Junior Naturalists (Ages 6–10) 6-Week Program

There is so much happening in the woods that most of us walk right past!

Junior Naturalists teaches your child how to slow down, look closer and start understanding what they see. Over six weeks, they’ll learn practical nature identification and observation skills they can use at West Hills County Park and take with them on future hikes, camping trips and family adventures.

DURING THE 6 WEEKS, YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN TO:

• Identify common local trees, birds, woodland plants and insects

• Recognize poison ivy and tell it apart from common look-alikes

• Search for signs of wildlife, including tracks, feathers, nests, burrows, chewed acorns and other clues animals leave behind

• Use binoculars and magnifying lenses to notice identifying features

• Compare observations and use clues to help figure out what they find

WHAT WE DO EACH WEEK

Investigation Table
We start with woodland clues connected to that week's topic. Your child looks closely, compares details and works with the group to figure out what the clues can tell us.

Field Lesson
Short lesson about the topic of the day before we head onto the trail.

Guided Field Mission
Then we head onto the trail to find it. Your child will use binoculars and a magnifying lens while we search for real examples, identify species and investigate interesting discoveries along the way.

Discovery Lab
We take a closer look at what we found, compare observations and talk about our discoveries.

BUILD THEIR OWN FIELD GUIDE

Your child receives a Junior Naturalist Field Guide binder with some local plants and bugs we might spot on the trail. Each week, we add new identification sheets and educational pages from that day's lesson. At the end of six weeks, they’ll have a nature reference they can keep and bring on future hikes.

INCLUDED WITH REGISTRATION

• 6 outdoor Junior Naturalist classes - 60 min
• Personalized Junior Naturalist Field Guide binder with some of the local plants and insects
• New identification and educational pages each week that your child will create
• Binoculars
• Magnifying lens
• Junior Naturalist Certificate

Program Details:

Ages: 6–10 (with an adult)

Time: Thursdays 5:00–6:00 PM

Dates: 
September 3, 10, 17, 24
October 1, 8

Location:
West Hills County Park, Huntington, NY
Park admission is free.

Completed registration required prior to program: Registration

Attendance & Weather Policy:

Junior Naturalists is held in light rain and changing weather conditions, giving children the opportunity to observe the forest in different weather. Please dress for the conditions.

If a class must be canceled due to dangerous weather (such as thunderstorms, high winds, or other unsafe conditions), it will be rescheduled to October 15.

Because class size is limited and park permits are purchased in advance, registrations are non-refundable.