Walk on the Wild Side

Posted by Jenny

Last Friday night, April 13th, Cantigny hosted its first Walk on the Wild Side program for this year! We had Jim Nesci with Cold Blooded Creatures come out for a facinating presentation!

The presentation was very educational, focusing on conserving and protecting reptiles.  Jim's animals were all rescue animals and it was interesting to hear the stories of how Jim saved them.  Jim has a special bond with all his animals and his passion for his work was really obvious! The audience had a great time learning about the animals and also having some close-encounters! Children and adults got to hold and touch the animals, and a few lucky kids got to ride Bubba the Alligator!

In addition to the star of the show, Bubba, we also got to meet Tank (African Spurred Tortoise), Lucky (North American Alligator), Blondie (Albino Burmese Python), and Godzilla (Black Throat Monitor Lizard).

If you missed this Walk on the Wild Side, mark your calendars for Thursday, October 18th at 6:30pm, as we learn about owls with the Willowbrook Wildlife Center!

Here are some pictures from the event!

Tank the African Spurred Tortoise

Lucky the North American Alligator

Bubba and Jim

My new pal, Bubba! :)

Luck of the Irish

Posted by Jenny


It's hard to believe St. Patrick's Day is this Saturday! It feels more like June instead of March! I hope that you have been able to take advantage of the warm temperatures we are having and soak up some sunshine! Here are some fun ideas to make your St. Patrick's Day extra special this year!


Build a leprechaun trap! You can repurpose household items for this such as used paper, toilet paper rolls, toothpicks, scraps of yarn or ribbon, rubber bands, baby food containers, or whatever you can find! You can also take a walk in your backyard or around your block and find some fun natural items such as twigs, grass, leaves, bark, or rocks.

Let your children's imaginations run wild as they build their traps.  There is no right or wrong way to do this which is the best part! Just talk about what they think a leprechaun might be attracted to and let them build a little trap! Let your children scout out the areas in your home where they think Leprechauns might hang out and let the magic happen! When your children aren't looking, hide a little prize in the trap for them. You can put in a sticker, small piece of candy or a gold coin!

Another fun idea that I will be trying out this St. Patrick's Day is rainbow cupcakes! Here is the recipe!

And speaking of food, if your children are not big fans of corned beef and cabbage, you can always use green food coloring to turn other types of food into yummy St. Patrick's Day treats! It works especialy well with milk or mashed potatoes!

If you are in the mood for some art, here is a fun and simple craft to make--A Shamrock Man.  All you need is green and white paper, glue, and a marker!

Since the weather will be so nice, you can always celebrate your St. Patrick's Day here at Cantigny Park! Bring the family out for a nice walk, and you might even find a four-leaf clover!

Nature Journals

Posted by Jill

Without examining results of scientific studies, I think most would agree that time spent outdoors has lasting benefits. There are opportunities for new discoveries and learning adventures when one connects with nature.


Incorporating the use of a nature journal is one way to encourage observation, appreciation, connection, and exploration of the natural world with your child.

What are nature journals, you ask? A nature journal is a dedicated space to record experiences within the natural world. That’s the extent of the definition. Nature journals aren’t just for kids either! In fact, you are the best model for child; why not start a nature journal of your own? How you choose to record observations, express ideas, questions, or feelings is completely up to you! There are no rules when journaling. Use words to describe observations, or maybe a sketch works best! Perhaps a fallen leaf, flower petal, or seed may be the perfect addition to a page. Watching a worm wiggle under a rock may spawn a list of questions, while a flock of geese flying overhead might inspire a poem.

Before you begin, decide on a format that works best. Purchase a notebook and decorate the cover however you wish. Prefer separate sheets of paper? No problem, find or create a binder or folder to house your entries. You might also want to consider finding a special pouch to hold pens, pencils, colored pencils, and/or crayons.

Spending quality time outdoors doesn’t have to mean visiting a national park or even traveling to your local forest preserve to hike. Nature explorations can simply be done right in your backyard. When you plan to spend time outside, take your journal with you. You never know when you’ll be inspired to write (or draw)!

Here are a couple of websites that can provide you with additional information on nature journals:

http://www.sierraclub.org/education/nature_journal.asp

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Nature-Journal

http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Activities/Outdoors/Observing-Wildlife/Create-Your-Own-Nature-Journal.aspx

Fun February Classes!

Posted by Jenny

Hello everyone! We hope you are staying warm and enjoying your winter! We have been busy here at Cantigny planning and preparing for all our classes and events for 2012! Lots of paperwork and computer work!

Needless to say, we are excited to get back into the classroom and see all our students again soon!

This year we are offering two one-time classes in February.  They are sure to be a great time, we hope you can make it!

Here is all the information:



Snow Man Party!

Friday, February 3rd, 10:00-11:00am, ages 3-5 with parent, $10

Snowmen can be “snow” much fun! Join us for stories, crafts, and songs all about snowmen! If there is snow on the ground we will go outside and build a few snowmen too. After all the fun, we will share a treat of cookies and hot chocolate!

Love Bugs!

Friday, February 10th, 10:00-11:00am, ages 3-5 with parent, $10

Love is in the air! Come get ready for Valentine’s Day with your little love bug! We will read stories, make a craft, and have all the supplies ready for you to create special Valentine’s Day cards! When all the crafting is complete we will share a special treat!

Registration for both these programs is availiable online at http://www.cantigny.org/, or you can call 630-260-8162 to register by phone. 

Hope to see you there!