STEELE CREEK NEWS

February Programs at McDowell Nature Center

(January 8, 2023) The McDowell Nature Center and Preserve offers a wide variety of programs for adults, children, and families. Listed below are programs for February 2023. To sign up or for more information, go to the Activity Search web page and search by program keyword or number, or call (980) 314-1128. To request a modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact staff at (980) 314-1192 or email TRInfo@MeckNC.gov. Click on the following link for more details about Group Programs and other Environmental Education & Nature Programs.

The McDowell Nature Center is located at 15222 York Road within the McDowell Nature Preserve (off NC Highway 49 across from Palisades High School). Direct questions to the McDowell Nature Center at 980-314-1128.

Program Name: MDNP: Adult Trail Trekkers
Ages 18+
#135673 Tues, Feb 7th 1pm-2:30pm
#135674 Tues, Feb 14th 1pm-2:30pm
#135675 Tues, Feb 21st 1pm-2:30pm
#135676 Tues, Feb 28th 1pm-2:30pm
FREE
Get active in nature with a McDowell Naturalist during this 90-minute, adult only hike. Discover what is happening seasonally throughout the preserve. This hike qualifies for our 100-mile hike club. Pre-registration required.

Program Name: MDNP: Kids Hiking Club
Ages 8-13
#135730 Fri, Feb 3rd 9:30am-11:30am
#135731 Fri, Feb 17th 9:30am-11:30am
FREE
Hey kids, get outside and enjoy your morning with the Kids Hiking Club! This group will meet monthly and explore McDowell Nature Preserve. All kids will receive a trail passport and a 100-mile hike club card to document their trail journeys and collect prizes along the way. This is a drop off program with a staff member and 1-2 parent chaperones. Pre-registration required.

Program Name: MDNP: Archery 101: Youth
Ages 10-12
#135727 Sat, Feb 4th 10am-12pm
$15 resident / $18 non-resident
Bows and arrows are some of the oldest tools humans have ever used, and still use to this day. Teens get a grip on basic terminology, practice proper form and safety with a recurve bow and compound bow, then use their new-found knowledge with a little target practice. Pre-registration required.

Program Name: MDNP: Geocaching Adventure
Ages 6+
#135683 Sat, Feb 4th 1pm-3pm
FREE
Hunt for hidden treasure in the woods with other participants using a GPS. No prior experience or special equipment needed! A naturalist will be there to guide you through this 2-3 mile geocaching experience. Pre-registration required (for adult and child alike).

Program Name: MDNP: Sunday Stroll with a Naturalist
Ages 18+
#135704 Sun, Feb 5th 12:30pm-2pm
#135706 Sun, Feb 12th 12:30pm-2pm
#135707 Sun, Feb 19th 12:30pm-2pm
FREE
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon stroll through the woods with a McDowell Nature Center Naturalist. Each season is a new opportunity to explore what nature has to offer such as wildflowers, migratory birds, animal tracks, and owl calls. This hike qualifies for our 100-mile hike club. Pre-registration is NOT required for this program but highly recommended.

Program Name: MDNP: Nature Crafting: Pom Pom Animals
#135684 Sun, Feb 5th 2pm-3:30pm
$5 resident/$6 non-resident
Tap into your artistic side with a family-friendly, nature-based craft! Participants can expect to practice their creativity and open their eyes to the natural wonders around them. No walk-ins accepted. Pre-registration required (for adult and child alike).

Program Name: MDNP: Family Fort Building
#135728 Mon, Feb 6th 1:30pm-3pm
FREE
Discover the survival skill of shelter building with your family. Work together using materials found in the woods to build a sturdy, weather-resistant shelter. We will be hiking off trail to our fort building location. No walk-ins accepted. Pre-registration required (for adult and child alike).

Program Name: MDNP: Adult Trail Trekkers+
Ages 18+
#135678 Thurs, Feb 2nd 9am-11am
#135679 Thurs, Feb 9th 9am-11am
#135680 Thurs, Feb 14th 9am-11am
#135681 Thurs, Feb 23rd 9am-11am
FREE
Get active in nature with a McDowell Naturalist during this adults-only hike. Discover seasonal changes around the preserve on this 2-hour hike. This hike qualifies for the 100-mile hike club. Pre-registration required.

Program Name: MDNP: Public Homeschool: Teambuilding and Geocaching
Ages 8-11
#135732 Thurs, Feb 9th 1pm-3pm
$5 resident/ $6 non-resident
With adequate preparation, you can have fun in the wilderness! The goal of this program is to introduce the audience to the idea of spending time in the woods for fun and gaining skills in fort and fire building. No walk-ins accepted. Pre-registration required.

Program Name: MDNP: Nature Hike
All Ages
#135729 Fri, Feb 10th 10am-11:30am
FREE
Enjoy a morning hike with the family at McDowell Nature Preserve. This hike will be on uneven terrain and will be approximately 2 miles. If bringing small children, strollers are not advised. Pre-registration required (for child and adult alike).

Program Name: MDNP: Trails and Tails-Little Sugar Creek Greenway
All Ages
#135733 Sat, Feb 11th 9:30am-11:30am
FREE
Have a K-9 companion? Want to meet other dog lovers in Mecklenburg County? Together with our "Tails" we will hit the "Trails". Each month we will meet at different parks, preserves or greenways around the Charlotte area. Please call Chad Moore at 980-314-1565 for more information.

