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Wildlife • Education • Planetarium
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child and family programs

programs for children

Please note that many of our wonderful classes and programs are in high demand, have limited space and/or require pre-registration. We encourage you to call ahead to confirm availability: (440)871-2900.

Green Scene-St. Patrick's Day
Date:	Wednesday, March 17, 2010	Time/Duration:	10 - 11 a.m.
	Ages 1 - 5 with an adult	Fee:	$5/child
Turtles, toads, and trees! Explore all things green on St. Patrick's Day! Instructor: Maggie Watson This program requires advance registration. This program is currently Waiting List Only Status.

Eggstravaganza
Date:	Friday, April 2, 2010	Time/Duration:	For ages 1-3 with an adult: 9, 10 OR 11a.m For ages 3-5 with an adult: 12:30 OR 1:30 p.m. For ages 5-8 with an adult: 3 p.m.
	Ages 1-3; 3-5 or 5-8 with an adult	Fee:	$7/child; member $5/child
What’s more fun than a good old-fashioned egg hunt? Search the Center’s grounds for eggs and if you are lucky enough, you may even find a “golden egg”-- which will win you an “eggcellent” prize! Enjoy a visit with one of our resident long-eared hoppers. Weather not cooperating? We’ll move our hunt inside! Instructor: Maggie Watson This program requires advance registration. Some times are Waiting List Only Status. Please call the Center for openings.

Spring Nature Nuts
Date:	Spring 2010 Ten-week Session takes place from the week of March 1, 2010 through the week of May 10, 2010, EXCEPT FOR SPRING BREAK, the week of April 5, 2010.	Time/Duration:	Mornings Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Afternoons Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
	For children ages 3 - 5* *All children must be potty-trained.	Fee:	10-week session: $300; members $250
Nature Nuts is an exciting alternative or supplement to traditional preschool education. Our goals are to help your children develop appreciation and enjoyment of the natural world, respect for other creatures and a sense of caring for the earth. Our program addresses the Ohio Department of Education's Early Learning Content Standards and has a focus on nature-based themes. Foster your child's sense of wonder with sensory learning, nature experiences, art activities, music, literature, interactive hiking and close encounters with live animals! Instructor: Teece Lester These programs require advance registration. All 9:30 a.m. sessions are Waiting List ONLY for Spring. Limited afternoon session openings. Please call for details.

Spring Log Cabin Explorer’s Club
Date:	Spring 2010 Ten-week Session takes place from the week of March 1, 2010 through the week of May 10, 2010, EXCEPT FOR SPRING BREAK, the week of April 5, 2010.	Time/Duration:	Mornings Thursdays OR Fridays 9 - 11 a.m. Afternoons Wednesdays, Thursdays OR Fridays 1 - 3 p.m.
	For children ages 5 and 6. Both preschoolers and children currently enrolled in kindergarten are welcome.	Fee:	10 week session: $300; members $250
Join us for a year of fun with the Log Cabin Explorer’s Club! The Log Cabin is the place for 5 and 6 year olds who enjoy exploring, experimenting and having loads of fun! We’ll hike in Huntington Reservation with a backpack full of explorer’s equipment to aid in our understanding and investigations of the natural world around us. We’ll also visit with the Center’s resident wildlife, make Log Cabin crafts, and visit the Schuele Planetarium. We’ll build important kindergarten skills as we listen to stories, make our own picture nature journals and learn how to use a field guide, magnifying glass, binoculars and simple microscopes. Instructor: Bev Walborn These programs require advance registration.

Spring Frogs & Polliwogs
Date:	Spring 2010 Ten-week Session takes place from the week of March 1, 2010 through the week of May 10, 2010, EXCEPT FOR SPRING BREAK, the week of April 5, 2010.	Time/Duration:	Tuesdays: 9:30 - 10:30 am OR 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Wednesdays: 9:30 - 10:30 am OR 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Thursdays: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
	For children ages 18-36 months with ONE adult	Fee:	10-week session :$170; members $120
For children ages 18 to 36 months (with an adult). Introduce your toddler to the wonders of our natural world while they play AND learn with YOU and their young friends! Children will experience nature in a playgroup atmosphere with hands-on discovery, mini-explorations (indoors and out), snacks, music, games, simple crafts and a live animal encounter. Instructor: Andrea Schwartz These programs require advance registration. Limited openings. Please call the Center for details.

