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AUGUST – Public Programs
Story Corner at the Barn
Saturdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 10:30 am
**Meet: Barnyard, upper level
For children who enjoy stories and their families
Meet in the Barnyard for fun and interactive nature stories and, of course, a visit with the animals. Each week will be filled with new adventures and stories!
All About Beavers
Sunday, August 3 at 2 pm
Outdoor program for all ages
Beavers are fascinating animals from their huge front teeth to their building expertise. Join Katy Bonjour Exhibits Coordinator to learn all about beavers through activities, games and time on the trail.
Stroller Stroll
Tuesday, August 5 at 10 am
**Meet: Interpretive Center Parking Lot by the Sundial
Interactive, Parent to Child (3 and under) learning w/a naturalist guide
Bring your little one to explore the wonders of nature in a safe, hands-on environment. Great time to meet and talk with other parents, too!
Wednesday Morning at the Barn: Prancing Ponies
Wednesday, August 6, 10 – 11:30 am
*Fee: $2/participating child in addition to regular admission (if applicable)
**Meet: Barnyard, upper level
Indoor/outdoor, hands-on, and exploratory activities for children w/an adult
Hang out with Lacy our Hafflinger Pony, learn about different pony breeds and their jobs on the farm, and take a pony ride! Paradise Ridge Ranch will be in the barnyard with their ponies; rides will be available for children 2 and up.
Family Road Trip: Indiana Dunes
Friday, August 8, 3 pm – Sunday, August 10, 5 pm
*Fee: Members $110/adult, $100/senior (65+) or student (12-17), $90/child (4-11); Non-members $125/adult, $110/senior or student, $100/child; Non-member families of 4 will automatically receive a Family Membership
Registration and payment required by Friday, June 20: (269) 381-1574 ext. 0
Overnight family trip
Trip Leaders: Kara & Josh Haas
A weekend at the Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center! We’ll sleep in cabins, eat our meals family-style in the dining hall, and enjoy learning about the dunes as we explore our surroundings! The Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center is located in the heart of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (www.nps.gov/indu). Accommodations: modern cabins with air conditioning and private baths. Highlights: naturalist-led activities and games, campfire, dune hikes, star gazing, free time at the beach, exploration of the historic Chellburg Farm and Bailey Homestead, and best of all an unforgettable weekend of fun with your family! We will caravan from KNC to the lakeshore (~2 hours). All meals are provided.
A weekend of Insect Investigations with special guest Jim Louderman, a collections assistant from Chicago’s Field Museum! Jim will be bringing along an awesome collection of LIVE as well as preserved insects from to share. The collection is a mix of things you will find in your backyard to cool insects and spiders from around the world.
Nighttime Bugs
Saturday, August 9 from 7:30-9 pm
Outdoor program for all ages
Join Jim for a hike starting at dusk, trying to spot as many night flying insects as possible. Along the way he will demonstrate various techniques for finding and collecting insects to be used for scientific study or for building a personal collection. We will also visit a mercury vapor and an ultraviolet light sheet. He will also discuss preservation and demonstrate preparation techniques used for insects.
Insect Investigations
Sunday, August 10 at 2 pm
Indoor/Outdoor program for all ages
Enjoy Jim’s collections of backyard and exotic spiders and insects from around the world. Then join him on a hike to look for buzzing bees, jumping crickets and fluttering butterflies. We will look to find as many different insects as possible while on the trail. On the hike he will demonstrate various techniques for finding and collecting insects to be used for scientific study or for building a personal collection. He will also discuss preservation and demonstrate preparation techniques used for insects.
Wednesday Morning at the Barn: Birds of a Feather
Wednesday, August 13, 10 – 11:30 am
*Fee: $2/participating child in addition to regular admission
**Meet: Barnyard, upper level
Indoor/outdoor, hands-on, and exploratory activities for children w/an adult
Birds come in all shapes and sizes. Learn what they all have in common and what makes each one special. Compare and contrast our chickens with one of KNC’s live birds of prey!
Reptile Round-up
Sunday, August 17 at 2 pm
Outdoor program for all ages
They’re scaly and cold-blooded, some crawl and some slither. We’ll explore the lives of snakes and turtles and discover how they survive. Leave your fears at the door and enter the world of these fascinating creatures!
Wednesday Morning at the Barn: Little Pig Day
Wednesday, August 20, 10 – 11:30 am
*Fee: $2/participating child in addition to regular admission (if applicable)
**Meet: Barnyard, upper level
Indoor/outdoor, hands-on, and exploratory activities for children w/an adult
Guinea pigs, aka cavies, will be the stars today! These little pigs will be fun to meet while we learn about the importance of pigs on a farm. We’ll also explore the barn in search of animals from the book Charlotte’s Web!
Citizen Science: Monarch Tagging Workshop
Wednesday, August 20, 6 – 8 pm
*Fee (family or individual): Members $25, Non-Members $30 (fee includes tagging kit and 1 net)
Registration and payment required by Friday, August 15: (269) 381-1574 ext. 0
Families and Individuals are welcome to participate. Great for all ages of butterfly lovers!
Leaders: Kara Haas & Torrey Wenger
Want to help scientists learn more about monarch migration? Attend this training to learn how to safely and effectively capture and tag monarchs. If the tagged monarchs are recovered, many things can be learned about their journey from your yard in Michigan to their wintering grounds in Mexico. More information is about monarch tagging is available at www.monarchwatch.org.
Official start of Bird Banding Season
Saturday, August 23
Damsels & ‘Dragon’flies
Sunday, August 24 at 2 pm
Outdoor program for all ages
No Rapunzel or Cinderella in this story but we will learn all about Jewelwings and Clubtails! Along the trails we’ll keep our eyes out for these fascinating insects while playing games and participating in activities.
Boomers and Beyond: Fungus Among Us
Tuesday, August 26, 11 am – 1 pm
Adults (ages 55+), interactive, outdoor, social
Pete Stobie, Outreach Director and fungus fanatic, will lead us on a woodland adventure in search of fungus. You’ll be amazed at the diversity of mushrooms and toadstools to be found on a short walk! Bring your lunch, we’ll bring the treats!
Wednesday Morning at the Barn: Teddy Bear Picnic
Wednesday, August 27, 10 – 11:30 am
*Fee: $2/participating child in addition to regular admission
**Meet: Barnyard, upper level
Indoor/outdoor, hands-on, and exploratory activities for children w/an adult
Bring your favorite stuffed animal along to celebrate the year’s last Wednesday Morning at the Barn program! We’ll give our ‘friends’ a tour of the barn, play games, and read them stories during our picnic.
Monarch Tagging
Wednesday, August 27, 11 am – 1 pm
**Meet: Butterfly House
Hands-on research, children welcome!
We are participating with folks around the country to tag monarchs before they begin their migration to Mexico. Join Torrey Wenger to catch, tag, and release monarchs. You will be helping research biologists learn more about monarchs and how we can help them migrate safely! Bring a butterfly net if you have one or borrow one of ours!
Monarch Release Party
Sunday, August 31 at 2 pm
**Meet: Butterfly House
Outdoor program for all ages
It’s time to migrate! Help us to catch the monarchs that have grown up in our butterfly house and set them free. Before they go, we will tag them so they can be identified and used for research. Check out www.monarchwatch.org for more information!
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| Kalamazoo Nature Center |
| 7000 N Westnedge Ave | Kalamazoo, MI 49009 |
| Phone (269) 381-1574 | Fax (269) 381-2557 |
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