Hiccups » winter

OKC Zoo plans winter activities

hiccups — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 19:08:06 +0000

Even though it’s winter, the Oklahoma City Zoo has plenty to keep children and families busy. According to the latest Oklahoma Zoological Society Newsletter, here’s a list of upcoming events and activities:

Toddler Programs: Come experience nature in a safe and happy environment! Your toddler will delight in our animals through crafts, activities, discovery stations, animal visitors and guided zoo excursions. Ages 2-3 and 4-5. Call for dates and times.

School’s Out Safari Day Camps: Monday, Jan. 17
Looking for a unique adventure for your children while they are home on school holidays? Join us for a day loaded with arts, crafts, games, zoo tours and animal encounters. Offers flexible drop off and pick up times.

Meet 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Zoo’s Education Building
Cost per child per day is $35 and each additional sibling is $25
Require advance registration (space is limited) and payment
Snacks provided but children must bring their own lunch
Ages 4-12 years

Family Programs:

Baby It’s Cold Outside
Saturday, Jan. 15 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Ages 3 and up
Brr! Tired of the cold weather? Our cold-loving animal friends aren’t! Join us for a cool afternoon of animal fun that is sure to warm your heart.

Oh, Pooh Bear!
Thursday, Jan. 20 or Saturday, Jan. 22 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
All ages
It’s a Pooh party! Celebrate 84 years of this willy-nilly bear. Enjoy crafts, snacks and a meet-n-greet with Pooh’s woodland friends.

Get Ready and Draw Art Classes
Saturday, Jan. 29 from 10:30 a.m to noon
Tyrannosaurus Rex

Pooper Bowl Party
Saturday, Jan. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
This interactive program will give families the scoop on poop through games, crafts, stories, songs, treks and other hidden surprises.

Habitat Box Teacher Workshops: Saturday, Jan. 22 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (tundra, rainforest & grassland) and Saturday, Feb. 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (wetland, temperature forest and desert)
Back by popular demand! These teacher make-n-take workshops allow you to create your very own set of classroom “Habitat Boxes”. Each box includes items, artifacts and curriculum specific to each habitat. You may sign up for one or both sessions. This workshop is appropriate for formal, non-formal and homeschool educators.

Scout Pograms:

Wild Thing!
Saturday, Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
It’s a wild, wild world! Come explore some of our wild things while earning your “Sharing Your World with Wildlife” Bear Cub Achievement! (Bear Cub Scouts: 3rd grade)

You’ve Got the Whole World in Your Hands
Saturday, Jan. 29 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Our earth is in trouble and only you can save it! Join us to learn how you can help while earning your “Your Living World” Wolf Cub Achievement! (Wolf Cub Scouts: 2nd grade)

All programs require pre-registration. Call 405.425.0218 for more information or to register.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Winter chill? Snow what … try making snow ice cream

hiccups — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:06:53 +0000

Snow cream

Setting aside concerns for salmonella from raw eggs and pollution that might be captured in each falling snowflake, we made snow ice cream today.

It didn’t take long.

Beat 2 eggs, add 2 tsp. of vanilla, 1/2 cup of sugar and a little milk, and you have a sweet little concoction to add to the light and fluffy stuff that is resting several inches deep on your windshield. This was my sister-in-law Sandy’s recipe for snow ice cream. (She has to share this with me every time it snows, because I forget.)

After spooning up a bowlful, I placed the snow in individual cups and then poured just enough liquid fun to make the snow stick together in the consistency of ice cream. Yum!

The kids tried it, and one review was good. My 4-year-old scrunched his face and didn’t think it could take the place of a Braum’s yogurt “twist.” And my 15-year-old said it was nasty. But my husband and youngest daughter liked it.

This treat is one my husband and I remember having as children. Recipes might have differed, but it was something we looked forward to when it snowed. Whether true or not, you were always supposed to wait until the second snow. (This was our second snow. )

Bad weather days can quickly become good family fun when you make a little, simple effort.

– Linda Lynn

llynn@opubco.com

Kids going stir-crazy?

hiccups — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:51:06 +0000

Then get them outside! Here’s some events and ideas our outdoor blog writer has posted that kids can enjoy in the coming weeks. Have a great New Year!

http://blog.newsok.com/outthere/2009/12/29/eagle-watch-plus-outdoor-news-from-chickasaw-national-recreation-area-and-norman-nature-center/

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com