Spring After School Adventures Club
Date:	Six-week Spring 2010 session meets weekly from March 15, 2010 through the week of April 27, 2010 EXCEPT the week of Spring Break, April 6.	Time/Duration:	Grades 1-2 with Bev Walborn Tuesdays 4-5:30 p.m. Grades 3-4 with Jenn Lee Tuesdays 4-5:30 p.m.
	For children grades 1-2 and 3-4	Fee:	$120/child; members $90/child
Join “The Club” and set off on an adventure to design and create a lasting wildlife habitat for Huntington Park animals. Map your location with GPS and head out on hikes to search for the animals that will visit our new habitat. Draw inspiration from the Center’s live animals and learn about the night sky in the Schuele Planetarium. Plant butterfly-friendly flowers that will attract real Monarchs, then track them to Mexico. This hands-on habitat project will keep you engaged in exciting exploration and discovery throughout the year. These programs require advance registration.

Winter and Spring Animals a la Mode
Date:	Thursday, December 17 Friday, February 26 (Waiting List ONLY) Sunday, April 25	Time/Duration:	6 - 7:30 p.m. 6 - 7:30 p.m. 2 - 3:30 p.m.
	For families of ALL ages	Fee:	$5/person (1 and under free)
It's show time and you've never seen our animals like this! Live creatures will captivate the whole family as they (and maybe YOU) take center stage in our upbeat, interactive and educational show. Top off the outing with some delicious ice cream! Each program is unique--attend one or all. Instructor: Maggie Watson These programs require advance registration.

Spring Log Cabin Discoveries
Date:	Monday, March 29 Animal Babies Tuesday, April 13 Weather Monday, May 4 Spring Birds	Time/Duration:	10-11 a.m. OR 1-2 p.m.
	For children ages 4 - 6 years	Fee:	Fee for each program: $15/child; members $10/child
What discoveries will you make in our Log Cabin? Become a nature detective as you explore the trails and gardens, encounter an animal, create a craft, sing and move to music or listen to a story. Fun themes and activities await during each one-hour session that is a slice of our Log Cabin Explorer's Club program! Instructor: Bev Walborn This program require advance registration.

Junior Naturalist Classes
Date:	Select Saturdays (see below) Registration for Winter/Spring is currently open	Time/Duration:	9 a.m. - Noon
	Ages 10 - 13 and in Grades 5 - 7	Fee:	$40/class; members $30/class
Your wildlife and nature loving middle schooler will enjoy these interactive classes just for fun or to lay the groundwork for becoming a Lake Erie Nature & Science Center volunteer. At age 13, students who've completed this training and undergo a rigorous placement process may apply to the Wildlife Departnment to help maintain our wild and domestic animal collection as weekend Naturalist Assistants (NA). Junior Naturalists as young as 11 may apply to assist with summer camps and family programs as an Education Junior Volunteer. EJV’s will receive special training (including animal handling) as part of their varied responsibilities. Attend at least four of the five programs offered at each level during the school year to advance to the next level. Instructor(s): Jennifer Lee and Christa Sandy Class Topics: Level 1 (for first year students) October 3 Woodland Exploration December 5 History of Huntington Reservation and our Center January 16, 2010 Domestic Animals vs. Exotic Pets March 6 Birds/Shadowing March 13 was cancelled May 8 Spring Botany and Bugs Class Topics: Level 2 (for those students who have completed Level 1) October 10 Natural History of Ohio Wildlife Waiting List Only December 12 Endangered Species of Ohio Waiting List Only February 6, 2010 Animal Classification April 10 Native Americans/Shadowing May 15 Interdependence and Web of Life Class Topics:Level 3 (for those students who have completed Level 2) October 17 Survival (Habitat Diversity, Adaptations, Seasonal Survival) December 19 Oceans vs. Lakes (emphasis on Lake Erie) February 20 Prepare and Present a Public Program April 17, 2010 Geology of Huntington Reservation June 5 Shadowing These programs require advance registration.

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