Nature Education Programs

HAPPY SPRING!! HOURS FOR THE LRC:

Good News! We finally have a new staff member that has joined our team! Stop by the LRC to meet James Roberts, our new Assistant Naturalist. Our spring and summer nature education programs and camps are now appearing on our website with more to come! Please check out our lineup and be sure to register early as registration opens for different programs. They fill up fast! Please check back regularly as we begin to announce forthcoming programs. You can always follow us on Facebook (Facebook.com/fairlawnparks) and Instagram for upcoming event announcements and other parks related information. THANK YOU!

LRC daily open hours are typically Monday - Friday 10am-4:30pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm. We are closed during scheduled on- and off-site programs. The Naturalists are often called away on city business, meetings, wildlife calls, vet visits, and for other reasons. Therefore, hours are subject to change.

YOGA Practice (All Levels Welcome)

Bring your own Yoga mat, blocks and straps or we will have some extras on hand. Our yoga instructor is a Certified RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher). All adults are welcome to attend! The first class is FREE for new students! Enter through the lower level rear doors. Every Wednesday 10:00 am - 11:10 am at the Fairlawn Kiwanis Community Center lower level (3486 S Smith Road) Register at fairlawn.activityreg.com

Fairlawn Residents: 5 class card $25 or 10 class card $45

Non-Fairlawn Residents: 5 class card $35 or 10 class card $55

Please register for all programs listed by clicking the following link. Go to fairlawn.activityreg.com to register or click free & paid programs link below.

NATURE PROGRAMS

Dress Requirements: Participants are required to wear shoes or boots, dress appropriately for the weather (programs take place rain or shine) and dress to get messy. Suggestions for outdoor programs are: water-proof shoes or boots, gloves and hats, sunscreen and/or bug spray applied before the program. A water bottle is recommended. Please make arrangements for siblings as only those children registered may attend the program.

ALL PROGRAMS REQUIRE REGISTRATION. Register at fairlawn.activityreg.com Classes take place at the Learning Resource Center or Fairlawn Park, please see description for location. Refund requests must be made 48 hours prior to start of class, program or activity. Failure to attend a registered class, program or activity will be considered a forfeiture of materials supplied and all money paid.

Seasonal Nature Hikes Meet at the Learning Resource Center

Next Hike - TBD (Winter Bird Hike)

Registration open for our April 2023 Spring and Summer Programs!! Sign up early as space is limited! Registration for later programs will open soon.

APRIL

Dino-Day! Ages 3-10. Monday April 10 10:30am-11:45am. Free. Registration required by 4/8 at 2pm. This program will include dinosaur history and identification as well as some dino related stories and activities.

Little Sprouts Explorers. Ages 3-7. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday April 24-27 10:15am-11:30am. Cost: Fairlawn residents $6/non-residents $8. Registration required by 4/21 at 4:30pm. This 4 day program our little explorers will go out in the park to discover wildlife, habitats, nesting sites, and other fun activities. Topics will include mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects.

MAY

Kid's Bird Hike. Ages 5-12. Friday, May 19 10:15am-11:30am. Free. Registration required by 5/18 at 4:30pm. Naturalists will lead a hike to learn about our spring birds here at Fort Island Park. Identification features, nesting habits, and diet will be taught as we hike and discover! Binoculars will be provided.

JUNE

Itty Bitty Art Day: Ages 2-6. Tuesday, June 6 2pm-3:30pm. Free. Registration required by 6/5 at 4:30pm. Participants will get to draw, paint, and craft for the sheer fun of it!

Introduction to Archery Camp. Ages 9 and up. Monday-Friday, June 12-16, 10:30am-12pm. Cost: Fairlawn residents $35/non-residents $40. Equipment provided or bring your own. Registration required by 6/10 at 2pm. Space is limited. This camp is typically a beginner's class learning about the great sport of archery, it's rules and techniques. Most of the week is spent on field getting plenty of hands-on practice with shooting with bows and arrows at foam targets. Please bring hats, water bottles and sunscreen for those hot sunny days.

Pollinators and Parasites! Ages 8-17. Tuesday - Friday, June 27-30, 2-4pm. Cost: Fairlawn residents $12/non-residents $15. Registration required by 6/26 at 4:30pm. In this 4 day camp participants will learn about plant-insect interactions and the importance of insects to our ecosystems. They will also collect specimens and make their own pinned collection to take home.

JULY

Kid's Bug Camp! For the little ones! Ages 3-7. Thursday July 6, 10:30am-12pm. Cost: Fairlawn residents $5/non-residents $7. Registration required by 7/5 at 4:30pm. In this short class kids will learn about different kinds of bugs and how important they are to our ecosystems. We will go outside to hunt for bugs and collect some so we can get a closer look at them and their features. Participants will get to keep their own bug traps used during the program!

