Youth and teen programs....10 – 11, 20

GRADES 1 – 5 Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave. Have you heard about “hygge”? This Danish word is all about finding ways to be comfy and cozy in the wintertime. Put on your comfy clothes and spend a day at the nature center full of crafts, story times, puppet shows and a campfire. Bring a nut-free snack and lunch. Dress for spending time outdoors. DAY DATE+TIME Tu Dec. 27, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. FEE $35 per person (resident) / $40 (non-resident) Registration deadline: when program is full

Imagine, Design, Build

GRADES 1 – 5 Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave. Explore your creative side! Our projects will use materials and ideas found in and inspired by the woods, marsh and prairie of Westwood. Be prepared to build, create, invent and let your imagination run free. Bring a nut-free snack and lunch. Dress for spending time outdoors. DAY DATE+TIME W Dec. 28, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. FEE $35 per person (resident) / $40 (non-resident) Registration deadline: when program is full

Winter Fun

GRADES 1 – 5 Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave. Spend a winter day outdoors at the nature center. Activities could include exploring the woods by snowshoe, speeding across the lake on kicksleds or playing games on the ice or in the cattails. Exact activities will depend on weather conditions that day. Bring a nut-free snack and lunch. Dress for spending time outdoors. DAY DATE+TIME Th Dec. 29, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. FEE $35 per person (resident) / $40 (non-resident) Registration deadline: when program is full

Wild About Animals

GRADES 1 – 5 Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave. Snakes, turtles, frogs and more! This is your chance to take Westwood’s education animals out from behind the glass and spend time handling and learning how to care for them. We’ll also spend time outside to discover how animals live during the winter. Bring a nut-free snack and lunch. Dress for spending time outdoors. DAY DATE+TIME F Dec. 30, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. FEE $35 per person (resident) / $40 (non-resident) Registration deadline: when program is full

GRADES 1 – 5 Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave. Come explore the nature center through the eyes of “Raccoon” the puppet. Learn more about raccoons and the world that surrounds them. Of course, Raccoon the puppet will be stopping by to hear all about the day’s adventures! Bring a nut-free snack and lunch. Dress for spending time outdoors. DAY DATE+TIME M April 3, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. FEE $35 per person (resident) / $40 (non-resident) Registration deadline: when program is full

Art in Nature

GRADES 1 – 5 Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave. Combining art and nature is one of our favorite ways to spark creativity and appreciate the natural world. Join us at camp to create art inspired by what we see and find outside. There will also be plenty of time to explore the trails and woods that surround the nature center. Bring a nut-free snack and lunch. Dress for spending time outdoors. DAY DATE+TIME Tu April 4, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. FEE $35 per person (resident) / $40 (non-resident) Registration deadline: when program is full

Spring Discoverers

GRADES 1 – 5 Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave. Spend a spring day outdoors at the nature center. Activities could include discovering what’s growing, splish-splashing in the puddles and playing games in the woods. Exact activities will depend on weather conditions that day. Bring a nut-free snack. Dress for spending time outdoors. DAY DATE+TIME W April 5, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. FEE $35 per person (resident) / $40 (non-resident) Registration deadline: when program is full

MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

NO CHARGE FOR SUPERVISING ADULT.

Westwood Hills Nature Center is a great resource for home school science learning activities! We can customize our recreation and natural history programs to fit a variety of ages and learning needs. Please call 952.924.2544 for more information about scheduling a visit for a small group or homeschool cooperative. Winter Survival

Join us as we learn some ways to stay warm, safe and happy in the cold. Discuss proper Scout programs preparation for various winter weather Westwood Hills Nature Center is a great conditions and other important safety resource for your scouting needs. We skills, including problem solving and shelter can customize our programs to meet building. Learn how to make an adequate your specific badge requirements, survival shelter. Dress for the weather and special awards and service projects. be ready to brave the elements. These activities provide scouts with the opportunity to build character and Animal Tracks and Signs leadership, connect to the community, Learn how to detect the “clues” that will discover new things, collaborate with help you identify the animal guests visiting other scouts and have fun in an outdoor your yard. We will go out on a nature hike environment. Our facility includes to practice our detective skills as we search wetland, prairie and forest habitats for tracks, food, fur and other evidence the which are ideal for exploration and animals leave behind. Dress for the weather. service projects. Call 952.924.2544 for more information. Orienteering Get back to the basics of navigation. Learn Service projects the art of orienteering using a map and Looking for a service project for your compass. Practice your skills on Westwood’s community, scout or service group? orienteering course. Dress for the weather. Westwood can provide opportunities Life in the Coldfor park cleanups, plantings or other projects. Please call 952.924.2544 to Discuss many of the cool mysteries of how schedule one. life persists in the winter months. Discover what critters like frogs, turtles, raccoons, deer and insects do to survive. We will cut a hole in the ice on the lake and discuss water quality and unique properties of water that allow so many creatures to cope with the harsh conditions of winter. Dress for the weather.

Raptors

GRADES 1 – 5 Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave. Dive deeper into the world of raptors as we explore what makes these birds so unique. We will learn all about birds of prey as we spend time in their habitats, play games and get a behind the scenes look into the lives of Westwood’s educational raptors. DAY DATE+TIME Th April 6, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. FEE $35 per person (resident) / $40 (non-resident) Registration deadline: when program is full