Subscribe
Community
‘Today is an adventure'
Nature Time program at Greenwell turns play dates into learning opportunities
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
 Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photos
Lauretta Pranzo, Nature Time coordinator, leads a segment of the program at Greenwell State Park in Hollywood on June 30, when the program's theme was "Summer Beach Party.
|
E-Mail This Article
Anyone following the orange signs that said "Nature Time" around Greenwell State Park a couple of Wednesdays ago would have found a beach with more than 30 mothers, children and grandparents experiencing a "play date at the beach," as described by Lauretta Pranzo, Nature Time coordinator.
"This is so cool," said Chloe Harsha, 8, when she was told to find natural items on the beach to use for her pipe cleaner mobile, one of the activities organized for the June 30 program.
Nature Time, Greenwell State Park's outdoor nature program for young children and their caregivers, is offered on alternate Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Hollywood park. Each meeting follows a different kid-friendly topic – pirates, camping, insects are all upcoming themes.
The theme for Wednesday's program was "Summer Beach Party."
Mary Beth Moore, creator of Nature Time and co-coordinator with Pranzo, says that she likes the program to "introduce people to different parts of the park." That week, it was at the pavilion beach, one of the park's three beaches.
There $5 fee for the first child (and $3 for every child after that) includes free admission to Greenwell State Park for the rest of the day. Many people explore the park, eat a picnic lunch, see the rose garden or visit the horse stables after Nature Time, according to Moore.
"This beach is our favorite place in St. Mary's County," said Minda Anderson, mother of three, "everyone knows about this place [Greenwell State Park], but not this beach."
Pranzo scoured all the beaches, trying to find a good one for Wednesday's program, she said. "Lots of prep work goes into Nature Time."
Sometimes, though, Moore said that despite all the prep work, Nature Time doesn't always go as planned. "Long, Slim Slimy Ones" was worm day. "We could not find a worm; we had a lot of trouble," she said. "You have to keep things loose enough and be prepared enough. I always have two lesson plans, one for rain, and one for shine."
But for the "Summer Beach Party," everything went pretty much as planned.
"So far I am very impressed," said Kim Matthews, while her daughter Maddie, 3, splashed around in the shallow water. "We'll definitely be coming back."
Barbara Jenkins, mother of three, said that the beach "looks pretty safe for the kids because it is so shallow."
This "play date on the beach" appeared to be a hit with the children, who were busy building sandcastles, participating in a relay, playing in the water and making a pipe cleaner mobile craft.
Sophie Anderson, 7, said that "it was too cold to swim, but I dug and dug and found water," as she pointed out her huge hole to her little sister, Phoebe Anderson, 4.
Maya Brellage, 2, found a caterpillar in the sand. "He likes me, I name him caterpillar," she said. Brellage said her favorite part of the day was when "I swim by myself."
Several mothers and grandmothers at the June 30 program said it was their first time attending Nature Time. Ruth Click, grandmother to Holly Click, 10, and Erin Click, 5, said she has seen information on Nature Time for about a year, but they have never been able to make it out to one.
"We like to take adventures with them," Ruth said. "Today is an adventure."
"We come here about once a month as a family," said Minda Anderson. "I have never seen so many people here."
Joy McBride, whose son, Riley, is 3 1/2, said they regularly attend the program. "We had a great time," McBride said. "Nature Time is one of the things we look forward to every week."
