YOUTH
Discover & Investigate
Designed for Kids Ages 6-12
All new adventures in 2020! Your child’s sense of wonder and curiosity is an indestructible force when given a place to grow. The Junior Naturalist Program is an outdoor adventure every child deserves. Every program is a journey of exploration and discovery that will forge a life-long bond with the natural world. Sign up for all year or for individual programs. You can find additional events and programs on our upcoming events page or sign up for our email list.
March 7, 2020: Going Batty
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Hang out in the amazing world of bats and find out about these fascinating flying mammals.
April 11, 2020: Vitamin Nature-POSTPONED TBD
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Let’s get out and play and measure how much Nature nurtures you!
June 6, 2020: Whose Habitat is That?
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Explore Lost River Cave’s different habitats and some of the animals that call them home.
August 15, 2020: Kings of the Forest
10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Measure your way through the woods to find out the dominant trees!
September 12, 2020: 6-Legged Friends
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Some insects are big, some are small – some fly, some crawl! Join us to learn about (some of) them all!
October 24, 2020: Hooo’s There?
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Hoo’s that calling in the distance? It’s an owl! Learn more about these amazing nocturnal birds.
Jr. Naturalists attending all sessions will receive a FREE family campsite registration for Camping at the Cave!
April 6, 2020: Pollinators, Plants, and People
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Pollinators are vital to the overall health of the world. Learn about their importance and how they help nature!
April 7, 2020: Spring Connections
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
The miracles of springtime awaken, bloom, and hatch together intentionally to form a connected natural symphony. Learn how they all work together to create the beautiful world rousing from its winter sleep.
April 8, 2020: Naturally Artistic
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Let your creative side go wild! Use nature to inspire you as we create art out of nature. Learn about ancient cave art, photograph your own natural scene, and paint a tree-shirt.
April 9, 2020: The Wonders of Water and Rock
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
What is softer, but stronger than rock? Water! Learn how these 2 wondrous natural forces interact to change the surface and the ground beneath our feet.
April 10, 2020: Dead Serious about Detritivores
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Detritivores and decomposers are important to remove the dead organisms in nature. Learn about the critters that reduce and recycle the dead into the needed components of the ecosystems.
May 16, 2020: An Ounce of Prevention…Leave No Trace and Trail First Aid
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Instill future stewardship for the natural world in your young lady as she learns principles of outdoor ethics! She’ll also gain essential basic outdoor first aid skills for moments when blisters, bumps, and bruises blemish the adventure.
June 13, 2020: Relearning Relationships with Creepy Critters
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Do creepy crawlers give her the heebie-jeebies instead of the ohhs and ahhs? Help her gain a passion to protect the unloved and see beauty and interest in some of nature’s most feared critters.
September 5, 2020: (Don’t) Get Lost in the Woods
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
They’ve spent years looking for Carmen San Diego. Now it’s time for your daughters to start looking for themselves. During this excursion girls will use different mapping techniques to hide and find hidden treasure, plan a mountain climbing trip, and determine elevations. Sign them up today to help them gain the confidence to go anywhere and know their place in the outdoors!
December 12, 2020: Let’s Go Caving
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Gear up and go underground as we search out clandestine critters and subsurface streams while learning safe caving techniques and exploring the Lost River Cave ecosystem.