Fall Little Explorer Program + Explorer Kit • 15 Weeks (Ages 2–6)

The Explorer Program is for families who want to experience the full journey from fall into winter. As the seasons change, children return each week to observe how the forest changes over time; to notice the colorful leaves, migrating birds, seeds, animal tracks, bare trees, winter buds, evergreens, and other seasonal discoveries that can only be experienced by visiting the trail throughout the season.

Included with the Explorer Program

Little Hikers Explorer Kit

Everything your child needs to observe, explore, and continue discovering nature throughout the season.

The Explorer Kit includes:

• Personalized Explorer Field Guide
• Magnifying Glass
• Binoculars
• Little Hikers T-shirt

Personalized Explorer Field Guide

The Explorer Field Guide grows throughout the season as children add new pages based on the plants, animals, insects, tracks, and nature discoveries they make each week at West Hills County Park.

Topics include:

• Poison ivy identification and look-alikes
• Trail safety
• Common trees, Birds, Insects, Animal tracks
• Woodland clues
• Seasonal changes from fall into winter

By the end of the program, your child will have a personalized field guide filled with the discoveries they made themselves!

Priority Registration

Explorer families receive priority registration and early access to future Little Hikers programs and special events before registration opens to the public.

About the Class:

We'll search under logs for roly-polies, worms, millipedes, and beetles. We'll look for mushrooms growing after rainy days, spider webs covered in morning dew, squirrels collecting acorns, woodpeckers searching for insects, and signs that animals are getting ready for winter.

Children quickly begin recognizing the same trees, logs, birds, and woodland creatures they see each week. That consistency helps young children build lasting knowledge. Instead of simply hearing about nature, they experience it again and again until it becomes familiar.

Throughout the season we'll learn about a new topic like insects, leaves, trees, seeds, fungi, birds, woodland animals, and how plants and animals prepare for winter. Children use their magnifying glasses, binoculars, and other nature tools to observe the forest up close.

Each class includes movement games, nature-based activities, a short educational lesson, a guided woodland hike, and a hands-on craft or activity connected to the weekly theme... and of course... bubbles!

This program introduces early science through real experiences in nature while also supporting:

• Language development through new vocabulary and describing observations

• Gross motor skills through hiking, balancing, climbing, and exploring natural terrain

• Fine motor skills through hands-on crafts and activities that help strengthen early writing skills

Most importantly, children develop strong observation skills, curiosity, confidence, and a genuine connection with the natural world.

This program is perfect for children who:

• Learn best through hands-on experiences

• Are curious about bugs, animals, plants, and nature

• Enjoy exploring, hiking, climbing, and getting a little dirty

Location: West Hills County Park (Melville, NY)

Fall Season (15 Weeks)- Program meets once a week from 10:15–11:30 AM (on Wednesdays or Saturdays)

Wednesdays

September: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

October: 7, 14, 21, 28

November: 4, 11, 18 (No class Nov. 25)

December: 2, 9, 16

Saturdays

September: 5, 12, 19, 26

October: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

November: 7, 14, 21 (No class Nov. 28)

December: 5, 12, 19

Program Details

• Parent or caregiver must stay for the entire class (registration includes one child with a caregiver) - 1 Explorer kit for each registered child

• All materials are provided.

• Park entrance is free.

• Siblings under 2 who are not participating in crafts may attend for free.

Completed registration required: Registration

*No refunds. Make-up sessions may be available if space allows.

If you would like to preorder a shirt and pick it up during class, shirts are $15 and available in sizes 2T–5T: White Bug Shirt, White Bird Shirt, or Yellow Forest Shirt.

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