Now that the 4th of July has come and gone it feels like the summer is almost over. But. that’s not the case at the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve and Learning Center. The second half of this month and August will be jam-packed with summer camps and lots of other activities. And with a 162 acres of brush and wetlands, plus 4 miles of nature trails, the preserve is the preserve is a great place for kids to learn about nature and the natural sciences.
Shae Plagens, an intern at the learning center, says there’s a lot more to come with 3 more summer camp sessions in August. Shae says, "We have 3 different camps left, we have lots of spaces available for 11 thru 15, and we also have camps for 8-to-10-year olds, and 5-to-7-year olds."
The camps will focus on on everything from fish, to animals, and insects that are indigenous to the wetlands. Each camp is a 5-day session, Monday through Friday, from 9-am to noon. And the fee is 99-dollars. Every camper gets an observing science outdoors t-shirt, an Oso Bay Bay Wetlands Preserve backpack, and a water bottle .
Education co-coordinator Caleb Harris says the learning center also has family programs every Tuesday and Thursday that are free of charge. He says, Tuesday mornings at 8 o’clock we have guided nature walks… they’re free… and one of our staff will walk you around the property and have a theme of what we’re looking for like various species of birds or plants." There are also Porch Talks every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:15, to talk about some of the many critters that populate south Texas. And Caleb says, "Next Tuesday our subject for the porch talk will be bobcats… we have a family of bobcats that live here at the preserve."
Coming up on Saturday, July 21st, there will be a family science exploration focused on hurricanes. And coming up in August there will be a resin casting workshop… they’ll teach you how to preserve you favor insect in hard plastic.
And the newest feature at the learning center is a second playground called a playscape that features balance beams, benches, and a waterfall.
The public is invited to the grand opening this coming Friday morning at 8:30.
For a complete look at all the camps and activities at the learning center, check their Facebook page, or their website at: http://www.Texas.com/services/general…/oso-bay-wetlands-preserve-learning-center
