Photo courtesy of Elli Morris www.wackophoto.comRockwood Nature Center
3401Courthouse Road
Program information call Bob Smet at 804-745-8360 or email smetr@chesterfield.gov
School Field Trips & Outreach Programs
Teachers! We have a wealth of SOL related science and outdoor programs developed for grades K–12 (gifted, LD/MD and after–school programs also available). Your students will enjoy a hands–on, minds–on field trip to Rockwood Nature Center or we can bring our fun and educational the programs to your school. Call Bob Smet for topics, prices and details at 745-8360 or email smetr@chesterfield.gov.
Wild Birthday Celebrations!!
Share your child's love of animals with all of his or her friends with a Wild Birthday Celebration at the Nature Center. Lots of topics available for lots of ages. Weekdays and weekend time slots available. Call Bob Smet for topics, prices and details at 745-8360 or email smetr@chesterfield.gov
Scout Programs
Webelos: Forester, Naturalist, Outdoorsman, Wolf: Birds & Your Living World, Bears: Sharing Your World With Wildlife, Brownie: Earth and Sky, Eco Explorer, Animals, Watching Wildlife & Water Everywhere, Junior Girl Scout: Earth Connections, Wildlife, Finding Your Way, Your Outdoor Surroundings. Call us to facilitate any of your outdoor merit badges or even overnight camp-ins and camp-outs. Typically each 2 hour badge workshop is $75 per group. Your location or ours. Call Bob Smet for details and to schedule a workshop for your den or troop at 745-8360 or email smetr@chesterfield.gov
Spring Break Adventure Camp
Let’Äôs do something adventurous this week! Try out archery, rock climbing, geocaching, orienteering and more. For ages 8-13.
Tuesday-Thursday, April 10-12; 9 am–1 pm$120 – Course 23029
Rockwood Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road
For program questions contact Noel Losen at 804-748-1129 or losenn@chesterfield.gov
Spring Break Nature Nuts Camp
Explore nature and all its wonders this spring. We’Äôll visit the meadow, forest, pond and more learning about the creatures that live there. Games, stories, crafts and games accompany each day’Äôs adventure. For K-1st graders.
Tuesday-Thursday, April 10-12; 9 am–1 pm$55 – Course 23028
Rockwood Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road
For program questions contact Denise Flora at 804-745-7020 or florad@chesterfield.gov
Friends of Rockwood Park Programs
Visit Friends of Rockwood Nature Center on Facebook and join us for our monthly meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Visit href="http://www.rockwoodnaturecenter.com" title="link to Rockwood Nature Center" target="_blank">www.rockwoodnaturecenter.com for more details.
Volunteer Orientation - Come to the Nature Center and volunteer to learn about nature, meet nice people, stay connected, build your resume and gain valuable work experience. Help us with animal care, nature center staffing, co-leading educational programs and hikes, tend the garden, use your fix-it skills, and more. Adults and teens welcome. Youth under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
| Thursday, February 2, 7–8:30 pm | Free – |
Scavenger Hunts at the Nature Center - Different themes and new wonders to seek and discover each month together as a family or set out on your own adventure. Each month is a different theme. Youth ages 10 and under must be accompanied by adult.
| Saturdays, 1 – 2 pm | $2 – | Jan. 28, Feb. 18, March 17, April 14, May 12 |
Everyone Loves a Campfire! - Enjoy a snack and a story by the campfire at these old fashioned hoe-down campfires. Lots of fun activities, games, music, and sing-a-longs will have you and your loved-ones feeling warm and toasty. Minimum age is 4.
| Fridays, 7–8:30 pm | $5/person – | February 24, March 23, April 20, May 18 |
Brownie Try-It-A-Thon - An opportunity to earn try-it badges while they are still available. Brownies can choose three badges to earn from seven outdoor and nature themed offerings. Visit www.rockwoodnaturecenter.com for a complete list of offerings or call 804-674-1629 for more information.
| Saturday, May 5, 9:30 am– 2 pm | $18/Brownie – |
Spring Fling at Rockwood - Celebrate all things spring at the Nature Center. Enjoy games, facepainting, scavenger hunt hikes, live animals, music, an egg hunt and more!
| Saturday, March 31, 1 – 4 pm | – |
Rockwood Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road
For program questions contact Mark Battista at 804-318-8735 or battistam@chesterfield.gov
Toddler Time in Nature
Is your 1–year–old a little nature explorer? If so, this series of classes is just for you! We will have songs, movement, stories, and lots of outdoor fun! We ask that each child be 1 year old by the first class and that younger siblings not attend. Parents are asked to stay with child for entire program.
