About Little Hikers Program

Little Hikers Long Island is a fully outdoor parent-and-child nature education program at West Hills County Park in Huntington, New York.

Every class takes place on the trail, where children learn about the plants, insects, birds,  and animals living in their own local park. Throughout the seasons, families observe spring wildflowers emerging from the forest floor, watch butterflies visiting nectar plants, examine lichens growing on logs, listen for woodpeckers, search for animal signs, compare different tree leaves, and learn how the forest changes from week to week.

One of the main goals of the program is to strengthen observation skills through hands on learning.

Observation is the foundation of learning. Before a child can identify a bird, recognize poison ivy, understand an insect's life cycle, or notice how habitats change throughout the year, they first have to learn how to look carefully. They need opportunities to slow down, compare details, ask questions, and investigate what they are seeing.

During the program, children practice those observation skills, using binoculars, magnifying glasses, and field guides. Children learn to compare leaf shapes, count flower petals, observe insect behavior, identify common woodland plants, look for evidence of animals, and recognize patterns in nature. As they spend more time outdoors, they begin noticing details they would have walked past only weeks earlier.

The program focuses on the plants, insects, birds, and animals children are most likely to encounter on Long Island. Learning about familiar species allows families to continue exploring after class because they recognize the same plants and wildlife during hikes, visits to local parks, and even walks through their own neighborhoods.

Every season offers something different to observe. Spring brings emerging wildflowers, nesting birds, and newly active insects. Summer is filled with butterflies, bees, caterpillars, and lush forest growth. Fall introduces colorful leaves, seeds, and changing bird activity. Returning to the trail throughout the year helps children understand that nature is constantly changing and that there is always something new to discover.

The goal of Little Hikers is for families to leave with knowledge they can immediately use outdoors. A child who recognizes a downy woodpecker, identifies a sassafras leaf, safely avoids poison ivy, or notices fresh animal tracks has gained skills that make every future hike more meaningful.