Playing outdoors, building stick forts, chasing frogs and digging in the dirt aren’t just fun, they actually help children develop emotionally and intellectually. Rachel Carson, author of A Sense of Wonder, wrote, “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” This winter and spring, Adkins Arboretum invites the whole family to spend fun-filled afternoons with environmental educator Coreen Weilminster, learning about winter ecology, gardening and migration while discovering their own sense of wonder and their place in the natural world.

Pre-registration is required. Visit www.adkinsarboretum.org to register online, or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0. Each program is $5 per person for members, $7 per person for the general public.

Life in the Cold—The Ecology of Winter
Sunday, February 28, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Bundle up in something warm and explore the winter world outside. Renew your sense of wonder about winter. This session will examine snowflakes, explore how snow is a welcome blanket for many animals, identify trees and discuss what’s going on inside them. Identify some “winter weeds,” and contemplate where the insects have gone and how they overwinter in their different forms. Come learn some great activities for kids and parents to try together at home. Instead of being stuck inside, get out and take advantage of winter’s lessons.

Get the Children’s Garden Ready!
Sunday, March 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
The Children’s Funshine Garden needs a wakeup call….and so do we! Let’s awaken our senses as we prepare the Children’s Garden for the growing season. Join Children’s Education Coordinator Coreen Weilminster for a morning of service in the garden. We’ll get our hands dirty—and knees green—as we turn the soil, prune the winter weeds and plant the seeds for the Arboretum’s child-inspired exhibit. Introduce your children to the joys of gardening, or indulge their blossoming green thumb. The afternoon will examine how children’s literature about the garden can be used to stimulate the mind after a day of stimulating the senses.

Migration Madness!
Sunday, April 25, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Migratory birds use rich and diverse parcels of land as stopovers during their long and difficult migration. Adkins Arboretum is an oasis for them. Through simulation games and other activities, we’ll explore the how, why, when, where and who of Eastern Shore migratory birds. In addition to learning about the birds that specifically use the Arboretum as a stopover during migration, we’ll look at other migratory birds whose migration is tied to larger ecological cycles, and those whose migratory history tells us how we impact their habitat. We’ll also discuss how gardens and landscapes can work as oases for our migratory friends.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. Open year round, the Arboretum offers educational programs for all ages about nature and gardening. Through its Campaign to Build a Green Legacy, the Arboretum will build a new LEED-certified Arboretum Center and entranceway to broaden educational offerings and research initiatives promoting best practices in conservation and land stewardship. For additional information about Arboretum programs, visit www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.