A monthly program series for very young children, ages 18 months–3 years (and their grown-ups!), where we listen to a story, practice developmentally appropriate skills, interact with other youngsters and enjoy nature outside whenever possible. Preregistration is required for these free, 30-minute programs. Walk-ups are not guaranteed a spot.

The Very Quiet Cricket
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 10:30–11 a.m.
"The Very Quiet Cricket," by Eric Carle, captures our imagination while we practice counting and observing similarities and differences. A short walk to look for crickets and other insects rounds out our morning!

I Love Spiders
Tuesday, Sept. 3, 10:30–11 a.m.
Subject of nursery rhymes and tales, spiders are cool! Join staff to read "I Love Spiders," by John Parker, sing a spider song and pretend to BE a spider before taking a short walk to mist spider webs and to see who’s home.

Fall Leaves Fall
Tuesday, October 1, 10:30-11 a.m.
Fall is a magical time at Blue Jay—the shady green woods become full of all kinds of different colors! We’ll read "Fall Leaves Fall," by Zoe Hall and work on our colors and sizes before taking a short walk to enjoy the trees.

10 Fat Turkeys
Tuesday, November 12, 10:30-11 a.m.
Gobble, Gobble, Wibble, Wobble! Join us for "10 Fat Turkeys," by Tony Johnston, a silly story about turkeys and numbers—we’ll practice some colors too! 

Forest Tracks
Tuesday, December 3, 10:30-11 a.m.
Have you ever left a wet footprint on the pavement at the pool?  Animals leave tracks behind too! Enjoy "Forest Tracks," by Dee Dee Duffy and then we’ll experiment with making tracks as well.

Nature Stories is a 1-hour program for children ages 3–6, with a participating parent/adult, and includes a combination of inside time and outside nature exploration. Preregistration is required for these free, 1-hour programs. Walk-ups are not guaranteed a spot.

Crazy about Caterpillars
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 1–2 p.m.
Can you say “metamorphosis”? Learn about the exciting process that changes caterpillars into butterflies.  Visit Blue Jay’s butterfly garden while searching for the fluttering bright spots of summer and for munching, creeping caterpillars!

Crowing for Joy
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1–2 p.m.
How can you tell the difference between an American Crow and a Fish Crow? Lots of Blue Jay kids can tell you that, but did you know that crows are among the smartest birds? Join us for an hour of amazing crow facts, stories and activities that will help you appreciate this large bird.

Nature Colors & Shapes
Wednesday, October 23, 1-2 p.m.
Mother Nature is dressed in an amazing array of colors and shapes. Let’s go for a hike and see how many we can find!

Gobble, Gobble!
Wednesday, November 6, 1-2 p.m.
Join us as we strut down a woodland trail learning about that fantastic, feathered fowl — the turkey!

Nature Neighbors
Wednesday, December 11, 1-2 p.m.
Learn about our winter animal neighbors and make a special treat to feed the birds.

Family Wildlife Series (FWS) programs are usually open to all ages, although information and activities are most appropriate for ages 5 years and up. Occasionally there will be a FWS program with a higher age limit – if so, it will be indicated in the description. All members of the family in attendance must be registered to attend the program – if you are unable to register a family member, either the size limit of the class has been reached, or that child does not meet the age limit to attend. Don't forget, kids are not required to attend – individual adults are welcome!

Preregistration is required for all Family Wildlife Series Programs unless otherwise stated. Walk-ups are not guaranteed a spot.

Warts & All
Saturday, Aug. 31, 10–11 a.m.
Toads are amphibians that spend the early part of their lives under water and the remainder of their lives on land eating the things that “bug your garden.”  Learn toad-ally fascinating things as we separate toad fact from fiction, and then create a toad abode to put in your yard.

Something Fishy
Saturday, Sept. 7, 10–11 a.m.
Swim on over for some fishy fun! Discover the wild world of ichthyology and what makes fish unique. Try your hand at some dry land reeling, make a fish print and learn about our common native NC fish. Part of the ecoEXPLORE Ichthyology field season.

