Create Art
Young sculptors, painters and builders will connect with nature and green your household when they make art outdoors, use natural materials, or invent new uses for containers, papers and objects your family would otherwise throw away.
The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, California’s only nonprofit native plant nursery, seed source, bookstore and education center, offers an exciting Shadow Drawing family art class that introduces kids 5 and up and their parents to the native landscape and the creatures that native plants support. The class, led by Lisa Novick and Pamela Burgess, Artist-in-Residence, leads kids through the nursery grounds where they draw the shadows of a variety of native specimens. No art experience is necessary. Theodore Payne Foundation, 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley, 818.768.1802, http://theodorepayne.org/.
Throw an Eco Art Birthday Party: Trash for Teaching takes manufacturing byproducts and brings them to schools for kids’ art projects. Trash for Teaching’s Treasure Truck, outfitted with bins full of exciting materials, and its facilitators are also available to visit your home for your child’s next party. Trash for Teaching provides one facilitator for each group of 10 kids and offers one-of-a-kind recycled art party hats. Parties can be adapted to a variety of themes and age groups. $200 for the first 2 hours and 10 kids, $15 for each additional guest. For information visit trashforteaching.com, Trash for Teaching, 2946 E. 11th St., Los Angeles, 323.262.3400, email: info@trashforteaching.org.
Artists and recyclers will want to read The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art by Irene Luxbacher (9-12) and Recycled Crafts Box by Laura C. Martin (9-12).
Take a Walk
Budding naturalists can learn about LA’s ecosystem by taking a walk around the block, or visiting kid-friendly wilderness areas here in the LA area. Even the youngest eco-explorers can participate in The Nature Institute’s Family Nature Walks and Tykes on Trails Programs. Nature Walks are scheduled year-round, on weekdays and weekends, at numerous kid-safe sites in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Many sites are stroller accessible. Reservations are required. Suggested donation is $10 per family. Proceeds from Family Nature Walks help the Institute provide free fieldtrips and workshops for inner-city children. Tykes on Trails workshops are designed for 2- to 4-year-olds. $20 per workshop, $17 for members. The Children’s Nature Institute, 2600 Franklin Canyon Dr., Beverly Hills, 310.860.9484, http://www.childrensnatureinstitute.org/, email: info@cni-kids.org.
Take a Full Moon Hike or enjoy a daytime nature adventure. Kids 8 and up can participate in the Hike and Craft and Speak for the Trees monthly programs at Franklin Canyon Park. Sooky Goldman Nature Center, Franklin Canyon Park, 2600 Franklin Canyon Dr., Beverly Hills. 310.358.7272 ext. 131. Visit the website for dates and times: http://lamountains.com/.
Read Take a City Nature Walk: Your adventure guide to finding, observing, and identifying the plants and animals in our cities by Jane Kirkland, (6 and up) and All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Nikki McClure (5 and up).
