Crowder County Park offers public, educational programs for all ages, year-round. Visit our Calendar of Events and sign up for our E-Newsletter to stay up to date!
Scroll down or select a program series below to learn more about our offerings:
Important Updates
As of Jan. 1, 2019, there will be no charge for all Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space public, group and outreach programs. Fees will still apply for camps and shelter rentals.
As of Jan. 1, 2019, we will no longer accept cash on site at any Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space location. Payments can be made on site or in advance with a credit or debit card. Checks must be mailed in advance.
Search for programs by location, age, date and more!
To register in person or by mail, please download a copy of our Registration Form or call 919-662-2850 for more information.
For a printout of quarterly programs and events, and for a paper copy of the Wake County parks program registration form, refer to the program bulletin below.
Our staff also offers public programs at Historic Yates Mill County Park.
Check out the
Yates Mill programs page for details.
Canine Contests
Saturday, Oct. 19, 1–3 p.m.
Join us for the seventh annual Canine
Contests! We're looking for the best dog tricks and canine costumes in Wake
County! If your dog has a special talent and/or a super cool costume, come and
show us during this afternoon of fun. For all ages; FREE. Registration is not
required.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
November 1–30
Our seventh annual
food drive will be held during the month of November. All donations benefit the
Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. We
encourage you to get involved in your community and support a good cause like
this one. Help us make this year our biggest one yet! Food donations can be
dropped off in a bin located in front of the Park Office OR in front of the
large bulletin board at the Upper Pavilion.
A weekend program that is fun for the whole family! Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
Creepy Crawlies
Sunday, Oct. 20, 2–3 p.m.
Snakes,
spiders, bugs and beetles! Most people either love them or hate these
"scary" critters. Prepare to face your fears by exploring these
animals and the important roles they play in their habitats. Then meet a few of
our own creepy crawlies here at the park! For all ages; FREE. Registration is
required for everyone, and adult accompaniment is required for all children.
Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
Giving Thanks
Sunday, Nov. 17, 2–3 p.m.
November
is a time to be thankful! Celebrate the natural world and where our favorite
Thanksgiving foods come from. Investigate corn under microscopes and hand
lenses, learn the difference between fruits and veggies, and make a
Thanksgiving craft. For all ages; FREE. Registration is required for everyone,
and adult accompaniment is required for all children. Meet at the Upper
Pavilion.
Winter
Wrap-Up
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2–3
p.m.
Winter
is a great time to explore nature at the park! Join a naturalist to learn how
to identify tracks, explore conifers and drink pine needle tea. Then observe
snow and ice through hands-on science experiments. Don't forget to bring your
scarf and mittens! For all ages; FREE. Registration is required for everyone,
and adult accompaniment is required for all children. Meet at the Upper
Pavilion.
Crowder by Night
These family programs explore the park at night. Please see program description for meeting.
Going Batty
Friday, Oct. 11, 6–7 p.m.
Did you
know that NC has 16 species of bats? Learn how bats live and why they are
important members of our natural community, and sort through bat facts and
fiction. Go on a night hike and look for these nighttime flyers, then play a
fun batty game! For all ages; FREE. Registration is required for everyone, and
adult accompaniment is required for all children. Meet at the Heron Shelter.
Survivor Skills
Friday, Nov. 8, 5–6 p.m.
Do you
know how to survive in the woods? Learn tips and tricks on how to live off of
the land. Build a temporary shelter and learn which plants are safe to eat.
Then play a fun orienteering game. For all ages; FREE. Registration is required
for everyone, and adult accompaniment is required for all children. Meet at the
Heron Shelter.
Mysteries of the Moon
Friday, Dec. 13,
4:30–5:30 p.m.
Is
there a man in the moon, and is the moon made of cheese? Sip on some hot cocoa
and listen to some of the stories people have told about the moon and find out
if there is truth to them. Then learn about the moon through hands-on
activities, crafts and more. For all ages; FREE. Registration is required for
everyone, and adult accompaniment is required for all children. Meet at the
Heron Shelter.
