Austin Nature and Science Center

We visited Austin Nature and Science Center while on vacation over the break! We have ANCA reciprocity through Woodlawn Nature Center for many nature centers (great perk!); however, this one is FREE! What a great resource for the community! I loved the entryway of sculpted branches! 

As we entered, I noticed the Earth Healing sign--I thought this was a nice touch and good reminder to let certain areas not get trampled. I always like checking out the maps and the layout of the area. 

There was a Little Free Library (love these!) just outside of the dedicated Nature's Way Preschool area. I would have loved a tour of the nature preschool, but did peek through the fence. I like checking out how they structure sessions in various areas, too. 

The nature preschool area looks like a place to explore outside, with room to work on projects on the tables outside, places to get creative, and room to play. I like that it didn't look "pristine", but actually looked like a place that is used and adored by the children. 

In nearby public spaces, they had several areas with natural elements as an invitation to play! 

They also encouraged and modeled pollinator habitats. We are working on that more at our house, having just planted a bunch of perennial pollinator plants this fall. Hopefully they do well this spring and summer! 

As we approached the center, mosaics welcomed us to explore. There was a working honeybee hive inside the building, allowing us to see how busy bees really are. 

There were numerous shelved cabinets like this with bones, rocks, and other items to explore like this. Most had labels were a good addition. It looks like the cabinets might have been repurposed and fitted with clear plexiglass covers and locks to protect the components. There were also big tables of STUFF for exploration and learning. Several had laminated "clues" tied to the specimen with string which helped us learn more about the objects. 

There were scales, maps, stools, and reference materials to help us explore. There was even a nearby "cave", though it was temporarily closed.

 

One aspect I liked that I have been looking into is a trade counter. These items were housed on various shelves, with points assigned to each object. As you earned points by bringing in additional trade items, you could use the points for new objects. Pretty cool! They inform the users on good collecting techniques and keeping collecting sustainable as well as following regulations. 

I've seen this nano panel at a few places recently! There were exhibition aspects throughout the grounds, such as the rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and more. 

What the kids really enjoyed, was the creek running through the area. They could have stayed all day, though we found a nearby dino digging pit AND had other cool places to visit. 

There were live animals outside in cages and another building with animals from the area. We don't get to see a bobcat that close up very often. :-)

The entrance to the dino digging pit was cool! There were shovels, diggers, and brushes to help uncover the hidden dinosaur, sea creature, and ice age creatures buried in the sand. This was a popular area!

 

Even the oldest found joy in discovering the fossils! 

One boy really wanted to climb anything and everywhere he could find. This was a hilly area throughout the nature center, so he was climbing lots of things!

There were several distinct areas for digging, each with a different focus. 

There were interpretive panels and a field journal of the dig nearby as well. This added to the learning experience.

They had lots of fun! 

As we left, I noticed this list of what was found at the center, kept up by Master Naturalists from the area. 

There was a Science Discovery area, with activities on sorting rocks. I liked the trays with information sheets on each. I'll have to make something similar soon! I'm always looking for good ideas as we visit places.

We found more climbing/play areas as we left. Who needs a playground? 

We absolutely loved this tree! Glad they could keep it as part of the experience! The Austin Nature and Science Center was a great place to visit. We could have stayed much longer. If you're in the area, check it out. If you're elsewhere, check out your local nature centers to see what they might have to offer. Also, as you travel, see what natural spaces (like nature centers) may be nearby--they are usually inexpensive (or free with reciprocity), have a bit of local flavor, and can be a great way to connect to nature! 

Lilly Nature Center

We were in West Lafayette the other weekend and stopped by Lilly Nature Center that is part of the Celery Bog Nature Area. As we drove up, it was great to see so many people out using the property, whether they were hiking, jogging, cycling, birding, etc. I love seeing natural spots in the middle of busy life! This is about 195 acres of wetlands, woods, and fields. The small interpretive center also hosts a room for rent for conferences and meeting space.

