Forest Park Nature Center 5809 Forest Park Drive 309-686-3360 Mike Miller, Manager
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CLASSES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, donations are requested for all walks,
activities and programs at the
Dust off that guitar, fiddle, banjo or other acoustic instrument and bring it
down to the Nature Center for a jam session. Meet other musicians and learn some
new songs. Music lovers of all ages are encouraged to come, listen and enjoy.
Beginning and Beyond Yoga with Heidi Turcut Experience the many benefits of yoga in the tranquil setting of the Nature Center. This class will combine postures, breathing practices and relaxation with an emphasis on proper alignment, self acceptance and discovery. Wear comfortable clothing, bring a firm blanket and refrain from eating a large meal prior to class. Some mats are available. Transferable punch cards available at the Nature Center. For more information contact Heidi at 309-692-8484.
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Earth Day Festival Locate local resources, identify environmentally friendly products, and learn what you can do to make a difference. Enjoy music, storytelling, and other live entertainment plus try out some tasty local food. This fun, family–friendly event will also offer hands-on demos, kid’s crafts and face painting, numerous displays, and chances to win "green" door prizes. Check out our annual Trailhead Nature Store Sale for discounts on environmentally- friendly clothing, household and personal care products, and other select items. Age: All
Active Seniors Wildflower Walks Nothing is better than starting the day with a hot cup of coffee or tea and breathing some fresh spring air! Active seniors will love seeing the beauty of spring revealed and the chance to get to know some other nature loving seniors on this naturalist guided tour. Wear comfortable walking shoes as we will walk up to a half mile. Age: 55 & up
Kite Making...and Flying Join us as we convert paper, balloon sticks, scotch tape, kite string and some other common items into colorful, graceful, high-flying kites that will compete with the birds for air-space. They will make your imagination soar! Participants provide the imagination, and we will provide the materials. Kites will be constructed at Forest Park Nature Center and flown at a nearby location yet to be determined. Participants will caravan/carpool to the kite-flying site. (Pray for wind!!!) Pre-registration required. Age: Adults and children aged 6-12
This series of programs
is for children who want to learn about Illinois’ natural world. These sessions
will vary in topic and structure, and children will participate in hands-on
activities aimed at increasing their knowledge and interest in each topic. A
list of topics follows. Dress appropriately for outside field trips. Call
686-3360 for details. PRE-REGISTRATION WITH PAYMENT REQUIRED.
Each year hundreds of bald
eagles over-winter in the Illinois River Valley. We dedicate this day to the
appreciation of these incredible birds of prey as the Peoria Audubon Society and
Forest Park Nature Center offer a presentation and tours to view Bald Eagles
along the river!
Feel the smooth scales of a snake slide through your hand, hear the hiss of a giant cockroach, see a tarantula up close and personal. This short program will give you a new respect for some "critters" who definitely don’t fit into the cute, furry, cuddly mold, but are nonetheless some of nature’s greatest creatures. Age: All Fee: Donations appreciated Time: 1:30-2:00 pm
Winter Warming Meditation with Barbara Peters, LCPC You are invited to come in from
the cold to sit quietly around the wood burning stove in the Nature Center and
experience deep quiet and peace. You will be amazed at how powerful this can be
as we practice some simple relaxation approaches and learn how to develop our
awareness of the present moment. Please pre-register.
Hike into the realm of nocturnal critters.
Learn the natural history of our native owls. We will practice our owl calls and
everyone will have a chance to "give a hoot." Dress to keep warm!
Meet a Forest Park naturalist at the lower parking lot of Camp Wokanda for a walk into what has been great owling territory. For directions and more information, call 686-3360. Ages: 5 & up
A great place to find unique nature-related books and help support your Nature Center! There will be books on everything from gardening and wildlife to environmental philosophy and nature inspired fiction. We’ll have plenty of general fiction and non-fiction books as well. Come down for a browse and take home a good read. If you have books to donate for the sale, call 686-3360.
