nature

Visit carmelclayparks.com/volunteer to learn about volunteer opportunities within our nature programs.

PARENT/CHILD

KNEE HIGH NATURALIST Your young explorer will build an appreciation for nature as they discover the great outdoors through hikes, songs and art projects. Adults will gain knowledge and skills for teaching children about the natural world around them with both indoor and outdoor experiences. Join us for a new adventure each month!

Ages: 1-5 years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE WILFONG PAVILION 1001001-01 May 6-27 W 10:00-11:00am $26 Baby Animals

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE MONON COMMUNITY CENTER WEST, PARTY ROOM A&B 1001001-02 Jun 4-25 Th 5:15-6:15pm $26 Lady Bugs and Fireflies 1001001-03 Jul 9-30 Th 5:15-6:15pm $26 Splish, Splash, Water Fun!

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE LAWRENCE W. INLOW PARK 1001001-04 Aug 13-27 Th 10:00-11:00am $20 Monarch Madness

CHASING FIREFLIES Fireflies are one of the most exciting parts of summer. Learn alongside your child about these fascinating creatures, also known as lightning bugs, and how they create their glow. You’ll play firefly tag, create your own firefly and read The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle.

Ages: 1-4 years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE MONON COMMUNITY CENTER WEST, PARTY ROOM A&B 1001002-01 Jun 17 W 5:15-6:15pm $7 1001002-02 Jun 30 T 5:15-6:15pm $7

YOUTH

CREEK STOMPING EXPLORERS NEW! Let’s go creek stomping! Wildlife around the creek is amazing. Kids will peer into the lives of the many creatures that call the creek home. Kids will discover the diverse plants and animals that live in and around the water’s edge as they play “Water Bingo.” Toads, salamanders, crayfish and minnows may be lurking. We’ll be stealthy and catch them so we can examine them up close using hand-held microscopes.

Ages: 6-11 years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE CENTRAL PARK EAST GROVE SHELTER 1 AT CENTRAL PARK 1001003-01 May 18 M 4:00-5:00pm $7 1001003-02 Jun 8 M 4:00-5:00pm $7 1001003-03 Jul 21 T 4:00-5:00pm $7 1001003-04 Jul 28 T 4:00-5:00pm $7

BIRDING FOR KIDS NEW! Birds are wonderful, amazing creatures! Join us for a birding adventure in Central Park. You’ll be surprised to see all the unique and rare birds that hang out near the Central Park lagoon! We will listen to their calls and learn what each bird sounds like. We will also learn what each type of bird likes to eat and how they build their homes!

Ages: 6-11 years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE CENTRAL PARK WEST COMMONS SHELTER #4 AT CENTRAL PARK 1001004-01 Jun 2 T 10:00-11:00am $7 1001004-02 Jun 9 T 10:00-11:00am $7 1001004-03 Jun 16 T 10:00-11:00am $7

FISHING II Had your first taste of fishing and want to learn more? This course will help you learn advanced techniques in casting, knot tying, using slip bobbers, map reading and how various fish relate to different environments. Safety will continue to be our number one priority as we fish potential hot spots at the pond. Get ready to watch your bobber bounce! All supplies provided.

Ages: 8-15 years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE CENTRAL PARK WEST COMMONS SHELTER #4 AT CENTRAL PARK 1001006-01 Jun 22-24 M-W 6:00-7:30pm $30

FISHING I Hook, line and sinker! Whether you’re new to fishing or still learning, this class is for you! Learn fishing techniques including how to tie a knot, cast, and reel ‘em in as well as fish handling and safety. And of course, we’ll go fishing along the boardwalk! Get ready to catch a big one! All supplies provided.

Ages: 8-15 years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE CENTRAL PARK WEST COMMONS SHELTER #4 AT CENTRAL PARK 1001005-01 Jun 8-10 M-W 6:00-7:30pm $30

FAMILY LEARN TO FISH Have you been looking for a new outdoor activity to do as a family? This free introductory workshop is designed specifically for families to learn how to fish together! You’ll learn a little fish biology, gain some basic fishing skills, and finally, apply what you’ve learned along the Central Park Lagoon. No fishing license required as the day of the class is a Free Fishing Day! All fishing supplies are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring a chair. Each family member needs to register, and each child must be accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by DNR’s Go FishIN program.

Ages: 8+ years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE MONON COMMUNITY CENTER WEST, PARTY ROOM A&B 1001007-01 Jun 6 Sa 9:00am-12:00pm FREE

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Have some free time this summer? Volunteer with us! Volunteering in the parks makes a big difference in the community. Come on your own or volunteer with family, friends or colleagues.

CARMELCLAYPARKS.COM

FAMILY NIGHT EXPLORATION Bring the whole family out to the trails! Join our resident naturalist on a hike through Central Park. You will observe the nighttime songs of birds, movement of wildlife and maybe even hear an owl call on this short walk through the woods! Please dress for the weather and wear clothing and shoes that can get dirty. A flashlight or headlamp is required and binoculars are optional. Registration is per family.

