Workshops

These FUN and EDUCATIONAL workshops provide children with unique learning experiences on days off from school. Animals, Science, Hiking, Team Building, Music, Crafts and more! Workshop participants get to go behind the scenes and learn what it takes to become a professional animal caregiver at the Barn Nature Center! During all Workshops, students will assist the Barn Nature Center staff in performing our daily animal care routine. In addition, each workshop features interactive and experiential activities designed to engage students in the Workshop's theme. We have both full day and half day workshops! Workshops are $75 per day and run from 9am-3pm. The curriculum is geared for children in grades 1st through 6th. We recommend students bring a packed lunch (snack is provided), a refillable water bottle, and closed-toe shoes!

Each Nature Explorers Workshop is unique. Here is a list of our upcoming 2023 Workshops:

Animal Adaptations
Monday, September 25th | 9:00am - 3:00pm

Sticky toes, a third eye, a tail that works like an extra limb, what can’t these animals do?! The animal kingdom is full of amazing adaptations that help animals survive life in their environment, defeat their predators and sneak attack prey! Without animal adaptations, we wouldn’t have the fascinating animals we do today. This workshop will investigate how our animals use their adaptations through games and crafts. Attendees will also get to explore their five senses in comparison to the animals along with hands-on animal interaction and help take care of the animals. Use your senses and click the link below to register now!

Radical Reptiles
Tuesday, November 7th | 9:00am - 3:00pm

This Workshop will dive deep into the world of our scaly friends. Participants will learn what a reptile is, how they differ from other types of animals, what they need to thrive, and more! Throughout the day, they’ll get the opportunity to watch a reptile feeding show that will include some of our snake, lizard, and turtle friends! They’ll also be able to participate in a much-needed bath time for some unlikely reptile friends. Don’t worry, the nature center’s other animal groups such as the birds and mammals will not be forgotten! Workshop participants always get the chance to provide all of our animal residents with their daily care.

Zookeeper for a Day
Wednesday, November 22nd | 9:00am - 3:00pm

Does your child want to work with animals when they grow up? If so, this is a perfect Workshop for them! At our Zookeeper for a Day Workshop they will explore the career of a zookeeper by learning what animals need to survive and thrive under human care. Your child will get to create enrichment for our animals along with many more themed crafts and activities, daily animal care tasks, and hands-on animal interaction!

Half-Day: Animal Husbandry
Friday, November 24th | 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Deep in the jungle live many unique animal species, some which call the Barn Nature Center their home. Join us for our second summer expedition to explore the jungle world and discover what its rich ecosystem has to offer. This expedition has themed activities, crafts, and hands-on interaction with our ambassador animals. Register now using the link below!

Expedition: Wonderful World of Animals
Tuesday December 26th - Friday December 29th | 9:00am - 3:00pm

Make your child’s winter break an adventure at the Barn Nature Center! Explore the fascinating world of animals through fur, feathers, scales, exoskeletons, eggs, and more! Discover the differences between fish, amphibians, invertebrates, reptiles, and mammals through interactive learning. Campers' eyes will be opened to a whole new world as we investigate animal taxonomy, predator/prey relationships, adaptations and more. With themed crafts and activities along with hands-on animal interaction and daily animal care, your child is sure to have a wonderful expedition at the Barn Nature Center!

Our Animal Adventure 4-Day Camp is designed to make your life a little easier over the break. You are able to register for any or all days that work best for you. Each day campers will get to interact with various types of animals, including some fish, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. The education, activities, and games will tie into the theme listed below:

Day 1: Fish, Amphibians, & Invertebrates
Day 2: Birds
Day 3: Reptiles
Day 4: Mammals

*$40.00 off for full four day week registration! Contact BNCEducationProgram@gmail.com or call (267)-971-0601 for more information*

Previous Workshop Themes

Below are several our our previous Workshop themes. The Barn Nature Center does our best to rotate Workshops to ensure we are reaching our entire audience. If you would look to see one of these Workshops on a current rotation, please feel free to email BNCEducationProgram@gmail.com for more information.