As we entered the nature center, we were greeted by barefoot children sitting on a log watching a turtle.  What a great way to set the stage for exploring nature! Inside we checked out the wildlife viewing window first. Sound is piped in from outside over speakers so we could hear all the birds outside. The feeders were plentiful and well stocked. We talked about the many birds outside, like the juncos, cardinals, etc.

 

The lobby has many windows open to the natural world, helping us feel at home in nature. There were a few interactive components that helped us learn more about frogs and other animals. My youngest loved being next to a frog his size! 

Fernwood Nature Center Summer Break!

A few things I like about Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve:

1. There are plenty of options of things to do, such as visit the library, programs, the nature center, special exhibits, sculptures and artwork, the cafe, the store area, etc.
2. There is a wide variety of types of land--gardens, pond, water features including the river, arboretum, prairie, woods, etc.
3. Fernwood has many "extras" available, such as scavenger hunts, volunteer opportunities, backpacks to check out, geocaching, etc. They have a full calendar schedule.
4. Their membership gives reciprocity to both nature centers and botanical gardens in their respective systems.
5. Fernwood blends "nature" with gardens well. It is a very pretty place with many natural spaces in the nature preserve.
We've visited a few times. Here are highlights:
Stick building with Patrick Dougherty
A Winter Visit to Fernwood

On to our summer break adventure: 

I wanted to go do something with the kids and started heading toward Curious Kids Museum as the weather looked dubious. However, the kids convinced me that Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve would be a better option as it was a little closer. Thankfully, the weather held out--it was beautiful! Entering Fernwood, we saw a long snake crossing the road. Of course, we had to stop, roll down the windows and investigate! There are also numerous sculptures along the drive and within the property. These add to the value of the trip, as we talk about lines, color, use of movement, shape, etc.

The Nature Center at McCormick's Creek State Park

As part of our experience at McCormick's Creek State Park for the Certified Interpretive Guide Training, we visited the onsite nature center. It shows the history of the area and the natural life of McCormick's Creek. Feel free to check out my reaction to the park as a whole here.

Nature Center at Bendix Woods County Park

We stopped by the Children's Discovery Room at Bendix Woods County Park during the Sugar Camp Days. I took a few pictures to let you know what to expect at the area. I love the park in general as there are plenty of natural spaces, playgrounds, and the nature center. Bendix Woods County Park has many amenities, such as hiking trails, ponds, fields, mountain bike trails, and the famous Studebaker pine trees. I've seen beautiful pictures of trillium in the spring as well.

In the Children's Discovery Room, I loved this area for young children! I like the mirror down low, dress up items nearby, flowers to plant, etc. Everything is kid friendly and meant to explore.

Across from this area is a "dark" room where we crossed over into the night. Various nocturnal animals were highlighted, as well as a guide to the planets. 

Displays on the wall help the visitor explore and interact with nature more. 

This section is neat as it looks at life under the soil. I liked the interactive aspect of finding the right animal that fits with the tunnel. There is actually a tunnel right here that children can crawl through to go to the Night World room, further extending the experience underground. 

 

This display on soil really let us know what all is happening under the ground! I know as spring approaches, I'm glad to see more and more of my yard as the snow melts. 

There were a couple of displays on birds, looking at "tools of the trade" and different parts of a bird. The Birds & Blooms display helps the viewer know what to name when describing a bird during observation.

There is a small viewing window with information about typical birds and blooms that might be seen out the window. I like how these are easily accessible in a handy bin on the wall. The discovery drawers were also neat, with interesting artifacts to explore and learn more about.

Another exploration area included animals on the wall, build a forest scene and other items on the floor. Since we were there for Sugar Camp Days there were also Pioneer toys out for play, along with the normal books, blocks, and other items.  

Another area had a small winter display and pictures of animals to categorize on the magnetic side of the display case. 

The building also houses offices for staff at the park and a multi purpose room. It had a display on maple sugaring at Bendix Woods when we visited, though they may change it out from time to time. 

It's great to have another option to explore nature in the Michiana area. I would combine this with a hike and a stop at the playground if I took my children. What a fun way to get outside while exploring through play and learning about nature!