Ages: 4+ years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE CENTRAL PARK EAST GROVE SHELTER 1 AT CENTRAL PARK 1001008-01 Jun 13 Sa 8:00-9:30pm $10

FAMILY CREEK STOMP We’re headed to the stream for creek stomping! What better way to cool off from the summer heat? Not only will we have fun splashing, we’ll also learn about the critters that live in the water with our resident naturalist. Please wear shoes and clothes that can get wet and muddy. Registration is per family.

Ages: 4+ years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE CENTRAL PARK EAST GROVE SHELTER 1 AT CENTRAL PARK 1001009-01 Jul 13 M 5:30-6:30pm $10 1001009-02 Aug 18 M-T 5:30-6:30pm $10

TWEENS & TEENS

SURVIVAL SKILLS Do you know how to build a fire, orient a map or use a compass? These classes will prepare you for your next outdoor adventure. Choose one or both classes!

Ages: 6-10 years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE CENTRAL PARK WEST COMMONS SHELTER #4 AT CENTRAL PARK 1001010-01 Jun 2 T 3:00-4:00pm $10 Orienteering 1001010-02 Jun 3 W 7:30-8:30pm $10 Fire Building

Ages: 11-14 years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE CENTRAL PARK WEST COMMONS SHELTER #4 AT CENTRAL PARK 1001010-03 Jun 9 T 3:00-4:00pm $10 Orienteering 1001010-04 Jun 10 W 7:30-8:30pm $10 Fire Building

ADULT

MAP AND COMPASS ORIENTING NEW! Need directions? For most of us, our go-to is the Maps app on our phone. If your phone doesn’t get a signal on your next adventure, could you orient a map using a compass? After participating in this class, you will! Together we will learn the life-saving skills of basic navigation. The next time you’re out on a hike or adventure, you can use these skills to navigate the outdoors!

Ages: 16+ years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE MONON COMMUNITY CENTER EAST, PROGRAM ROOM A 1001011-01 Aug 10 M 6:00-7:30pm $10

WILD EDIBLES Native people lived off the land for their survival. Have you ever wondered which plants are edible? On a short hike around Central Park we will identify which plants are edible, which are poisonous and discuss how our ancestors survived without the local grocery store.

Ages: 16+ years • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE MONON COMMUNITY CENTER EAST, MULTIPURPOSE ROOM B 1001012-01 Aug 12 W 5:30-6:30pm $8

MY PARK SERIES: MEADOWLARK PARK NEW! Come explore this 18-acre park right in the heart of Carmel! Meadowlark is conveniently located along the Monon Trail and is home to a lake that is annually stocked with fish. It is a great place to come cast a line or have a picnic. Join us as we walk along the lake loop and see what ecology Meadowlark Park has to offer!

All Ages • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE MEADOWLARK PARK 1001015-01 May 28 Th 6:30-7:30pm FREE

YOU’RE A STAR

Express your creativity this summer. Lace up your ballet slippers with Beautiful Ballerinas, dance to the beat in Hip Hop Pop or create a masterpiece in Intro to Painting.

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NATIONAL MOTH WEEK NEW! Celebrate National Moth Week! Join us for some nighttime citizen science as we will attract moths using sugaring and spotlighting at West Park. Bring your ID books and join us to see what moths call West Park home!

MY PARK SERIES: PRAIRIE MEADOW PARK NEW! Join us at Prairie Meadow to step into a restored prairie. This pocket park is tucked away in a neighborhood with four acres of prairie. Come learn about native prairie species and the basics of how to identify them!

All Ages • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE PRAIRIE MEADOW PARK 1001016-01 Jun 25 Th 6:30-7:30pm FREE All Ages • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE PERELMAN PAVILION ROOM A AT WEST PARK 1001017-01 Jul 23 Th 8:30-10:30pm FREE

CITIZEN SCIENCE WEEK: WATER ECOLOGY NEW! Join us in monitoring water at Central Park’s Carmel Creek. We will use techniques outlined by IDEM’s Hoosier Riverwatch Program that include dipnets, turbidity, pH, velocity and more. After participating, you can sign up to apply the skills you just learned as a citizen scientist volunteer!

All Ages • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE CENTRAL PARK EAST GROVE SHELTER 1 AT CENTRAL PARK 1001018-01 Aug 20 Th 6:00-7:30pm FREE

CITIZEN SCIENCE WEEK: INVASIVE SPECIES NEW! Learn about some of the most common invasive species in our area and then apply what you learned by helping us remove invasive plants at the park. This session will be an introduction to common invasive species and an opportunity to learn about how you can volunteer as an invasive species monitor in the parks (see page 8 for more information).

All Ages • Instructor: CCPR Staff

ACTIVITY# DATES DAYS TIME FEE HAZEL LANDING PARK bit.ly/ccpr-vol Aug 17 M 9:00am-12:00pm FREE