Mudpies
April 30, 2024 @ 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Mudpies is a structured program for children ages 3-5 that encourages exploration of nature and interaction between a child and their caregiver. Each week, a natural science topic is explored through crafts, outdoor exploration, songs, stories, hikes and more!
Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the Forest
Looking for a unique setting in which to have fun with your child while learning about the natural world?
Mudpies is a structured program for children ages 3-5 that encourages exploration of nature and interaction between a child and their caregiver. Each week, a natural science theme is explored through crafts, outdoor exploration, songs, stories, hikes and more! Each session will feature a different craft or activity, along with storytime and a guided hike. Come discover the joy of sharing nature with your child!
This program is for children ages 3-5 accompanied by a caregiver.
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, Habitat Hollow, Mudpies Education Room (Lower Level)
Member price: $8 per child. Members must sign in to receive discount. Non-member price: $8 per child + daily admission for each accompanying adult(s). Click here to see daily admission prices. Please note that prices have increased for 2024.Â
Pre-registration is required. Class size is limited to 15 students.
Registration is available by individual session – OR – you can also sign up for a full month of Mudpies at a time (a new feature this year)! Â
Mudpies will run following the Bellevue Public Schools calendar and will not run during the summer.
Please see our most recent COVID-19 guidelines here.
January Schedule |
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Tuesday, January 9Theme: Winter, Session 1How do you know what season it is? What season is it when snow is on the ground? Come learn about the wonders of winter! |
Thursday, January 11Theme: Winter, Session 2Spend the morning learning about snowflakes and discovering them out on the trail! |
Tuesday, January 16Theme: Hibernation, Session 1Come learn about how animals survive in winter with a hibernation investigation! |
Thursday, January 18Theme: Hibernation, Session 2How do animals without fur survive the winter? Let’s talk about reptile and amphibians and explore their special version of hibernation. |
Tuesday, January 23Theme: Deer, Session 1What animals are up and about during the winter? Deer, of course! Come learn about winter adaptations of deer this morning! |
Thursday, January 25Theme: Deer, Session 2Do baby animals look like their parents? Come learn about baby deer and how they survive in the Forest! |
Tuesday, January 30Theme: Owls, Session 1Whoooo’s ready to learn about owls? Come learn about how owl feathers keep them safe and warm!  |
Thursday, February 1Theme: Owls, Session 2How are owls awake all night long? Can their turn their heads all the way around? Join us and learn about owl eyes and other adaptations! Â |
Register for January Classes
February Schedule |
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Tuesday, February 6Theme: Cardinals, Session 1Do male and female animals look the same? Today we’ll talk about colorful cardinals and other colors in nature! |
Thursday, February 8Theme: Cardinals, Session 2How do cardinals stay awake all winter? Come learn about cardinals, nuthatches, and other bright birds that we can find all winter in Fontenelle Forest! |
Tuesday, February 13Theme: Valentine’s Day, Session 1Happy Valentine’s Day! We’ll make a Valentine’s day craft and go on hike looking for hearts in nature! |
Thursday, February 15Theme: Shapes in Nature, Session 2After looking for hearts in nature, we’re going to look for shapes in nature and make our own nature puzzles! |
Tuesday, February 20Theme: Tracks, Session 1Whose tracks are these? Come learn about animal tracks and the animals that make them! |
Thursday, February 22Theme: Tracks, Session 2Do all animal tracks look the same? Do YOU make tracks? Come look for animal tracks and make some of your own! |
Tuesday, February 27Theme: Turtles, Session 1Can turtles leave their shells? Let’s look at turtle shells and figure out how they use them! |
Thursday, February 29Theme: Turtles, Session 2Do all turtles live in water? Do only tortoises live on land? Today we’ll use the clues on a turtle’s body to figure out where they live! |
Register for February Classes
March Schedule |
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Tuesday, March 5Theme: Seeds, Session 1Where do plants come from? Do all seeds look the same? Join us for a seed search on the trails! |
Thursday, March 7Theme: Seeds, Session 2How does a seed grow? Come join us as we plant seeds and look for any hints of green on the trail! |
Tuesday, March 19Theme: Spring, Session 1How do you know it’s spring? How can we tell the seasons are changing? Come explore the winter thaw out on the trail! |
Thursday, March 21Theme: Spring, Session 2What animals are waking up or returning now that it’s closer to spring? Let’s investigate robins and other animals that are out and about now that the Forest is a little warmer! |
Tuesday, March 26Theme: Migration, Session 1What animals are waking up or returning now that it’s closer to spring? Let’s investigate robins and other animals that are out and about now that the Forest is a little warmer! |
Thursday, March 28Theme: Migration, Session 2Where do birds go in the winter? When do they come back? Let’s learn about birds as we explore animal migration!
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Register for March Classes
April Schedule |
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Tuesday, April 2Theme: Frogs, Session 1What’s an amphibian? Leap into this lesson about frogs and other amphibians. |
Thursday, April 4Theme: Frogs, Session 2How do frogs jump so far? Come learn about how frogs survive in their habitat! |
Tuesday, April 9Theme: Life Cycles, Session 1What happens after a caterpillar turns into a chrysalis? Come learn about butterfly life cycles! |
Thursday, April 11Theme: Life Cycles, Session 2How do eggs turn into tadpoles? How do tadpoles turn into frogs? Learn about the circle of life with this life cycle lesson! |
Tuesday, April 16Theme: Eggs, Session 1Do all bird eggs look the same? Come investigate bird eggs and their nests! |
Thursday, April 18Theme: Eggs, Session 2Do different birds build different nests? |
Tuesday, April 23Theme: Sounds of Nature, Session 1Have you ever stopped and listened while walking on a trail? Come explore the sounds of nature during this lesson! Â |
Thursday, April 25Theme: Sounds of Nature, Session 2What animals make the loudest noise? The quietest? Come learn about animal noises and what we hear in the Forest! |
Tuesday, April 30Theme: Snakes, Session 1Come learn about the snakes of Fontenelle Forest and what makes them snakes! |
Thursday, May 2Theme: Snakes, Session 2What makes snakes special? Come learn about snake sheds, scales, and more! |
Register for April Classes
May Schedule |
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Tuesday, May 7Theme: Bees, Session 1What are pollinators? Learn how insects (and more) move pollen from flower to flower! |
Thursday, May 9Theme: Bees, Session 2Are bees pollinators? Come learn about different types of pollinators and search for them at the Forest! |
Tuesday, May 14Theme: Wetlands, Session 1What’s a wetland? Come learn about this wet and wild habitat! |
Thursday, May 16Theme: Wetlands, Session 2Come discover what lives in a wetland as we search “Around the Pond.” |
Tuesday, May 21Theme: Happy Summer!Come join us for our summer sendoff! We’ll have an end of the year party and enjoy the beautiful summer weather together! |
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Register for May Classes
Note: Mudpies follows the Bellevue Public Schools calendar and will not run during winter break.
