Toddler Time at the Barn Nature Center
Discover the wonders of nature with your little explorer at Toddler Time—a delightful blend of animal encounters, interactive storytelling, and creative crafts tailored for curious minds aged 2-5!
Toddler Time at the Barn Nature Center offers a vibrant blend of activities designed to engage young children in a world of discovery. From crafting adventures that nurture fine motor skills to interactive storytelling sessions that ignite imagination, every moment is an opportunity for growth and fun. As toddlers explore the wonders of the natural world through stories, crafts and hands-on animal encounters, they're not just learning—they're building essential social skills and developing empathy. And for parents and caregivers, it's a chance to share in the joy of watching their little ones blossom, creating precious memories together in a welcoming and enriching environment. Many parents have said that attending Toddler Time with their little one made them feel just like a kid again!
Classes typically start at 10:00am and run until 11:00am on Tuesdays and Fridays during the school year, but please remember to check our calendar, as these dates and times are subject to change! Some sessions are held in the afternoon, so be sure to choose the best date for your schedule. Please note that summer schedules may vary.
Admission is $20 for an adult-child pair, with additional attendees at $10 each. Don't miss out—register in advance to secure your spot, as tickets are limited!
Upcoming Toddler Time Classes
Weekly Themes
February 17th & 20th
Theme: Tiny But Mighty
While being small can sometimes be viewed as a disadvantage, many animals rely on their tiny physique for survival. Grab your magnifying glasses this week as we explore how the tiniest lizards, the smallest snakes, and the nearly invisible
insects use their size to their advantage-proving that even the tiniest creatures can still be mighty!
February 24th & 27th
Theme: Colorful Critters
The wild world is full of colors and patterns that are unique to each individual species. From bright blue tongues to rainbow feathers, our ambassador animals at the nature center are no exception. Join us this week on our journey to learn the colors of the rainbow through interacting with some of our most striking animals!
March 3rd & 6th
Theme: Movin' and Groovin'
From swimming through the deepest of oceans to soaring across the big blue sky to climbing the tallest
of mountains, animals have fascinating capabilities when it comes to getting around. With sticky toes to hollow bones,
join us this week as we uncover the mysteries of moving!
March 10th & 13th
Theme: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Munch munch munch… What is that sound? Oh my, it’s the Very Hungry Caterpillar from Eric Carle’s amazing children’s story! Join us this week as we immerse ourselves in this classic children’s book and create our very own caterpillar. Of course, we will wrap up the program by meeting and feeding some of the BNC’s very own hungry animals!
March 17th & 20th
Theme: St Patricks Day
Come celebrate St. Patrick's Day with us this week as we learn about the holiday and embrace the color green! When we take a walk through nature, it is quite clear that green is one of the most common colors we see. We can find shades of it in the highest of tree canopies to the lowest of mosses. Many animals can also come in shades of green to blend in with all of the green in nature! Join us this week to meet some of those animals and celebrate!
March 24th & 27th
Theme: Natures Gardeners
When it comes to gardening, we may think about planting fruit and vegetable seeds in our own gardens in our backyards, but did you know that animals can also be gardeners as well? While they don't create their own gardens, they can actually help plant seeds through a process called seed dispersal! Join us this week as we learn all about why some of our animals are considered the gardeners of the forest!
March 31st & April 3rd
Theme: Water Wonders
Some animals fly high in the sky. Some burrow underground. Some live deep in the jungle. Some even live on the ocean floor! While all of these animals have different lifestyles, they all have one thing in common…they all need water to survive! Join us this week to take a deep dive into the wonders of water and hang out with our animals who can't live without it!
April 7th
Theme: Bursting Buds
Petals here, pollen there, animals moving everywhere! With the burst of spring in full effect and summer right around the
corner, trees and other plants are fully ready to soak up the sun. This week we will observe the changes in tree and flower buds and even meet some animals that enjoy eating flowers!
April 14th & 17th
Theme: Pollinators
Bees, birds and bats oh my! Small but mighty, these pollinators play an extremely important role to our environment as they help produce beautiful flowers and foods that humans and animals enjoy. Join us this week to learn about these spectacular animals and just how helpful they are!
April 21st & 24th
Theme: Love The Earth
It's that time of the year again when we celebrate all of the incredible gifts that the Earth has given us so that we can live on this beautiful planet. What better way to celebrate than visiting some of the awesome animals that inhabit it! Join
us this week to explore all of the greatness that this planet has to offer during our Earth Day Toddler Time!
April 28th & May 1st
Theme: Natures Patterns
Imagine how dull our planet would be if everything was just one solid color?! Without shapes and patterns, plants and animals would lose all uniqueness! Join us this week as we learn all about the many different patterns our animals have and discover what they tell us about their species!
Want to book a private Toddler Time event for your group?
We are happy to book private Toddler Time events with 1-2 months advance notice. Private group Toddler Time classes are great for large families, moms groups, homeschooling groups, preschools, and friend groups with young children.
To book a private event for your group, reach out to our Education Program Manager for more details.