Creature Club, 2025

A 4 week program dedicated to native animal topics, designed to provide social interaction and educate youth. 

2025 SCHEDULE, 7-10 yo, 4-6pm:

• January 9- Creature Features
• January 16- Animal Meet and Greet, Habitats
• January 23- Mammals of Montgomery County
• January 30 - Bird Beak Experiment

2025 SCHEDULE, 11-16 yo, 4-6pm:

• February 6- Creature Features
• February 13- Animal Meet and Greet, Habitats
• February 20- Mammals of Montgomery County
• February 27 - Bird Beak Experiment

4:00-4:30pm: drop-off and snack time

4:30-5:30pm: activities 

5:30-6:00pm: social time and pick-up

*All activities take place at the Wade Bourne Nature Center, 2308 Rotary Park Drive, Clarksville, TN.  This program will occur inside and outside, please dress appropriately for the weather. Please also bring a re-fillable water bottle. 

*In order for the program to achieve its goals of education and socialization, participants must commit to attend all 4 dates.  If there are last minute cancelations please email [email protected].  Failure to cancel or attend (no call/no show) may result in a $5 fee automatically charged to your CivicRec account.  You will not be eligible to register for future programming until this fee is paid. 

CoCoa Hikes!

Join us in the dark for a special Cocoa Hike through Rotary Park! The trail difficulty level is rated moderate and will be in the dark, please use your best judgment when registering. Strollers are NOT recommended for this terrain. Appropriate footwear, long pants, and bug spray is recommended. The hike will last 45 min, and each participant will carry a provided lantern through the woods. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. We will meet at the Nature Center front doors to check in up to 10 minutes before the program and to distribute lanterns.  After the hike, stick around for a cup of hot cocoa!

• Dec 3, 6-7PM
• Dec 12, 5-6PM
• Jan 10, 5-6PM
• Jan 24, 5-6PM

PLANTING PARTY's

Just because its winter time doesn't mean you can plant!  This workshop will focus on preparing a mini greenhouse for native plants to begin growing during the winter.  Once spring hits, they will be ready to plant in the ground!  Each participant will use a clean one gallon water/milk jug and alter it to serve as a mini greenhouse.  Then, the appropriate dirt and substrate will be added and, finally, local, native pollinator plant seeds.  

All materials are provided for this workshop, but we are asking you bring in your own one gallon milk/water jug!

No experience or prior knowledge is required to attend, bring your curiosity and we will teach you the rest! Young children may have a harder time sitting through the presentation, so use your best discretion when registering. 

• December 17th, 5-6PM
• Jan 8, 5-6PM

Intro to Animal Tracking

A feather, a paw print, a bone? Join the Animal Investigators to learn how to identify what animals are in your area based on the clues they leave behind. Participants will be able to use a magnifying glass, use field guides, and see real specimens.  The content is tailored towards the age of each participant, beginner or expert! This program is free and suitable for 6 and older.

• Jan 29 @ 5 PM
   

Puzzle Palooza

Get ready to dive into the ultimate puzzle challenge at Puzzle Palooza! Grab your puzzle-loving pals and form teams of 1-4 players to tackle a 500 piece puzzle. Each team will receive the same puzzle and will have 2.5 hours to complete it. The first team to finish will earn a prize! Don't miss out on the puzzle showdown of the year! Register your team and let the puzzle madness begin! Only 1 person will register for the entire team. For all ages. 

This is a family-friendly, free event, we supply all materials and refreshments. 

• Jan 25, 10:30-1PM

Winter Wreath Workshop

We are putting those old discarded Christmas Trees to good use with this DIY Workshop! Learn how to assemble a wreath from a variety of pine branches. All materials will be provided, feel free to bring extras to decorate and personalize! Children attending must be under supervision during the entire program.

• Jan 28, 4:30-6PM

DIY Workshop, Tiny Terrariums

• Dec 11
• Jan 17

Come to the Nature Center to learn how to make a terrarium in almost any kind of container! We will supply the plants, soil, fairy garden sculptures, ect. You bring a clear container to plant in. There will be an artist onsite to assist with making oven baked personalized sculptures for inclusion in your terrarium. The container can be new, used or recycled, with or without a lid. This is a great way to relax at the end of the week and get your hands on some green plants in the winter!

Free: Registration is required. https://secure.rec1.com/.../montgomery-county.../catalog

Snake Snacks!

 Snake Feeding Demonstration: Watch Buggie in Action! 

Join us for an exciting look at Buggie the Corn Snake's feeding time! Snakes have fascinating eating habits, and you’ll get to see it firsthand.

• When: Every first Saturday of the month at 2 PM
• Duration: 15 minutes
• Where: Wade Bourne Nature Center Lobby

Parents, please use your discretion to decide if this educational experience is suitable for your little ones.

Don’t miss this slithery spectacle!

Turtle Time!

Our new Eastern Box Turtle, Penny, will be outside for exercise today in the field in front of the Nature Center every Tuesday and Thursday. She is a fast tiny turtle and will certainly put on a show! Sometimes our animals hide while inside of their enclosures, but Penny will 100% be out and running around. 

• Jan: T and TH @11 AM
• Feb: T @ 4PM, TH @ 2PM
• March: T and TH @ 4 PM
• April: T and TH @ 4 PM
• May: T and TH @ 4 PM

This is a drop-in, free, event. No registration required.  If the weather is undesirable, we will move her exercise pen inside the Nature Center. 

Survival Skills for Families

This new 90 minute program is designed to empower families with the skills needed to survive wilderness emergency situations.  Whether you are going on vacation to the woods, beach or a backyard, the skills will teach you to save yourself and show you how rescue teams operate.  This is most beneficial when the whole family can attend.  Children under 4 are welcome, however, the content and timeframe may not be sustainable, please use your best judgment.  This program will take place inside the Nature Center using simulated situational tools and supplies. 

