Mini Sessions

2012! For nature enthusiasts 8-100 years old, we have educational opportunities and fun events and activities that extend beyond your daily visit and allow you to learn more about the Park you support and love! Come as a family, a group or come by yourself to make new friends!

• Pre-registation is required for all programs. For more information, please contact (309) 676-0998, ext. 6758 or email Education Department.

Programs:

OWL PROWL:
When: Friday, February 10
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Age Range: All ages
Min/Max: 10 min/50 max
Cost: $10 member/$15 nonmember
Family of four with membership pays only $35

Description: Whooo wants to go for a night prowl? Join Naturalist Sara Mackey as we discover the Dark Side and learn about our favorite nocturnal predator, the owl. This session will include an owl presentation where we will learn about owl behaviors using live examples of native Illinois owls. After learning about these owls and their unique calls, we will venture outdoors to try and call in a wild owl. It's sure to be a real hoot!

WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY
When: Sunday, February 12
Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Age Range: 15 years and up
Min/Max: 5 min/12 max
Cost: $20 member/$30 nonmember
Pre-payment is required for this class

Description: First in a four-part seasonal series designed to enhance your skills as an outdoor photographer. Learn the tricks for shooting in the winter environment. There will be classroom time for learning what settings to use along with instruction on composition and dealing with the winter environment. Dress warmly as we will then depart for a walk around the Park to shoot various landscapes and animals. Time permitting, we will then process a few images on the computer to bring out the best with today's available software. Knowledge of your equipment and warm attire suitable for the season is required.

MOONLIGHT WALK
When: Friday, February 17
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Age Range: All ages
Min/Max: 10 min/50 max
Cost: $10 member/$15 nonmember
Family of four with membership pays only $35

Description: Have you ever wondered what happens at the Park after hours? Join us as we stroll the Park's trails to discover what comes out at night and what our animals do when all the visitors go home. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight.

OWL PROWL
When: Friday, March 9
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Age Range: All ages
Min/Max: 10 min/50max
Cost: $10 member/$15 nonmember
Family of four with membership pays only $35

Description: Whooo wants to go for a night prowl? Join Naturalist Sara Mackey as we discover the Dark Side and learn about our favorite nocturnal predator, the owl. This session will include an owl presentation where we will learn about owl behaviors using live examples of native Illinois owls. After learning about these owls and their unique calls, we will venture outdoors to try and call in a wild owl. It's sure to be a real hoot!

MOONLIGHT WALK
When: Friday, April 20
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Age Range: All ages
Min/Max: 10 min/50 max
Cost: $10 member/$15 nonmembers
Family of four with membership pays only $35

Description: Have you ever wondered what happens at the Park after hours? Join us as we stroll the Park's trails to discover what comes out at night and what our animals do when all the visitors go home. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight.

MOREL UNIVERSITY
When: Wednesday, April 25
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Age Range: 16 years and up
Min/Max: 15 min/40 max
Cost: $35 member/$40 nonmember
Pre-payment is required for this class

Description: Ever wondered what all the hype surrounding spring mushroom hunting was about? Perhaps you really like eating morels and want to learn how to find them yourself? If you need a refresher course to gear up for the season, Tom Nauman, morel exper and owner of Morel Mania, Inc., will be here to help! Learn where morels grow, how to find them, and participate in a group hunt right here at WPSP. Participants should be physically capable of hiking over variable wooded terrain for at least 2 hours.

SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY
When: Sunday, April 29
Time: 3:00pm-7:00pm
Age Range: 15 years and up
Min/Max: 5 min/12 max
Cost: $20 member/$30 nonmember
Pre-payment is required for this class

Description: Spring is a great time to photograph woodland wildflowers, insects, animals, birds of prey, early-era farm buildings and scenic views. Peoria Camera Club member, Rich Seeman, will be the instructor for this class. Rich specializes in nature and scenic photography. He will spend some time in the classroom reviewing several photography concepts including composition, light, exposure, depth of field and focal length. After the classroom activities, he will lead us into the Park to see what is available to satisfy our need to make photos. We will be able to stay until 7:00 pm to catch the ideal late daylight needed for better photographs. Participants should bring their camera, manual, tripod, any additional lenses, an extra battery and storage cards. They should also have a basic understanding of photography and know their camera's functions and controls. Sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing and drinking water are important. There will be some short hiking, and it can get cool near the end of the day.

HOWLIN' WITH THE WOLVES
When: Friday, May 18
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Age Range: 6 years and up
Min/Max: 10 min/40 max
Cost: $10 member/$15 nonmember
Family of four with membership pays only $35

Description: Join us for a howling good time with WPSP's resident wolf pack. Participate in an enrichment project for the wolves while we share the lighter side of these often misunderstood creatures. Learn how to howl like a wolf outdoors...and perhaps hear the wolves howl back!

BUTTERFLY BASICS
When: Friday, May 25
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Age Range: 8 years and up
Min/Max: 10 min/50 max
Cost: $10 member/$15 nonmember
Family of four with membership pays only $35

Description: Find butterflies by day and moths by night. There are over 2,000 species of butterflies and moths in Illinois and we are going to attract as many as possible. We will also teach you how to attract them to your own backyard. This is a great event for the whole family! Be sure to dress appropriately and bring your camera!

KAYAKING
When: Saturday, June 2
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Age Range: 13 years and up
Min/Max: 6 min/10 max
Cost: $25 member/$30 nonmember
Prepayment is required for this class

Description: Join us for an evening of paddling and enjoying nature in one of WPSP's beautiful lakes. This is an introduction for those that have little to no experience kayaking. In this class, Bridget Hinchee of Argyle Lake State Park will instruct you in the basics of kayaking: safety, paddling, maneuvering and more. Kayaks, paddles and life jackets will be provided by the Friends of Argyle State Park. There is a limited supply of kayaks available, so register early!

MOONLIGHT WALK
When: Friday, August 10
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Age Range: All ages
Min/Max: 10 min/50 max
Cost: $10 member/$15 nonmember
Family of four with Park membership pays only $35

Description: Have you ever wondered what happens at the Park after hours? Join us as we stroll the Park's trails to discover what comes out at night and what our animals do when all the visitors go home. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight.

SUMMER PHOTOGRAPHY
When: Sunday, August 12
Time: 2:00pm-6:00pm
Age Range: 15 years and up
Min/Max: 5 min/12 max
Cost: $20 member/$30 nonmember
Prepayment is required with this class

Description: Summer is a great time to shoot insects, songbirds and wildflowers! What better place than Wildlife Prairie State Park to learn how? Steve Herrick has directed the National Insect Salon for the Peoria Camera Club for the past 5 years. He will explain how to find all these and get great photos of them in areas of the Park most visitors don't see. You will spend 3 hours in the field practicing, then come back to the Education Center to critique the results. You must be familiar with your camera and settings and have a basic understanding of photography. For best results, you will need to be able to shoot Macro close-ups (one to one) and medium to long (telephoto) images.

BAT BASICS
When: Friday, September 14
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Age Range: All ages
Min/Max: 10 min/50 max
Cost: $15 member/$20 nonmember
Family of four with Park membership pays only $50

Description: Come learn about this commonly misunderstood nocturnal predator! Bats are amazing animals and after this class, you will understand the importance of these creatures and learn how to attract them. During this class, we will construct a bat house to take home and even explore areas of the Park to see live bats! This is the perfect class for the entire family to attend. You're sure to be "batty" for bats by the end of the night!