Creature Club, 2025

A 4 week program dedicated to native animal topics, designed to provide social interaction and educate youth. 

2025 SCHEDULE, 7-10 yo, 4-6pm:

• January 9- Creature Features
• January 16- Animal Meet and Greet, Habitats
• January 23- Mammals of Montgomery County
• January 30 - Bird Beak Experiment

2025 SCHEDULE, 11-15 yo, 4-6pm: (New name: Next-Gen Naturalists)

• February 6- Mini Mammal Habitats
• February 13- Fur & Adaptations Lab
• February 20- Noctournal Mammal Night Hike
• February 27 - Animal Meet & Greet

4:00-4:30pm: drop-off and snack time

4:30-5:30pm: activities 

5:30-6:00pm: social time and pick-up

*All activities take place at the Wade Bourne Nature Center, 2308 Rotary Park Drive, Clarksville, TN.  This program will occur inside and outside, please dress appropriately for the weather. Please also bring a re-fillable water bottle. 

*In order for the program to achieve its goals of education and socialization, participants must commit to attend all 4 dates.  If there are last minute cancelations please email Naturecenter@mcgtn.net.  Failure to cancel or attend (no call/no show) may result in a $5 fee automatically charged to your CivicRec account.  You will not be eligible to register for future programming until this fee is paid. 

DIY Card Making Day

Drop-in Valentine Card Making Day! Come anytime Feb 5th between 10am and 4pm and use your creativity to make a card for someone special! We will have all of the supplies and materials needed.

Art Exhibition & Reception

We’re thrilled to host this captivating art exhibit at the Wade Bourne Nature Center, featuring unique perspectives and styles in celebrating local native species. This promises to be a truly stunning showcase! The show is open Jan 20 through March 8th during open hours of the Nature Center.

• Open Reception, Feb 15th, 1-3PM

About the Artists:

Lisa Harden: Bringing the beauty of nature to life with photo emulsion prints, Lisa’s work combines striking imagery with delicate textures and a truly unique process.
Madison Wright: Madison’s contemporary approach to photography blends realism with urban elements, offering fresh interpretations of the wildlife we cherish here at Rotary Park.
Jackie Lewis: Jackie’s wood burning creations celebrate the textures and colors of nature, using sustainable materials to craft one-of-a-kind pieces.

DIY Garden Series

Join us as we prepare for the 2025 growing season! This garden series is your step-by-step guide to achieving a successful harvest. Whether you’re just starting out or already a seasoned gardener, you can participate in the full series or drop in for specific topics that interest you.

2025 Garden Series Schedule:
Feb 5 – Garden Planning and Design, Register here for Feb 5th 
Feb 26 –  Starting Seeds Early & Extending the Growing Season, Register here for Feb 26th
March 5 – Veggie Garden Basics, Register here for March 5th
March 8 (Sat) – Outdoor Action Day 🌿
March 26 – All About Soil
April 2 – Hardening Off Your Seedlings
April 23 – Transplanting Seedlings & Direct Sowing
May 7 – What’s Going Right? Fixing What’s Not
May 10 (Sat) – Outdoor Herbs: Cut & Come Again + Hydroponics
May 28 – Supports and Trellis

Outdoor Action Days are your chance to put into practice what you’ve learned in our community garden. Roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and bring your knowledge to life!

Wednesday Classes combine indoor informational sessions with outdoor, hands-on experiences to provide practical reference and implementation for each topic in the Community Gardens.

Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTM0NzYxNTg=

Intro to Animal Tracking

A feather, a paw print, a bone? Join the Animal Investigators to learn how to identify what animals are in your area based on the clues they leave behind. Participants will be able to use a magnifying glass, use field guides, and see real specimens.  The content is tailored towards the age of each participant, beginner or expert! This program is free and suitable for 6 and older.

• Jan 29 @ 5 PM
   

Snake Snacks!

 Snake Feeding Demonstration: Watch Buggie in Action! 

Join us for an exciting look at Buggie the Corn Snake's feeding time! Snakes have fascinating eating habits, and you’ll get to see it firsthand.

• When: Every first Saturday of the month at 2 PM
• Duration: 15 minutes
• Where: Wade Bourne Nature Center Lobby

Parents, please use your discretion to decide if this educational experience is suitable for your little ones.

Don’t miss this slithery spectacle!

Turtle Time!

Our new Eastern Box Turtle, Penny, will be outside for exercise today in the field in front of the Nature Center every Tuesday and Thursday. She is a fast tiny turtle and will certainly put on a show! Sometimes our animals hide while inside of their enclosures, but Penny will 100% be out and running around. 

