Ardenwood Historic Farm Naturalist Program activities - February 2017

Ardenwood is a Victorian era working farm with a blacksmith shop, farmyard, Victorian garden and house, train rides and more. Read about our visit here. 

Thursday, 2/2/17

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Friday, 2/3/17

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Saturday, 2/4/17

Hens Lay Eggs - Bring the little ones to the farm to meet the chickens. We’ll listen to a story, see what a hen’s feathers feel like, and search the coop for eggs. 10:30-11am.

Wonderful Wool – 11am-noon.

Victorian Table Top Games - Ready for some old-fashioned fun? Challenge your family and friends to a game of ball and cup, tops, or Jacob’s Ladder as you delve into the box of games from days-gone-by. 1:30-2:30pm.

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Sunday, 2/5/17

Sweet, Spicy and Scented - Sometimes sweet, sometimes spicy, and always scented, sachets are more than an olfactory de-light. Discover the numerous historic uses for sachets, and personalize your own scented bag to bring home. 11am-noon.

Rabbit Rendezvous - Hop on over for a warm welcome from some of the farm’s furriest residents. Learn why rabbits are great hoppers and how they use their long ears to sense danger. 12-12:30pm.

Farewell to the Monarchs - Discover what life is like for monarch butterflies as they begin their journey home. Meet at the granary for a slide presentation, make your own monarch butterfly craft and then stroll out to the greenhouse to see their life cycle in action. 1:30-3pm.

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Thursday, 2/9/17

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Friday, 2/10/17

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Saturday, 2/11/17

Fun with Felting - Have some good, clean fun as you learn how felt is made from sheep’s wool, and then make a felt toy to take home. 10:30-11:30am.

Beginning Embroidery - Victorians loved to embroider, and you will too! Learn some basic embroidery stitches and you will be able to decorate all sorts of cloth objects. Training materials supplied. 12:30-1:30pm.

Learn the Ropes - Make rope with an antique machine, and then see how lots of rope plus a few pulleys make hoisting hay bales into the barn loft a cinch. 2-3pm.

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Sunday, 2/12/17

Sweet, Spicy and Scented - Sometimes sweet, sometimes spicy, and always scented, sachets are more than an olfactory de-light. Discover the numerous historic uses for sachets, and personalize your own scented bag to bring home. 11am-noon.

Curious Caterpillars - Come find the hungry monarch caterpillars as they munch away on lots of milkweed leaves. Learn about their lifecycle and make your very own caterpillar to take home. 12:30-1:30pm.

Meet the Chickens - Check out the coop full of chickens! Discover why they like to roam around the farmyard and scratch and peck at the ground while you feed them a little snack. 2-2:30pm.

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Wednesday, 2/15/17

Toddler Time - Bring the tots out for an exciting morning at the farm. Read a story, do some chores, and meet some farm friends. Little ones will enjoy a variety of activities at their own pace. Ages 1-4. 10:30-114:45am. 


Thursday, 2/16/17

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Friday, 2/17/17

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm.


Saturday, 2/18/17

Farmyard Storytime - Little Red Hen, the Billy Goats Gruff and other farmyard friends are waiting to meet you! Join the story circle for some classic barnyard tales before visiting the main characters. 10:30-11:30am.

Beginning Embroidery - Victorians loved to embroider, and you will too! Learn some basic embroidery stitches and you will be able to decorate all sorts of cloth objects. Training materials supplied. 12:30-1:30pm.

Meet the Bunnies - Come meet the farm rabbits. Learn why they have big ears, their favorite food and how they communicate. 2-2:30pm.

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm.


Sunday, 2/19/17

Chores for little farmers - Rise and shine! Lend a hand! Start with a story before preparing a morning treat for the farm animals, clean a corral, and meet the sheep and goats. 10:30-11am.

Milkweed for monarchs - Meet at the greenhouse to plant some milk-weed seeds to bring home to grow in your own garden and learn about the cool relationship between milkweed and monarchs. 11-noon.

Victorian Table Top Games - Ready for some old-fashioned fun? Challenge your family and friends to a game of ball and cup, tops, or Jacob’s Ladder as you delve into the box of games from days-gone-by. 1:30-2:30pm.

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm.


Wednesday, 2/22/17

Toddler Time - Bring the tots out for an exciting morning at the farm. Read a story, do some chores, and meet some farm friends. Little ones will enjoy a variety of activities at their own pace. Ages 1-4. 10:30-114:45am.


Thursday, 2/23/17

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Friday, 2/24/17

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Saturday, 2/25/17

Farmyard story time - Little Red Hen, the Billy Goats Gruff and other farmyard friends are waiting to meet you! Join the story circle for some classic barnyard tales before visiting the main characters. 10:30-11:30am.

Beginning Embroidery - Victorians loved to embroider, and you will too! Learn some basic embroidery stitches and you will be able to decorate all sorts of cloth objects. Training materials supplied. 12:30-1:30pm.

Meet the Bunnies - Come meet the farm rabbits. Learn why they have big ears, their favorite food and how they communicate. 2-2:30pm.

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm. 


Sunday, 2/26/17

Fun with Felting - Have some good, clean fun as you learn how felt is made from sheep’s wool, and then make a felt toy to take home. 10:30-11:30am.

Corn mosaics - Learn how to turn the freshly-harvested Indian corn into a fun craft for the whole family! Use the rainbow of colored kernels to make your own mosaic. 11:30-12:30pm.

Rope making & hay hoisting - Make rope with an antique machine, and then see how lots of rope plus a few pulleys make hoisting hay bales into the barn loft a cinch. 1:30-2:30pm.

Animal Feeding - Check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. Learn all the animals’ favorite foods as we help tuck them in for the evening. 3pm.