Tuesdays, 10 – 10:30 am
| $20/per child for the series of 5 classes | Course 22738 |
| Jan. 24 –A Winter’Äôs Nap | |
| Feb. 21 – Shadows of Nature | |
| March 20 – Animal Safari | |
| April 3 – Signs of Spring | |
| May 29 – Touching Nature |
Rockwood Nature Center, 3401Courthouse Road
For program questions contact Denise Flora at 804-745-7020 or florad@chesterfield.gov
Little Tots Nature Club
Bring your little 2–year–old nature tot to this series of nature explorations, stories, and hands–on activities. We ask that each child be age 2 and that younger siblings not attend. Parents are asked to stay with child for entire program.
Tuesdays, 10 – 10:30 am
| $12/per child for the series of 3 classes | Course 22735 |
| Jan. 31 – What Does Nature Feel Like? | |
| Feb. 7 – Shadows of Nature | |
| Feb. 14 – What Does Nature Taste Like? | |
$12/per child for the series of 3 classes |
Course 22736 |
| March 6 – Animal Safari | |
| March 13 – What Does Nature Sound Like? | |
| March 27 – What Does Spring Sound Like? | |
$16/per child for the series of 4 classes |
Course 22737 |
| April 17 – What Does Nature Look Like? | |
| April 24 –What Does Spring Look Like? | |
| May 8 – What Does Nature Smell Like? | |
| May 22 – Exploring Nature with All Our Senses |
Rockwood Nature Center, 3401Courthouse Road
For program questions contact Denise Flora at 804-745-7020 or florad@chesterfield.gov
Little Sprouts Nature Club
Bring your little nature sprout age 3–5 years to Rockwood Nature Center either Wednesday or Thursday 10 – 11 a.m. each week for fun nature explorations, crafts, and stories. Both days cover the same theme. Parents are asked to stay with child for entire program.
$25/per child for this series of 5 classes
| Wednesdays | Course 22739 |
| Thursdays | Course 22740 |
| Jan. 25 & 26 – Where Are All the Animals in Winter? | |
| Feb. 1 & 2 – Where is Groundhog’Äôs Shadow? | |
| Feb 8 & 9 – What Do Birds Eat? | |
| Feb 15 & 16 – What is the Texture of Nature? | |
| Feb 22 & 23 – What's Wild? | |
| $25 per child for this series of 5 classes | |
| Wednesdays | Course 22741 |
| Thursdays | Course 22742 |
| Feb. 29 & March 1 – What is the Wind? | |
| March 7 & 8 – Let’Äôs Go On A Shamrock Hunt | |
| March 14 & 15 –What Do We See in Spring? | |
| March 28 & 29 – What Do We Hear in Spring? | |
| $20 per child for this series of 4 classes | |
| Wednesdays | Course 22743 |
| Thursdays | Course 22744 |
| April 4 & 5 – Who Hatches From An Egg? | |
| April 18 & 19 – Does Water Get Sick? | |
| April 25 & 26 –Wildlife is Everywhere! | |
| May 2 & 3 – What Are Butterflies? |
Rockwood Nature Center, 3401Courthouse Road
For program questions contact Denise Flora at 804-745-7020 or florad@chesterfield.gov
Nature Storytime
Join us each Sunday afternoon September-November for a fun nature story.
Sundays, 2 – 2:40 pm; Free, no registration required.
Rockwood Nature Center, 3401Courthouse Road
For program questions contact Denise Flora at 804-745-7020 or florad@chesterfield.gov