Polliwogs

Polliwogs is a fun group for the littlest explorers amongst us!

What’s more fun than playing with your friends in nature? Playing with friends AND your favorite grown-up! Polliwogs is a fun group for the littlest explorers among us! Join us for music, art and exploring in nature. Polliwogs meets Wednesdays from 10 – 11:30 a.m.

2025 Summer Polliwogs Series

All Programs Wednesdays from 10-11:30am

July 9: Mud Bakery Day: Welcome to the Messy, Magical, Mind-Boosting Bakery!
Roll up your sleeves, tie on an apron (or don’t!), and get ready to stir up some serious fun—because today, the forest turns into a bakery made entirely of MUD! Our little chefs will be squishing, sculpting, and sprinkling their way through one of the best forms of creative, brain-boosting play there is.

Mud isn’t just a messy delight—it’s good for our brains and bodies, too! The friendly soil bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae, found in mud, has been shown to help boost the immune system and support emotional well-being. That means while your little ones are mixing muddy muffins and decorating dirt donuts, they’re also soaking up happy microbes that help them feel calm and focused. Now that’s what we call superfood!

July 16: Forest Bathing & Tea Party: Shinrin-yoku for Kids
Take a deep breath and tiptoe into the trees—this week is all about slowing down and soaking up the forest magic! Inspired by the peaceful Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku (which means “forest bathing”), we’ll explore the woods with all our senses: listening for birdsong, spotting sunlight through the leaves, and gently touching moss and bark. After our sensory walk, we’ll gather with Racci the Raccoon for a cozy woodland tea party where we’ll sip calming forest tea, craft beautiful nature crowns using treasures we find in the woods, and enjoy the simple joy of being together under the trees.

July 23: Buzz, Wiggle, Waggle!
Busy Bee (our silly, wiggly puppet friend) has been buzzing all over the place—gathering nectar, dancing through wildflowers, and making the sweetest honey around! But how do bees do it all? This week, we’re diving into the wonder-filled world of bees with a special visit from a real Prescott Farm Beekeeper. We’ll learn how bees talk to each other with their funny “waggle dance,” check out real beekeeping tools, and find out how flowers turn into honey. Through buzzing games, honey-tasting, and hands-on fun, we’ll discover why bees are some of the most important (and awesome!) helpers in nature. It’s sure to be a week filled with discovery, laughter, and plenty of bee-inspired wonder!

July 30: Splash & Squish: Water Wonders
This week, we dive into the magic of water! We’ll pour, scoop, splash, and discover how water moves through sticks, rocks, and bark as we build mini rivers and waterfalls. We’ll experiment with floating and sinking objects from nature, explore water flow and sounds using funnels and tubes, and practice gentle pouring and filling to strengthen fine motor skills and concentration.

August 6: Bugs & Beetles Backyard Safari
Celebrate the tiny creatures all around us during our “Bugs & Beetles Backyard Safari”! We’ll learn why bugs are so crucial to our environment and get up close with nature’s little engineers. Kids will go on exciting bug hunts with magnifying glasses to discover all kinds of insects, then create cozy bug hotels using natural materials to provide safe homes for their new friends. We’ll also sort bugs by types—like winged or crawling—and enjoy fun, bug-themed movement and dance games that help us wiggle and buzz just like the insects we’re exploring. This theme is all about curiosity, respect for nature, and the incredible world of the smallest creatures.

August 13: Whispering Stone: Exploring Rocks, Earth, and Imagination—Granite State Style!
Inspired by New Hampshire’s rocky landscape, this playful theme invites preschoolers to explore the magic of stones through stacking, sorting, washing, and storytelling. We’ll build cairns, wash muddy treasures at our “rock spa,” play movement games like “Stone Says,” and gather in a cozy circle of stones for stories and songs under the trees. Kids will spark early science skills like observing and sorting, boost fine motor fun, and grow their love for nature—all through playful, hands-on adventure. It’s messy, sensory-rich, and full of wonder—just right for little explorers ready to dig in and discover magic!

Ages: Pre-K with adult
Cost: $15 per pair adult/child pair

Note: Registration information required for both child & adult participants. Cost is $15 per pair.

Physical Demand: [2] = Activity includes up to 1/2 mile of walking on uneven terrain; no steep slopes.