Exciting Nature Preschool classes in 2011

We are going to be offering Preschool classes in 2011 on Tuesday and Thursday morning from 10am-11am.

Yesterday I attended a fun workshop called Growing Up Wild to sharpen my 3 -5 year old teaching skills. It was great because to teach an educator how to teach a 3 year old, we got to act like 3 year olds. Here are some great tracks that we noticed during the day:




bird wing






bird tracks




Here is some information about the classes
(Some classes may include a story or craft.):

February: (ABC Savenger Hunt and Nature Walk)
Tuesday, 8 and 22
Thursday, 10 and 17

March: (squirrels and creek adventure)
Tuesday, 8 and 22
Thursday, 17 and 24

April: (rain and wildflowers)
Tuesday, 26
Thursday, 28

May: (garden and bones)
Tuesday, 3 and 17
Thursday, 5 and 19

All of our classes are held at the Environmental Education Center. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Younger siblings welcome! The cost per class is $5 (CR) or $7 (NCR). $1 discount with the Playmore Card.

Please call or email us for more information!

Teens in Nature - Leadership and Job Skills Program

Along with the new aftercare program in January, we are starting a new teen program for ages 14-18 years old.

People would ask Chris and I why we don't offer any programs for teenagers. All of our programs stop at 14 years old, with our Mountain Explorations trip. Well, here is your chance to be part of a brand new program called: T.I.N. - TEENS IN NATURE

Here is the run down on this amazing program:

Who: All teenagers, ages 14-18 yers old

What: T.I.N. - Teens in Nature 2011 Leadership and Job Skills Program in Nature

Where: We always meet at the Environmental Education Center at West Point on the Eno Park. Depending on the day we will take a van to different volunteer sites to some of Durhams finest green organizations.

Why: To gain leadership and job skills, boost your college application and/or resume, make new friends, get community service hours

When (all programs are from 10am-4pm):
January 29: This is a mandatory session where everyone get to know each other through leadership and team building games at West Point on the Eno Park
Choose from 5 of the 6 topics (or you can choose all 6)
February 12: Animal research and conservation at the Duke Lemur Center
March 12: Forest Management at Hill Demonstration Forest with NCSU Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
March 26: Community Garden and Reuse/Recycling at St. Phillips Community Garden and The Scrap Exchange
April 23: Community Enrichment with the Durham Bike Cooperative
May 7: Stream Monitoring with Haw River Assembly and City of Durham, Stormwater Services May 14: Sustainability and Farming at a working farm in Rougemont, NC
This is also the last day so we will have a celebration at West Point on the Eno Park.

How: Fill out our simple application at the park office at West Point on the Eno or email me at jessica.finelt@durhamnc.gov

Eno Exploration - A new program

Starting in January we will be providing an after care program twice a week at West Point on the Eno Park. The program is based inside our rustic Environmental Education Center. We may assist children with their homework, but the main focus is exploration and education about the wonders of nature in the city of Durham. It starts on January 4th and runs Tuesdays and Thursday till May. The hours will be 2:30pm-5:30pm. The cost is $13 (CR) or $18 (NCR) with a $1 discount if you have the playmore card. Registration is by the week. Please call or email us for more information.

Hanging Rock Trip Next Week

Hello all you hikers, explorers, and investigators ages 10 to 14!

Join us next Tuesday, December 28th for a day of great of hiking the trials at Hanging Rock State Park. We will see waterfalls, cliffs, and unique mountain plant life.

We will leave West Point on the Eno Park at 7:30am and return at 5:30pm. All you need to bring with you are warm clothes, a snack, a lunch, a water bottle and your sense of adventure. Please call or email us to sign up. 919-471-1623, option 2 or jessica.finelt@durhamnc.gov

(This Wednesday is the last day to sign up)

Who was on the trail yesterday? And our Hanging Rock State Park Trip

Who knows what these tracks are?

A rabbit?

But the tracks are side by side. When a rabbitt makes tracks, the front feet are staggered. So it couldn't be a rabbit.

A squirrel?
But the tracks are so long and squirrels have tiny feet.

Here is something to think about: The snow from the morning turned into rain which will eventually make the tracks disappear. Before they do that, the tracks will expand.

So, the difference between rabbit tracks and squirrel tracks is this: rabbits front tracks are staggered and the squirrels front tracks are side by side.

Lo and behold, it is a squirrel.

If you guessed that from the beginning, GREAT JOB!!!

On Tuesday, December 28th we will be heading to Hanging Rock State Park. The trip is for 10-14 year olds (sorry parents). Once we are at Hanging Rock we will hike, see waterfalls, cliffs and the unique mountain plant life. We will leave from West Point on the Eno Park at 7:30am and return at 5:30pm. The cost is $13 for city residents and $18 for non-city residents. (If you have a playmore card the cost will be $12/$17, respectively)

Call to register!!! 919-471-1623, option 2.

Or email us jessica.finelt@durhamnc.gov

                           

Here are some pictures from last year's trip. 

Get your ice on!

Well the beautiful snow has turned to freezing rain and things are icing up out there.  If you were here in Durham in 2002 you probably have no positive thoughts about freezing rain, but in light doses it can be beautiful.  Here hoping that this storm is almost over and that nobody loses any power.  Enjoy the pictures. 

We got snow, again!

It is a beautiful morning at West Point on the Eno. When I got here at 8am, I was the first one to make new tracks in the snow. I can't wait to check out the trails to see who has been out and about this morning. Stay tuned for more photos.

Programs this weekend

Witch Hazel in Bloom

On Friday there will be a Night Hike from 8pm-10pm. Bundle up because it is going to drop to 28 degrees. You may also bring a flashlight for your comfort.

Then on Saturday morning from 10am-12pm the program will be Winter Preparations. Join me on a hike as we talk about what the flora and fauna of the park are doing during this cold time of year.


I look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Please call 919-471-1623, option 2 if you have any questions.

Winter is here!!!!

Wow, just in case you missed it, winter has come in with a vengeance. Needless to say with the cold, wind, and snow falling Saturday night, the paddle program did not happen.

Well, things are definitely cold right now and we still have some snow on the ground out here at the park, in the woods and by the house.

The mill race is starting to freeze up...

Even on the Eno River ice is starting to form just above the dam.

There are some beautiful ice formations building up on some of the rapids on the river too...

If cold winter weather isn't your thing, don't despair. We should have a mild January if you believe the Farmer's Almanac or NOAA long range forecast. No matter if you love or dislike the cold, the best way to deal with it is to dress up warm and get out and do something fun. Come on up to West Point and check out the ice on the river and take a hike in the woods. See you soon.

Program this weekend...

Well the weekend is approaching and we have another program coming up.  We have another night paddle program up at Lake Michie this Saturday, December 4, from 7-9pm.  We still have spaces available for this program and we have canoes available.  Now this will be a chilly paddle for sure, but it's supposed to be chilly in December!  I won't use another night picture from a paddle program to lure you, since all you see is darkness (see picture from last night paddle as example), so here is a picture from a daytime program on Lake Michie. 

All you need to do to register is call us up at 919-471-1623 (opt 2).  Hope to see you out there.