Preschool Trail Trekkers takes children and their adults on learning adventures with experienced naturalists. Hands-on activities, games, crafts, stories and songs make learning about nature interactive and fun. This program is for children ages three through five and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Dress for the outdoors in all seasons. Registration is required.
Note: This program is NOT intended for daycare or childcare groups! These groups should inquire about scheduling private preschool programming. Thank you!
2025-2026 Programming
Cost: $5 preschooler (ages 3-5), free for ages 2 and under, $5 adult.
Registration Deadline: 24 hours prior to program date
All programs are for preschoolers with an adult.
Dress for outdoor activities.
Busy Buzzing Bees
Date: September 10 & 13
Session Time: 10am – 11am
Honey is a sweet treat that the bees work all summer to make. Get to know the drone, worker, and queen bee. How do bees find nectar? How do they communicate with each other? Play a buzzing bee game.
Meet at the Penningroth Barn.
Talking Trees
Date: October 8 & 11
Session Time: 10am – 11am
Do you know that trees tell stories? Come learn the secrets of trees. Become the parts of a tree and discover the great things trees do for us. Search for leaf shapes, feel bark textures, smell a tree, and explore forest habitats at the Nature Center.
Meet at the Penningroth Barn.
Wild Animals in Winter
Date: November 12 & 15
Session Time: 10am – 11am
Hibernation, migration, and adaptation are the words of the day as we explore what different creatures do to get ready for winter! We’ll play animal games to see how well you can hibernate, and see who we can find still active outside.
Nocturnal Neighbors
Date: December 10 & 13
Session Time: 10am – 11am
Shine some light into nocturnal happenings. Who stays awake at night and sleeps during the day? Play games, listen to stories and explore the creatures of the nighttime.
All programs are for preschoolers with an adult.
Winter Water Wonders
Date: January 7 & 10
Session Time: 10am – 11am
Investigate the wonders of water—snow and ice—in the winter. How does snow actually help plants and animals? Make sure to dress for the weather as we plan to spend time outside enjoying this beautiful season.
Feet Beat
Date: February 11 & 14
Session Time: 10am – 11am
Creatures big and small leave their tracks and traces in the mud and snow — birds, squirrels, deer, rabbits, mice and more! Go on a tracking walk, learn about food chains, and make an animal track craft.
Dress for outdoor activities.
Maple Syruping
Date: March 11 & 14
Session Time: 10am – 11am
This unique, fun activity can only be experienced in late winter! Listen to Native American legends, tap a tree, and visit the sugarhouse to see how sap is made into delicious maple syrup. The hour ends with a taste of our real maple syrup!
Dress for outdoor activities. Meet at the Penningroth Barn.
Seasons Exploration
Date: April 8 & 11
Session Time: 10am – 11am
Warm up all of your senses – smelling, feeling, looking, listening and even tasting. Use your scientific detective tools to explore the nature center in the springtime!
Dress for outdoor activities.
Sounds of Spring
Date: May 6 & 9
Session Time: 10am – 11am
As the weather warms up, so does the frog chorus! Listen for frogs at the wetlands. Learn about the frog life cycle and special frog features, sing frog songs, and go on a frog watching hike.
Dress for outdoor activities.
Program Registration
Registration opens August 15.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Dress for the outdoors in all seasons. We can’t wait to see you at the Nature Center!
ICNC Cancellation Policy
To be eligible for a fee refund or transfer, ICNC requires a 48-hour advance notice for all cancellations. Eligible cancelled registrations can either be refunded or applied to another registration. All refunded registrations are charged an administrative processing fee of 10%. Only in cases of extreme weather or other extenuating circumstances will ICNC cancel a scheduled program. All programs canceled by ICNC will receive a full refund.
Sponsored by
Contact Sarah Halbrook at shalbrook@indiancreeknaturecenter.org if you would like to sponsor this program.