From Landfill to Green Hill (at Green Hills County Park)
Friday, Sept. 20, 9:30–11 a.m.
Always wanted to know how a landfill becomes a park? Take a short walking tour up the “big hill” and discover the history of how Green Hills came to be. Learn about how to reduce your waste and create a fun recycled craft to take home! Join us on this Teacher Workday and have some fun on our green hill! For ages 6 & up.

Calling all Crows!
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10–11 a.m.
Blue jays, crows, ravens, magpies and more are all part of a family of extra smart birds called “corvids.” Come find out through hikes and activities how these birds cleverly use their big brains to do all kinds of amazing and unusual things.

A World of Webs
Saturday, October 12, 10-11 a.m.
Spider webs are one of nature’s most beautiful designs, while food webs help explain what plants and animals need to grow and how they are dependent. Explore nearby fields and woods for a variety of spiders and the webs they weave, then we’ll include spiders in our food web game! 

Howl-o-Ween
Saturday, October 19, 2-3 p.m.
Learn all about the reintroduction of Red Wolves into the NC wilds and about the expansion of coyotes into NC territory.   

Getting Treed
Saturday, November 9, 2-3 p.m.
Practice your tree ID on a wander through the fall woods, and then design a “leaf critter” out of pressed leaves to take home.

Holiday Habitat Helpers
Saturday, December 14, 2-3 p.m.
You can attract winter wildlife to your backyard by providing or improving their habitat. We’ll check out Blue Jay’s garden area for some ideas before creating several simple habitat helpers you can add to your own yard.

Fossil Fundamentals
Saturday, December 21, 2-3 p.m.
What the heck is a fossil and where do you find them? You can start your very own fossil collection as you explore the basics of fossils. 

Whether you are an outdoor buff wanting to hone your skills, or a dabbler who would just like to try something new, come hang with the Blue Jay staff and work on some Serious Skills! Criteria II or III or CEU credit may be available for participants in the NC EE Certification Program, depending on the session. Preregistration is required for all SSA sessions. SSA session topics run the gamut from Field ID workshops to Eco-Crafts and Upcycling! Preregistration is required.

Butterflies 101
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2–4 p.m.
Butterflies on the wing! From the tiniest skipper to the giant swallowtail, butterflies are a source of inspiration and pollination. Learn techniques to distinguish between different butterflies and their kin while investigating plants that will encourage caterpillars and butterflies to your home. For age 16 & up. Counts towards NCEE Criteria II, III or CE credit.

Gardening for Pollinators
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.–noon
Stroll through our garden and learn the keys to bringing pollinators to your own outdoor space. We’ll discuss plant selection and how to welcome butterflies, birds, and bees year-round to any yard or patio. Fall is a perfect time to prepare! For age 16 & up. Counts towards NCEE Criteria II, III or CE credit.

Introduction to Birding
Saturday, December 14, 9-11 a.m.
Birding is quickly becoming one of the most popular outdoor hobbies, for good reason! Whether you already call yourself a birder or you’re just interested in learning a little more, this class is for everyone. We’ll learn various ways to bird, practice some bird calls, and go on a walk to see what December species we can find. Our walk will be approximately 1.5 miles on terrain ranging from pavement, gravel, and grass. For 16yrs & up. Counts towards NCEE Criteria II or III.

Blue Jay Point offers a variety of educator programs, including a number of workshops for NC Environmental Education Certification or CEU credits.

Methods of Teaching Environmental Education
Tuesday, Aug. 20, 5–9 p.m. (bring a bag dinner and drink) AND
Wednesday Aug. 21, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (bring bag lunch and drink)
Attendance for both days is required.

The focus of this 10-hour workshop is to prepare participants from a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences in both the formal and non-formal sectors to use exemplary Environmental Education teaching methods. Participants will learn about a variety of teaching techniques, methods and instructional strategies; and the workshop will include multiple interactive components. This is a required workshop for all NC Environmental Education Certification candidates.

Note: You MUST have completed and received credit for the Basics of Environmental Education 10 hour Independent Study before enrolling in the workshop. Anyone who hasn’t completed Basics of EE will be placed on a waiting list.

Adult workshop FREE but pre-registration is required.

Check out our Serious Skills of Adults for some great opportunities for Criteria II and III or Continuing Education hours.

Do you like to explore parks and preserves? Do you like winning prizes? Our Junior Park Explorers program is for you! Learn more here.