World Of Discovery Awaits Children At The Morton Arboretum

Annual “Winter Is Cool Camp” Gets The Kids Out Of The House And Into Nature

LISLE, IL (November 17, 2006) – Break away from the winter-break doldrums with the annual “Winter Is Cool Camp” at the Morton Arboretum on December 28 and 29.

Get kids out of the house and into the wonderland of winter life as Arboretum Education program guides lead them through a two-day camp. These engaging, educational and fun activities let children discover new things about trees, plants, and the rest of the natural world during winter.

Children ages 4-11 will participate in indoor and outdoor activities, such as finding out how trees and plants survive the winter, looking for wildlife tracks in the snow, collecting leaf litter to look for microscopic life, searching for owls in the trees, unlocking the science of snow and learning new winter-themed songs and stories. The children will even collect pieces of nature to create artwork that they can take home as a memory of their experience.

“Children learn best with active, direct, hands-on experience that allows them to construct their own meaningful understanding of the world,” said Elizabeth Waterstraat, Arboretum Manager of Youth and Family Programs. “By educating children about the natural world, we hope to stimulate their interest in nature so they become future stewards of nature,” Waterstraat said, adding, “This camp is also a great way to beat the winter-break blues!”

Outdoor activities will take place along the Joy Path, in the Fragrance Garden, around Sunfish Pond and at Lake Marmo. Indoor class events will be held in the Thornhill Education Center.

Registration is required; call the Registrar’s Office at 630-719-2468. Fees for the two-day camp are $52 per child age four through first grade ($47 for Arboretum members), with sessions from 9 a.m. until noon. Sessions for children in grades 2-5 run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., with fees of $102 ($92 for Arboretum members). Children should bring a sack lunch and beverage each day; please wear cold weather gear. Meet at Thornhill Education Center.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,800 kinds of trees, shrubs and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission – the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CDT) and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST). The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630-968-0074 to learn more.

Media Contacts:    Gina Tedesco, 630-725-2103 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marty Cusack, 630-719-5768 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it