Forest Tots
Our weekly outdoor learning experiences are designed for youth to explore, engage, learn and play! Find a program which may interest your child! Please check the Calendar of Events for dates and times.
• Date: Tuesdays & Thursdays
Participants will:
• Develop an understanding of seasonal changes in the Rio Grande Valley by exploring plant and wildlife.
April 1st - The Grounding Earth
How does the Earth provide for humans and wildlife? How can we connect to the natural world around us? How do we protect it? Bring your tot to explore the many ways to sustainably utilize the natural resources this planet has to offer.
- • Begin with Tree Trunk Story:“The Earth Book” By: Todd Parr & “This House is Made of Mud” By: Ken Buchanan
- • Develop a conceptual understanding of how to feel connected to our natural surroundings through a grounding activity
- • Participate in a collaborative mud mural that utilizes elements from the natural world.
- • Engage in Sensory Development through Soil Play!
April 3rd - Native Plant Cooking
What is in Bloom? Which native plants contain fruits or flowers? Which are edible & what do they taste like? Bring your tot to explore native flora, the wildlife that enjoy them and the flavors of the forest.
- • Begin with a Tree Trunk Story: “Crunch!” By: Carolina Rabei & “Eating the Alphabet” By: Lois Elhert
- • Participate in a trail walk exploring the flowering & fruiting flora of the thorn forest ecosystem.
- • Practice sensory development & sustainability by utilizing the produce that the Tamaulipan Thorn Forest provides.
- • Engage in Native Plant Cooking using a no-bake recipe.
April 8th - Wind as a Teacher
How does wind create energy? How does its movement aid in natural processes such as pollination? Bring your tot to explore natural phenomena caused by weather conditions, the elements, and how they contribute to the environment.
- • Begin with a Tree Trunk Story: “The Tiny Seed” By: Eric Carle & “In the Small Small Pond” By: Denise Fleming
- • Participate in movement & water meditation through a Leaf Boat activity.
- • Practice cognitive & fine motor skills by using the elements to create a Water and Straw Painting.
- • Develop a conceptual understanding of how wind aids in the process of pollination by native seed spreading.
April 10th - Exploring Energy: Sun
Why is energy from the sun important? Who does the sun give energy to? Everyone! Bring your tot to explore the wonder of the sun and the energy/benefits it provides to all life.
- • Begin with a Tree Trunk Story: “Sunrise Dance” By: Serena Gingold Allen & “Welcome to Spring, Baby Bear” By: Liza Miller
- • Participate in a trail walk and observe the energy transfer/relationship between the sun and cold-blooded creatures.
- • Create earth based pottery
- • Engage in the artistic process of sun printing using natural materials.
April 15th - Butterfly Lifecycle
Who is the Monarch Butterfly? How do we identify them? What do their life stages entail? How do they transform? Bring your tot to explore the life of a Monarch Butterfly, their magic, and what makes them special.
- • Begin with a Tree Trunk Story: “Moth & Butterfly Ta-Da!” By: Dev Petty & “Change and Grow: Caterpillar to Butterfly” By: Steve Parker
- • Develop a conceptual understanding of the life cycle of a Monarch Butterfly
- • Participate in a field coloring activity based on the different stages of the life cycle observed within the forest.
- • Engage in movement by interactively exploring the different stages of the life-cycle in an interactive parachute circle.
April 17th - Celebrating Monarchs
Monarch Migration is upon us and in full swing this time of year! Have you heard about their journey that takes 3-4 generations to complete? What are some things they might experience that helps or hinders their success? Bring your tot to discover the wonder of their springtime migration.
- • Begin with a Tree Trunk Story: “Migration” By: Gail Gibbons & “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” By: Eric Carle
- • Create your own wings that mimic the physical adaptations of a butterfly and flutter through the trails!
- • Learn about the friendship between butterflies and flowers.
- • Engage in “Butterfly Baiting” and learn about butterflies' love for nectar.
April 22nd - Happy Earth Week
Happy Earth Day! Although today is the day we celebrate, what can we do regularly to help our planet? Bring your tot to celebrate the Earth, help protect its resources, and all it provides.
- • Begin with a Tree Trunk Story: “The Earth Book” By: Todd Parr & “Counting on the Earth” By: Ekaterina Trukhan
- • Participate in a trail walk exploring the natural resources and benefits the ecosystem provides to all wildlife within the forest.
- • Practice fine motor skills through a “Dot Painting of the Earth” activity.
- • Engage in stewardship by planting to support native wildlife and pollinators.
April 24th - Music and Trees
Have you met the trees within the Forest? Have you heard the song of wind rustling the leaves or seed pods falling to the ground? Bring your tot to befriend a native tree, create music and observe the sounds of the natural world.
- • Begin with a Tree Trunk Story: “Be a Tree!” By: Maria Gianferrari & “Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book” By: Britta Teckentrup
- • Develop a conceptual understanding of native trees and what they provide to the environment and native wildlife.
- • Practice in a native tree-themed trail walk and engage in social/emotional skills by Hugging a Tree!
- • Explore the sounds of nature and create your own wind chime utilizing natural materials.
April 29th - Flowers, Bugs, and Birds
We are currently in the heart of spring which means more blooms, bugs and birds! Bring your tot to explore the seasonal shift of spring, to observe and celebrate the beauty of what has returned, and all the things that make the season special.
- • Begin with a Tree Trunk Story: “Where’s the Ladybug” By: Ingela P. Arrehenius & “Mrs. Peanuckle’s Flower Alphabet” By: Mrs. Peanuckle
- • Participate in a Spring Scavenger Hunt/Trail Walk to find all the bugs, blooms, and birds!
- • Practice sensory development and fine-motor skills through wildflower rubbings.
- • Engage in close-up observation of new blooms, growth, and the small critters who are enjoying the season.
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