Enjoy nature with spring offerings at Peck Farm Park
Peck Farm Park offers environmental education opportunities for all ages. By exposing children to nature and allowing them to learn and play outside, environmental education fosters sensitivity, appreciation, and respect for the environment. Have fun while learning about the amazing world in which you live.
• "Science in the Springtime" will offer children, age 5 to 8, the chance to explore the wonders of nature and weather through hands-on experiments. The program will be 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Thursday, April 13.
• "Wake Up, World!" offers children, age 2 to 5 with parent, the opportunity to learn about all the amazing changes that spring brings - animals return from migrations and come out of hibernation, plants sprout, and life is renewed. The program will be 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 2.
• "Mother's Day Bouquet" will offer children, age 5 to 8, the chance to make mom an eco-friendly bouquet out of recycled materials just in time for Mother's Day, while learning about different animal moms. The program will be 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Thursday, May 11.
• "Mud Pie Mess" will encourage your child, age 4 to 8, to explore the ooey-gooey world of dirt and worms. Make your own mud and discover how animals use mud in nature. The program will be 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 16.
Other nature opportunities include:
• "Little Buds" offers the youngest naturalists, age 12 to 30 months with parent, the opportunity to play, learn and discover the wonders of the natural world while making new friends and participating in hands-on activities and mini-explorations. "Little Buds" meets from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday, March 24; Wednesday, April 5; Thursday, April 20; and Tuesday May 9. Sign up for one or all.
• "Tales About Tails" shares stories about animals with children, age 2 to 5 with parent, then engages them with animal games and crafts. It is offered from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 22; Friday, April 7; Wednesday, April 19; and Friday, May 12. Sign up for one or all - a different animal is highlighted each week.
• "Cache In, Trash Out" (CITO) offers families a hiking adventure that combines geocaching with a spring cleanup of Peck Farm Park. They will provide a GPS-enabled device, or use your own smartphone, to navigate through an outdoor treasure hunt while also collecting trash from the park. What reward awaits you at the final coordinates? Come and see. The program will be 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15.
• Peck Farm Park's annual Butterfly Release Party will be Saturday, May 20. Sign up for a 30-minute time-slot and have the hands-on experience of releasing a live butterfly into the world. Register early for this popular event. The Butterfly House will open to the public immediately following the party.
Check out the Geneva Park District's spring 2017 brochure for even more fun at Peck Farm - "Bunny Hop," "April Showers," "Spring is Just Ducky," "Feeding Feathered Friends," "Tyke Hike," and more.
Peck Farm Park is a 385-acre natural retreat at 4038 Kaneville Road in Geneva. The park features a 19-acre wetland, nature and bike trails, sensory garden, observation silo, outdoor amphitheater, butterfly house, nature playground, history gallery, nature exploration room, and gift shop. The park is open year-round. Trails and other outdoor areas are open daily from sunrise to 10 p.m. Buildings are open in the spring from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
For more information and registration for programs, visit genevaparks.org or call (630) 232-4542.