For a printout of Crowder District Park's upcoming programs and events, please refer to our quarterly program bulletins below.
The following programs are offered at Crowder District Park,
4709 Ten Ten Road, Apex. To register, complete and sign the registration form and return it with payment (made out to Wake County Parks) by mail or bring by the park office.
Payment and
registration form must be received to confirm your spot in the programs.
Please note that all payments must be made using cash, check or money order – park staff do not have the ability to take credit cards.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, from anywhere in the world!
Breakfast with the Birds Hike
Friday, February 13, 9–10:30 a.m.
Enjoy doughnuts with a cup of shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee or hot chocolate for the kids, before leisurely walking the trails with a park naturalist to identify and count the birds. Please bring a reusable mug for each member of your family. For all ages; fee: FREE. Preregistration is required.
Afternoon Backyard Bird Count
Sunday, February 15, 1–2 p.m.
Join a park naturalist on a one-mile hike around Crowder Pond and help to identify and count the birds that we see along the way. Learn how to identify backyard birds by sight, sound and other signs. For all ages; FREE. Preregistration is not required.
Family Features
For all ages; fee: $5/family. Preregistration is required.
Winter Tree Walk
Sunday, January 18, 2–3 p.m.
Can you identify your favorite trees in the winter? Join us as we explore our new tree trail on a free hike down our nature trail! Learn how to identify trees using bark and branches and make a few rubbings to take home!
Happy Valentine's Day, Mother Nature
Saturday, February 14, 2:30–3:30 p.m.
Did you give a valentine to Mother Nature this year? Join us as we celebrate a day of love and kindness at the park! Make a few homemade Valentine's presents for our feathered friends, including a nesting ball and a bird feeder. Then create a card from natural objects to give to a special someone while eating a Valentine's Day snack.
March Winds
Sunday, March 15, 2–3 p.m.
Come discover what makes March the windiest month! Learn what wind is and how wildlife and plants use the wind to survive. Then make a kite and fly it high in the sky!
Family Pond Study
A free wayside nature program offered monthly March through November. For all ages; fee: FREE! Preregistration is not required.
Snakey Neighbors
Sunday, March 29, 1–3 p.m.
Ever wonder what kind of snakes live in your neighborhood and which ones are venomous? Join park staff on the boardwalk to discover the various snakes in this area as well as other unique species that are found in North Carolina.
Crowder by Night
For all ages; fee: $5/family or $3/person. Preregistration is required.
Predators and Prey
Friday, January 23, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Predators adapt to catch their prey, and the hunted adapt ways to avoid being eaten. This balance between predators and their prey is essential to a healthy ecosystem. We will look at many predator-prey relationships, the food chain, skulls and teeth of mammals, and play some games to test our senses.
Owl Prowl
Friday, February 20, 5–6 p.m.
Go on an Owl Prowl and discover the kinds of owls that are found in the Piedmont, what they eat, where they live and what they sound like. Dissect an owl pellet and practice your owl calls. Dress for cold weather!
Signs of Spring
Friday, March 27, 6–7 p.m.
Shake off the winter blues and welcome in the spring season! Join us as we spot the early signs of spring, from animal songs to earthy smells. Discover the buds on the trees as we walk around the pond. Then decorate a flower pot and take home a flowering bulb.
Nature Families
A weekday program that is fun for the whole family! For all ages; fee: $5/family. Preregistration required.
Tracking Down Tracks
Tuesday, February 3
11 a.m.–noon
Tracks can tell us so much about an animal's behavior. Learn to read the land – who has been here, where they were going and how fast! Observe nature around us on a habitat hike and spot the winter wildlife. Then make and take home an animal track.
Silly Salamanders
Tuesday, March 3, 11 a.m.–noon
As spring arrives, come explore the park in search of salamanders, frogs and other amphibians. Learn the unique adaptations of a salamander and create a salamander craft. Dress for a wet and possibly muddy day, as we will be hiking off the beaten path.
Tiny Tots
A half-hour weekday program for children ages 18 months to 3 years old, with an accompanying adult; fee: $2/child. Preregistration is required.
Numbers in Nature
Monday, March 2, 10:30–11 a.m.
Practice your numbers through centers-based activities and develop your fine motor skills using natural objects.
Preschool children with accompanying adult(s) discover the natural world through stories, hands-on nature activities, games, crafts and guided outdoor exploration. Meet at the Park Pavilion. For ages 3–5 with an accompanying adult. Fee: $4 for each program or 3 programs for $10. Preregistration is required.
Who's in the Forest
Wednesday, February 4, 1–2 p.m.
If you can't see animals, how do you know they are there or where they've been? Read a fun story about exploring the critters of the forest. Then discover a few sets of funny feet and match them up to their owners. We'll end our class with a quick walk around the park to search for animal clues in a fun, tracks-themed scavenger hunt.
Salamander Room
Wednesday, March 4, 1–2 p.m.
Slimy, squishy and slippery – salamanders are neat animals! Read "The Salamander Room" and learn the life cycle of a salamander. Play a "move like an amphibian game" and then decorate a silly salamander to take home.
In these programs, kids will discover the natural world through hikes, hands-on nature activities, outdoor exploration, games and crafts. Meet at the Park Pavilion. For ages 6–9. Fee: $4 for each program or 3 programs for $10. Preregistration is required.
Track Trappers
Wednesday, February 4, 11 a.m.–noon
Can you tell the difference between a fox and a raccoon track? Match up tracks with animal feet and make a track identification guide. Then go on a nature walk to discover footprints left behind in the park from animals on the move.
Salamander Safari
Wednesday, March 4, 11 a.m.–noon
Did you know salamanders can regrow a missing tail? Learn the parts of the salamander and their special adaptations. Then make a salamander out of salt dough and go on a nature walk to hunt for these cool amphibians. Dress for a wet and possibly muddy hike, as we will be heading off the beaten path.
Kids Get Crafty
A quarterly program for children of all ages; fee: $4/child. Preregistration is required.
Trash to Treasure
Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m.–noon
Join us as we turn recyclable materials into amazing crafts! Make your own paper, grow a garden of egg carton flowers, then build a bug!