Wetlands at Fred Fletcher Park
With the cooler weather embracing our area, it couldn’t be a better time to participate in Take a Child Outside Week. Beginning today and running through Sun, September 30, Take a Child Outside Week is an initiative through the NC Museum of Natural Sciences with partner organizations throughout the country. The program emphasizes outdoor nature activities with children to increase their awareness and appreciation of the environment. Here are several outdoor activities to highlight this program:
- Monday, September 24 from 10am-2pm: Leaf Collage at JC Raulston Arboretum – stop by the Bobby G Wilder Visitor Center and make a leaf collage; free; no registration is required
- Tuesday, September 25 from 10am-2pm: Creature Bingo at JC Raulston Arboretum – pick up your bingo card at the Bobby G Wilder Visitor Center; free; no registration is required
Wednesday, September 26 from 10am-2pm: Treasure Hunt at JC Raulston Arboretum – pick up a map from the Bobby G Wilder Visitor Center and search for hidden treasure; $1 for non-members/free for members; no registration is required- Thursday, September 27 from 10am-2pm: Nature Bingo at JC Raulston Arboretum – pick up your Nature Bingo card from the Bobby G Wilder Visitor Center and explore the Arboretum; free; no registration is required
- Friday, September 28 from 10:30am-11:30am: Garden Storytime at JC Raulston Arboretum – grab a blanket and enjoy garden stories, songs and more; meet at Bobby G Wilder Visitor Center; suggested ages are 3-5 yrs and their caregivers; $5 per child; advanced registration is required; contact Elizabeth Overcash at [email protected] to register
- Friday, September 28 from 8pm-9:30pm: Up, Up & Away Astronomy at Historic Yates Mill County Park – explore the sky with binoculars and make your own constellation map; FREE; all ages; registration is encouraged
- Saturday, September 29 from 8am-4pm: Shop the PAX Fall Plant Sale at JC Raulston Arboretum – shop Pi Alpha Xi’s Fall Plant Sale where you can purchase annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs; cash or check only; proceeds will benefit area charities and horticultural scholarships; for more info, visit http://www.ncsu.edu/project/pialphaxi
- Sunday, September 30 from 8am-8pm: Sunday Stroll at JC Raulston Arboretum – bring the family and tour the Arboretum on your own with your children
Other ideas for any day of the week:
- Go fishing at Lake Raleigh, Historic Yates Mill County Park, Lake Wheeler or Lake Johnson
- Identify the various trees and plants as you hike through Edna Metz Wells Park, Lake Johnson Park (west loop) or Kaplan Dr Park
- Visit the water garden and wetlands at Fred Fletcher Park and identify the various insects and animals you see
- Explore the art and plants along the pond at the NC Art Museum Park
- Discover fun day and night activities from the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and apply them to any park in the Creative District
For more information, visit Take a Child Outside Week.