Park Programs Announced for 2013

Park Programs and Speical Events - January through April 2013

Tiny Trekkers (age 2-4) Tiny Trekkers is a series of programs designed for young children ages 2 to 4 years old accompanied by an adult. Trekkers learn about nature through stories, activities, crafts and games.

Getting Wild
When: Monday, January 7th, 10am-11am

           Tuesday, January 8th, 10am-11am

Where: Park Office

Cost: $2.00 per participant

Description:  Trekkers explore the differences between wild and tame animals and learn about the wildlife living around us. We’ll have a story and an animal parade!

"Fur, Feathers, Skins and Scales"

Fur, Feathers, Skins & Scales

When: Monday, February 4th, 10am-11am

          Tuesday, February 5th, 10am-11am

Where: Park Office

Cost: $2.00 per participant

Description:  Trekkers learn about the different ways animals are covered through touch and observation. There will be a story, games and an animal craft.

Tiny Tadpoles
When:  Monday, March 4th, 10am-11am
            Tuesday, March 5th, 10am-11am
Where: Park Office
Cost: $2.00 per participant
Description: It is tadpole time at the park. Trekkers will look for tadpoles in our office pond, learn about life cycles and take home a tadpole craft.

Dirty Hands, Muddy Feets
When: Monday, April 8th, 10am-11am
           Tuesday, April 9th, 10am-11am
Where: Large Shelter
Cost: $2.00 per participant
Description: Trekkers learn about plants and how they grow. We’ll dig in the dirt, spread some seeds and plant some flowers. Please dress to get messy.

Discovery Club (ages 5 and Up)
Discovery Club programs are geared toward children ages 5 & up accompanied by an adult. Programs focus on learning about nature and science through hands-on activities and exploration.

 

"Bird Box Building"

Bird Box Building 

Date: February 23

Time: 2:00pm –3:30pm

Location: Large Shelter

Cost: $5.00 per box

Description: Spring is just around the corner and the birds will be looking for a place to build a nest. Build a nest box for your home to help attract bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens to your own backyard.  

Herp Hunt

Date: March 23

Time:  6:00pm – 7:30pm

Location:  Large Shelter

Cost:  $5.00 per family/couple/individual

Description:  Crickets, leopards, peepers, and spadefoots are just a few of the critters we’ll be on the hunt for at the park. We’ll listen for their calls and search the puddles and pools for frog spawn, tadpoles and newts. Wear shoes that can get a little muddy.

Black Light Bugs
Date: April 27
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Location: Large Shelter
Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual
Description: Learn how to make moth goo, ant trails and funnel traps as we lure all types of night critters with lights set up around the play meadow. Beetles, moths and maybe some toads will make an appearance.

Special Events/Programs

New Year’s Day Bird Count
Date: January 1st
Time: 10:00am-11:30am                          Location: Park Office
Description:  Come count the birds at Little River. Join staff as we tally the diverse species of birds found around the park. Last years participants saw a Bald Eagle!
 
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Date: February 15-18, 2013
Location: Park Office
Description: Participate in this National event here at the park or in your own backyard. Pick up instructions, field guides and data sheets from the Park office. Spend as little as 15 minutes counting birds, leave checklists for us to tally or submit the information at home. Free and no registration required.

Volunteer Work Day
Date: March 16, 2013
Time: 2:00pm-3:30pm
Location: Park Office
Description: “Get Ready for Spring” Has the spring planting bug caught you already? We’ll be preparing the planting beds, putting in some trees and shrubs and digging transplants out of the butterfly garden. Give us a hand and go home with a native plant.

Attracting Wildlife to Your Yard
Date:  April 22, 2013
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
Location: Large Shelter
Description:  This hands-on workshop will introduce you to some of the wildlife in our area and how to create a habitat for them in your backyard or even on your balcony. Once you have created your wildlife habitat, you can apply to be a part of NWF's Certified Wildlife Habitat program. The workshop is free but space is limited so pre-registration is required.

Environmental Education at Little River
Little River Regional Park offers a variety of nature programs for all ages. Regularly scheduled programs and special events are listed above. For more information, call the park office: (919) 732-5505 or register online: https://server3.co.orange.nc.us/.  Pre-registration is required and closes three days prior to the program date.

Public Input Sought for Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The following is a press release from the Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR). Little River Park's management is overseen by DEAPR. If you enjoy visiting any of the parks within Orange County not just Little River, this is your opportunity to voice your suggestions for improving Parks and Recreation services and facilities.

ORANGE COUNTY TO HOST PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS

ORANGE COUNTY, NC (November 5, 2012)—The Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation invites Orange County residents to participate in two public input sessions to help plan for a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The County is in the process of creating a new Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan, with assistance from consulting professors at UNC-Greensboro (UNC-G).  

The first meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, at the Southern Human Service Center, located at 2501 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill.  The second meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 15, at the Walnut Grove United Methodist Church, located at 7215 Walnut Grove Church Road in Hurdle Mills.

Public input is encouraged.  These meetings will give residents an opportunity to share their perspectives on County parks and programs, as well as make suggestions and ultimately help to guide the future of the County’s parks facilities and recreation programs. Information gathered at these sessions will be considered when preparing the Master Plan. A draft master plan is expected to be presented in the Spring of 2013.

For more information about the Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan, please visit www.orangecountync.gov/deapr/index.asp and click on the link entitled, ‘Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update’ located in the breaking news section.

Star Gazing at the Park on November 9th

The folks from Morehead Planetarium will bring out some high-powered telescopes on the evening of November 9th for Little River Under the Stars. The park will be open until 8:00pm for this special event. The telescopes will be set up for viewing by 6:00pm in the play meadow with a guided tour of the night sky by Planetarium staff to follow shortly after.

The moon will be moving out of its last quarter and entering its new moon phase on the 13th making night sky viewing conditions good. The planets Jupiter and Uranus should also be visible. 

Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until 3:00am on November 17th to see the Leonid meteor shower peak. At times the Leonid meteor shower has produced incredible storms of meteors. Though this year is not predicted to be anything extraordinary, there’s always a chance of seeing a good number of meteors. This year there will be no Moon in the sky after midnight when meteors are most frequent.

Some objects may not be viewable for the whole session because of rise and set times.

Feel free to bring a couple of camp chairs or a blanket, binoculars or your own telescope and a snack. Remember if you bring a flashlight, use a red colored lens to help everyone keep their night vision. Please call the park office at 919-732-5505 after 4pm if the weather looks cloudy.

_________________________________________________________________

This free program was made possible through the generous donations by the Trailheads  from the Little River Trail Runs.