• Feb: T @ 4PM, TH @ 2PM
• March: T and TH @ 4 PM
• April: T and TH @ 4 PM
• May: T and TH @ 4 PM

This is a drop-in, free, event. No registration required.  If the weather is undesirable, we will move her exercise pen inside the Nature Center. 

Story Tails

Every 3rd Saturday of the month the Nature Center will hold "Story Tails," a program promoting literacy to children by creating a wonder for the natural world. Each session will include the reading of 2-3 nature books, songs, games and, activities! Sessions will be held inside and/or outside, depending on the weather. This program is for children ages 1-6 and the special needs community. The program runs from 10:30 am to 11:30 pm, snacks provided. 

• Jan 18
• Feb 15
• April 19
• May 17
• July 19

Register here: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com) 

Live Taxidermy Demonstrations

Watch a taxidermist prepare a specimen, up close and personal with a step by step tutorial. Seating will be available and we utilize a document camera for large screen viewing.  Those who are curious are welcome to stop in and take a peek. The Nature Center carries the required state and federal permits to possess migratory birds.  ALL specimen for this program died of natural causes and were collected within the park.  

Every 3rd Wednesday from 4-5:30PM

*Passed in 1918, The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  It is illegal for an individual to collect eggs, feathers and/or nests. 99% of birds are protected by this law, typically not covered by the MBTA include house sparrow, European starling, and rock pigeons.*

Puzzle Palooza

Get ready to dive into the ultimate puzzle challenge at Puzzle Palooza! Grab your puzzle-loving pals and form teams of 1-4 players to tackle a 500 piece puzzle. Each team will receive the same puzzle and will have 2.5 hours to complete it. The first team to finish will earn a prize! Don't miss out on the puzzle showdown of the year! Register your team and let the puzzle madness begin! Only 1 person will register for the entire team. For all ages.

• March 7, 5-7:30PM
  • *OFF SITE: South Guthrie Community Center 5025 Guthrie Rd, Clarksville, TN

This is a family-friendly, free event, we supply all materials and refreshments.

Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTM0NjQ2MDQ=

Survival Skills for Families

This popular 90 minute program is designed to empower families with the skills needed to survive wilderness emergency situations. Whether you are going on vacation to the woods, beach or a backyard, the skills will teach you to save yourself and show you how rescue teams operate. This is most beneficial when the whole family can attend. Children under 5 are welcome, however, the content and timeframe may not be sustainable, please use your best judgment. This program will take place inside using simulated situational tools and supplies.

• Feb 7, 5-7PM
  *OFF SITE- This program takes place at the RichEllen Banquet Hall.1466 TN-149, Clarksville, TN

Itinerary:
The psychology of survival
Shelters
Fire
Food and water
Signaling
First aid, everyone assembles their own emergency kit to take home!
The final challenge

This program is Free but requires registration: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTM0NjQ1NjE=

Herb Drying and Tea Blending

This workshop will include a presentation on herb drying and tea blending. Participants will select plant varieties for their personalized tea blend based upon flavors and/or plant properties. A live version of several plants will also be available for participants to learn identification techniques. The many herbs used in this workshop will be harvested from the Rotary Park Community Gardens!

March 29, 11AM-12:30 PM

All participants will be provided with the tools needed to make their own tea blend during the workshop. Each person will take home a unique tea blend in a provided jar, individual tea bags, and recipes.

Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/.../montgomery-county.../catalog

Binocular Check-Out

The Wade Bourne Nature Center Foundation is generously sponsoring the new binocular checkout program.  Simply fill out a request with your preferred time and day and you can pick them up from the Nature Center reception desk.  There is no cost for this program, we simply ask you return the set before 4 pm T-F and by 2 pm on Saturdays. 

To reserve a pair, please click here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI1ODA4MDg=  

Live Taxidermy Demonstrations

Every 3rd Wednesday from 4:00-5:30 PM

• Jan 15, Red Tailed Hawk completion
• Feb 19,
• March 19,
• April 16,
• May 21

A taxidermist will walk participants step by step through the process of skinning a bird to the final stuffing/mounting. The chosen specimen will be the Yellow Billed Cuckoo. This bird was found deceased on the park property. 

Bird mounts are unique in that they do not require harmful chemicals for preservation. No eating or drinking will be allowed in the room for the duration of the process. Participants will not be permitted to touch the specimen.

*Passed in 1918, The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is illegal for an individual to collect eggs, feathers and/or nests. 99% of birds are protected by this law, typically not covered by the MBTA include house sparrow, European starling, and rock pigeons.*

Register here: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com) 

 Reading Round-Up

Join us on the first Friday of the month to enjoy a group reading for your little ones! This program is sponsored by The Blue Star Families of Tennessee in an effort to build home libraries. Each child who attends gets to pick out a free book to take home! Snacks are also provided. After the reading, feel free to stay in our Community Room or go outside on the deck to enjoy your goodies. Arts for Hearts will lead a related art activity afterwards as well! This Program is suitable for children age 2-5 and. Parents are expected to stay with their children for the duration of the event.

