NPS Photo

Ranger Mary Laycock assisting children during an Adventure in Nature program.

This fun filled, active program for children ages 3 to 10 begins January 10, 2012.  The program will be held at the visitor center on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting about 2 1/2 hours.

Interested in preparing your children for exploring the outdoors? Wind Cave National Park staff will present the Adventures in Nature program again this year. The programs are designed to provide children ages 3 to 10 with skills that will encourage them to explore the natural world around them. This is an opportunity for young children to experience nature and nature play in a structured, safe environment. 

Adventures in Nature is designed to help youngsters and their caregivers to learn about nature and to explore the park, awakening a sense of wonder in the children and encouraging them to connect with the natural world. These fun and exciting programs will vary in topic each week and will always include activities, songs, crafts, and a hike that will explore the concept of the day. For additional information, contact the park visitor center at (605) 745-4600.

If you are planning to attend the program please let us know by contacting us either by e-mail or by calling us at 605-745-1134. This allows us to prepare enough materials for everyone. Please include the number of children that will be participating and their ages.

Adventures in Nature programs are on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, beginning at 10 a.m. lasting 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The programs meet at the visitor center and are free of charge. The first program will be January 10, 2012 and will run through April 10, 2012. We suggest that you provide the children with a snack before we begin the program.

"We are excited about the opportunity these programs provide," said Vidal Davila, park superintendent.  "The nature programs will each have a different theme and are designed with educational objects appropriate for the age level of the students. Anyone home schooling preschool or early elementary children would benefit from these presentations." 

If you have older children that you wish to bring along, please do so. They can assist the younger children in their exploration and activities. Depending upon participation we may break the groups into older and younger children to accommodate different skill levels.

NPS Photo

Ranger Charlie Baker and young visitor.

This year Nature Explorers will be investigating many topics including:

February 14, 2012 - Birds of a Feather...
February 17-20 is the Audubon Society and Cornell Lab's 15th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count. To celebrate and to help the children understand birds we will be looking at birds, their behavior, and the special traits they have to survive. Come join us to learn about birds and see how you can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. For more information about the birdcount, visit www.birdcount.org 

February 28, 2012 - Going Buggy!

What is a bug? What is an insect? Are spiders insects? Are there insects that we like and dislike or maybe like and dislike at the same time? Join us for the day learning about insects, metamorphosis, ladybugs, and decomposers. If you weren't interested in these fascinating creatures before you will soon be looking at them in a completely different way.

Other topics we plan to explore this year are trees and adaptation.

Past Activities

January 24, 2012 - Let's Play in the Dirt - What are Rocks and Soil?
Rocks and soil are one of the building blocks that sustain life on our planet. This week we will be looking at soil and what it is. We will also explore the many different types of rocks there are and why they are important. We will be visiting the cave during this program.

January 10, 2012 - What Does It Mean To Be Wild?
Wild animals are all around us, from the spider hiding in the corner of your house to the deer in the backyard. What does it mean to be wild? We will be looking at wild animals and their habitats and what everything wild or not needs to survive.