Here you can find different activities created by park staff that will allow you to enjoy Historic Yates Mill County Park from home and also on your own when visiting the park. Be sure to check back often, as this page is updated with new activities and videos regularly!
Self-Guided Activities
Bird Guides
In celebration of the Great Backyard Bird Count, we have developed and are offering these educational guides on birds that are commonly seen in the Raleigh area and in the park. Come to the education center main doors to pick up fun, educational brochures on commonly seen birds! You can pick up a seasonal bird checklist as well.
You can also download our Common Birds Guide and Bird Activity Guide to print out at home.
My Backyard Buddies
Join Wake County park staff as we explore our backyards!
Use #MyBackyardBuddies on social media to share photos of what you see and check out what we're finding too.
Use the following apps to help you identify wildlife:
Yates Nature Puzzles
Try solving some of these beautiful nature puzzles which are photo captures of critters and plants in the park. See if you can put them all back together!
Yates Mill Mobile Tour
While our visitor center is currently closed, our park grounds and trails remain open so we are rolling out a new audio tour that you can listen to either in the park or from home. We hope you like it!
Wake County staff has also developed mobile tours for several other park sites, so we encourage you to check them out, as well!
Craft Activities from Home
Bee Craft Template and Instruction
Create this pollinator craft using recyclable materials.
Create your Own Waterwheel Craft
Use materials found around your house to create your own waterwheel.
Educational Activities & Scavenger Hunts
For all ages!
Want to find out what types of critters are living in your pond or creek? Use the identification guide as you explore.
Print out this booklet and use it to explore a plant in your own back yard or in the park.
For Middle School: 5-Day Curriculum
This is a curriculum assembled by a team of students from the Technology, Engineering, and Design Education department at North Carolina State University. Provided are lesson plans for four days of classroom activity and one visit to the Historic Yates Mill County Park. Each lesson plan is 75 minutes, tailored to fit a middle school on block scheduling.
Yates Mill Wordsearch and Maze
Try your hand at this Wordsearch and Maze. See if you can find all the hidden words of things found at the park and work your way through a milling maze!
Use the printable bingo cards to explore signs of animals in your own backyard.
Do you enjoy observing birds? Well, try out this printable bingo game!
Explore your backyard and see if you can find all the different critters and plants.
Go on a hike to see if you can find everything on this printable scavenger-hunt style activity!
Common Bird Guide and Activities
Staff Podcasts
Spring Has Sprung Collection
Park staff thought you might enjoy hearing our own reflections regarding what we particularly like about spring in nature and outdoors. Find below different audio recordings from staff, and enjoy!
Ask a Ranger Collection: The Den Owners Association
Listen to this adorable adventure that came to life through a collaboration with North Carolina State Parks, Historic Yates Mill County Park, Crowder County Park and our wonderful volunteers!
Ranger Crystal travels to Yates Mill County Park to help our Program Director, Rebeccah, get things lined up for the annual "Den Owners Association" meeting. Listen in as they hike and canoe around Yates Mill and chat with everyone from otters to toads and squirrels to grumpy ole Walter, the groundhog. You will learn some interesting facts about many of the Yates Mill residents and concerns of den dwellers.
Bird Day Collection
Monday, May 4, was “Bird Day.” This was the first holiday in the United States dedicated to the celebration of birds. This audio series was created by the staff of Historic Yates Mill County Park and Crowder County Park, in celebration of this special day and in honor of our feathered friends. In these tracks, we talk about our favorite spring bird calls and why we like them (e.g., Is it a sweet or attention-grabbing sound? Does it remind you of an experience or a person? Is there a funny joke about it? Is it a rare bird?) We hope you enjoy our recollections and stories! Share with us on social media!
Summer is Coming Soon
Summer is coming soon, so our park staff thought you might like to hear from us in regards to what we particularly like about summer in nature and the outdoors. We are sharing these podcasts in celebration of Midsummer’s Day.
Virtual Programs
Yates Mill on Video!
Check out Yates Mill on Video! We have videos all about wildlife, and gardening at Yates Mill Park, so that you can enjoy the park and learn from a distance.
Here are a few of the topics we've covered so far:
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All About Beavers!
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The Story of the American Elm
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All About Monarchs
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Spring is Here!
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Rainfall
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An Anniversary Slideshow
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Six little Ducks
And many more!!
Fun for the Whole Family
Bring the Outside Online!
Liven up your virtual meetings with customized backgrounds from Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space.
Other Parks from Home!
Check out other Parks From Home Pages
Find even more at Wake Parks from Home
Interested in exploring our other Wake County Parks from the comfort of your home? Find all of our Parks from Home pages at Wake Parks from Home.