Program Name: MDNP: Photography Hike
Ages 18+
#135699 Sat, Feb 11th 2pm-3:30pm
FREE
Enjoy a hike guided by a naturalist from the McDowell Nature Center on one of the preserves scenic trails. This hike will have many opportunities to pause and photograph what the preserve has to offer such as plants, trees, Lake Wylie, and wild animals that call the preserve home. Pre-registration is required.

Program Name: MDNP: Plantable Poems
All Ages
#135703 Sun, Feb 12th 3pm-4pm
$7 residents/$8 non-residents
Do you want to make cards for your loved ones this February? Head over to the Four Seasons Trail Picnic Area to decorate some biodegradable seed cards! These cards can be decorated any way you'd like with words, poems, or pictures! Afterwards, these cards can be planted to grow into native North Carolina plants! Pre-registration is required (for adult and child alike).

Program Name: MDNP: Nature Book and Look
All Ages
#135691 Mon, Feb 13th 10am-11am
#135692 Mon, Feb 20th10am-11am
#135693 Mon, Feb 27th 10am-11am
FREE
Journey through a nature BOOK and take a LOOK at the nature around us with a hike, hands-on activity, or a craft. Pre-registration required for adult & child alike.

MDNP: Outdoor Classroom: Courtships in Nature
Ages 5+
#135694 Tues, Feb 14th 3pm-4pm
Adults accompanying child free
$4 resident/$5 non-resident
February is the month to celebrate love! Explore fun facts about animal mating, how animals court their mates, and which ones are in it for life. No walk-ins accepted. Pre-registration required (for adult and child alike).

Program Name: MDNP: Preschool Explorers Series: Walk & Talk Like Animals
Ages 4-6
#135670 Fri, Feb 17th 1:30pm-3pm
$5 resident/$6 non-resident
Little ones and an experienced Naturalist will explore nature together starting with a story and then rotating through discovery stations that expand upon the story which may include crafts, games, songs, animal encounters and/or outdoor exploration. No walk-ins accepted. Pre-registration required. This is a drop off program. Adult participation NOT required.

Program Name: MDNP: Yoga and Hiking Amongst the Trees
Ages 18+
#135677 Sat, Feb 18th 2:30pm-4:30pm
$7 resident/$8 non-resident
What better way to relieve stress than to take your practice outside in our beautiful nature preserve. Practice grounding and breath in the fresh air during our asana practice led by a naturalist and certified yoga teacher. This practice includes a trail hike and meditation. The yoga portion will be done inside during the colder months. Pre-registration required.

Program Name: MDNP: Nature Crafting: Watercolor Resist Painting
Ages 5+
#135687 Sun, Feb 19th 2pm-3pm
$5 resident/$6 non-resident
Tap into your artistic side with a family-friendly, nature-based craft! Participants can expect to practice their creativity and open their eyes to the natural wonders around them. No walk-ins accepted. Pre-registration required (for adult and child alike).

Program Name: MDNP: School Day Out Adventure-Bouldering
Ages 10-12
#135632 Mon, Feb 20th 9am-4pm
$35 resident/$42 non-resident
Looking for your next adventure? Immerse yourself in a bouldering adventure at Crowders Mountain State Park. Pre-registration required.

Program Name: MDNP: Public Homeschool: Microscopes 101
#135524 Ages 7-9
#135525 Ages 10-12
Thurs, Feb 23rd 1:30pm-3pm
$5 resident/$6 non-resident
Discover the world of microscopy while focusing on the parts of a microscope and how it functions. Zoom in and check out this hands-on program that is aligned with NC DPI K-12 Standards and Curriculum. Pre-registration required.

Program Name: MDNP: Trash Trackers-McDowell Nature Preserve
Ages 12+
#135671 Fri, Feb 24th 9:30am-11:30am
FREE
Connect with others and nature while making a positive difference in our Nature Preserves. In this program, participants will help keep Mecklenburg County beautiful by removing trash. This month's location: (Waterfront) McDowell Nature Preserve; 15222 York Road, Charlotte NC 28278. Please register through Volunteer Connect under "Nature Centers." https://volunteer.parkandrec.mecklenburgcountync.gov/ No walk-ins accepted. Pre-registration required (for adult and child alike).

Program Name: MDNP: Explore The Carolinas - Rocky Face Mountain
Ages 18+
#135682 Fri, Feb 24th 8am-4pm
$ 35 resident/$42 non-resident
Leave the planning to us for this hiking day trip! We will provide transportation to and from Rocky Face Mountain in Hiddenite, NC for a guided hike of its granite dome. The hike will be about 5 miles, including overlooks and views of the nearby Brushy Mountains. Pre-registration required.

Program Name: MDNP: Animal Ambassador Meet n' Greet
All Ages
#135690 Sun, Feb 26th 3pm-3:30pm
FREE
Head over to the McDowell Nature Center for a close-up encounter with one of our live animal ambassadors! Discover fun facts about the animals’ adaptations and everyday life out in the wild! Pre-registration required (for adult and child alike).

To comment on this story, please click below to visit the Steele Creek Residents Association Facebook page.