Avery House Nature Center
Spring and Summer 2008
Schedule of Classes and Activities

Single day registrations permitted. Ask us about scholarships.
Scroll to the bottom of the page (arranged by age) to see all programs. There are quite a few!

Nature Play Pre-School Program (Ages 3-6)
All programs include games, hands-on activities, sensory exploration, creative stories, and nature art projects. Parents are encouraged to stay - programs are designed for parents to explore, play, and learn with their children. Age limits are just a guide; siblings are welcome in the same class.

Spring Program
Thursday afternoons, Ages 3-6, 1-2pm. Cost: $7 per class or $24 for the session.

April 3-24: Playing in the Rain
April 3: "Seasons." Behold the changes taking place.
April 10: "It's Raining, It's Pouring." Flow with the water cycle.
April 17: "Wild with Flowers." Explore native flowers in bloom.
April 24: "Colors Take Shape." Finding colors and shapes of nature.

May 1-22: Loving Life
May 1: "Bouncing Bunnies." It is the time of the year for baby animals.
May 8: "Frogs and Pollywogs." Learn about frogs as you hold and view them live.
May 15: "Life Cycles." How do things grow and change, then start again?
May 22: "Who Am I?" How animals are alike and different.

Summer Program
Tuesday Afternoons. Cost $7 a class or $30 for the session.
Ages 2.5-3.5 from 1:00-2:00pm and Ages 4-5.5 from 2:30-3:30pm.

June 17-July 15: Ready, Set, Explore
June 17: "The Natural Senses." Learn how to use your five senses in nature.
June 24: "Please Pass the Plant." How do plants go from seeds to food?
July 1: "Windows Underground" Look at the world in the soil.
July 8: "Life at night" What life is awake when you go to bed?
July 15: "River to Sea" Flow with the water and what lives within.

July 22-August 19: Move Like the Animals
July 22: "Wiggle Jiggle jump." Animals move in many ways.
July 29: "Aquatic swimmers." View the aquatic life in the river.
August 5: "Osprey I spy." All about the local Birds of Prey.
August 12: "Flitter Fly Butterfly" Insect butterfly and its life cycle.
August 19: "Turtle Tango" What makes a turtle a reptile?

August 7-August 28: Garden Cook
Thursday afternoons from 3:00-4:00pm. Ages 3 and up with a parent. Cost: $20.
As your garden produces great food learn simple recipes to utilize what is in season. Classes also include a brief discussion and activities on historical use of local plants by Kalapuya tribes and Oregon Pioneers. Come prepared for hands-on work in the kitchen. We'll have samples to try during class and you'll leave with the makings of a quick, delicious meal (All recipes include Vegan options). You must register one week before each class.

Register by calling 753-9211, emailing info(at)corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org or clicking here.

Butterflies and Bees (Ages 6-8)
April 9, 10, and 11
Explore native flowers on your school days off as you dive into the world of pollinators. We will learn about the beauty of butterflies and the power of bees with games, art projects, stories, and hands-on fun.

Program runs from 9-2:30. Pre/after care is available. Cost is $30 per day, and single day registrations are permitted.

Nature Vacation Half Day Camps (Ages 5-8)
9am-12pm with pre/after care options. Cost $15 a day (single day registrations permitted) with an extra charge for Thursday Field Trips ($3/day) and Munch and Play ($3/hour). All programs include active educational games, hands on learning, journaling, guided exploration, themed art projects and lots of nature science fun.

June 16-20: "The World Tree." A tree is alive in more ways then people think. We will explore local trees and the life within and compare to other trees around the world. Thursday Field Trip to hill top overlook.

June 23-27: "Nocturnal Navigators." Use your senses to explore the world at night and the animals we call nocturnal. Can you navigate yourself in the dark?

July 14-18: "Slither and Slime." Creepy crawly ooey gooey fun with slugs, snakes, worms, frogs and many others. Thursday Field Trip to old growth amphibian habitat.

July 21-25: "The Power of Flight." Birds, bugs, bats, all have a different power behind their ability to fly. Learn all about there secretes. Thursday Field Trip to explore the flying life of wetlands.

August 11-15: "Aquatic Wonders." Learn about the world of water and life in the water from rivers to the ocean. Thursday Field Trip to explore pond life.

August 18-22: "Discovering Dinner." How does our food grow? What do we eat and where do we get it from? Thursday Field Trip to a working garden.

Extra Fun:

*Kindergarten Prep: All pre-kindergarten participants will receive pre Kindergarten activities to help prepare kids for starting school in the fall.
*Thursday Field trips: are optional with a $3 bus fee. Made possible by Dial-A-Bus. On Thursdays from 9:00-12:30 during each Nature Vacation Program
*Munch and Play - till 1:00 or 2:00pm. Spend some extra time playing with friends in Avery Park. Cost $3.00 per hour.

Register by calling 753-9211, emailing info(at)corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org or clicking here.

Nature Explorers (Ages 7-14)
9am-4pm with pre/after-care available.

July 7-11: "Watershed Adventure Camp." Ages 8-14. Cost: $40/day. Explore ecosystems that are found in the watershed as we travel through our local watershed by biking, hiking, and rafting, our way to the ocean. Varies local meeting sites and 2 field trips including a coast trip.

July 28-August 1: "Animal Investigators Lab" Ages 7-10. Cost: $30/day. Solve animal mysteries like a real scientist. Run experiments, lab dissection, fun games and more to become a detective of the animal world.

August 25-29: "Willamette Eco Expedition." Ages 8-14. Cost: $35/day. Enter the ecosystem around you as you explore the forest and wildlife of the Willamette Valley. Discover the plants, insects, and animals interacting right outside your door. Expedition will includes a day rafting the Willamette River with Free Spirit Rivers rafting Adventure.

Register by calling 753-9211, emailing info(at)corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org or clicking here.

Adult Classes

May 7-17: "Birding in the Willamette Valley." For beginners and newcomers. Cost: $24.
Bird identification that emphasizes our locality. Learn identification techniques, how to choose field guides and binoculars, and good local birding sites. Classroom sessions on Wednesday evenings and field trips on Saturdays.

Wed., May 7: Classroom, 7-9PM-Avery House
Sat., May 10: Field trip, 9AM-noon-Avery Park in Corvallis
Wed., May 14: Classroom, 7-9PM-Avery House
Sat., May 17: Field trip, 9AM-noon-Finley National Wildlife Refuge, 10 miles south of Corvallis.

June 11-21: "Birding by Ear." For intermediate birders. Cost: $24.
Become familiar with local bird songs and calls. Learn some tips and techniques for listening and remembering bird sounds. Beginning birdwatchers should take "Birding in the Willamette Valley" first. Classroom sessions on Wednesday evenings and field trips on Saturdays.

Wed., June 11: Classroom, 7-9PM-Avery House
Sat., June 14: Field trip, 9AM-noon- Willamette Park in Corvallis
Wed., June 18: Classroom, 7-9PM-Avery House
Sat., June 21: Field trip, 9AM-noon-Jackson-Frazier Wetland in Corvallis

Instructor: Don Boucher, 541-753-7689, bouchdon(at)peak.org.
Sponsored by the Audubon Society of Corvallis and Avery House Nature Center.

Coming Fall 2008: Naturescaping in the City.
A design workshop and lecture series.

Class meets on Tuesdays, 7-9pm, September 16-October 21. Instructor: Beth Young with guest lecturers. Location and cost: to be determined.

Register by calling 753-9211, emailing info(at)corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org or clicking here.