Rocks, Gems, and Shells. Ages 6-12. Thursday, July 13, 2-4pm. Cost: Fairlawn residents $4/non-residents $6. Registration required by 7/12 at 4:30pm. In this class participants will learn about rock formations and some of the geological history of the earth. They will learn how to identify several different rocks and minerals and begin to put together their own collection to take home. This class includes a hike in the park to learn about the geological history of Fort Island Park and collect rocks.

Intermediate Archery Camp. Ages 9 and up. Monday-Friday, July 17-21, 10:30am-12pm. Cost: Fairlawn residents $35/non-residents $40. Registration required by 7/15 at 2pm. This week's archery lessons are meant to be a continuation of the introductory camp or for those with previous archery experience. Advanced techniques will be practiced so participants can hone their skills in this very fun outdoor sport. Please bring hats, water bottles, and sunscreen for the hot sunny days.

Pencils, Paints, and More! Ages 7-15. Monday-Wednesday, July 24-26, 2-4pm. Cost: Fairlawn residents $10/non-residents $12. Registration required by 7/21 at 4:30pm. In this 3 day art camp participants will use various media such as drawing pencils, paints, and chalk to create some guided works and well as their own imaginative creations. Wear older clothes as they might get paint on them.

Wild Edible Plants Hike. Whole family. Thursday, July 27, 10:30-11:30am. Free! Registration required by 7/26 at 4:30pm. Meet at the LRC to learn about edible plants and go on a hike with a Naturalist to learn how to identify edible plants that grow in our park. Sampling is voluntary.

AUGUST

Survival Skills. Ages 8-16. Friday, August 4, 12-4pm. Cost: Fairlawn residents $5/non-residents $7. Registration required by 8/3 at 4:30pm. Introductory materials will be covered inside followed by the rest of the class held outdoors in the park. Skills covered will include hiking, tracking, edible plants, making a fire, making a shelter, filtering water, using a compass, and seeking help.

All Levels Archery Practice. Ages 9 and up. Monday-Friday, August 7-11, 3-4:15pm. Cost: Fairlawn residents $35/non-residents $40. Registration required by 8/4 at 4:30pm. This week's class is for those who either missed one of the first two archery weeks in June and July or for those who just want to try it out or get in a little more skilled practice with a coach.

Did you know...

Fort Island Park and Fairlawn Park (Oxbow) Hikes

The Naturalists will be offering hikes throughout the year as part of scheduled programs and as separate hike events to be posted on our calendar and on social media. If you have any group of 5 or more that would like to schedule a general or specific hike with a Naturalist please call the Learning Resource Center or email to schedule your personalized hike.

Garlic Mustard Pull Volunteers Needed!

If you, your family, school group, scout troop, or any other group is looking for a volunteer opportunity to help maintain our parks, then we need you! Garlic Mustard is an invasive plant that is taking over areas of the park and choking out the native plants, and we need you to help us get rid of it so that our native plants can thrive keeping our parks as biologically diverse as possible. Please contact a Naturalist by phone or email to schedule a Garlic Mustard Pull.

Looking to complete Scout Badge requirements?

If you any scout or scouting troop (daisies, brownies, lion’s den, webelos, girl scouts, cub scouts, boy scouts, etc.) and are looking to fulfill badge requirements we can help with that. We can help your scout or troop with requirements by providing content for badges such as home scientist, recycling, insects, geology, forestry, and many others. We have a wonderful resource here with the Learning Resource Center and natural outdoors of Fort Island Park. Please call or email a Naturalist to schedule your scout or troop.

Home Schoolers

If you have a home school group, consider scheduling your group for a Home School Science Program at the Learning Resource Center/Fort Island Park. We can accommodate just about any home school science topic upon request. Also, watch for our variety of nature programs offered every month! Ask for a program request form today!

The Naturalists travel, too!

The Naturalists will come to you! We travel to schools, daycares, senior groups, nursing homes, and other formal settings. Ask for a program request form by calling or emailing a Naturalist and schedule a visit soon!

QUESTIONS: 330-668-9518 Email T Dunn or email the Parks Department

The Naturalists are proud to offer a variety of free and paid nature education programs for all ages. All Nature Programs are held at Fort Island Park Learning Resource Center and the surrounding park. The Learning Resource Center is located at 413 Trunko Road in Fairlawn. 330.668.9518. We also visit schools and other places upon request. Please fill out the online form to request a visit and submit the donation amount.

Have a scout troop working on a merit badge? We can help with that! We can help your scout or troop with partial fulfillment of requirements as needed to complete their merit badges (i.e. daisy scout subjects, forestry or geology for boy scouts). We also welcome scouts who would like to work on a scout project at one of our parks. Call the number above or email one of the Naturalists to inquire. Click for more information about Girl Scout Badges, Boy Scout and Cub Scout Badges, and Community and School Visits.

Have questions about after school programs or test prep help in the sciences? Just contact a Naturalist at the number or email listed above.