Discovering nature amid autumn in Bend

Published 12:00 am Monday, October 13, 2014

Kids at Discover Nature Day played games Sunday, tried healthy food and made crafts — all while learning about the outdoors.

“They are having fun while they are learning some really key things about nature,” said Linda “Bo” Bonotto, of Bend. She took two of her granddaughters to the event, put on by the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon at Hollinshead Park in northeast Bend. About 125 kids and adults turned out to enjoy a warm, sunny fall day.

The group has put on similar events in the spring and summer, but Katie Chipko, Children’s Forest of Central Oregon coordinator, said this was the first one in the fall. The next one is planned for Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint in March.

Known as the Deschutes Children’s Forest since 2011, the group changed its name earlier this month to represent its expansion from Deschutes County to Crook and Jefferson counties. The organization brings together school districts, health care organizations, land-management agencies and many other groups to create programs connecting children to the natural world.

Partners of the group turned out Sunday to lead activities.

Erica Pelley, associate curator of education at the High Desert Museum in Bend, spent some of her time Sunday teaching kids about leaves.

“Fall is a great time to appreciate leaves,” Pelley said.

Kids examined freshly fallen leaves closely with microscopes and placed paper over leaves, then pressed crayons over them to make rubbings.

Organizers geared the activities toward kids 5 to 10. Other stops around the park had nature-themed games, seasonally inspired healthy snacks — including pumpkin smoothies — and wildlife track identification. Folks from the Wildheart Nature School in Bend also ran a popular demonstration about tanning hides.

“It’s nice to see the kids doing a variety of things,” Chipko said. “They’re doing some education things, (and) jumping in leaves.”

When asked what he liked about the event Owen Greenough, 5, of Bend, just smiled and revealed vampire teeth he picked up at one of the stops. He was there with his mom, Meagan Greenough, 38.

Regularly sporting a faux coonskin cap, Nora Taylor, 8, of Bend, fit in with the teacher leading the hide tanning demo. Well, except for bright colored jump rope she carried around. Like Owen’s teeth, the jump rope was a handout. So was a pedometer, which Nora used to count her steps and jumps around the park.

“I did 200 before and now I’m restarting,” said Nora, who was there with her mom, Amy Taylor, 41.

Lila Boeck, one of Bo Bonotto’s granddaughters, was also keeping a tally of her footsteps with a pedometer. She said it’s hard to say what her favorite activity was Sunday, but she was glad to have come out to the park.

“It think it’s been great,” she said.

— Reporter: 541-617-7812,

ddarling@bendbulletin.com