Public Nature Programs

About Us | Programs | Outdoor Recreation | Camps | Animals | Special Events

Prairie Park Nature Center offers programs for all ages, abilities and interests. You can select from the seasonal programs listed below and click the link to the registration page.

Programs vary with each season. Let us know if there is a program that you have a special interest in seeing the nature center provide.

For COVID-19 saftey protocol guidelines, please visit Public Health Recommendations for City Parks/Recreation Services.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION/SPECIALIZED SCHOOL PROGRAMS

For more information, please contact the Nature Center at (785) 832-7980. You can also find information on the web at www.lprd.org/ppnc.

PRESCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
Prairie Park Nature Center is now offering specialized programs for preschools. Preschool students will enjoy live animals, stories, songs, art, rhymes and other appropriate early childhood activities.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
Prairie Park Nature Center offers a wide variety of one-hour programs and two-hour field trips designed for school and organized groups.

    HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE FIELD TRIPS
    Ages: 6-13. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 10. Two-hour fieldtrip programs for home-schooled students will combine live animal programs with outdoor field investigations.
    Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

SCOUTING
For Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, Prairie Park Nature Center offers a wide range of programs to help scouts complete necessary requirements for merit badge attainment.

BIRTHDAY PARTY PROGRAMS
$130 fee for classroom rental for two hours with a 40 minute live animal program and a craft, game or hike. Maximum of 15 children, 10 adults. Call (785) 832-7980 for program topics and pricing.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Prairie Park nature Center is looking for volunteers. All volunteers are required to submit an application, pass an interview, receive the appropriate training and pass a background check before interacting with the public. All volunteers must be 18 years old to apply. Organized groups are also welcomed for special projects. Please contact the na-ture center at (785) 832-7980 for more information.


PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

NATURE STORYTIME FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Ages: 1 to 4. Enrollment Max 6. Thursdays from 10-10:30am. Cost: $3 per child. For children who enjoy both stories and animals, there will be morning story time for preschool age children every Thursday at 10 a.m. Each week will feature a story and a live animal. Children may color a coloring page after the presentation. Pre-registration is helpful, but drop-ins will be accepted.
Enroll online this spring

WILD ADVENTURES FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND PARENTS
Ages: 2 to 6. Max 8. Tuesdays 10-11am. Cost: $4 per child. Drop in for stories, activities, and information about animals and the places in which they live. A different topic will be presented each week. Come prepared to go outdoors. Due to space limitations no more than one adult per child please. Registration is also taken up to a week in advance of each weekly session of a program on a space available basis. Please call in advance to reserve a spot. Payment will be at class time or you can enroll for the entire program using the code information below. For more information please call 832-7980.
Enroll online this spring

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS

For all classes come prepared to go outdoors including bug repellent and sunscreen.
AFTER SCHOOL ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
 

ARCHERY CLUB
Ages: 7-16. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 8. Olympic style archery using Genesis compound bows. Build you archery skills, learn scoring, and work on accuracy. Prerequisite: Beginning Archery. Taught by certified instructors.
Enroll online this spring

SCIENCE CLASSES AT PPNC

NONE AT THIS TIME

HIKES AND TRIPS

Be prepared to go outside, including appropriate outerwear and footwear.

WIND WALKER POLLINATOR HIKE
Ages: 8-12. Enrollment Min 3 / Max 8. Join us in welcoming the windy season and the return of our pollinators on our wind walk and pollinator scavenger hunt
Find out when it’s available and enroll online this spring

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS


BASIC PLANT IDENTIFICATION
Ages: 18 and Up. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 8. Get the botany basics you need to identify plants. This class provides the fundamentals you need to get started as we walk around Prairie Park learning to identify trees and flowers.
Enroll online this spring

NATURE’S CREATIONS FOR ADULTS

SEASONAL SPRING WREATHS
Ages: 18 and Up. Enrollment Min 3 / Max 8. Make your own seasonal wreath to welcome spring with local wildflowers!
Enroll online this spring

PRESSED WILDFLOWERS
Ages: 18 and Up. Enrollment Min 3 / Max 8. Learn how to press wildflowers and make your own framed creative arrangement in this workshop.
Enroll online this spring

FREE PROGRAMS

SATURDAY AFTERNOON FREE PROGRAM – 1:30-2 P.M.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON FREE PROGRAM – 1:30-2 P.M.
A 30-minute free program on nature topics will be presented each day. Programs may include a short video, slide show and of course going outdoors to enjoy birds, wildflowers, bugs or a stroll through the park. All ages are welcome. Children under 14 must be registered with a paying adult for all family programs. No unattended children will be allowed.

EARTH DAY PLANT AND SEED EXCHANGE
Ages: 18 and Up. April 22, 1-3 p.m. Have plants you must prune or cull? Seeds you don’t want to plant anymore? How about trading your excess with others? Take home new plants for your yard and have an instant new garden. No time to re-pot your plant donations? No problem – bags and newspaper will do.

WILDLIFE MOMS
Ages: All. May 9, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Come join us for our Mother’s Day special program. Learn some of the secrets of wild mothers from ostriches to owls! Do mammals really abandon their young if you touch them? Myths debunked. This program is free to the public.

WEEKEND PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES


LEAVE NO TRACE
Ages: 7 and Up. Enrollment Min 5 / Max 8. Want to lead a greener style of camping and hiking? Leave No Trace was conceived by the U.S. Forest Service in the 1960’s to emphasize wilderness ethics. Come on out to learn how to “leave only footprints” the next you go out to enjoy camping or hiking in nature. Can use this for a scout badge.
Enroll online this spring

NATURE’S CREATIONS FOR FAMILIES

None at this time

SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL DAYS OFF

None at this time

NATURE’S ARTS AND CRAFTS SERIES

None at this time