Monk Botanical Gardens has a lot of programs for your preschoolers to learn more about nature. And now they have a new weekly program for your younger babies to do the same. It’s called Babes in the Gardens.
It happens every Tuesday in the Red Yurt in the gardens at Monk. Youth and Family Program Manager Kaytie Ruesch started the program this year. The idea came after not seeing enough programs for babies and younger toddlers. They get together, read a book, play with some toys, and then take a walk-in nature. After the walk, they use the things around them to make fun projects. For example, at the last event, they painted snow with paints and watercolor, and mixed colors in the snow.
“Kids love making colors, mixing colors on the snow. And in the future, we will always have a nature-based activity that is kind of optional. At that baby age, there’s no guarantee that they’re going to be interested or that they’re going to be able to do it. So really the goal with this program is to get caregivers together and socialize,” said Ruesch.
The event includes hands on interactive activities. For Tuesday Jan. 30, Kaytie says they will be making sensory bags. It will include different nature items that they find on their walk. They will then add hair gel or aloe, so the babies can put their hands in and play with it.
Katie is no stranger to nature. She grew up in Crivitz, a very small community out in the country 50 miles north of Green Bay. That is when she fell in love with the nature around her. She has been working at monk gardens in Wausau for four years now. She started the ‘Babes’ in the gardens program this year to get babies and their families interested in nature.
“Here at Monk Gardens. We hope that the babies in this program become tots and then become sprouts in preschool, become summer campers, become naturalists in training, and to become interns. So, we’re really trying to foster that bond with the environment,” said Ruesch.
The cost to attend is $3. That is cash only. There is no charge if you’re occupying your child, and no RSVP is required. It is happening weekly until April 30. It is free for members. It starts at 8:30 a.m. and will go on until 9:30 a.m.
Monk Botanical Gardens is located at 1800 N 1st Ave in Wausau.