Children's Clay Modeling Workshop with George Ginger Children will marvel at the magical process of creating something with their own hands. They will have the opportunity to watch a simple lump of clay transform into a work of art. This just-for-kids workshop is designed to emphasize the hands-on experience that kids love. Must pre-register.
The Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades Readings & Book Signing Local author Sue Van Wasssenhove will have a book signing of her new children’s poetry book, The Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades. The backdrop of this book consists of beautiful quilts that portray Everglade animals. A selection of these quilts will be on display during the signing. To guarantee a book, please preorder by February 21 by calling 686-3360. Age: All
Leafless Tree ID Learn the naked truth! Winter tree identification should not "leaf" you "stumped!" Learn how to easily identify native trees in the winter. Winter tree finders and several field guides are available in the store. Age: 14 & up
Birding Tour of the Illinois River Take in some of the bird migration hotspots along the Illinois River, spots renowned for both scenic quality and bird diversity. We’ll meet at the Nature Center and travel south along the east shore of the river stopping at Spring Lake and Chautauqua. After a catered lunch overlooking the Dickson Mounds, we’ll proceed to one of the largest wetland restoration projects in the world, the Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve. The trip will wrap up at Rice Lake and Banner Marsh. Trip leaders: Maury Brucker and John Mullen of Peoria Audubon Society. Pre-registration a must. Call 686-3360 for more info and registration. Age: 14 & up
Springtime Walking Meditation with Barbara Peters, LCPC This relaxing class is being offered when the woods at Forest Park are coming alive with new growth, sights and sounds. Walking gently on a portion of the trail, we will practice some simple breathing techniques and ways of refocusing our attention and releasing stress and tension. No previous experience is necessary. Please pre-register at 686-3360. Age: 14 & up
Migratory Bird Walks Search for spring migrants and resident birds of Forest Park with a guide from Peoria Audubon. Please bring your own binoculars, or you may borrow ours. All levels welcome; no experience required. Age: 10 & up
Signs of Spring Explore the woods with a naturalist and experience the awakening of the plants and animals of the Illinois River Bluffs. Discover spring wildflowers, insects and colorful birds on these hikes. Age: All
Exploring Nature with Your Child or Grandchild Don’t come to this activity if you just want to stand back and be entertained! "Grown-ups" and kids in this group adventure will take part in several activities aimed at exploring nature together, using as many of their senses as possible. All activities will be aimed at providing ways children and adults can have fun together experiencing nature. Pre-registration required. Age: Children ages 6-10 and their parents or grandparents
Illinois Central College "Funshops" Register through Illinois Central College, 999-4545, for any of the three following classes. The registration period begins January 3rd and runs until a day before the class. Fee: $14 per Funshop/person. 1. Illinois River Bald Eagles Instructor: Mike Miller This two-part program on bald eagles will start inside the Nature Center with a presentation on bald eagle behavior, ecology and current population trends. For the second part of our program, we will head outside and visit some popular bald eagle viewing spots. Bald eagle etiquette will be covered so that participants can learn how to view bald eagles without disturbing them.
2. Non-Toxic Alternatives Instructor: Christina Kiefer Our homes and bodies are regularly bombarded with a plethora of toxic chemicals. Join us at the Nature Center as we discuss some of the traditional products in usage and then explore some of the more earth friendly alternatives. You will have the opportunity to try out some awesome natural personal care products as well as some non-toxic household products. Suggestions for alternative cleaning and personal care products will be given throughout this program.
3. Sight & Sound Bird ID Instructor: John Mullen Get acquainted with the local avian world as we explore these beautiful flying songsters that surround us. Emphasis will be on simple appreciation of these winged wonders as well as the identification of birds by coloration, shape, behavior, vocalizations, and other characteristics. Field guides and binoculars will also be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to practice what they’ve learned during the hands-on, outdoor portion of this workshop.
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