Thursday, October 3^rd, 2024 – Fabulous Fall

Fabulous is the best way to describe fall here at Irvine, and we invite your child to join us in enjoying some of our favorite fall activities! We will head out on the trails to experience the crisp fall air and nostalgic smell of fallen leaves as we hike all around Irvine to observe how the environment changes with the season and take part in several fall themed games and activities, including s’mores by the fire to round out the day!

Friday, October 18^th, 2024 – Indigenous Peoples of the Chesapeake

In celebration of Indigenous People’s Day, we will commemorate the Native American tribes of the Eastern Woodlands for all they have taught us about connecting with the environment and using our natural resources sustainably. We will hike to Irvine’s Native American Site where children will get an insider look at Longhouse and Wigwam replicas that pre-colonial Native American tribes would have lived in. Participants will develop a respect for Native American culture as they learn about tool use, clothing, food, fire-making methods, and even games that are different than we see in today’s world.

Friday, November 1^st, 2024 – Fossils Rock!

Become a geologist or paleontologist and learn how fossils and rocks form and what they can tell us about prehistoric life; we’ll even have our very own fossil hunt! Play games, create art, and participate in activities designed to explore trace fossils, geology, and the world of dinosaurs. We’ll even meet some descendants of the ancient dinosaurs and see how they have survived to today.

Tuesday, November 5^th, 2024 – Natural Artisans

Ever wanted to combine your love of nature, science, and art? We will hike to find our own natural objects to create amazing works of art while investigating our own love of science. Our animal ambassadors even love art and can show us their own artistic skills. If you want to put yourself to the test of becoming a natural artisan, join us at Irvine!

Monday, January 20^th, 2025 – Wilderness Survival

What would you do if you got lost in the woods? In the Wilderness Survival Day Off Camp, children will learn outdoor survival skills that can keep them safe in the event that they ever find that they have lost their way. Students will learn how to properly pack for an outdoor excursion so that they are prepared for different conditions and scenarios that may arise. They will learn skills such as basic navigation and map reading, shelter building, fire building and safety, water collection and filtering, and how to use the resources around them to help them survive. Don’t miss out on this awesome learning experience for your child!

Wednesday, January 29^th, 2025 – Nature’s Engineers

There is so much we can learn from the natural world, including architecture and design. We will meet various animal ambassadors and observe animal artifacts to learn how these natural builders construct their homes. Then we will work together as a team to create our own structures, using the building techniques we’ve learned from the animals themselves!

Monday, February 17^th, 2025 – Maple Magic

Maple syrup season is one of our favorite times of the year here at Irvine, and we hope your child will join us for a close look at the process of collecting maple sap and turning it into the delicious syrup we all know and love! Participants will hike through our trails to visit our tapped trees and learn how the process has changed over time. We will visit the Barn to observe the process of sap changing to syrup as we enjoy some delicious treats by the fire!

Monday, March 31^st, 2025 – Terrific Tardigrades

Amoebas, Rotifers, & Water Bears, Oh My! The world can be so much smaller than we realize as we take the time to learn how to use a microscope and explore the unseen world around us. From single celled organisms to microscopic animals such as tardigrades, hiding in soil or stream water we will hike to collect samples and make observations of our findings.

Monday, April 21^st, 2025 – Wetland Wonders

Children will become scientists as they explore Irvine’s aquatic habitats to perform water quality tests and record data on the biodiversity found in each habitat. They will analyze their findings to determine the health of the ecosystems found in our wetland ponds and streams and discuss how these habitats contribute to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay. This hands-on experience will allow students to realize the impact their choices can have on our local environment.