Beyond Borders (Greenhouse) - Transporting organic-grown container plants to various garden/habitat sites for planting! BP HW
WO		 All Ages
5/1 - 5/22 Journal Memories - Creating an "easy-to-make" recording of your nature observations! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages
5/8 - 10/23

Wetlands - Explore Park ponds, "Boyce Park special mine", clean-up" pools, streams, lakes & discover fascinating plant, animal & insect life activities.

 BP DL HH 
NPMI WO

All Ages
5/15 - 9/25 Wings - Butterflies, birds & other "flying" species' lifestyles studied. BP DL HH
HW NPMI WO		 All Ages
6/5 - 6/19 Botanical Recipes - Learning how to identify and prepare wild edible and garden plants! BP DL HH
HW WO		 All Ages

SUMMER SEASON (July - September)

DATES

2010 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES
7/6 - 9/17 Horticultural Series: Containers
(Greenhouse) - Help transfer container plants to their new growing habitats attracting bees and other living visitors.		 BP WO All Ages
7/10 - 9/22 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Therapeutic activities with nature and botanical topics. BP WO All Ages
7/10 - 7/24 Old-Thyme Herbs - History, lore and uses of unique herbal plant species. BP HW
HH WO		 All Ages
7/13 - 8/21 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
7/17 - 9/18 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
7/20 - 8/28 "Caution" Botany - Exploration and identification of the parks' poisonous plants! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages
8/3 - 9/11 Healing Treasures - Uses and identification of medicinal plant species! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages
8/7 - 8/28 Sketches/Notes/Photos - Observing nature through drawings and photography! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages

AUTUMN SEASON (October - December)

DATES

2010 EVENTS

PARKS

APPROPRIATE
AGES
10/1 - 10/23 Colors, Shapes & Textures - Examine unique "changes" with the trees and plants during this special season!

BP DL HH
NPMI WO

 All Ages
10/1 - 11/13 Signs, Tracks & Homes - Study of various park animal habitats and activities! BP DL HH HW WO All Ages
10/1 - 11/13 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
10/02 - 11/05 Horticultural Therapy (Greenhouse) - Botanical/Nature activities with mentally and physically challenged individuals. BP WO All Ages
10/02 - 11/12 Horticultural Series: Collections (Greenhouse) - Learn seed gathering techniques, selections and proper storage from the various gardens. BP HW WO All Ages
10/9 - 11/9 Signing and Stories - Environmental stories read, told and shared along with "sign language" practice! BP HH All Ages
10/16 - 11/13 Wildflower/Wildlife Habitats - Creating a balance of ecosystems for our plant and animal species! BP NPMI WO All Ages
10/16 - 11/13 Woody Plants - Diverse plantings of trees and shrubs for wildlife and human uses! BP DL HH HW
NPMI WO		 All Ages
11/6 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.