Night Hike at Metea NORTH

August 29, Friday, 9:00 pm – Metea North parking lot

Meet at the Hursh Road parking lot and wear some bug repellent as we embark on a night hike filled with nocturnal animals, night senses and fun.

$2.00 per person. Call 449-3777 to register.

Campfire Cooking – Everything but the Kitchen Sink Soup

August 29, Friday, 6:00 pm – Metea County Park fire ring

Come to Metea County Park with your own place-setting, beverage and a can of your favorite vegetable as we make “Everything but the Kitchen Sink Soup”.

There’s no telling what type of soup we will end up with, but it will be good!!! Then naturalist, Karie Harding, will have a yummy dessert to make over the fire!

Be sure to stay for the night hike after the program.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED for this program. (You will be turned away if you have not registered). Call 449-3777. Space is limited. $5.00 per person.

Girls in Boots! Learn to Fish

August 23, Saturday, 3-5pm, Metea County Park Nature Center

Girls in Boots is a monthly program designed to help women become more self sufficient in the outdoors. The program is recommended for women and young ladies from about 12 years old on up.

Want to go fishing, but don’t know how? Then this is the program for you!

We’ll learn everything from how to put a pole together and put a hook on to how to cast and take a fish off the hook.

All supplies will be provided, as will a snack.

Cost for this program is $5. Pre-registration is required. Please call 260-449-3777 to reserve your spot.

Home School Series

August 21 & September 18, Thursdays, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Metea Nature Center

Metea County Park is offering a home school science enrichment program for all school age students in three age groups.

Participants in this project MUST pre-register at 449-3777 or by emailing kharding@allencountyparks.org (preferred method).

The fee for this program is $10.00 per student and $4.00 per parent, and includes both month’s sessions, all handouts and equipment. One parent/guardian per family is required to attend.

Classes fill up quickly, so reserve your space soon! Each session begins promptly at 2:00 pm!

Please bring proper footwear and insect repellent.

Beginner - Grades 1-3
During the first session we will be investigating the pond during this program. The children will be using our dip nets and various equipment to discover what critters live in the pond during the fall months. If we are lucky we may even find some crayfish with eggs or some monarch butterfly larva on the milkweed next to the pond.

The next session will consist of a “bird-brained” activity and a hike that centers on birds. If you have binoculars please bring them. We have a few pairs that we can use too.

Intermediate - Grades 4-6
The first session will consist of a “bird-brained” activity and a hike that centers on birds. If you have binoculars please bring them. We have a few pairs that we can use too.

During the next session we will be learning about the monarch butterfly – metamorphosis, caterpillar and butterfly anatomy, tagging, habitat, predators, how to tell the sex of the butterfly and chrysalis, and migration of the butterflies. Wear appropriate shoes as we will be hiking through the prairie to catch and tag some butterflies.

Advanced - Grades 7-12
We will be learning about the monarch butterfly – metamorphosis, caterpillar and butterfly anatomy, tagging, habitat, predators, how to tell the sex of the butterfly and chrysalis, and migration of the butterflies during the first session. Wear appropriate shoes as we will be hiking through the prairie to catch and tag some butterflies.

During the next session we will learn about the social behaviors in crickets. We will be catching crickets and learning about how they interact with other crickets. It’s more than chirping!!! Be prepared to complete a scientific investigation!!!

Preschool Morning Adventure - Bats

August 14, Thursday, 10:00 am – Metea County Park Nature Center

Come to Metea County Park with your preschooler to learn about bats.

We will play some ‘bat games,’ complete a bat craft, sing some songs, read a bat book and have a snack.

$3.00 per child, $2.00 per adult partner (partner required). Please register by calling 449-3777.

Meteors and Music at Metea County Park

August 12, Tuesday, 8pm until midnight, Metea County Park Nature Center

The Perseid Meteor Shower is upon us once again!

Perhaps the most famous of meteor showers, the Perseids are the tail remnants of the comet Swift-Tuttle, softly soaring through our solar system.

We’ll have music from some of the best acoustic musicians in Fort Wayne as well as food and drink. The Fort Wayne Astronomical Society will be there with telescopes!

Don’t forget to bring lawn chairs or a blanket, bug spray and a friend to share the evening with!

Cost for this concert is $5 per person. Call 260-449-3777 for more info.