WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Conservation District will offer a series of programs to help families make winter discoveries.
• Nature Play Open House: 10 a.m. to noon Monday at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. Parents and tots are invited to experience the fun and learning available at Prairieview Education Center. Play with nature puzzles, games, puppets and more. There will be a guided hike at 11 a.m. A craft table will be set up throughout the program. Those who plan to join the hike should dress for the weather. The program is free for county residents and $3 for nonresidents. It is for children ages infant to 5, accompanied by an adult. The registration deadline is Wednesday.
• Spectacular Snowflakes: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. What is a stellar dendrite? Why is snow white? Are there really no two snowflakes that are exactly alike? Participants should dress for the weather. The program is free for county residents and $5 for nonresidents. It is for youth ages 8 to 10. The registration deadline is Monday.
• Breakfast and Birding: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17 at Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, Route 31 and Harts Road, Ringwood. Participants will have a hot beverage and warm breakfast treat on a cold winter morning in the beautiful overlook room at the Lost Valley Visitor Center. Then they will set off on a hike to explore Glacial Park in search of McHenry County’s winter birds. Participants should bring binoculars and a field guide if they have them. There will be limited supplies to share. The program costs $3 for county residents and $3.75 for nonresidents. It is for adults 14 years and older. The registration deadline is Feb. 12.
• Land Conservation, Art, and Artists: Noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 17 at Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, Route 31 and Harts Road, Ringwood. Join local artists as they share history and explore the philosophy behind landscape painting and our innate attraction to the land. Enjoy a live demonstration as the painters develop plein air paintings using the view from the Valley Overlook Room. The program costs $6 for county residents and $7.50 for nonresidents. It is for adults 14 years and older. The registration deadline is Tuesday.
• Discovery Days: 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 20 at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. Come out for an hour of fun, including a game, craft and other educational activities based around the special theme. There will be a short walk if weather allows. Participants should dress for the weather.
The program is free for county residents and $3 for nonresidents. It is for children ages 2 to 6, accompanied by an adult. The registration deadline is Feb. 15.
• Nature Did it First: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. This family program will explore the ideas from nature that inspired some great scientific inventions. Participants will see a short presentation and visit stations to experiment with some of nature’s inventions. The program will end with a hike outside. Dress for the weather.
The program is free for county residents and $5 for nonresidents. It is for ages 8 to 12, accompanied by an adult. The registration deadline is Feb. 18.
• Science on Ice: Exploring Antarctica: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 26 at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. Ever wonder about what scientific research is being done in the Antarctic? Award-winning Crystal Lake teacher Betty Trummel will offer a presentation on the science and technology used to help better understand the world and its climate history. She is part of the education and outreach team for the WISSARD Project,(Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling) working alongside scientists from Northern Illinois University and other universities. The program is free for county residents and $6 for nonresidents. It is for adults 14 years and older. The registration deadline is Feb. 15.
Registration is accepted online at www.mccdistrict.org, by phone at 815-479-5779, by mail or by walk-in at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake.
