- These are the kids who like hanging out in wild places, discovering and learning about what lives there
- We want to nurture and guide those nature kids – and parents, too! Help them have some memorable times at the preserve
Here are some details about what we have in mind:
- Regularly scheduled walks at Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve (perhaps monthly)
- Kids ages 9 to 14
- Sometimes we may search for things in fallen leaves or at the pond’s edge, or do some other activity
- Some nature journaling encouraged at the end
- Small groups of 8 or fewer kids
- Parents can walk with us if they wish
We simply ask that everyone respect each other and the preserve, follow the guidelines provided by the leaders, leave phones and recorders off (with some exception), and use good judgment about staying on the trail and staying safe.
Three articles that lay out why we need nature kids and how we can support them:
There are birds and butterflies in the woods, cricket frogs and herons at the ponds, and cool bugs in each kind of habitat. If it was a treasure hunt, how many kinds of living things could you find? (Over 2,000 species have been recorded, but not all of them on one walk!)
What if we sifted through soil and leaf litter, what would we find? Or maybe did a little dip-netting at one of the ponds? Maybe took a short walk after sunset to listen for frog calls? Things like that can be great fun if you love discovery in nature.
Walks and activities would be led by one or two members of the Friends and a Master Naturalist or two – all of them background-checked volunteers with Arlington Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department. Parents would be encouraged to join us (but if you can’t, plan to stay close enough to come pick your child up in an hour and a half).
These walks will be planned on a regular basis and offered through our website and Facebook page on a sign-up basis.