Cradle of Forestry Announces Junior Forester Program

The Cradle of Forestry in America will offer a Junior Forester program for boys and girls ages 8-12 years old. This outdoor-oriented experience will be held every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from June 14, 2017 to August 9 at the Cradle of Forestry site in Pisgah National Forest.

The Cradle of Forestry Junior Forester program combines learning new skills with discovery and reflection. This year, each week focuses on a different type of scientist that works in our forests. While participating in hands on activities, Junior Foresters will explore how important these careers are to our forests and cultural heritage. This year’s topics are:

June 14: Entomologist
June 21: Research Forester
June 28: Meteorologist
July 5: Geospatial Analyst
July 12: Hydrologist
July 19: Herpetologist
July 26: Archeologist
August 2: Wildlife Biologist
August 9: Social Scientist

Each youth should come prepared for fun in the outdoors with closed-toed shoes, a small backpack and water. The programs will be held rain or shine and adapted to indoors if stormy. Each participant receives a Junior Forester badge and patch and can register for one or more programs.

After the program kids can try a fact safari and scavenger hunt inside the Forest Discovery Center and explore paved interpretive trails, perfect for strollers and wheelchairs. Other activities include the Adventure Zone, designed for children on the autism spectrum yet enjoyable for all, as well as historic cabins, an antique logging locomotive and sawmill, and gift shop. Families can pack a picnic and enjoy a full day in the forest. Lunch is served in the Café at the Cradle from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Junior Forester program costs $4 per youth and $2.50 for adults for each program. Adults with America the Beautiful and Golden Age passports are admitted free. Registration is required as space is limited. Call the Cradle of Forestry at (828) 877-3130 to register.

The Cradle of Forestry is located on Hwy. 276 in the Pisgah National Forest, six miles north of Looking Glass Falls and four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 412. Visit www.cradleofforestry.com for more information about the site. Visit www.fs.fed.us/kids/ for online youth-oriented information and resources related to natural resources and the environment.

 

Cradle of Forestry to Host Woodsy Owl’s Curiosity Club

 

The Cradle of Forestry in America today announced that it will hold a nature and educational series titled “Woodsy Owl’s Curiosity Club” every Thursday this summer, beginning June 15 and ending August 10. Programs are held from 10:30 a.m.-to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“The Curiosity Club allows kids, ages 4 to 7, and their special adults to participate in a variety of outdoor-oriented activities, exploring a forest-related theme that engages young children in the natural world around them,” said Cindy Carpenter, interpretive specialist at the Cradle of Forestry. “The Curiosity Club’s blend of investigation and creativity can help children “lend a hand, care for the land,” which is the mission of Woodsy Owl, the U.S. Forest Service’s conservation symbol.”

During the program, each child receives a copy of the book, Woodsy Owl’s ABC’s,and makes a topic-related craft to take home. After the program kids can try the scavenger hunt inside the Forest Discovery Center and explore paved interpretive trails, perfect for strollers and wheelchairs. Other activities include the Adventure Zone, designed for children on the autism spectrum yet enjoyable for all, as well as historic cabins, antique logging locomotive and sawmill, and gift shop. Families can pack a picnic, have lunch in the Café at the Cradle, and enjoy a full day in the forest.

This year’s topics are:
June 15 – Mini-beasts: Insects and Spiders
June 22 – Watery World: Aquatic Animals
June 29 – Amazing Amphibians: Frogs and Salamanders
July 6 – Birds of a Feather
July 13 – Clever Canids: Foxes, Coyotes and Wolves
July 20 – Respectful Reptiles: Turtles, Snakes and Lizards
July 27 – Oh Deer! – Backyard Animals
August 3- Be Bear Aware- Black Bears
August 10 – Terrific Turkeys: Their Friends and Foes

The Curiosity Club costs $4 per child and $2.50 for adults for each program. Adults with America the Beautiful and Golden Age passports are admitted free. Registration is required as space is limited. Call the Cradle of Forestry at (828) 877-3130 to register.

 

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