Activities at Landmark Park for March 26-28 and April 16-18

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Mar 21 2012 2:39 PM

(DOTHAN) Landmark Park is pleased to offer several programs on March 26-28 and April 16-18. From 8 a.m. to noon, Spring Break Day Camps will take place for ages 4-11. These camps are $15 per person per camp for members and $20 per person per camp for nonmembers.

Monday, March 26

The Shape of Things (4-5 year olds)

The natural world is full of different shapes of all types and sizes. Join us as we tour the park’s nature trail and boardwalk, exploring various shapes in nature through sight and touch. We will play games and create crafts to emphasize the connections between shapes and nature.

Living History (6-8 year olds)

Spend the morning tending to the farm animals, doing chores and playing games like children from the early 1900s. Campers will have the chance to meet and feed the animals of Landmark Park and learn about the important roles they played on the farm. We will tend to the garden and other household chores, as well as play games popular during that time.

Tuesday, March 27

Get in Touch with Trees (4-5 year olds)

Does the bark of a pine tree feel the same as the bark of an oak tree? Why are some leaves smooth while others have spikes? Come explore your sense of touch and discover why touch is important to all animals, including humans. We will collect different tree parts and discuss the importance of each while meeting new friends and enjoying the park.

What’s for Dinner (6-8 year olds)

Have you ever stopped to wonder where the food you eat comes from? We will spend the morning exploring the food webs and food chains found on the Wiregrass Farmstead and in Cedar Creek through games and other activities. The farm animals depend on us for food and water but in the wild it is either eat or be eaten!

Wednesday, March 28

Birds of Prey (6-8 year olds)

Landmark Park is home to several different species of birds of prey including hawks and owls. Why do owls hunt only at night while hawks are active during the daytime? How sharp are their talons? We will spend the morning searching for signs of these magnificent birds, including feathers and owl pellets.

The Peppermint Beetle (9-11 year olds)

Animals use their sense of smell in all sorts of ways including scent marking and hunting. Join as we explore all the smells associated with spring. We will identify the importance of the sense of smell for humans as well as the animals calling Landmark Park home. Campers will take part in activities that bring them closer to nature through the exploration of the parks natural resources and exciting science experiments.

Monday, April 16

Animals on the Farm (4-5 year olds)

Spend the morning with Elbert the goat, Janis the cow and her calf and the other animals that live on the Wiregrass Farmstead. All the animals are unique and have different things they need each day. From making a mud puddle for the pigs to giving hay to the mules we will make sure they have what they need all while enjoying new friends and exciting games and crafts.

Slithering Snakes (6-8 year olds)

Join us for a reptile adventure and learning experience as we will explore the importance of reptiles in conservation and the ecosystem along with our scaly friend’s homes, diets, and their often confusing behavior. We will discover the different habitats around Landmark Park and learn important facts like how to differentiate between venomous and non-venomous snakes, how to handle a snake encounter, and how to identify potential snake habitat. Campers will also enjoy getting to know our endangered Indigo snake and lively corn snake.

Tuesday, April 17

Animal Charades (4-5 year olds)

Chickens beat their wings, cows chew their cud and the mules swoosh their tails. The animals on the farmstead and the animals near Cedar Creek all have behaviors unique to them. Some animals even mimic the behaviors and movements of other animals to stay safe. Spend the morning exploring animals and the special ways they communicate, hunt for food and defend themselves through movements.

Trees as Habitats (6-8 year olds)

From their leafy branches to their tangled roots, trees provide a habitat for a host of plants and animals. This camp will inspect various tree species throughout the park and identify the types of birds, insects, and mammals that live on or around the tree. We will discover how plants and animals depend on trees in many ways through games, crafts and other activities

Wednesday, April 18

Now you see me, now you don’t! (6-8 year olds)

Camouflage is a tool used by many animals to keep safe and hidden from predators looking for a meal. Spend the morning searching for hidden animals found around Cedar Creek and discover the wonder of how camouflage and other survival techniques help to keep animals safe. We will even try to see how well we can blend in with the environment to keep from being seen!

The Fallen Log (9-11 year olds)

We all have the opportunity to recycle plastic, paper and aluminum, but did you know some of the world’s greatest recyclers live in the woods? Spend the morning gaining an understanding of how decomposition takes place as we develop a better appreciation for microhabitats and communities. By exploring dead and decaying plant matter throughout the park’s forest we will have fun digging, collecting and exploring in new and unfamiliar areas.

The Digitarium Planetarium will also present special programming on stars, planets and their related mythology at 1:30 p.m. each day. The Planetarium is free for members and $2 for nonmembers.

Landmark Park is also pleased to offer afternoon family programs on March 26-28 and April 16-18. Adults and children alike will enjoy visiting the park and learning about our natural and cultural heritage. Beginning at 2:30 p.m. each day a program will be presented on areas of interest at Landmark. These fun and educational programs are free with paid gate admission ($4 for adults, $3 for kids and free for members).

The programs begin on Monday, March 26 with a visit to the planetarium to discover which stars, constellations and planets are in the sky tonight. We will get up close and personal with the moon and discover why it phases. Apollo 11’s 1969 visit to the moon will also be explored with audio and video footage of the landing.

On Tuesday, March 27, spend the afternoon learning how to navigate using GPS units. We will start out with a brief introduction on how the units work and then you will get the chance to test your skills at finding hidden caches spread throughout the park.

Wednesday, March 28 will give visitors a chance to enjoy the boardwalk over Cedar Creek. Join park staff for a tour of the boardwalk as we search for the reptiles, fish, mammals and plants that call the park home. We will encounter native species as well as some invasive species that are threatening to take over. Many of the cleaning products we use on a daily basis can easily be made with all natural materials.

On Monday, April 16, visitors will learn how to make these products with natural ingredients. These materials are gentler on the environment and you. Park staff will experiment with new ways to make some of the products we use every day. Alabama is home to several threatened and endangered species that can be found right here at Landmark Park.

On Tuesday, April 17, You will get to meet our Eastern Indigo Snake, the largest snake native to North America. Come find out why he and other native species are in danger of becoming extinct.

Take a tour around the boardwalk on Wednesday, April 18, as we explore the birds that call Cedar Creek home. We will listen for the calls and songs as well as use binoculars for a close up view of our feathered friends.

Registration is required and can be made by calling 334-794-3452. Landmark Park is a 135-acre historical and natural science park located on U.S. Highway 431 North in Dothan, Ala. For more information, contact the park at 334-794-3452.

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