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Go Wild!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011


The September 10 “Barrier Island Exploration” course will have little ones seining and digging in the sand for invertebrates. Photograph by Gary Coleman

August 17, 2011


Go Wild!
This fall, send kids on a discovery mission with the Junior Master Naturalist program

written by Lauren McCarter

Have an elementary schooler who’s wild for the great outdoors? This fall, the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission is introducing a new opportunity to nurture their curiosity: the Junior Master Naturalist program. This counterpart to the adult Master Naturalist program, an intensive wildlife conservation course, encourages eight- to 12-year-olds to learn more about the natural world through art, journaling, and outdoor exploration in locales around the Lowcountry.

The series of eight courses—including “Edible and Medicinal Plants,” “Skulls, Tracks, Scat, and Signs,” and “Freshwater Wetland Discovery”—begins September 10 and runs through October 26. While children can take part in as many sessions as they wish, those who complete at least six receive the certified title of Junior Naturalist. “Our goal is not to make kids experts, but rather to spark their curiosity and get them involved with nature,” says Rachel Herold, environmental education specialist for CCPRC. “They should expect to get a little messy and have lots of fun while learning about the Lowcountry's diverse habitats.” Adult chaperones are invited to attend for free, giving parents a chance to bond with their young explorers.

Junior Master Naturalist Program: September 10-October 26, Wednesdays, 4-6:30 p.m. & Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon. Locations vary. $12 per class; $10 Charleston County resident.

To register or find more information, call the Ravenel Caw Caw Interpretive Center at (843) 889-8898 or click here.

To view awe-inspiring images of local wildlife, click here.

For more ways to get out and about in the coming weeks, click here.