Nature Kids Back in Gear at The Discovery Center!

Now that your older children have returned to school, it's time to begin working with your preschooler to prepare them for their own educational experience. The Discovery Center offers a fun educational program geared directly toward the preschool age group. This September, The Discovery Center is kicking off it’s Nature Kids program for the littlest explorers.

At Nature Kids, your preschooler will learn by doing. All of the learning that takes place in the weekly Nature Kids session is hands-on. Your preschooler will interact with real animals and objects, enjoy storytelling and dramatic play, listen to music, and play games all while experiencing science and nature in these fun, hands-on classes.

Helen Gates is the head instructor of the Nature Kids program at The Discovery Center. Gates has been with The Discovery Center for a number of years, and is looking forward to the new year of educational fun. "I am very excited to be directing the Nature Kids program this fall," Gates said.

Helen Gates is the head instructor of Nature Kids

This fall, Gates has planned three exciting monthly themes. Each weekly class will feature educational activities centered around the theme of the month. "We are going to be learning through doing and having fun in the meantime," Gates said. "Join us for exciting learning as we discover Life in a Pond, Creatures of the Night, and Tree Homes."

September's Nature Kids courses will focus on life in a pond. "Ponds are filled with all sorts of interesting critters," Gates said. "In September, we’ll create a collage of pond inhabitants, and learn all about fish, frogs, ducks, turtles, dragonflies, and snakes." Preschoolers will also learn about the pond life food chain while getting up close and personal with pond creatures when they go fishing in The Discovery Center's Walden Pond!

The October program will focus on nocturnal creatures with the monthly theme "Creatures of the Night". “Each week we’ll focus on a different nocturnal animal, including raccoons, owls, possums, and bats," said Gates. "We’ll learn how these creatures are different than diurnal creatures, and how they have adapted to survive in the night." The last day of class, will even feature a costume party where your preschooler will have the opportunity to dress up like their favorite nocturnal animal.

Finally, the November Nature Kid's sessions will educate your preschoolers on how trees can provide homes for many different insects and animals. "We’re going to learn all about tree homes with fun projects like making clay trees to learn about the different parts of trees," said Gates. "We’ll also have lessons on birds, insects, and squirrels with different fun activities, including making a bird's nest." Your preschooler will even get to imagine life in a tree when they learn how trees can provide camouflage for insects, and crack open and store nuts like a squirrel.

Nature Kids is sponsored by Fresno’s First Five program. They have contributed $150,000 to the furtherance of the Nature Kids educational missions, for which The Discovery Center is extremely thankful. For more information, go to First Five’s website.

Classes will be held on Thursdays from 9:30-10:30 am, this September – November. For more information on the Nature Kids program, visit the Nature Kids Section of The Discovery Center’s website, or call or email The Discovery Center 559-251-5533 or office@thediscoverycenter.net