🎄✨ Celebrate the Holiday Season at the Nature Center! ✨🎄

Get ready for a festive season full of fun and joy! The Nature Center is your go-to spot for FREE family-friendly holiday activities:

🎁 Drop-In Holiday Card Making Days – Create heartfelt cards to share the holiday spirit.
🎄 Ornament Crafting Day – Make your own unique holiday keepsake.
🎅 Special Visits from Santa – Meet three different Santas! Write him a letter and send it straight to the North Pole through our magical mailbox! 🍭 Candy canes for everyone!

🎉 Find the Elf on the Shelf! – Our sneaky elf is hiding somewhere in the Nature Center—can you spot him?

📸 Santa’s elves will assist with photos, so bring your own camera or smartphone to capture the magic. Please note there may be a line to see Santa—thank you for your patience!

All activities take place at the Nature Center, and no registration is required. Gather your loved ones and join us for holiday cheer and memories to last a lifetime!

CoCoa Hikes!

Join us in the dark for a special Cocoa Hike through Rotary Park! The trail difficulty level is rated moderate and will be in the dark, please use your best judgment when registering. Strollers are NOT recommended for this terrain. Appropriate footwear, long pants, and bug spray is recommended. The hike will last 45 min, and each participant will carry a provided lantern through the woods. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. We will meet at the Nature Center front doors to check in up to 10 minutes before the program and to distribute lanterns.  After the hike, stick around for a cup of hot cocoa!

• Dec 3, 6-7PM
• Dec 12, 5-6PM
• Jan 10, 5-6PM
• Jan 24, 5-6PM

Savoring the Seasons, Herb Drying and Tea Blending 

Join us for the nature in your neighborhood program on December 5th from 5pm-6:30pm at the Fredonia Community Center located at 4650 Old Ashland City Road S. Parking is available on the left side of the building. Check in begins at 4:30PM.  

This workshop will include a presentation on herb drying and tea blending.  Participants will select plant varieties for their personalized tea blend based upon flavors and/or plant properties.  A live version of several plants will also be available for participants to learn identification techniques.  The many herbs used in this workshop will be harvested from the Rotary Park Community Gardens, Rotary Park meadows!  A special hot tea blend will be served during the class.  All participants will be provided with the tools needed to make their own tea blend during the workshop.  Each person will take home a unique tea blend in a provided jar, individual tea bags, and recipes.   

Register here, Fredonia Community Center :https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTMzNTE4NjI=

South Guthrie Class Registration: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTMzNTE5MzU=

PLANTING PARTY's

Just because its winter time doesn't mean you can plant!  This workshop will focus on preparing a mini greenhouse for native plants to begin growing during the winter.  Once spring hits, they will be ready to plant in the ground!  Each participant will use a clean one gallon water/milk jug and alter it to serve as a mini greenhouse.  Then, the appropriate dirt and substrate will be added and, finally, local, native pollinator plant seeds.  

All materials are provided for this workshop, but we are asking you bring in your own one gallon milk/water jug!

No experience or prior knowledge is required to attend, bring your curiosity and we will teach you the rest! Young children may have a harder time sitting through the presentation, so use your best discretion when registering. 

• December 17th, 5-6PM
• Jan 8, 5-6PM

DIY Workshop, Tiny Terrariums

• Dec 11
• Jan 17

Come to the Nature Center to learn how to make a terrarium in almost any kind of container! We will supply the plants, soil, fairy garden sculptures, ect. You bring a clear container to plant in. There will be an artist onsite to assist with making oven baked personalized sculptures for inclusion in your terrarium. The container can be new, used or recycled, with or without a lid. This is a great way to relax at the end of the week and get your hands on some green plants in the winter!

Free: Registration is required. https://secure.rec1.com/.../montgomery-county.../catalog

Turtle Time!

