More Nature & Gardening Programs for Tots to Teens at the Library

Above: The library is hosting a slew of nature themed programs for young kids through young adults. (images of cropped/edited flyers)

Whether you want to encourage your child/teen’s love of nature, or hope to inspire one, you may want to sign them up for one of the Southborough Library’s upcoming programs. They include two next week.

The Library is bringing back a popular nature educator for a special program, and continuing its partnership with the Mass Dept of Conservation & Recreation (DCR). They’re also continuing to run a Youth Nature Club for tweens and teens and including nature activities in their TLT lineup.

Many of these free programs require pre-registration.

Nature Story Time for Toddlers & Preschoolers

The monthly Story Time for 2–5 year olds runs on weekday afternoons from 1:30 – 2:15 pm in the Children’s Room. Each event includes a special craft. The new dates and topics are out. And it appears they won’t be sticking to a Wednesday schedule this summer. (Click links below for more details and to register.)

• Nature Story Time: Crunch, Munch, and Flutter-by — Wednesday, May 6: Learn about who is crunching and munching in the tall grass.
• Nature Story Time: Sprouts and Splashes — Wednesday, June 3: Learn about how water reaches roots underground.
• Nature Story Time: Over in the Garden — Tuesday, July 21: Learn about how every living thing needs water to grow.
• Nature Story Time: Over at the Pond — Monday, August 24: Learn about what’s over and under the water.

Nature Fun for School Aged Children

These programs are for kids ages 5 or 6 – 10 yrs old.

Our Pollinators!
Wednesday, May 6th from 4:30 – 5:30 pm

The library is bringing back Heather from Hands on Nature for this program for 5-10 yr olds. Learn about how butterflies, bees and hummingbirds of New England “help our planet thrive”. The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Southborough Library includes “a pollinator activity”. (Click here to register.)

Watershed Wildlife: Skull Science
Wednesday, May 20th from 4:30 – 5:30 pm

Mass DCR will teach 6-10 yr olds to classify animals as predator, prey, carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore by examining key skull features like eye sockets and teeth. (Click here to register.)

Seeds on the Move
Thursday, July 9th from 4:30 – 5:30 pm

Mass DCR will teach 6-10 yr olds about how seed travel “to find the perfect spot to grow”, and send them home with native seeds to plant. (Click here to register.)

Soil Stories
Thursday, August 6th from 4:30 – 5:30 pm

Mass DCR will lead 6-10 yr olds in examining different types of soil. (Click here to register.)

Special Teen Library Team (TLT) Events

Attending these meetings can count toward students’ volunteer credits.

TLT: Veggie Planting
Tuesday, May 12th, 5:00 – 6:00 pm

This program, for ages 12+, will be led by library staffers:

help Ms. Marianna and Ms. Carol start new veggies boxes to grow veggies for the Food Pantry from the the library’s Seed Exchange seeds. Dress comfortable in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty!

This is a drop-in program, no registration required. The effort is supported by the Southborough Community Fund.

TLT: Seed Pod Making
Thursday, May 16th, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

This program, for 6th-8th graders only, will by Mass DCR helps support native pollinators by helping to grow the native plants they rely on:

Get your hands dirty for a good cause. Support local biodiversity by crafting native seed pods. Mix and roll natural clay to create pods filled with pollinator friendly seeds. The clay pod will protect the seeds until it is dissolved by enough rain to help the seedling grow. Every pod you make helps the natural beauty and biodiversity of our local environment. 

The program is rescheduled from March, and now ties into the Mental Health Awareness Month’s theme, “Grow Where You’re Planted: Building Resilience Through Community Roots”.

Register here.

Youth Nature Club

The meetings for ages 11+ will be held about every two weeks on Thursdays 4:30 – 5:30 pm. Some events will take place inside the library. When weather allows, they will also often include outdoor activities:

Activities range from working on the gardens on the library grounds, to researching local wildlife, to creating nature-themed crafts and more!

The regular meetings this year are scheduled for: