Children's Birthday Parties

Celebrate your child's special day at Ashland Nature Center or Coverdale Farm Preserve with a nature program that you can choose from the many listed below!

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Length: Programs run either one hour or one and one half hours long depending on the offering. This is followed by half-hour of your own activities and refreshments. Use of our indoor facilities in the visitor center (or CSA Education Building at Coverdale Farm Preserve) or our outdoor picnic tables will be available for your festivities.

Group Size: Maximum 15 children including siblings. More than 15 will be an additional $50 as a second instructor will be required to maintain the level of quality and safety of our programs. Adults are welcome at no additional cost. Note: the limit for a party at the Coverdale Farm Preserve is 12. Over 12 will require an additional instructor at a cost of $50.

Cost: Cost of party varies with the type of program you choose. General range would be $150-$200 for Members, $200-$250 for Non-Members.

Reservations: Birthday Parties must be reserved at least 30 days in advance. Pre-payment is required in order to hold your time slot. A $50 deposit is due at time of reservation with the balance due within 2 weeks of your scheduled date.

Cancellations: Cancellations must be made within 2 weeks of the scheduled date in order to receive a refund.

Food/Decorations: We will provide table's and chairs in our Visitor's Center (or CSA/Education Building) for your use. You may bring food and are responsible for all decorations, table linens, tableware and silverware. for your use. You may bring food and are responsible for all decorations, table linens, tableware and silverware. Please refrain from bringing balloons, pinatas and noisemakers, etc.

Additional Items: Each party participant will receive a coupon for $5 off a Delaware Nature Society program. The birthday child will receive a Delaware Nature Society T-Shirt.

PROGRAM OFFERINGS:

Year Round:

• Animals of Ashland - Meet live and taxidermy examples of native Delaware animals, then hike the trails to search for them in the wild. Cost: Members / Non-Members: $150 / $200. Program Duration: 1 hour.
  
• Night Noises & Campfire (Evening Program) - Walk our trails and listen for the noises of nature. In the spring, hear the peeping of wood frogs and spring peepers. In the fall, listen for owls as they prepare for their breeding season. Finish up with a campfire and of course, s'mores! Program includes supplies for making s'mores. Cost: Members / Non-Members: $200 / $250. Program Duration: 1 hour.
  
• Nature Scavenger Hunt - Test your observation skills on a fun scavenger hunt. Look for animal tracks in the mud, bird nests in trees, and mammal burrows. How many signs of local wildlife can you find? Cost: Members / Non-Members: $150 / $200. Program Duration: 1 hour.
  
• NEW! Coverdale Farm Preserve Exploration - Celebrate your special day down on the farm. Bring your friends to Coverdale Farm Preserve and learn how to milk a cow, feed sheep, hold a chick, and visit with the chickens and pigs. See what's up in the garden and take a hike through the barns to discover tractors, tools, and more. Party down with cake, candles and presents in the Great Room of the Education/CSA building or outdoor picnic tables. Note: Only one party per month can be scheduled at the Coverdale Farm Preserve. Cost: Members/Non-members: $200 / $250. Program Duration: 1 hour.

Winter:

• Maple Sugaring - Learn how Native Americans developed the technique of producing sugar from trees. Discover why settlers relied on this source for many years and how syrup farmers make this product today. See how trees are tapped at Ashland and then boil down some sap into syrup. Cost: Members/Non-Members: $150 / $200. Program Duration: 1 hours.

Spring:

• Herp Hunting - Become a Herp Hunter and learn what a herp is. Look for herps in the forest, marsh, pond and streams. Meet Ashland's live herps and learn about how they adapt to different habitats. Cost: Members / Non-Members: $150 / $200. Program Duration: 1 hour.

Summer:

• Butterflies - Visit Ashland's Butterfly House and explore the meadow to discover a variety of colorful butterflies. Try your hand at catching them and adding to our Butterfly House collection. Cost: Members / Non-Members: $150 / $200. Program Duration: 1 hour.
  
• Water Wonders & Pond Study - Discover animals that live in ponds, marshes and streams. Catch aquatic animals; find tadpoles, frogs, toads and fish in watery habitats. Cost: Members / Non-Members: $150 / $200. Program Duration: 1 hour.

Fall:

• Pumpkin Carving / Decorating - Make a bedazzling mini pumpkin; carve a classic face on a field pumpkin and jazz it up with artistic flair. Bring your imaginations and we'll supply the pumpkins and all the materials. Carving for ages 8 and up. Cost: Members/Non-Members: $200 / $250. Program Duration: 1 hours.

Party Set Up and Other Logistics:

• Please arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the start of your party for setting up. Tables and chairs will be provided in our Visitor's Center or if weather permitting, the outdoor picnic tables and benches can be used as well. You will need to provide all linens, tableware, and silverware.
• During the program, we ask for the assistance of two adults, who can help maintain safety and order.
• Please make it understood by your guests that we will be outside for part of the program (weather permitting). We recommend that you make a note on your invitation that children should dress for the weather--old clothes, boots, old sneakers and raincoats are appropriate.
• Please make sure another adult is on hand to supervise your child and guests until the party begins. A game, song or outside walk will help keep the children occupied. Your Ashland instructor will be busy preparing for the program.
• The staff person assigned to your group will be available to assist you with clean up afterward but the majority of clean up is your responsibility.

For information or to schedule a party call 302-239-2334, ext. 110 or E-Mail.