Dates

• Jan 3
• Feb 7
• March 7
• April 4
• May 2

Register here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog 

Guided Hikes with TN Trails Association

Join us for a hike in Clarksville’s wonderful Rotary Park that will suit both beginner and experienced hikers. We will have a two guides from Tennessee Trails Association, a leader and sweep (back marker) to ensure everyone has a great hike. The trail is shaded with mostly natural turf and some short inclines. Wear good walking or hiking shoes. Items to bring include, water, snacks, clothing to suit the weather, a rain jacket, extra layers and sun screen, bug spray as needed. Trekking poles are helpful if you have them. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs are welcome if on a leash. The hike is not be suitable for Strollers due to terrain. 

• Feb 8- The Hike will take around 60-75 Minutes and is about 2-2.5 miles
• March 1- 75 Minutes and is about 3.5-4 miles
• April 5
• May 3
• June 7

Hike will commence at 8am CT at Rotary Park - Plan to arrive 10 minutes prior to departure. Meet at the Wade Bourne Center Parking Lot. There are bathrooms at the trailhead.

Please register

Field Trip Offerings

If you are bringing a group to any of our parks for a trip, PLEASE notify us in advance.  

Field trips are available to any group with 10 or more participants, FREE!  

The Wade Bourne Nature Center offers Bus Transportation Support for schools needing assistance.  Please indicate your interest in this funding option in the comments section during the reservation process. Funding is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.  Teachers may only apply ONCE in a calendar year. 

Spring Trips: March, April and May

Fall Trips: September, October and November

Click Here for a full list of activity options

Register for Field Trip programs here: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog 

Volunteer Information

Whether you need service hours for an organization or want to serve your local park, we have many opportunities for you to get involved!  

Example positions include: Host Volunteer, Exhibit Interpreter, Trail Guide, Trail Monitor, Special Event Assistant, Field Trip Program Facilitator, Field Trip Support, Volunteer Coordinator, and Program Assistant

Please make an account on CivicRec and indicate what your interests are.  We will reach out for an orientation meeting to decide where you will be a good fit.  

Visit this link: Catalog - Montgomery County Parks & Recreation (rec1.com)

Animal Care, Volunteer

The second Friday of the month is our dedicated animal care day, from 8:30am to 10am.  Join our Animal Care Specialist, Jenna, while she cleans and performs routine maintenance on our animal enclosures.  Jobs vary from sanitizing, plant watering/change outs, refilling substrate, cleaning algae from the aquarium, feeding the animals, ect.  We currently house 2 green tree frogs, a green anole, a corn snake, an eastern box turtle and a variety of freshwater fish. We also care for plants that live inside the tanks.

Bird Care, Volunteer

The second Friday of the month is our dedicated bird feeder care day, from 8:30am to 9:30am.  Join our Programming Specialist, Nicole, while she cleans and performs routine maintenance on our outdoor bird feeders.  Jobs consist of taking down the feeders, emptying seed, sanitizing the feeders, refilling seed and re-hanging.   We currently maintain 4 large hopper feeders, 2 finch tube feeders, one woodpecker suet feeder and a bird bath. This maintenance is conducted behind the nature center on the concrete benches.  Please use the side walk to the right of the center and take the path down around the back. 

This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in learning how to care for animals as well as anyone who needs service hours.  Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age and able to perform tasks with great care and detail, as our animals lives depend on it!

Seed Sorting, Volunteer

New Volunteer Opportunity!  We are starting a "Seed Library" at the Nature Center!  This is what it sounds like, an inventory of different types of seeds of native plants from around the park and nearby areas.  We often collect seeds from our gardens, community members do them same in their home gardens, and then donate the seeds to us.  Some seeds need to be separated from leaves, or pods in order to be stored properly.  This activity will go over how to separate and sort the seed parts as well as how to label and store them for distribution.  I bet there will be extras for the volunteers to take home!

Feb 8 @ 10:30 AM - 12 PM

Event and Program Assistance, Volunteer

We have several activities throughout the year that would not be possible without assistance from the community, Montgomery County Thanks you!  The most important factor is being punctual and committed to the date you sign up for, we will be counting on your help! If you are tracking service hours, please being any relevant paperwork with you.  

All volunteer assignments and details will be sent the week prior to your scheduled date, and you will always have a staff member available on site for directions and questions!