Mad Scientist

Let your kids put on the costume of Mad Scientist for the day! Come and join us for this workshop where students will learn all about chemistry! We will be getting hands-on experience with all things chemistry, students will learn about subjects like reactions, elements, energy, chemical pheromones, and much more. By participating in hands-on experiments, students will be able to see what it really takes to make a rocket launch and what makes up super sticky slime! We will also take an up-close look into how our animals use chemistry in their everyday life and use it to survive! Don’t worry, there is a lot of chemistry pertaining to animals too! We’ll still get plenty of hands-on fun with our animals as well and get to help with some of their care for the day as well!

Moody Mammals and Raging Reptiles

Does your child aspire to be a Veterinarian one day?! Do they love learning and taking care of animals? Perhaps our Vet for a Day Workshop is the place for them! In this workshop students will learn and experience what Veterinarians do to keep animals healthy and thriving. Bandaging, weighing, heart rates, respiration; students will get to learn what animals need to be healthy and how to recognize and determine the health of an animal.

Water Warriors

Splish splash, it’s time for the Water Warriors Workshop at the Barn Nature Center! Water is an essential part of human, plant, and animal life. Have your child dive into the world of water to develop a deeper understanding of our bodies of water, the importance of water, and how we are impacted by it. Attendees will gain this understanding through hands-on interaction with the animals housed in the nature center, crafts, and activities. Be sure to be ready to pack a pair of dry clothes!

Love the Earth

Explore ways to sustain and protect our planet Earth and the amazing living-beings that reside here! Workshop attendees will learn in depth about the world they live in, the impact of anthropogenic practices, and sustainable practices. Throughout the day attendees will get to work hands-on with activities and many of the wonderful animals housed here in our nature center. We hope to see you here to share our love for Mother Nature!

Nature Explorers

Warm weather is right around the corner which means it’s the perfect time to explore the great outdoors. The natural world has so much to offer us from plants to animals and more. Workshop attendees will discover nature through hands-on interaction with our exotic animals, participate in themed activities, and create beautiful crafts. This workshop is indoors and outdoors if the weather permits.

Art of Nature

Welcome to the Art of Nature Workshop where attendees get to admire and create beautiful works of art with and around nature. This program is open to varying levels of art skills. At the workshop, attendees will enhance their knowledge of multiple styles of art, observe it in nature, and explore their own creative side. Register your child today to see what they can achieve!

Vet for a Day

Does your child aspire to be a Veterinarian one day? Do they love learning and taking care of animals? Perhaps our Vet for a Day Workshop is the place for them! In this workshop students will learn and experience what Veterinarians do to keep animals healthy and thriving. Bandaging, weighing, heart rates, respiration; students will get to learn what animals need to be healthy and how to recognize and determine the health of an animal.

Animal Relations

The magnificent circle of life is impossible without numerous animal and human relations. Some may be wonderful, while others are not nearly as beneficial. The three symbiotic relationships seen within the natural world will be the key focus of this workshop. Attendees will also get the opportunity to learn about the role of humans in relation to animals. Here at the Barn Nature Center, your child will get to form new relations with our adorable animals, participate in themed activities, and craft their hearts away.

Mammal Mayhem

Does your child love furry friends? If so, then you have come to the right place! The Mammal Mayhem workshop focuses on the many mammals we have here at the Barn Nature Center. Attendees will learn how to properly take care of and enrich these sweet little guys along with a multitude of crafts and other activities. We hope to see you here!

Flying Friends ($80)

Fly to the Barn Nature Center for a day focused on our amazing Flying Friends! Birds are a unique species with special features and are highly intelligent. Spend the day focusing on how these animals live in the world, their different classifications, and meet a variety of birds. This workshop includes hands-on interaction with our ambassador animals as well as crafts and themed activities. There will also be a guest presentation from Hawk Mountain with a few of their animal friends!

Contact Information
Education Program Coordinator
Email: BNCEducationProgram@gmail.com
Phone: (267)-971-0601