Family Programs for May

Learn about seeds, scents, soil and more

with our family activities in May

By Kate Blakely

What do amoebas, the Olympics and your nose all have in common? Our family programs for May! During May, we’ll explore the Gardens and its wildlife using our senses. We’ll race seeds and learn about how plants and trees use helicopters, parachutes and other natural machines to spread out their seeds. And we’ll also discover the amazing unseen world of amoebas. Please call 919-668-1707 for information or to register for these programs.

Nature for Sprouts

May 4-27 (Fridays): 10:30-11:30 a.m.

For ages 3-5

$24; $20 Gardens members and Duke staff

Can you name all five senses? And can you figure out how you might use each sense to discover the natural world? How about getting face-to-face with a grasshopper when it’s eating its lunch of grass, or watching as the squirrel wiggles its nose, smelling for danger. Listen and learn the American robin’s tune, then whistle along. Touch the grass and feel whether it’s smooth or fuzzy. Breathe deep and smell the flowers’ special perfumes in the air. Crunch into a carrot along with your lunch and taste those delicious flavors.

In Nature for Sprouts, we’ll explore the Gardens and learn how wildlife creatures use their senses to find food and shelter. We’ll pay special attention to how the changing seasons affect the Gardens’ animals and insects. Join us for this 4-week discovery class for ages 3-5. Caregivers, please join us to deepen your relationship with nature alongside your child.

Seed and Soil Olympics

May 5, 10-11:30 a.m.

For ages 8-10

$6; $5 Gardens members & Duke staff

How many seed are inside a tomato, or on a maple tree? How do seeds travel? In nature, different kinds of seeds race to the soil, where they hope to find conditions that will allow them to flourish. In this class, we’re going to challenge seeds to a competition. We’ll learn about how seeds use water, wind and even animals to spread out and find their own space to grow.

Awesome Amoebas

May 26, 10-11:30 a.m.

For ages 9-11

$6; $5 Gardens members & Duke staff

Did you know that a puddle is made of more than raindrops? In fact, even a tiny puddle can be teeming with life.  Bacteria, protozoa, algae, fungi, tiny insects and even crustaceans – these are some of the creatures you might find. One puddle could hold as many as 80 different living things. What do they eat?  How do they get there? Learn to conduct experiments, use microscopes and look closely to find out more about the life below our feet. This is the last family class of the spring.

Spring Family Fun Day

May 6 & 20, noon-3 p.m.

Free; no registration required

Please see our website for more information.

Paperhand Puppet Intervention

We regret to announce that Paperhand Puppet Intervention has canceled its June 10 performance at Duke Gardens because of a scheduling conflict.