Upcoming events at Sugar Grove Nature Center

[May 15, 2015]  FUNKS GROVE - Sugar Grove Nature Center is located in beautiful, historic Funks Grove, just south of Bloomington-Normal. For a map and directions to the Nature Center, membership and program information visit us on-line at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org.

A list of Spring/early Summer activities are as follows:

Family Nature Exploration Day
Saturday, May 2, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Bring the family out for a day of fun at the Nature Center! A guided hike will take place at 11:00 a.m., stop inside to create a make-and-take craft at any time, and don't miss the feeding of the turtles and snakes at 1:00 p.m.
Fee: Free; no registration required.


Wildflower Walk
Sunday, May 3, 2:00 p.m.

Enjoy a stroll through Funks Grove to discover the diversity of woodland wildflowers that carpet the forest floor every spring on this guided hike for adults.
Fee: Free to members, small fee charged for non-members, pre-registration required.

Beekeeping Field Day
Saturday, May 9; 10:00-Noon or 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Join the ISU Beekeeping Club for a day discovering the ins and outs, literally, of a honey bee hive. This program is perfect for those interested in beekeeping or looking to advance their beekeeping skills. Members of the club explore everything you need to know, including the hive, tools, frame assembly, foundation installation and more. Bring all of your honeybee questions! Wildflower honey will be available for sampling.

Stick around from 3:15-4:15 p.m. as club members open the hives located at Sugar Grove Nature Center to see the inner workings first hand. Bee suits will be available for use, and the signing of a liability waver is required to approach the hives. There is no additional cost, but please indicate that you plan to attend this activity. You must attend one of the earlier Beekeeping sessions prior to the hive opening.

Each two-hour session will take place rain or shine, however unfavorable weather would cause the cancellation of the hive opening.

Fee: Reduced fees for members. Ages 12-16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration and prepayment are required. Registration deadline is May 4.
Online and mail-in registration details can be found at www.sugargrovenaturecenter/register.html. 


Homeschool: Fascinating Feathered Friends
Ages 6-8 & 9-12
Wednesday, May 27; 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Learn all about birds in this program designed especially for homeschool kids! We will focus on birds that live in or migrate through central Illinois. Classes will be divided into age groups.

Fee: reduced fee for members; drop off program; please bring a lunch.

Pre-registration and payment are required by May 20. Online and mail-in registration details can be found at http://www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/ register.html

Nature Fun Club
Ages 6-8
Tuesdays, June 23-July 28 (6 sessions); 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Discovery and exploration will be emphasized in this exciting program. Along with environmental themes, show-and-tell, and projects, participants will enjoy plenty of unstructured time in nature. While this program is meeting at the same time as Nature Adventurer’s Club, ages will be divided.

Fee for the series with reduced rates for members Registration and prepayment required. Online and mail-in registration details can be found at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/sns15.html. 
Registration deadline: June 9.

Nature Adventurer’s Club
Ages 9-12
Tuesdays, June 23-July 28 (6 classes); 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Investigation, experiments, and citizen science will be the focus of this program while allowing plenty of time for nature exploration. While this program is meeting at the same time as Nature Fun Club, age groups will be divided.

Fee for the series with reduced rates for members Registration and prepayment required. Online and mail-in registration details can be found at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/sns15.html.
Registration deadline: June 9.

Junior Naturalists
Ages 12-16
Thursdays, June 11-July 2; 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

New this year! Explore the ecosystems of Funks Grove while learning about the living things that call them home. Emphasis will be placed on ecology, natural history, and stewardship, as well as developing skills that will benefit future scientific study.

Fee for the series with reduced rates for members Registration and prepayment required. Online and mail-in registration details can be found at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/sns15.html.
Registration deadline: May 28.

For more information on any of these programs, phone [phone] or email [e-mail].  Sugar Grove Nature Center is located in beautiful, historic Funks Grove, just south of Bloomington-Normal. For a map and directions to the Nature Center, membership and program information visit us on-line at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org.

[Janet Rasmussen, Environmental Support Specialist]