This program runs on the Chico Unified schedule and provides outdoor recreation and fosters awareness of nature in a fun, safe and caring setting. Campers enjoy hands-on natural science labs, up-close animal visits, outdoor games, arts and crafts, and swimming in Big Chico Creek, as the weather allows. Your child will experience the wonders of Bidwell Park! 

Nature School is a first learning experience for kids ages 3-5, who are potty trained and ready for an experience away from their family. This program has zero screen time and is predominantly held outdoors. Nature kids get to visit live animals at the Nature Center, go on nature walks daily and practice nature identification along the way. We provide fun themes every two weeks and work on social emotional and school readiness skills. All units include play-based learning, healthy body movement like yoga and dancing, themed stories, songs, art projects, sensory exploration and sign language. We PLAY, we teach KINDNESS, and we truly nurture a love of NATURE!

Nature ABC's is a time for families of children ages 0–5 to gather and enjoy an hour of fun free activities with our instructor. Join us Fridays from January 13th through May 19th for an animal visit, story time, singing and dancing, an art project and a nature walk in our beautiful park. This program is offered free of charge through funding from First 5 Butte County.

Bidwell Park provides an excellent and accessible opportunity to teach valuable lessons of the natural world. For over thirty years, the Chico Creek Nature Center has provided quality educational programs on the natural systems of Bidwell Park to elementary school students, using the park as a classroom.

Join us at the Nature Center for a family friendly owl prowl. What a hoot! Kiddos will think like a scientist as we dissect owl pellets in the science lab and learn about native owl species in our area. Brush up on your night vision as we end the evening with an owl prowl around the Nature Center to look for our nocturnal, feathery friends. Don’t miss out, it’s going to be totally owlsome!

Experience the night sky under the new moon giving us a better view of the stars as we walk across an oak woodland environment and traverse the open meadows under the sparkling night sky. Join us for a hike in Upper Bidwell Park, as we explore unique nocturnal plant and animal adaptations, constellations, and astronomical events.

Come experience the light of the full moon! Join us for a hike in Upper Bidwell Park, as we explore nocturnal animals and some of their unique adaptations, learn about the phases of the moon and soak in the beautiful evening sky.