KIDS' PAGE

Saturday Kids Activities for Winter -Spring 2008
Join us Saturday at 2 pm for a different exciting children’s program at MNHC. Admission is 50 cents for kids, $1 for adults and MNHC members are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Be prepared to go outside. Programs run about an hour to an hour and a half. Great for kids ages 5 and older.

December 8th: Kids' Activities at the Wild Gifts Bazaar!
From 10:30am - 3pm. Learn about winter wildlife, make your own pinecone bird-feeder, story-time with Annie Garde of NPR's Pea Green Boat and polar art with Missoula author Donna Love.

January 12 – Hibernation Celebration!
Do bears really hibernate?  What do frogs and fish do when the water freezes?  We will learn all about hibernation and how different animals adapt to cold weather and create our own wild adaptations.

January 26 – Winter Ice Painting
Have you ever painted with ice before?  We’ll learn cool facts about snow and ice as well as paint with different colors of ice.  A fun project that you don’t want to miss! 

February 2 - Bird Brains! –featuring Glacier National Park Ranger/ funnyman Pat Hagan
Who says that birds aren’t smart?  Through crazy antics by Pat Hagan we will learn how birds use their brains to solve tricky problems. This will be a wacky program that is fun for the whole family – all ages are welcome.

February 16 -   Wildlife Detective
Learn how to become a wildlife detective!  We will learn how to identify common animal tracks, read a mystery and take a walk to detect and discover local animal tracks.

March 1 – Rock and Gem Discovery!
Did you know that beautiful blue gems called sapphires are found in Montana? We’ll learn how to identify and where to find amazing local rocks and gems. We will also get to search for our very own rough sapphires that we can take home.

March 15 – Skulls, Teeth and Bones!
Have you ever been eye to eye with a grizzly bear skull?   We’ll learn fun facts and get to handle different animal skulls, teeth and bones and solve a skeleton mystery.   

April 12 – Tall Tales about Trees
What native tree grows to be the tallest?  Which tree smells like vanilla? We will learn how to identify local trees, how to age trees, create tree artwork and enjoy a special appearance by the Lorax (from Dr. Suess)!

April 26 – Beaver Boogie!
Learn fantastic facts about this amazing semi-aquatic rodent. We will learn about beavers’ special adaptations and then we will take a walk to look for signs of beaver activity.

May 17 – Big on Bugs!
What is the difference between a damselfly and a dragonfly?  Why are insects important?  Become an insect expert!  We will learn how to identify common insects and take a walk to collect (and release) insects. Definitely a kid favorite!

November Fun Facts In November, rough-legged hawks will start arriving in Montana from of their arctic breeding range in the far north. They will occupy many territories that are left by red-tailed hawks that move to warmer climates for the winter. The name "Rough-legged" Hawk refers to the feathered legs. The Rough-legged Hawk, the Ferruginous Hawk, and the Golden Eagle are the only American hawks to have legs feathered all the way to the toes. The nest of the Rough-legged Hawk sometimes contains the bones of caribou along with sticks.   Facts provided from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - All about Birds page.