Inside the Wild

Owl Pellet Dissections

March 14, 2026 – 2-4pm

March’s Inside the Wild program participants will explore the incredible adaptations that make owls expert nocturnal hunters and learn the vital role they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Using real owl pellets, students will investigate food webs and biodiversity the way scientists do, examining bones and other remains with charts and magnifying tools. Guided by experienced educators, this hands-on session turns wildlife science into an engaging, real-world detective adventure.

---

Creature Feature

April 11, 2026 – 2-4pm

April’s Inside the Wild program invites young scientists and engineers to think like wildlife problem-solvers. Participants will begin by exploring native habitats and how animals are uniquely adapted to survive in them. Students will then design their own original creatures, build them in a hands-on makerspace environment, and defend their designs using real STEM reasoning. Through creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, this session brings wildlife science to life in a fun and engaging way.

---

Remake Learning Days – TRACKS!

May 16, 2026 – 2-4pm – this is a drop in event

May’s Inside the Wild program is part of the Remake Learning Days initiative and by using stamps and guided examples, participants will create their own take-home book of native animal tracks, building pages as they go and turning observation into hands-on discovery. This interactive session strengthens critical thinking, attention to detail, and a deeper understanding of the wildlife that shares our world. This is a drop in and children are to be accompanied by their parent/guardian the entire time.

---

Jr. Wildlife Rehabilitator

June 20, 2026 – 2-4pm – SOLD OUT

June 20, 2026 – 10am-12pm

June’s Inside the Wild program offers participants a realistic, hands-on look at what happens behind the scenes in a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Students will step into the role of a rehabilitator as they practice intake and assessment, weighing patients, administering mock medications, basic wound care, and housing and husbandry decisions using models, tools, and guided scenarios. Participants will complete care for their assigned “patients” and take them home, reinforcing learning beyond the session. Led by experienced educators, this immersive experience highlights the precision, responsibility, and compassion required in wildlife rehabilitation. 

---

Animal Adaptations

July 11, 2026 – 2-4pm

July’s Inside the Wild program explores the physical and behavioral traits that help wildlife survive in their environments. Participants will investigate structural adaptations (such as claws, teeth, and fur), behavioral adaptations (including burrowing, hibernation, and foraging), and camouflage as they relate to specific habitats and ecosystems. Through hands-on activities and real-world examples, students will analyze how form and function, environmental pressures, and survival strategies shape wildlife over time. This session strengthens scientific vocabulary, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of how animals are adapted to thrive in the wild.

---

Wildlife Crafts

August 8, 2026 – 2-4pm

August’s Inside the Wild program combines creativity with science as participants explore native wildlife through hands-on projects. Students will create animal and nature-inspired crafts while learning how features such as tracks, fur, feathers, and habitats connect to wildlife survival and behavior. Each activity is designed to reinforce key concepts like observation, pattern recognition, and form and function, allowing participants to take home meaningful creations tied to real wildlife learning. This session encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and a deeper connection to the animals that share our world.

---

Monarch Butterflies

September 12, 2026 – 2-4pm

September’s Inside the Wild explores the remarkable life cycle and migration of one of North America’s most recognizable insects, Monarch Butterflies. Participants will learn key STEM concepts including metamorphosis, life cycle stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult), migration, and pollination, while examining the monarch’s reliance on milkweed and nectar plants. Through hands-on activities and guided exploration, students will investigate how habitat loss, environmental change, and food webs affect monarch populations and discover how conservation actions can support pollinators. This session builds scientific vocabulary, systems thinking, and environmental stewardship.

---

BATS!

October 31, 2026 – 2-4pm

October’s Inside the Wild explores the fascinating adaptations that make bats unique and essential members of healthy ecosystems. Participants will learn key STEM concepts including echolocation, nocturnal behavior, mammal characteristics, habitat, and food webs, while examining how bats help control insect populations. Through hands-on activities and guided investigation, students will explore how sensory adaptation, wing structure, and energy conservation support survival. This session builds scientific vocabulary, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of why bats matter and how humans can coexist safely and responsibly with them.

---