Closer look

Greenwell program provides time every Tuesday for area children to focus on the natural world

Friday, May 15, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by REID SILVERMAN Ashley Taylor, 4, of Lexington Park, center, experiments with her magnifying glass before sifting through samples of dirt and leaves along with Amelia Miles, 5, far left, and Samantha Henthorne, 1, right, during Nature Time activities at Greenwell State Park in Hollywood on May 5. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Noah Henthorne, 2, of Lexington Park, center, reacts to the discovery of a worm as he and Noah Poulter of Leonardtown, right, sift through dirt and leaf samples during a Nature Time program at Greenwell State Park earlier this month. Click here to enlarge this photo Kate Poulter of Leonardtown shows her son, Noah, how to blow dandelion seeds.

It's a time for parents and their children to learn a little more about nature … and maybe make a friend or two.

Every Tuesday, Greenwell State Park invites young people to Nature Time, a program that encourages a closer look at the world outside. Crabs, jellyfish, tides, flowers and insects all get their time in the sun in this weekly program. It's also a chance for young nature lovers to practice their social skills.

Earlier this month, a group of about a dozen young children and their accompanying adults met at the pavilion at the park to learn about "Beginnings and endings." The children started out by talking about spring and seeds, and the discussion moved on to creatures living in the dirt.

"The kids seem to really enjoy coming," said one of the mothers, Ammeri Smith of Lexington Park.

Nature Time is directed by Loretta Pranzo. She took over the program in September last year. "I didn't want it to go," Pranzo said. "My older daughter, now 5 years old, went to Nature Time, and it really helped to bring her out of her shell." Now, Pranzo brings her 3-year-old daughter, Mia, to participate.

"The children are usually around the age of my Mia," Pranzo said. "We meet here [a pavilion by the playground], the beach or the nature building. The Web site lists what the theme for the day will be, and I send out an e-mail of what to expect to the parents who have signed up for that week."

The activities are designed to help children better appreciate nature. And the program usually includes hands-on activities. "We usually try to have a craft every week; it's kind of a tradition," Pranzo said.

Pranzo used the game Simon Says to help the children learn about the creatures in the dirt. "Simon says ‘Crawl like a beetle. Chew like a termite. Wiggle like a millipede,'" she said, and went through a list of other creatures that dwell in the dirt and leaves.

Pranzo took the kids to the beach and while some played in the sand and looked for shells, others were interested in the termites that Pranzo was showing them inside a rotted log. Each child had a magnifying glass to get an even closer look at whatever creatures they found.

Six-year-old Jae Enoch is home-schooled. Nature Time is included in his course of study, and he comes to Nature Time every week with his mother and grandmother.

"Jae loves it. We usually meet in the nature building, and then at the end Jae and I go for a walk on the beach," said Carroll Hood of Leonardtown, Jae's grandmother. "Last week we brought butterflies to share with everyone."

Nature Time is an opportunity for children to get together and learn, but it's also an opportunity for the parents to mingle and exchange ideas. The parents discuss topics ranging from past weeks' Nature Time programs to how handy a Velcro changing pad can be.

And this is all while the children are encouraged to just take a closer look at the world around them.

If you want to go

Nature Time, Greenwell State Park's outdoor nature program for young children and their families or caregivers is offered on Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the park in Hollywood. Cost is $5 for an adult and one child ($3 each additional child participating, not including babies). The program fee includes admission to the park on the day of participation. Upcoming themes include "Same or Different" on May 19, "May Flowers" for May 26, "Who, What, Where, Why, Wetland" for June 3, "Butterflight" for June 9, "Summer Salutations" for June 16 and "Have you met Hirundo rustic?" for June 23.

For more information, visit www.greenwellfoundation.org or call 301-373-9775.