The Discovery Museum is offering free admission on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to noon to celebrate Arbor Day with lots of fun educational activities inspiring kids to help make the world a greener, happier place. “Terry the Tree” will be at the museum to hand out tree seedlings for kids to plant at home and in our community, and a certified arborist will share the science of tree preservation. The event is a partnership with the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department, Santa Maria Beautiful, and the Discovery Museum in homage to the city of Santa Maria’s 33rd year as a Tree City USA.
Arbor Day in the United States is officially Friday, April 25, but it’s actually an international observation of the importance of planting and caring for trees with special dates and events throughout the year, all over the world. Founder, J. Sterling Morton said “other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.” Trees take a long time to grow, and planting a tree with your children invites a conversation about the importance of planning ahead for future generations.
Planting trees with your kids is a great way to connect with nature and share a beautiful day on the Central Coast, getting your hands dirty with some hands-on quality family time. Take a walk through the Los Flores Ranch Recreational Open Space off Dominion and Clark roads, with 1,774 acres of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. Or visit one of our many area parks or beaches. Getting outside with your family is fun and doesn’t cost much, and there are endless places to visit.
Be creative and take action! The website NatureExplore.org has a great family toolkit you can download to inspire hands-on activities that help develop a true understanding of caring for the environment. Caring for trees is one way kids can connect with the world around them and begin thinking about being good stewards of our planet.
Start by joining us Saturday at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. We are open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4. And check out our Facebook page at smvdiscoverymuseum for daily tips on fun things to do with your kids!
Chris Slaughter, executive director of the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, wrote this week’s Discovery Corner, a weekly column in the Sun highlighting events, science activities, and more for the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum at 705 S. McClelland in Santa Maria. Send comments to [email protected].