• Jan 4, 10:30am-12

Register here: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com)

Story Tails

Every 3rd Saturday of the month the Nature Center will hold "Story Tails," a program promoting literacy to children by creating a wonder for the natural world. Each session will include the reading of 2-3 nature books, songs, games and, activities! Sessions will be held inside and/or outside, depending on the weather. This program is for children ages 1-6 and the special needs community. The program runs from 10:30 am to 11:30 pm, snacks provided. 

• Jan 18
• Feb 15
• April 19
• May 17
• July 19

Register here: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com) 

Binocular Check-Out

The Wade Bourne Nature Center Foundation is generously sponsoring the new binocular checkout program.  Simply fill out a request with your preferred time and day and you can pick them up from the Nature Center reception desk.  There is no cost for this program, we simply ask you return the set before 4 pm T-F and by 2 pm on Saturdays. 

To reserve a pair, please click here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI1ODA4MDg=  

Live Taxidermy Demonstrations

Every 3rd Wednesday from 4:00-5:30 PM

• Jan 15, Red Tailed Hawk completion
• Feb 19,
• March 19,
• April 16,
• May 21

A taxidermist will walk participants step by step through the process of skinning a bird to the final stuffing/mounting. The chosen specimen will be the Yellow Billed Cuckoo. This bird was found deceased on the park property. 

Bird mounts are unique in that they do not require harmful chemicals for preservation. No eating or drinking will be allowed in the room for the duration of the process. Participants will not be permitted to touch the specimen.

*Passed in 1918, The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is illegal for an individual to collect eggs, feathers and/or nests. 99% of birds are protected by this law, typically not covered by the MBTA include house sparrow, European starling, and rock pigeons.*

Register here: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com) 

 Reading Round-Up

Join us on the first Friday of the month to enjoy a group reading for your little ones! This program is sponsored by The Blue Star Families of Tennessee in an effort to build home libraries. Each child who attends gets to pick out a free book to take home! Snacks are also provided. After the reading, feel free to stay in our Community Room or go outside on the deck to enjoy your goodies. Arts for Hearts will lead a related art activity afterwards as well! This Program is suitable for children age 2-5 and. Parents are expected to stay with their children for the duration of the event.

Dates

• Jan 3
• Feb 7
• March 7
• April 4
• May 2

Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog 

Field Trip Offerings

If you are bringing a group to any of our parks for a trip, PLEASE notify us in advance.  

Field trips are available to any group with 10 or more participants, FREE!  

The Wade Bourne Nature Center offers Bus Transportation Support for schools needing assistance.  Please indicate your interest in this funding option in the comments section during the reservation process. Funding is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.  Teachers may only apply ONCE in a calendar year. 

Spring Trips: March, April and May

Fall Trips: September, October and November

Click Here for a full list of activity options

Register for Field Trip programs here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog 

Volunteer Information

Whether you need service hours for an organization or want to serve your local park, we have many opportunities for you to get involved!  

Example positions include: Host Volunteer, Exhibit Interpreter, Trail Guide, Trail Monitor, Special Event Assistant, Field Trip Program Facilitator, Field Trip Support, Volunteer Coordinator, and Program Assistant

Please make an account on CivicRec and indicate what your interests are.  We will reach out for an orientation meeting to decide where you will be a good fit.  

Visit this link: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com)

Animal Care, Volunteer

The second Friday of the month is our dedicated animal care day, from 8:30am to 10am.  Join our Animal Care Specialist, Jenna, while she cleans and performs routine maintenance on our animal enclosures.  Jobs vary from sanitizing, plant watering/change outs, refilling substrate, cleaning algae from the aquarium, feeding the animals, ect.  We currently house 2 green tree frogs, a green anole, a corn snake, an eastern box turtle and a variety of freshwater fish. We also care for plants that live inside the tanks.

Bird Care, Volunteer

The second Friday of the month is our dedicated bird feeder care day, from 8:30am to 9:30am.  Join our Programming Specialist, Nicole, while she cleans and performs routine maintenance on our outdoor bird feeders.  Jobs consist of taking down the feeders, emptying seed, sanitizing the feeders, refilling seed and re-hanging.   We currently maintain 4 large hopper feeders, 2 finch tube feeders, one woodpecker suet feeder and a bird bath. This maintenance is conducted behind the nature center on the concrete benches.  Please use the side walk to the right of the center and take the path down around the back. 

This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in learning how to care for animals as well as anyone who needs service hours.  Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age and able to perform tasks with great care and detail, as our animals lives depend on it!

Seed Sorting, Volunteer

New Volunteer Opportunity!  We are starting a "Seed Library" at the Nature Center!  This is what it sounds like, an inventory of different types of seeds of native plants from around the park and nearby areas.  We often collect seeds from our gardens, community members do them same in their home gardens, and then donate the seeds to us.  Some seeds need to be separated from leaves, or pods in order to be stored properly.  This activity will go over how to separate and sort the seed parts as well as how to label and store them for distribution.  I bet there will be extras for the volunteers to take home!

Feb 8 @ 10:30 AM - 12 PM

Event and Program Assistance, Volunteer

We have several activities throughout the year that would not be possible without assistance from the community, Montgomery County Thanks you!  The most important factor is being punctual and committed to the date you sign up for, we will be counting on your help! If you are tracking service hours, please being any relevant paperwork with you.  

All volunteer assignments and details will be sent the week prior to your scheduled date, and you will always have a staff member available on site for directions and questions!