The Institute at Renfrew is launching a “baker’s dozen” of 13 new programs for adults, teens and kids, all starting in September. The programs fall into three categories, Naturalist Discovery Series and Common Threads, for adults, families, and teens age 15 and up, and EXPLORE!, a variety of programs designed for youth. With safety measures in place, the programs are offered in various locations within Waynesboro’s Renfrew Park. Participants will be required to register in advance, sign a waiver, and agree to abide by safety protocols. Program fees reflect a discount for members of the Institute at Renfrew. Three programs are designed for adults, teens age 15 and up, and families:
Naturalist Discovery Series: Nature ID on the Go with your Smartphone!
Saturday, Sept. 12, 9–10:30 a.m.
Age: Adults & teens age 15 & up; Cost: $12 for members; $15 for nonmembers; Limit: 20.
Technology meets nature! Learn about the use of nature identification apps on the smartphone. With step-by-step guidance, participants learn how to make and record observations in nature and share to a database with over 48 million observations. Must have a smartphone connected to the internet.
Naturalist Discovery Series: Blacklight Bug Discovery
Friday, September 25, 7:30–9:00 p.m.
Age: Families with children, 6 years and up; Cost: $10 adults/$5 children (members of Institute at Renfrew); $12 adults/$6 children (nonmembers); Limit: 25.
Discover nocturnal insects at Renfrew Park! An introduction to insects not normally seen during the daytime, and their special attributes allowing them to live at night. The group will examine insects they can catch up-close. Bring flashlights, and a blanket or chairs to sit on. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Common Threads…Textile Traditions and Handicrafts: Flax to Linen
Saturday, September 26, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Age: Adults & teens age 15 & up; Cost: $45 members; $50 nonmembers
Materials fee: $5.00; Limit: 10.
Participants learn how the flax plant is transformed into beautiful linen cloth. The program covers the history of flax and how it contributed to our culture. Participants visit Renfrew’s flax patch and use antique tools to process flax into linen, including spinning on a drop spindle, and creating a woven bookmark using the thread they spun.
Ten EXPLORE! programs are designed for children and students:
EXPLORE! Art and Nature, 2-Day Series
Monday & Tuesday, Sept. 14 & 15, 4–5:30 p.m. [offered again Sept. 28–29]
Grades: K–5; Cost: $24 member, $30 nonmember; Materials fee: $6; Limit: 10.
Kids observe nature in the park and forest, and create guided art projects based on nature. They will create a wax-resist wall hanging on fabric with oil pastels and liquid watercolor paint, and make line drawings based on patterns seen in nature, while exploring the use of natural items as paintbrushes. Class is outdoors, so participants should dress for the weather. Fee includes both days.
EXPLORE! Knitting Class for Grade 5 & Up
Six classes: Thursdays, Sept. 15–Oct. 20, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Age: grade 5 & up; Cost: $55 member, $60 nonmember; Materials fee: $22.00; Limit: 8.
Students learn the basics of knitting such as casting on, knit stitch, binding off, and i-cord edging, by working on a simple knitted headband, perfect to wear outside on chilly days.
EXPLORE! Knitting Class for Middle/High School
Six classes: Thursdays, Sept. 15–Oct. 20, 3–5:00 p.m.
Age: middle/high school students; Cost: $55 member, $60 nonmember; Materials fee: $22.00; Limit: 8.
Students learn the basics of knitting such as casting on, knit stitch, binding off, and i-cord edging, by working on a simple knitted headband, perfect to wear outside on chilly days.
EXPLORE! Textiles Crafts
Three classes: Wednesdays, Sept.16–30, 1–3 p.m.
Age: grades: 3–5; Cost: $42 members, $45 nonmember; Materials fee: $15; Limit: 10.
Students engage in a variety of textile activities from hand-painting yarn, making pom-poms, weaving on a potholder loom, and creating a small tapestry wall hanging from their hand painted yarn.
EXPLORE! Garden Adventures
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 9:30–11 a.m. [offered again Sept. 24]
Grades: K–5; Cost: $10 members; $12 nonmembers; Limit: 15.
A hands-on opportunity to learn about plants including digging in the dirt and seeing how food is grown in the historic four-square garden at Renfrew Park. Kids get a close-up look at various garden plants, explore the ways humans depend on plants, and help tend the garden by preparing soil, planting seeds and watering vegetables.
EXPLORE! Bugging Out!
Thursday, Sept.17, 4–5:30 p.m.
Grades: K-5; Cost: $10 members, $12 nonmembers; Limit: 15.
In the early fall, insects are everywhere! Kids use their senses of sight and hearing to search out various “critters” in different habitats, learning about and viewing a wide variety of insects with bug boxes and magnifying glasses.
EXPLORE! Amphibian Hunt
Monday, Sept. 21, 4–5:30 p.m.
Grades: 3–5; Cost: $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers; Limit: 15.
What makes an amphibian unique? Why are they important? Where can we find amphibians? All this and more will be answered on a guided hike and talk through Renfrew Park as kids discover what amphibians may be living in our backyard!
EXPLORE! Beginning Birders
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 9:30–11 a.m.
Grades: K-5; Cost: $10 members, $12 nonmembers; Limit: 15.
Students learn about the many adaptations found in birds, and learn what makes a bird, a bird. Activities include walking park trails to search for winged creatures, learning to recognize common species by appearance and individual calls, and using a field guide to identify birds in their native habitats.
EXPLORE! Garden Adventures
Thursday, Sept. 24, 4–5:30 p.m.
Grades: K–5; Cost: $10 members; $12 nonmembers; Limit: 15.
A hands-on opportunity to learn about plants including digging in the dirt and seeing how food is grown in the historic four-square garden at Renfrew Park. Kids get a close-up look at various garden plants, explore the ways humans depend on plants, and help tend the garden by preparing soil, planting seeds and watering vegetables.
EXPLORE! Art and Nature 2-Day Series
Monday & Tuesday, Sept. 28 & 29, 4–5:30 p.m.
Grades: K–5; Cost: $24 member, $30 nonmember; Materials fee: $6; Limit: 10.
Kids observe nature in the park and forest, and create guided art projects based on nature. They will create a wax-resist wall hanging on fabric with oil pastels and liquid watercolor paint, and make line drawings based on patterns seen in nature, while exploring the use of natural items as paintbrushes. Class is outdoors, so participants should dress for the weather. Fee includes both days.
Pre-registration is required for all programs. To register, email the Institute at info@instituteatrenfrew.org or call 717-762-0373.
Sponsors for these programs include Bruce and Pam Rowland, Matt and Jessica Watson, Max Creager in memory of Nancy Hess Creager, with additional support from The Institute’s Today’s Horizon Fund Contributors: The Nora Roberts Foundation; The John R. Hershey Jr. and Anna L. Hershey Family Foundation; APX Enclosures, Inc.; The Carolyn Terry Eddy Family: Carolyn, with daughters Connie Fleagle & Kim Larkin. Facility support courtesy of Renfrew Museum and Park.
For more information, visit www.instituteatrenfrew.org.
Parking is available behind the visitors center, or in Renfrew’s lower lot off Welty Road.