If your little ones love the outdoors and seem a little like wild animals when they play, you might want to bring them to some new FREE kid-friendly activities in Bommer Canyon (near UC Irvine). Kids can learn about how real animals live in the wild, and maybe expend a little energy in the process.
Two new programs begin in April: Wee Wonder Walks (ages 2-6+) and Canyon Explorers (ages 6-10). Led by an Irvine Ranch Conservancy naturalist, these programs are especially tailored to kids 2-6 (Wee Wonder Walks) and 6-10 (Canyon Explorers). Both programs incorporate a nature walk and activities such as crafts or storytelling. Wee Wonder Walks are the second Thursday of every month and Canyon Explorers are the third Friday of every month, both through September.
Conservancy Interpretive Specialist Kelley Reetz says that connecting kids to nature will have long-lasting benefits – for the children and the land.
“Nature is a place where children can go and wiggle like animals and be free to explore,” says Reetz. “By learning more about nature, kids feel a part of the larger world around them, preparing them be the stewards who will take care of the land in the future.”
Activities for each age group are held monthly, and introduce kids to a world that they may not usually get a chance to see. Children are very observant, and along the trail, they are often the first to see a blooming flower or a pile of scat. Each new discovery becomes a way for the naturalist to answer their questions, connect them to nature, and have a little fun along the way.
The programs are FREE, and require parent or adult participation, as well as advance registration. Bringing parents along offers an opportunity for adults and kids to learn together, sharing new discoveries and a love for the land. Registration and more information for these family-friendly nature walks are at www.irlandmarks.org.
Schedule:
Wee Wonder Walks (WW) Ages 2-6+; Canyon Explorers (CE) Ages 6-10+
CE: CSI: Critter Scene Investigators (Friday, Apr 19, 3:30-5pm)
WW: Bouncin’ Butterflies (Thursday, May 9, 10am-11am)
CE: Fill the Bill (Friday, May 17, 3:30pm-5pm)
WW: Slitherin’ Snakes (Thursday, June 13, 10am-11am)
CE: Animal Grossology (Friday, June 21, 3:30pm-5pm)
WW: Nature Bingo (Thursday, July 11, 10am–11am)
CE: Night Sky (Friday, July 19, 3:30–5pm)
WW: Shooting Stars (Thursday, Aug 8, 10am–11am)
CE: Keepin’ Cool (Friday, Aug 16, 3:30pm–5pm)
WW: Crazy Coyotes (Thursday, Sept 12, 10am–11am)
CE: Nature’s Pranksters (Friday, Sept 20, 3:30pm–5pm)