Our new Eastern Box Turtle, Penny, will be outside for exercise today in the field in front of the Nature Center every Tuesday and Thursday. She is a fast tiny turtle and will certainly put on a show! Sometimes our animals hide while inside of their enclosures, but Penny will 100% be out and running around. 

This is a drop-in, free, event. No registration required.  If the weather is undesirable, we will move her exercise pen inside the Nature Center. Check social media for the monthly times. 

Survival Skills for Families

This new 90 minute program is designed to empower families with the skills needed to survive wilderness emergency situations.  Whether you are going on vacation to the woods, beach or a backyard, the skills will teach you to save yourself and show you how rescue teams operate.  This is most beneficial when the whole family can attend.  Children under 4 are welcome, however, the content and timeframe may not be sustainable, please use your best judgment.  This program will take place inside the Nature Center using simulated situational tools and supplies. 

• Jan 4, 10:30am-12

Register here: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com)

Story Tails

Every 3rd Saturday of the month the Nature Center will hold "Story Tails," a program promoting literacy to children by creating a wonder for the natural world. Each session will include the reading of 2-3 nature books, songs, games and, activities! Sessions will be held inside and/or outside, depending on the weather. This program is for children ages 1-6 and the special needs community. The program runs from 10:30 am to 11:30 pm, snacks provided. 

• December 21

Register here: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com) 

Binocular Check-Out

The Wade Bourne Nature Center Foundation is generously sponsoring the new binocular checkout program.  Simply fill out a request with your preferred time and day and you can pick them up from the Nature Center reception desk.  There is no cost for this program, we simply ask you return the set before 4 pm T-F and by 2 pm on Saturdays. 

To reserve a pair, please click here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI1ODA4MDg=  

Live Taxidermy Demonstrations

Every 3rd Wednesday from 4:00-5:30 PM

• December 18, Red Tailed Hawk

A taxidermist will walk participants step by step through the process of skinning a bird to the final stuffing/mounting. The chosen specimen will be the Yellow Billed Cuckoo. This bird was found deceased on the park property. 

Bird mounts are unique in that they do not require harmful chemicals for preservation. No eating or drinking will be allowed in the room for the duration of the process. Participants will not be permitted to touch the specimen.

*Passed in 1918, The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is illegal for an individual to collect eggs, feathers and/or nests. 99% of birds are protected by this law, typically not covered by the MBTA include house sparrow, European starling, and rock pigeons.*

Register here: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com) 

 Reading Round-Up

Join us on the first Friday of the month to enjoy a group reading for your little ones! This program is sponsored by The Blue Star Families of Tennessee in an effort to build home libraries. Each child who attends gets to pick out a free book to take home! Snacks are also provided. After the reading, feel free to stay in our Community Room or go outside on the deck to enjoy your goodies. Arts for Hearts will lead a related art activity afterwards as well! This Program is suitable for children age 2-5 and. Parents are expected to stay with their children for the duration of the event.

Dates

• Dec 6

Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog 

Field Trip Offerings

If you are bringing a group to any of our parks for a trip, PLEASE notify us in advance.  

Field trips are available to any group with 10 or more participants, FREE!  

The Wade Bourne Nature Center offers Bus Transportation Support for schools needing assistance.  Please indicate your interest in this funding option in the comments section during the reservation process.  Funding is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.  Teachers may only apply ONCE in a calendar year. 

Spring Trips: March, April and May

Fall Trips: September, October and November

Click Here for a full list of activity options

Register for Field Trip programs here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog 

Volunteer Information

Whether you need service hours for an organization or want to serve your local park, we have many opportunities for you to get involved!  

Example positions include: Host Volunteer, Exhibit Interpreter, Trail Guide, Trail Monitor, Special Event Assistant, Field Trip Program Facilitator, Field Trip Support, Volunteer Coordinator, and Program Assistant

Please make an account on CivicRec and indicate what your interests are.  We will reach out for an orientation meeting to decide where you will be a good fit.  

Visit this link: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com)