Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 N.W. Park Road in Blue Springs, is offering the following activities for the month of December. All programs are free. For more information or to register, call 816-228-3766.
■ VOLUNTEER OPEN HOUSE – for youth and adults, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. today. If you’re interested in sharing your love for nature with others, we need you! This event will introduce you to this program. Registration not required. We are currently accepting applications for the 2010 Volunteer Training Class from youth 14 years old through adults. To apply, stop by the Nature Center or contact the Volunteer Coordinator now through Jan. 15.
■ SUPER NATURE PUPPET SHOW – for families with children of all ages, 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Join us for this action-packed puppet show with heroic animals and super nature stars around every corner. If the weather allows, we will also explore the Discovery Trail for some up-close nature study. Call to register.
■ CREATE A WREATH – for ages 18 and older, 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, or 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 8 or 9. Bring the sweet smell of pine into your home during the holidays by creating a personalized wreath. We will supply the greenery (white pine and cedar), the wire, ribbon and natural materials like pinecones, sweetgum balls and berries. You bring the wired wreath frame and maybe a friend. Call to register.
■ CONSERVATION KID’S CLUB: The Spirit of Giving – for ages 7 to 13, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8. The holidays are a wonderful time of year, let’s share our joy with the residents at the Shangri-la Long-term Care Center. We’ll help them to make decorative holiday wreaths to decorate their doorway. Call to register.
■ BIRD WATCHERS – for all ages, 8:30 to 10 a.m. Dec. 11. Join Master Naturalist Sara Scheil in our solarium to view local birds. We will stay warm and let the birds come to us. Call to register.
■ KID’S CRAFT DAY – for children of all ages, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 12. Make some one-of-a-kind natural presents to give to the people you love during this holiday season. Each child will be able to create six hand crafted items to take home. No registration required.
■ WINTER SCAVENGER HUNT – for families with children of all ages, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Come inside the nature center for a scavenger hunt list of your own. Good luck! Hint: You’ll find natural treasures both inside and out on the trails. You decide how long you want to hike. Registration not required.
■ DISCOVER NATURE FAMILIES: The Night Tree – for families with children 3 and older, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15. Join other families as we create edible decorations for our wild winter friends. We will learn how to identify backyard wildlife and then venture out into the night forest to garnish a tree for them. Each family will take home a journal and treat for the wildlife in their own yard. Call to register.
■ LITTLE ACORNS: Hooray for hibernation – for ages 3 to 5, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 16. It’s that time of year when many of our resident wild animals take a long winters nap. We’ll learn what hibernation is and which animals we won’t see again until next year. Call to register.
■ ROCKIN’ & READIN’ NATURE TALES – for ages 2 and older, 11 a.m. to noon Dec. 19. Join us for a story hour as we lead you on fantastic nature adventures! Our imaginations are the only limits. Bring your own book to share if you’d like. Registration not required.
■ NATURALIST ON CALL: Snakes in the show – for all ages, anytime between 1 and 3 p.m. Dec. 19. We won’t see any snakes out this time of year, but lucky for us we have snakes in the nature center that stay nice and warm all winter long. Come out and meet them. Registration not required.
■ WINTER HIKE – for ages 8 and older, 1 to 2 p.m. Dec. 20. The weather is cold, the leaves are gone and the grass is brown, does that mean we can’t enjoy the outdoors? No! Come out and brave the cold as we take a winter hike. Call to register.
■ MOVIE MARATHON – for all ages, Dec. 26 and 27. Come out and watch a few nature films that are sure to warm your heart.
Dec. 26 films: 10 to 11:30 a.m. “Planet Earth;” noon to 12:30 p.m. “Stranger in the Woods;” 1 to 1:30 p.m. “Lost in the Woods;” 2 to 3:30 p.m. “Winged Migration.”
Dec. 27 films: 12:30 to 1 p.m. “Stranger in the Woods;” 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. “Planet Earth;” 3 to 3:30 p.m. “Lost in the Woods.”
Registration not required.
■ NATURALIST ON CALL : Feeding winter birds – for all ages, between 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 26; between 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 27. Learn which birds brave the long, cold Missouri winter. What seed attracts which birds? What feeders work the best? Learn just what we can do to help our feathered friends to survive. Registration not required.
■ ON-CALL NATURALIST HIKE – for families, 10 or 11 a.m., 1 or 2 p.m. Dec. 28. During the naturalist-led hike, discover the amazing forest of Burr Oak Woods. If trails are unfit for hiking, an indoor natural history program will be substituted. No registration required.
■ NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE WINTER ADVENTURE – for ages 8 and older, 9 a.m. to noon Block I, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Block II, Dec. 29 or 30.
If you love to have fun outdoors, and would like to learn new skills, then this program is for you! Teamwork, safety, and leadership will be stressed. Making new friends is encouraged! The adventure is offered as blocks of classes.
Block I: Air rifles and laser shot, bird watching
Lunch: Outdoor cooking
Block II: Tracking, earth-caching
Participants may stay for the entire day. Space is limited, call to register.
■ Feed the critters on exhibit at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center at 3 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Nature films are shown at 3:30 p.m. each Sunday.
