Programs

On-site and Outreach Group Programs

Lake Crabtree offers a wide variety of environmental education programs for public and private schools, Scouts, birthday parties and other organized groups. Programs are available at the park or off-site (outreach). All programs are specific to the piedmont region of North Carolina. Please allow at least two weeks advance notice to schedule a program for your group.

Call 919-460-2723 or email colleen.bockhahn@wakegov.com for more information or to request a program date. You can also begin the reservation process by filling out a Group Program Request Form and choosing a topic from our Group Program List. If you have questions about a program topic that is not listed, please ask our staff – we will do our best to accommodate your group.

Programs given on-site are $25/hour per staff member. Outreach programs are $40/hour per staff member. Group size per staff member will be limited to 15–30 depending on the program requested and age of the participants. Programs for pre-K groups are available to groups of 15 or fewer.

For the public:

Whether you are a child or an adult, Lake Crabtree has a program for you! All scheduled programs have space limitations and, therefore, require registration prior to program. Please download a copy of our Registration Form or call 919-460-3355 to receive one by mail or fax, or for more information.

Family Programs

Preregistration is required for all programs unless otherwise noted

Birding with Vernon
1st Saturday of each month, 8:30–10 a.m.
April 7, May 12 (2nd Saturday), June 2
FREE; No preregistration required.
Meet at the Waterwise Garden (first parking lot on right).
Join our bird enthusiast, Vernon, for an easy walk while looking and listening for our feathered friends. Discover different types of birds and their habitats.

Crabtree Casters
1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 6:30–8 p.m.
May 2, May 16, June 6, June 20
FREE!
Meet at the Boat Rental Tower.
Join us for an evening of fishing and fun. Bring your own fishing pole or borrow one of ours through the Tackle Loaner Program. Bring the kids and we'll help them cast a line and learn basic fishing skills. Bait is provided by the park. All participants 16 years and older must have a valid NC Fishing License, and children must be with a licensed adult.

For Your Ears Only
Sunday, April 22, 7–8:30 p.m.
$3/person or $5/family
Meet at the Waterwise Garden.
Do frogs really say ribbit? Yes, but did you know that there are also frogs that sound like sheep, a hammer, or a dog? Learn all about which frogs make which sounds, and why. We'll hike the Old Beech Nature Trail to listen for calls and test our newfound knowledge.

Wildflower Hike
Sunday, May 6, 1–3 p.m.
$3/person or $5/family
Meet at the Waterwise Garden.
Join park staff for a hike in search of wildflowers. Bring your camera to capture the beauty of these blooms. Discover the folklore of some of our species, and learn how to identify common wildflowers.

Spider Sniffing
Friday, May 11, 8–10 p.m.
$3/person or $5/family
Meet at the Waterwise Garden.
Do you have a nose for nature? Bring it, your flashlight, and your night vision for a hike around the Old Beech Nature Trail. Meet with park staff at dusk to learn what those bumps in the night really are, and discover the secret art of "spider sniffing."

Beautiful Butterflies
Saturday, May 26, 9–11 a.m.
$3/person or $5/family
Meet at the Waterwise Garden.
What's the difference between a butterfly and a moth? Where do caterpillars come from? What is metamorphosis? Join park staff as we hike around the Old Beech nature Trail to discover the answers to these questions and learn fascinating facts while looking for the "Beautiful Butterflies."

Sunset Canoe Trip
Friday, June 15, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
$5/person or $10/canoe (maximum 2 adults and 1 child)
Meet at the Boat Rental Building.
Join park staff for a canoe tour of Lake Crabtree. Learn basic paddling techniques, look for birds and other wildlife along the shore, and see the park from a new perspective. If time allows, we'll explore Crabtree Creek and the wetland area north of Aviation Parkway. All paddling and safety equipment is provided by the park.

The Creepiest of Crawlies
Saturday, June 23, 9–11 a.m.
FREE!
Meet at the Waterwise Garden.
Have you ever wondered about the smudge on your hand after swatting something without looking? Of course not! After all, what good are mosquitoes anyway? Turns out, they're good for something after all. Come find out what in this program about obnoxious bloodsuckers and other things with too many legs.

Desperately Seeking Serpents
Sunday, June 24, 1–3 p.m.
$3/person or $5/family
Meet at the White Oak Shelter.
Discover some of the snakes that live in this area. Explore the beauty of snakes and get the truth behind some popular snake myths. Enjoy a visit with the calm park snake, Corny, while we talk about why the only good snake is a live snake!

Storytime for Tots

Discover nature, beginning with a story, followed by outdoor, hands-on nature exploration. Each program will end with a fun activity or craft to take home. Come prepared to actively participate with your child. First Wednesday of each month. Programs run from 10–11 a.m. at the Beech Shelter. Cost is $4 per child, or sign up for all three for $10. Preregistration is required.

“The Caterpillar and the Polliwog” by Jack Kent 
Wednesday, April 4, 10–11 a.m.
A young caterpillar boasts to her woodland friends that she is special because she will turn into something else when she grows up. An inquisitive polliwog, discovering he too will change, thinks he will also turn into a butterfly. Witness the amazing transformations of these two friends. After the story we'll learn more about metamorphosis and make a craft to take home.

“The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss
Wednesday, May 2, 10–11 a.m.
Discover the book that inspired the recent movie and nature lovers of all ages! The Lorax is disturbed by the destruction of nature around him and the wastefulness of the Once-ler. He starts on a campaign to save the Truffula trees and the animals that rely on them. Will anyone join his cause? After the story, we'll explore the importance of trees to animals and humans alike.

“The Reason for a Flower” by Ruth Heller
Wednesday, June 6, 10–11 a.m.
Can you guess the reason for each flower, even weeds? The reason for flowers is to make seeds!
Explore the world of flowers, including the animals that pollinate them, the different types of seeds they produce, and how those seeds travel. We'll walk through our garden in search of different flowers, and look at seeds up close to see how they work. Each child will plant their own seeds that they can take home and watch grow!

Homeschool and Track-Out Programs

These programs are open to students 5–12 years old. Cost is $8 per child. Each lesson is two hours and meets at the Beech Shelter, unless otherwise noted. Preregistration is required.

Junior Birder Patch Program
Monday, May 21, 1–3 p.m.
Learn all about birds and birdwatching through a variety of activities. Participants will earn the Junior Birder Patch by completing this program. We'll learn how to use binoculars, practice our bird identification skills, and much more!

Insect Investigation
Monday, June 11, 1–3 p.m.
Discover the amazing world of insects! We'll explore different habitats in the park and collect insects using a variety of methods. Learn about the beneficial insects in our area, as well as invasive species and the problems they create.

Life in a Log
Monday, July 23, 1–3 p.m.
Trees play an important role in a variety of habitats, whether they are alive or dead. We’ll focus on the importance of fallen logs and standing dead trees in the environment, and the various animals that depend on them for survival. By exploring trees in the park, participants will get an up-close look at insects, birds, and other tree-dwelling animals. We’ll also discuss the role of decomposers in a forest ecosystem.

 

Educational Adult Workshops

Rain Barrel Workshops
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Session times: 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m.
Build your own rain barrel! Participants in these workshops will take home a fully functional 55-gallon rain barrel with installation kit. These are the same rain barrels that retail for $99 and up! Space is limited to 8 barrels per session, so reserve your spot early. Cost is $40 per barrel. Fill out this Registration Form, but make checks payable to the Agni Institute. Registration is limited to two people per barrel and participants must be 12 years old or older. Call 919-460-2723 for more information.