New Programs Coming to Peck Farm Park This Spring

GENEVA, IL - Peck Farm Park offers environmental education opportunities for all ages. By exposing children to nature and allowing them to learn and play outside, environmental education fosters sensitivity, appreciation, and respect for the environment, according to a news release from the Geneva Park District.

New programs at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road in Geneva, this spring include:

• Wild & Wonderful Weekends is a new program for the entire family! On Saturday, March 18, from 10:00 -11:00 am, explore Animal Awakenings with age-appropriate activities for families with children ages 2-15.
• Science in the Springtime will offer children (ages 5-8) the chance to explore the wonders of nature and weather through hands-on experiments. Thursday, April 13, 3:45 – 4:45 pm.
• Wake Up, World! offers children (ages 2-5 with parent) the opportunity to learn about all the amazing changes that spring brings – animals return from migrations and come out of hibernation, plants sprout, and life is renewed. Tuesday, May 2, 10:00 – 11:00 am.
• Mother’s Day Bouquet will offer children (ages 5-8) the chance to make Mom an eco-friendly bouquet out of recycled materials (just in time for Mother’s Day!) while learning about different animal moms. Thursday, May 11, 3:45 – 4:45 pm.
• Mud Pie Mess will encourage your child (ages 4-8) to explore the ooey-gooey world of dirt and worms! Make your own mud and discover how animals use mud in nature. Tuesday, May 16, 3:45 – 4:45 pm.

Peck Farm Park will also be hosting the following upcoming programs:

• Little Buds offers our youngest naturalists (ages 12-30 months with parent) the opportunity to play, learn, and discover the wonders of the natural world while making new friends and participating in hands-on activities and mini-explorations. Little Buds meets from 10:00-10:45 am on Wednesday, March 15; Friday, March 24; Wednesday, April 5; Thursday, April 20; and Tuesday May 9. Sign up for one or all!
• Tales About Tails shares stories about animals with children ages 2-5 (with parent) then engages them with animal games and crafts. Tales About Tails meets from 10:00 – 11:00 amon Friday, March 10; Wednesday, March 22; Friday, April 7, Wednesday, April 19; and Friday, May 12. Sign up for one or all – a different animal is highlighted each week.
• Cache In, Trash Out (CITO) offers families a hiking adventure that combines geocaching with a spring clean-up of Peck Farm Park. We’ll provide a GPS-enabled device (or use your own smart phone) to navigate through an outdoor treasure hunt while also collecting trash from the park. What reward awaits you at the final coordinates? Come and see! Saturday, April 15, 9:00-10:00 am.
• The Peck Farm Park Annual Butterfly Release Party is on May 20. Sign up for a 30-minute time-slot and have the hands-on experience of releasing a live butterfly into the world. Register early for this popular event. The Butterfly House will open to the public immediately following the Party.

Check out the Geneva Park District’s Spring 2017 Brochure for even more fun at Peck Farm, including the Bunny Hop, April Showers, Spring is Just Ducky, Feeding Feathered Friends, Tyke Hike, and more.

For more information and to register for programs, visit genevaparks.org or call 630-232-4542.

Peck Farm Park is a 385 acre natural retreat located at 4038 Kaneville Road in Geneva. The park features a 19-acre wetland, nature and bike trails, sensory garden, observation silo, outdoor amphitheater, butterfly house, nature playground, history gallery, nature exploration room, and gift shop. The Park is open year-round. Trails and other outdoor areas are open daily from sunrise - 10:00 pm. Buildings are open in the spring Monday through Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Photo via the Geneva Park District