Public Programs
Blue Jay Point offers numerous opportunities for children, families and adults at our park. We have many facilities available: a playground, open play fields, picnic areas, trails, gardens and an environmental education center with exhibits. The trails and gardens are great places to use to give your child a "Green Hour" a day. A "Green Hour" is a bit of time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world. Learn more about how to get your child outdoors with the National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour program.
Blue Jay Point also offers special events, programs and activity boxes. Every year, we host Special Events that are great opportunities to come out to the park with your family and experience Blue Jay. We also offer environmental education programs and Discovery Boxes for children aged 3 & up, as well as programs and workshops for adults. Please see the current Wide aWAKE or click on a program title below for information on upcoming programs. To check for space availability, contact the Blue Jay Center for Environmental Education at 919-870-4330. To register, you will need to include a completed registration form and payment by mail or in person. The following series are offered monthly:
Children and Families
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Nature Stories – Theme-related stories and activities for parent and child aged 3–5 years. Please make other arrangements for siblings!
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Eco-Kids – A 3-day mini-camp offered monthly for youngsters ages 4–5 years in which they learn about a variety of topics through crafts, hikes, stories and other activities.
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Nature Crafts – This craft series for 6–8-year-olds focuses on seasonal ideas and related crafts. Outdoor activities and hikes are all part of the fun!
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Blue Jay Days – A daylong experience for children ages 9–12 at Blue Jay Point! Blue Jay Days are scheduled on selected traditional school calendar holiday/workday days on alternating year-round school calendar tracks. Homeschool families will also be able to take advantage of these single-day “camp-like” days. Try it out and let us know what you think!
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Family Wildlife Series – For truly "wild" families! All ages are welcome, but content is most appropriate for ages 5 and up.
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Homeschool Series: Kids Conservation Corps – Each "semester," Blue Jay offers a homeschool series that meets eight times over four months. In the fall, the series is for 9–12-year-olds, and in the spring, the series is for 6–8-year-olds. See the Summer Wide aWAKE, published June 21, for Fall Series KCC information, and the Fall Wide aWAKE, published September 21, for Spring Series KCC information.
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Teen Homeschool Series – Designed for teens who are being homeschooled, this program series is for ages 13–15 and will meet from 1–4 p.m. each session. Sessions will build on each other.
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Summer Mini-Camps – In June and July we offer 3-day mini-camps for 6–8- and 9–12-year-olds.
Adults
Blue Jay Point offers a variety of adult programs, including many workshops for
NC Environmental Education Certification or CEU credits! Please see below for the most up-to-date list of upcoming workshops and classes. To register, contact the Blue Jay Center for Environmental Education at 919-870-4330.
Upcoming Adult Programs and Workshops. . .
Special Events
Annual Songbird Celebration
Saturday, April 28, 2012, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Songbird Celebration is an annual event celebrating the return of migratory songbirds and in honor of International Migratory Bird Day. It is a FREE festival for bird lovers of all ages, and a great outing for families, Scouts and other youth groups. Enjoy bird-related activities throughout the park, including games and crafts, preschool storytimes, bird hikes for adults and kids, learning stations and more. Songbird Celebration is always held on the last Saturday in April, so mark your calendars now for April 28, 2012!
Big Sweep
Saturday, October 6, 2012, 9 a.m.–noon
Join ranks to help clean up the Falls Lake shoreline around Blue Jay Point. Bring a water bottle and hat. Sunscreen and your favorite brand of insect repellent is recommended. Closed-toe shoes, such as old sneakers, are a must! This is an excellent opportunity for individuals, families and youth groups (all volunteers ages 8 and up, please) to provide a great community service – pay attention, high schoolers! – call 919-870-4330 to register now!
Winter Open House
Saturday, February 4, 2012 1–4 p.m.
(expanded hours this year because it's our 20th anniversary celebration!)
Come out and join park staff as the Blue Jay Center for Environmental Education celebrates another great year of programs! On alternate years, the Winter Open House focuses on a different environmental education theme through crafts, interactive displays, hands-on educational activities and presentations. Enjoy refreshments on the covered front porch while you watch winter birds at the feeders. This is a great FREE winter Saturday afternoon outing for families, Scout groups and adults. For more information about Blue Jay’s Winter Open House or to volunteer to help with the fun, call 919-870-4330. This event is free, no preregistration is required, and all ages are welcome.
Printable flyer about this year's Winter Open House – The Amazing Place!