Quarry Hill Nature Center - Classes for Kids

Programs & Events

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Classes for Kids

We have a wide range of classes available to kids of all ages. Some of these classes are for the child with an adult, and some are for the child on their own. Pre-registration is recommended for all classes to ensure placement. We have classes available for PRE-SCHOOLERS, ELEMENTARY school age youth, and TEENS. To sign up for classes, call Quarry Hill (328-3950) or register by printing and mailing the registration form. Registration may be done with cash, check, or credit card. Friends members (FM) discount, when available, is listed with the class
write-ups.

Teen Classes (Grades 6-8)

Survival Skills
Feb. 17, 1:00—5:00 pm
$25 student / $20 Friend Member
Hopefully you won’t get voted off this island! Be ready to make fire, build basic shelters, and navigate your way through the park. Students should expect to spend most of their time outdoors. Come prepared to be in the snow!

Bird Banding and Snowshoeing at Whitewater
Feb. 20, 12:30-4:30 pm
$25 student / $20 Friend Member
Come and enjoy Whitewater State Park in Winter.
After meeting at Quarry Hill, we will travel by Quarry Hill Critter Coach to do some bird banding by the visitor center and then head out to explore the trails either by foot or snowshoes. Participants should come prepared to stay outdoors most of the time.

Winter Break Days - All Winter Break classses are filled.

Winter Survival
Dec. 28, 9 am—Noon, Grades K-5
$16 per student / $14 per Friend Member
Join us for a morning of winter skills and “how to” fun.
Participants will get to do everything from getting out to snowshoe (snow conditions dependent), to making candles and even their own snack over a fire they help to start.

It’s Snow Fun
Dec. 29, 9 am—Noon, Grades K-5
$16 per student / $14 per Friend Member
Bring your boots, mittens, hat, and all your other warm winter gear as we celebrate wonderful snow! We will be making snow sculptures, snow ice cream, play snow games and more.

Birds, Birds, Birds!
Dec. 30, 9 am—Noon, Grades K-5
$16 per student / $14 per Friend Member
Learn more about our feathered friends and maybe even get the chance to hold and release one! Our time will include catching birds and banding them before we release them. We will also meet our resident screech owl, dissect an owl pellet, and make a bird feeder.

Winter Nature Photography
Dec. 30, 9 am –3 pm, Grades 4-6
$35 per student / $30 per Friend Member
Discover the beauty of winter through a camera lens. Students will learn how to use Quarry Hill’s camera and how to edit photos on the Quarry Hill laptops. Students should be prepared to be outside, bring a sack lunch, and bring a 4 GB flash drive to take photos home.

Nature Toddlers
	Fee per adult/child pair per session: $8 / $6.40 members
Discover the world of nature with your toddler. This class includes story time, art experience, and outdoor explorations. All activities are geared to the speed, interests, and abilities of 2 and 3 year olds. Sign up for one or all sessions. Adults wishing to bring an older child as well, should sign up for the Nature Nuts class. No charge for an extra accompanying adult
Date	Time	Monthly Theme
Dec. 3	9:30 - 10:30 am	Winter Trees
Dec. 7	10:00 - 11:00 am	Winter Trees
Jan. 7	9:30 - 10:30 am	Birds at the Feeder
Jan. 11	10:00 - 11:00 am	Birds at the Feeder
Feb. 4	9:30 - 10:30 am	Deer in the Woods
Feb. 8	10:00 - 11:00 am	Deer in the Woods
March 3	9:30 - 10:30 am	Wet & Wild Water
March 7	10:00 - 11:00 am	Wet & Wild Water

Nature Kids
Class Time: 10:30 am to Noon	Fee per adult/child pair per session: $10 / $8 member
Explore a different nature topic each month in a class that is geared for the enthusiasm and abilities of 4 and 5 year olds. Outdoor adventures, art time, stories, and a healthy snack await children and their adult partner. Adults wishing to bring a younger child as well, should sign up for the Nature Nuts class. No charge for an extra accompanying adult.
Date		Monthly Theme
December 10		Wonderful Wintertime
January 14		Who's in the Cave? Bats!
February 11		Awesome Owls
March		No Class Offerd

Nature Nuts
Class Time: 10:30-11:30 am	Fee per adult/child pair per session: $8 / $6.40 Members
We are providing this class for families who wish to bring siblings of various ages (2-5 years) to class together. The class follows the format of Nature Toddlers but allows for more flexibility to meet the needs of a multi-age group. No charge for an extra accompanying adult.
Date		Monthly Theme
November 19		Animals & Their Winter Clothes
December 17		Winter Trees
January 21		Birds at the Feeder
February 18		Deer in the Woods
March		No Class Offered

Sundays at Quarry Hill
Programs for adults, families, etc., will be offered on most sundays. All programs start at 1:30 pm and last approximately one hour. Due to space limitations, pre-registration is strongly recommended, especially for the cave tours.
	Fee: $2 Adult / $1 Child
Bird Sundays
The first sunday is reserved for birds! We will talk about our bird related topic of the month and activities will typically include trapping, netting, banding, and releasing of birds.
Dates	Topics
December 4	Audubon Bird Count
January 8	Our Little Chickadees
February 5	Bossy Bluejays
March 4	Colorful Cardinals
Cave Sundays
Find out about the history of Quarry Hill Park with a tour of our man-made sandstone caves. The cave is a short 10 minute walk from the Nature Center. There will be an optional hike after the cave tour to a featured site. *Pre-registration is strongly recommended for cave tours to ensure placement.*
Dates	Featured Site
November 13 & 27	Cave & Cemetery
December 11	Cave & Climbing Wall
January 15 & 29	Cave & Drop Structure
February 12 & 26	Cave & Pond
March	No Cave Tours offered.
Critter Sundays
Our focus will be on Quarry Hill's live animal displays and will possibly include feeding of animals.
Dates	Topics
November 20	Minnesota Owls
December 18	Silly Over Snakes
January 22	Going Batty Over Bats
February 19	Rockin' Raptors
March	No program offered.
Nature Sundays
Join us as we explore an outdoor nature topic that will include a hike or activity.
Dates	Topics
January 1	Snow Tracks