An Afternoon with the Short-Eared Owls Ages 8+ Youth & Family Programs Sunday, January 5, 3:30–5 p.m. Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park, Ringwood Nature's Preschool: Winter Birds Ages 3⼀挀–6 Drop Off Fee: R Free/NR $5.00 Code: 9539 Tuesday, January 14–Friday, January 17 The short-eared owl is an Illinois endangered species, 9:30–11:30 a.m. Daily but we are fortunate to have them visit Glacial Park Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park, Ringwood every winter! Learn more about these owls Fee: R $15.00/NR $19.00 Code: 9528 while driving through the park to look Send your little one off to Nature's Preschool for learning for them at dusk. centered around a daily theme, outdoor exploration and crafts, all under the supervision of experienced Conservation District educators. Children must be 3 ½ years old by the start of the program and must be toilet-trained. This is a drop-off program. Children should bring a water bottle and dress in layers Sheryl Mayhew for activities indoors and out. Owl Pellet Dissection Ages 8+ Storytime on the Trail Ages 2–6 with adult Saturday, January 11, 10:30 a.m.–Noon Saturday, January 25, 10–11 a.m. Prairieview Education Center, Crystal Lake Marengo Ridge Conservation Area, Marengo Fee: R $5.00/NR $7.00 Code: 9504 Fee: R Free/NR $5.00 Code: 9505 Participants will uncover the secrets of owl Join us for an adventure on the trail as characters from diets by dissecting a real owl pellet in this Who's Been Here? A Tale in Tracks guide us as we discover hands-on program! Identify and analyze the who left behind footprints in the snow. The hike includes bones and remains of small animals while learning exploration activities and wildlife observation. about predator-prey relationships and ecological dynamics. Upcycled Crafts: Ages 10+ Mixed Media Nature Notebook Scat Science Ages 6+ Saturday, January 11, 1:30–3 p.m. Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park, Ringwood Saturday, February 1, 2–3 p.m. Fee: R $8.00/NR $10.00 Code: 9527 Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park, Ringwood Decorate a notebook with native seeds, nature Fee: R Free/NR $5.00 Code: 9533 magazine clippings and more! You will be guided Everybody does it! Learn the science of "scat"—the through the Mixed Media Nature Notebook collage scientific word used for animal poop—and what it can process by Kris Findley, who has taught at places teach us about the animal it came from. Participants will like the Studio Art School in McHenry, Antioch Fine then "make" their own scat from oatmeal, cocoa powder Arts Foundation and Volo Bog. and water! Landscapes | Winter 2024-25 13