Acorn Academy Nature Preschool
Tuesdays, March 26–May 14, 10–11:30 a.m.
$100 members/$125 non-members/$50 participating siblings ages 2 and up. Thanks to a generous grant from the PNC Foundation, fees are waived for Caroline County residents.
Welcome spring with your preschooler! Designed for children ages 3 to 5, this series includes nature walks, stories, songs, snacks, and an art project to take home. Nature preschool helps children learn socialization skills while they explore the wonders of the great outdoors. Advance registration required.
Eggs-ellent Adventure (March 26)
Help crack the mystery of the incredible egg! How are eggs formed? How do they hatch? Which animals lay eggs? Young nature detectives will conduct an eggs-periment, peek inside our bluebird boxes, and make a baby bird craft.
Potato Power (April 2)
What has eyes but can’t see? A potato, of course! Let’s learn about the amazing spud, plant a potato bin in the Funshine Garden, and sing the Mashed Potato Anthem. We’ll also use potato stamps to make fun artwork.
Dinosaurs! (April 9)
Did you know that Astrodon is Maryland’s state dinosaur? Travel back in time as we learn about the dinosaurs of North America. On a nature walk, we’ll look for plants that grew during the age of the dinosaurs and investigate a trail of mysterious footprints along the way.
Wiggly Worms (April 16)
Welcome to the wiggly world of worms! Did you know that worms are a gardener’s best friend? Enjoy a walk to the Funshine Garden, where we will dig for worms in the soil. We’ll also sing a “Wiggle and Waggle” song and plant seeds!
Tree Huggers (April 23)
Celebrate Arbor Day at the Arboretum! We’ll find out how the parts of a tree work together to help the tree grow, then walk to the Arboretum’s oldest tree for a group hug. A blossoming tree craft will make the perfect gift for Mother’s Day.
Cloud Magic (April 30)
Do you see pictures in the clouds? We’ll learn to name the clouds, take a cloud walk along the Arboretum’s meadow paths, and make fluffy cotton clouds to take home. A fun cloud song and rainy day symphony will round out the morning.
Pollywog Adventure (May 7)
No need to feel stuck in a bog! Spring is in full swing, and so are the Arboretum peepers! We’ll stomp our feet to the “Pollywog Wiggle,” make a frog craft, and use nets to scoop up tadpoles and other critters in the wetland.
Stream Splashers (May 14)
Let’s take a walk to a sparkling stream and see what animals live there! If the weather’s warm enough, we’ll dip our toes in the water and race twigs under the bridge.