Feathered, Furred, or Floral: Take Your Pick!

Springtime in Northern California offers up a number of opportunities for families to get out, explore, and shake off the feel of those lingering winter clouds. Field trips don’t have to be a school activity, they can happen whenever and wherever we choose. Whether you’re looking for a chance to see animals, explore area wildflowers, or just adventure out in the parks, destinations for your springtime field trips are all around.

If your little ones are hoping for some hands-on animal explorations, check out Two By Two Petting Zoo in Chico. The ranch has been in business for over twenty years and has an assortment of farm animals including Nigerian dwarf and Nubian goats, turkeys, chickens, miniature horses, donkeys, and rabbits. The educational tours are by appointment only and can be scheduled by messaging them on their Facebook page or calling 530-570-7143.

Maybe it’s the wild animals that capture your family’s attention. If that’s the case, then stop by the Chico Creek Nature Center located at 1968 E. 8th Street in Chico, CA. Their hours vary with the season, so be sure to check the chicorec.com website for updated days and times. The Living Animal Museum hosts a variety of local wildlife to learn about like rattlesnakes, turtles, and a red-tailed hawk. If you’re interested in more of a group event, Nature ABC’s is great for families with children ages 0-5 to spend an hour together doing nature related activities with animal visits, singing, story time, art projects, and nature walks. It takes place on Fridays and is free of charge through funding from First 5 Butte County. A new offering is The Owl Prowl which will have a small fee associated with it. Kids will get to explore the science lab onsite and dissect an owl pellet before venturing out into the park to see if they can see or hear some resident owls. The center also offers new moon and full moon night hikes for the more adventurous non-stroller groups which take place in Upper Bidwell. You’ll explore how different plants and animals adapt to living in darkness while spotting and learning about different constellations.

The vibrant wildflowers that poke up their bright-colored blooms beginning in spring may be just the thing to cure those dreary winter blues. While Table Mountain in Oroville is an extremely popular and well-known site for viewing some of California’s super blooms, its parking challenges and early morning primetime viewing may be too much for a casual field trip. A closer, easier option in north Chico would be Verbena Fields, a 17-acre native restoration and interpretive park intended to teach the community about the Mechoopda people’s native land stewardship. They aim “to restore the community’s relationship with the environment with shared knowledge from Tribes and local community members. Every single soul in Butte county is part of this truth today, and we must recognize our ability to rise to the occasion and seize the opportunity” says Ali Meders-Knight, Mechoopda Tribal Member and Traditional Ecological Stewardship Program Educator. The park is located at the corner of East 1st Avenue and Verbena Lane in Chico. You can either explore the area on your own or join in a Wildtending Plant Walk every last Tuesday of the month, two hours before sunset.

Feathered, furred, or floral; whatever sparks your little one's curiosity and connects them to this place will keep them excited and exploring for years to come. We could all use a little field trip now and then.