Sunflower Fun
Allison Zito
Artist and Professor, Harcum College

These magnificent flowers were a gift from the Greek god Apollo. Sunflowers grow between 3 and 12 feet in height, and were immortalized by Vincent van Gogh in his paintings. These yellow giants track the sun and reach ever higher. We will explore some of the stories associated with this towering flower. In this children’s workshop, each student will create his or her own version of this legendary giant to take home. All
materials are provided. Ideal for ages 3 to 6.

Sunday, September 16
1 – 2:15 p.m.
Members: $8
Non-members: $10
Less than 5 reservations left!

Cactus Dish Gardening for Kids
Michelle Conners
Curatorial Assistant, Morris Arboretum

Cactus and succulent plants are very easy to take care of and can be combined to create attractive mini-gardens. Children will love the fuzzy “old man” cactus as well as others that are knobby, textured or colorful. In this class children will learn the basics of cactus gardening and plant care, and will actually create their own dish garden to take home.The sand, pebbles, container and assorted plants are provided, so just bring your enthusiasm and imagination. Recommended
for children ages 6 and up.

Sunday, September 23 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Members: $15
Non-members: $17

Junior Naturalists Program: Observing the World in Fall
Ruth Pfeffer
Expert Birder

Ann Rhoads
Senior Botanist, Morris Arboretum

If you enjoy being outdoors observing and learning about the natural world, this program is for you. It will give you a hands-on outdoor experience and increase your understanding of the natural world. You will learn about birds, plants, amphibians and M
insects, observe them in their natural habitats and learn about what they need to survive. These popular, expert instructors will help you identify species, sharpen your observation skills and make it fun to learn. You will be encouraged to record what you see in a journal so that you develop a record that becomes more meaningful over time. This program is designed for kids 10 to 14 years old. Please bring binoculars if you have them. The course meets three times during the fall. The first meeting is at the Arboretum but each session will meet at a different location.

Three Saturdays:
September 29, October 20, November 10
8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Week 1: Meet at the Morris Arboretum
Week 2: Meet at the Militia Hill Hawk Watch Platform at Ft. Washington State Park
Week 3: Meet at the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust

Members: $40
Non-members: $45 

Nature Writing and Art
Andrea Ross
Poet and Essayist

Hey kids—grab your parents and head to the Arboretum for two hours of exploring the outdoors and collecting images and ideas for writing and playing with words. Keeping in mind what we see around the Arboretum— creeks, rocks, seedpods, plants, animals— participants will write a “self-portrait” poem, then make the poem into an art project by turning it into a sculpture, collage or mobile, using materials provided by the instructor. Ideal for ages 6 to12. Parents or care givers may accompany their children.

Saturday, September 29
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Members: $13
Non-members: $15

Natural Critters Workshop for Families
Cheryl Wilks
Floral Educator, Florist and Owner of “Flowers on Location”

This is a great way to spend an afternoon together making adorable critters from an assortment of dried materials. These make great ornaments, decorations and gifts. This special “family” workshop is for a parent(s) and child(ren) ages 8 and up (limited to 3 in a group). Bring a glue gun, a box to take your critters home and a camera to take pictures. There will be a selection of dried materials from around the world to use.

Saturday, October 6
1 – 3 p.m.
Members: $33
Non-members: $35

Incredible Insects and Bug Olympics
Irene Safren
Naturalist, Churchville Nature Center and the Eagles Mere Conservancy

Learn about insects, the habitats they require, and the important role they play in our ecosystem while having lots of fun. We will do a variety of activities that celebrate insects, including Bug Olympics. Children will work in teams to collect insects and enter them into competition. Judges will be on hand to monitor the competition, and medals will be awarded. Insects will be handled carefully and
returned to their habitats following competitions. Join us for this family event!

Sunday, September 30
1 – 3 p.m.
Members: $8
Non-members: $10

Planetary Treasure Hunt
Irene Safren
Naturalist, Churchville Nature Center and the Eagles Mere Conservancy

Join us as we use a treasure map, follow clues and solve riddles to help us track down the REAL treasures of our planet. (Hint: they are not gold or silver!) The activities will take us throughout the Arboretum as we explore the systems that make up the great diversity of
life, on our planet possible. Along the way, your adventures will include entering the amazing leaf factory and following the incredible journey of Molecule X from the age of the dinosaurs to the present day. You’ll become a part of the water and soil cycle and track the flow of sunlight energy through the green plants to the animals. This is a hands-on, participatory program that is fun and
informative for all ages.

Sunday, October 14
1 – 3 p.m.
Members: $8
Non-members: $10
FULL!

Fantasy Landscapes of Henri Rousseau
Allison Zito
Artist and Teacher, Harcum College

In this class we will draw inspiration from the rich jungle landscapes of Henri Rousseau. We will create imaginary stories about jungle escapades. Then, starting with primary colors, students will explore the joy and excitement of mixing new colors. They will learn to create
background, middleground and foreground. Using acrylic paints, students will create a canvas filled with a vast array of jungle foliage
and exotic mystery. This class is for ages 6 to 12.

Sunday, October 21
1 – 2:30 p.m.
Members: $10
Non-members: $12
Less than 5 reservations left!

Boy Scout Badge: Forester Requirements
Tom Reeves
Past President Valley Forge Audubon Society and Volunteer Guide, Tyler Arboretum

Learn about the importance of trees and forests in this class especially designed for Webelo Boy Scouts. It will focus on the Forester Badge requirements. Scouts will participate in a variety of activities to help them learn to identify trees and plants found in our forests. They will draw pictures showing the layers of the forest and learn how to tell a tree’s age by examining tree rings. Discussions about tree care and planting and the best kinds of trees to plant in urban and suburban areas will also be included.
2 sections available for this class

Sunday, October 28
1 – 3 p.m.
Members: $8
Non-members: $10
FULL!

Saturday, November 3
1-3 p.m.
Members: $8
Non-members: $10
Less than 10 reservations left!

Recycling with Worms
Janet Wilson
Morris Arboretum Guide

Recycling is something that we can all do to cut down on organic kitchen waste so it doesn’t end up in a land fill. Janet will demonstrate how you can use worms to consume your organic waste and produce rich compost. She will review fascinating information about worms and how they ingest organic material and produce environmentally beneficial worm castings that you can use in your garden. Directions for creating a worm box will be supplied, and one complete kit will be raffled off at the end of the class. This is a great activity to do with your family.

Sunday, October 28
1 – 2:30 p.m.
Members: $8 per person, $13 per family
Non-members: $10 per person, $15 per family
Less than 5 reservations left!

Kids’ Holiday Arrangement
Cheryl Wilks
Floral Educator, Florist and Owner of “Flowers on Location”

Learn about fresh flower arranging as you design a beautiful centerpiece to use on your family’s holiday table or to give as a gift. Working with evergreens is fragrant and fun. You can add a candle, pine cones, ribbons, and flowers to make it extra special. Your finished arrangement will last for a minimum of two weeks. This enjoyable, educational workshop is for kids from 5 to 12. Guaranteed success.

Saturday, December 15
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Members: $28
Non-members: $31
Less than 5 reservations left!