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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
Class Theme: The Costumes of Nature
Class Dates: October 27th & October 30th
Class Description: From camouflage to color changing, animals can dress up just like we do! However, unlike us, animals have special reasons for showing off their different disguises. Join us this week as we celebrate Halloween and explore the mysteriously spooky costumes that our animals wear! Attendees are welcome to dress up in their own costumes as well!
Class Theme: Mystical Meadows
Class Dates: November 3rd & November 6th
Class Description: With its tall grasses, colorful flowers and rolling hills, meadows support the lives of so many magical creatures. Butterflies, birds and bumblebees are just a few examples of the many critters that call this place home! Join us this week as we take a journey through the lush meadows and learn about all of the mystical wildlife that can be found in them.
Class Theme: Slithering Snakes
Class Dates: November 10th & November 13th
Class Description: Slither into class this week as we venture into the spectacular world of snakes! There are over 3,000 different species of snakes that slither on this Earth, and they all have their own unique features that help them survive and thrive in their environments. Join us on our snake discovery as we get an up close look at nature's astonishing legless creatures!
Class Theme: Gone For The Winter
Class Dates: November 17th & November 20th
Class Description: As we prepare for winter by getting out our cozy winter hats and coats, many animals have other plans to avoid the cold at all costs! From crafting cozy burrows and dens, to stocking up on snacks, some critters are preparing for the ultimate seasonal snooze! Join us this week as we discover what it's like to be gone for the winter!
Class Theme: Thankful For Nature
Class Dates: November 24th
Class Description: From vast open mountain ranges to tiny flowers in our backyards, there is always at least a touch of beauty to be found in nature wherever we may be. By providing us with food, water and the air we breathe, the Earth gives us many things to be grateful for. This holiday week, we invite you as we give thanks to our beautiful home!
Class Theme: Sounds All Around
Class Dates: December 1st & 4th
Class Description: The sounds of nature share a magnificent story about the world around us without even seeing a thing! Just like people, animals have their own way of communicating too! From chirping insects and the croaks of frogs to the songs of birds, there’s a whole symphony happening all around us! Join us this week as we immerse ourselves in the world of animal sounds.
Class Theme: Natures Patterns
Class Dates: December 8th & 11th
Class Description: 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!
Class Theme: Life Under The Ice
Class Dates: December 15th & 18th
Class Description: Even with a blanket of ice or snow covering their homes, many animals carry on with life as usual! While some call it quits for the winter and snuggle into a cozy burrow, others are equipped to push through the cold dark days ahead. Come celebrate the upcoming winter solstice with us this week as we learn about how animals cope with the cold!
Class Theme: The Gifts Of Nature
Class Dates: December 22nd
Class Description: The holidays are here which means there's no better time to celebrate the wonderful gifts that nature provides! Not only does it give us the gift of its beauty, but it also provides us with everything we need to live our lives. Join us this week as we honor our home and get crafty with a festive gift to share with a loved one this holiday season!
Class Theme: Winter Wonders
Class Dates: December 29th
Class Description: Although it's cold and dreary outside, there is still beauty to be found! From the unique patterns on snowflakes to the way snow absorbs sound, there is a certain sense of peace that comes with winter time. Join us this week as we learn all about the changes in nature that happens during these chilly months!
Class Theme: The Mitten
Class Dates: January 5th & 8th
Class Description: In her story The Mitten, Jan Brett tells the cutest tale about a group of woodland creatures who discover a silly way to keep warm during these cold winter months! Join us this week as we get lost in beautiful illustrations and follow the story of a curious group of critters, as they discover the secret to beating the chilly weather!
Class Theme: Dinosaur Discovery
Class Dates: January 12th & 15th
Class Description: Although dinosaurs have gone extinct, there are still many prehistoric species that walked the Earth long before the age of the dinosaurs. Some of these species even reside at the BNC! Join us this week as we travel back in time and explore some of the Earth's oldest reptilian ancestors.
Class Theme: Snowflakes
Class Dates: January 19th & 22nd
Class Description: Watching snow fall is so very exciting, but when we take a close look at what exactly is falling, snow becomes so much more magical! Look quickly, they melt fast! Tiny little snowflakes of all different shapes and patterns falling everywhere! Join us this week as we learn all about the unique features that make each snowflake one-of-a-kind and relate them to our animals who each have their own traits that make them so special!
Class Theme: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Class Dates: January 25th & 29th
Class Description: 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 learn about all of the different things our animals like to eat! Of course we will wrap up the program by meeting some of the BNC’s very own hungry animals!
Class Theme: Groundhogs Day
Class Dates: February 2nd & 5th
Class Description: It's that time of year for Punxsutawney Phil to emerge from his burrow and declare if we should be expecting spring or preparing for a longer winter! Join us this week as we celebrate Groundhogs Day by learning about animals like Punxsutawney Phil and how they will spend time either enjoying an early spring or bunkering down for more cold weather!
Class Theme: Loving Our Animals
Class Dates: February 9th & 12th
Class Description: As humans we celebrate the holiday of love, Valentine’s Day! While animals don't celebrate it like we do, they still have many ways to show affection towards each other and towards us. Join us in celebrating this lovely holiday week as we show our appreciation for our animals by creating valentines to decorate their enclosures!
Class Theme: Rainbows In Nature
Class Dates: February 16th & 19th
Class Description: 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!
Class Theme: The Hat
Class Dates: February 23rd & 26th
Class Description: In her story The Hat, Jan Brett tells the cutest tale about a group of woodland creatures and farm animals who learn about how to keep warm during these cold winter months! Join us this week as we get lost in beautiful illustrations and follow the story of a wise hedgehog who discovers the secret to beating the chilly weather!
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.
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