This weekday program is fun for the whole family! Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
Raccoon Rascals
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 11
a.m.–noon
There
is more to the “ring-tailed bandit” than meets the eye! Discover the mysteries
behind this animal, including what their favorite foods are and their unique
adaptations. Make a mask of your own then go on a scavenger hunt. For all ages;
FREE. Registration is required for everyone, and children must have adult
accompaniment. Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
Tree Drummers
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 11 a.m.–noon
There
are over 180 species of woodpeckers, and Crowder Park is home to several of
them! Join us as we search them out and look for the best tree cavities for
these birds. Test your woodpecker hammering skills by playing a fun game, and
learn about what woodpeckers like to eat while making a bird feeder. For all
ages; FREE. Registration is required for everyone, and children must have adult
accompaniment. Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
White-tails in the Woods
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 11
a.m.–noon
Did you
know bucks or male deer can grow a new set of antlers each year? Explore pelts,
skulls, tracks and scat of white-tailed deer through hands-on discovery
stations. Then learn about the dangers that exist for white-tails by playing a
fun predator-and-prey game. For all ages; FREE. Registration is required for
everyone, and children must have adult accompaniment. Meet at the Upper
Pavilion.
This weekday program is for ages 3–5. Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
Raccoon Tune
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 11
a.m.–noon
Did you
know young raccoons are called kits? Learn all about these ring-tailed mammals
through hands-on discovery, stories and a fun craft! Then learn how to walk
like a raccoon and search for the favorite foods of this nocturnal critter. For
ages 3–5 (adult accompaniment is required); FREE. Registration is required.
Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
Woodsy Woodpeckers
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 11
a.m.–noon
If you
hear a loud hammering sound in the woods, you might be near a woodpecker! Learn
how to identify woodpeckers and distinguish them from other birds, and play a woodpecker
match-up game. Then make a fun craft. For ages 3–5 (adult accompaniment is
required); FREE. Registration is required. Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
White-tailed Wonders
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 11
a.m.–noon
There
are a lot of dangers in the woods for deer and rabbits! Read a story about these
mammals and practice hiding from predators during a fun game, then make a
deer-themed craft. For ages 3–5 (adult accompaniment is required); FREE.
Registration is required. Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
This half-hour weekday program is for children ages 18 months to 3 years old. Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
Bugs in Nature
Monday, Oct. 28, 10:30–11
a.m.
Explore
bugs of different colors and shapes through centers, songs and stories. For
ages 18 months to 3 years (adult accompaniment is required); FREE. Registration
required. Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
Leaves in Nature
Monday, Nov. 18,
10:30–11 a.m.
Red,
yellow, orange and brown – leaves come in all different sizes and
colors. Practice your color and shape recognition through centers, songs and
stories. For ages 18 months to 3 years (adult accompaniment is required); FREE.
Registration required. Meet at the Upper Pavilion.
This weekday drop-in program requires no registration. Come anytime for some creative fun (please note supplies may be limited on occasion)! Meet at the Cardinal Shelter.
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Marvelous
Monsters
Monday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m.–noon
We are starting the Halloween-time festivities early!
Join us for some make-and-take craft time in the park and create a “monster” to
take home. We will bring the materials if you bring the imagination! For all
ages (adult accompaniment required for all children); FREE. Registration is not
required. Meet at the Cardinal Shelter.
Turkey
Time
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 11
a.m.–noon
Turkeys have very colorful feathers! Celebrate this
Thanksgiving season with crafts all about this important bird! We will bring
the materials if you bring the imagination! For all ages (adult accompaniment
required for all children); FREE. Registration is not required. Meet at the Cardinal
Shelter.
Welcome
Winter
Monday, Dec. 9, 11 a.m.–noon
The first day of winter is right around the corner!
Help us welcome the season by making a snow globe to take home. We will bring
the materials if you bring the imagination! For all ages (adult accompaniment
required for all children); FREE. Registration is not required. Meet at the Cardinal
Shelter.
Discover the Park
Hiking fun for the whole family. No registration required. Meet at park office.
Walk
in the Woods
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 10–11
a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16, 11
a.m.–noon
Monday, Dec. 30, 3–4 p.m.
Take a
walk in the woods and discover the animals and plants that call our park home.
Help collect data for our Natural Resources Inventory Database and other
citizen science projects. All experience levels are welcome. We can learn
together! For all ages; FREE. Registration is not required. Meet at the Park
Office.