The Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department has officially launched its Nature Play Days for 2024 spanning from June 1 to June 9 with
activities for the children of Zionsville.
The goal of the Zionsville Nature Play Days is to encourage children to spend portions of their summer outdoors as well as remind families that play remains an important aspect of a child’s well-being. The department alongside its community partners provide free nature, cultural, art and recreational program for the 10-day event.
The events will continue today, June 3 with “Messy Munchkins” at the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library for ages three to six. The event will kick off from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the library with an opportunity for children to learn more from a story and exploratory learning through messy play. Participants are encouraged to dress for a mess, and the event will be held outside of the library in the grassy area.
On Tuesday, June 4, the events continue with the Creekstomper Carwash. The event is held for those three-years-old and above beginning at 10 a.m. and extending to 12:30 p.m. at the Heritage Trail Park. 19 seats are available for the event where children may bring their favorite toy car or truck and participate in a bubble car wash to clean their toys before playing yard games while the cars and trucks dry in the summer sun. Registration may be completed at zionsvillein.myrec.com.
Community members will then be invited to participate in the Zionsville 10K Bike Ride for those 10-years-old and above on Tuesday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Overley-Worman Park. 25 seats are available for the event where the children will join School Resource Officers for a bike ride through Zionsville and along the Big-4 Rail Trail. Participants are encouraged to pack water and money for an ice cream stop. The safety talk begins at 10:15 a.m., and the bike ride leaves at 10:30 a.m.
Festivities keep ramping up on Tuesday, June 4 with the Sirens and Suds program from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Zionsville Fire Station 292. Community members will have the opportunity to join the firefighters at Station 292 to help wash the fire truck and experience a party of bubbles, suds and fire hoses.
Wednesday, June 5 will kick off with the Family Paint Out for ages five and above from 10 a.m. to noon at Mulberry Fields Park. During the two-hour span, families are encouraged to visit and help create a unique piece of art. Large canvases will be on hand for a family-friendly group paint out, and participants will be able to create their own unique masterpiece to take home.
Festivities continue on Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library for Storytime on the Lawn. Participants will read stories about planting seeds and gardening before receiving their own biodegradable pot to plant seeds to take home.
Wednesday will round itself out with Wet, Wild and Wacky Fun from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Zionsville Fire Station 93 where water-based activities will be held.
Thursday, June 6 kicks off with Art in Nature: Nature Bracelets from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Elm Street Garden. Eight seats are available for the event where participants will start off on an easy hike with a naturalist to explore one of the local parks and collect materials. The materials will then be utilized to create a masterpiece.
Thursday will round out with a Heroes Kickball game from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Mulberry Fields Park where the Zionsville Fire Department will take on the Zionsville Police Department in a game of kickball. Activities will be available for all ages.
Friday, June 7 will host two events for the community to enjoy, kicking off with the Storywalker’s Club Event from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Elm Street Green where participants will enjoy an activity to celebrate the StoryWalk featuring the book “Flat Cat” by Tara Lazar.
Friday will also host a Bug Hunt from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Elm Street Green where participants will be invited to join a naturalist with nets to catch bugs and observe them up close.
Saturday, June 8 will round out the week of festivities beginning with a Wetland Exploration for those aged four and above from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Zion Nature Sanctuary. Participants are encouraged to wear rubber boots and clothes that can get wet and muddy as they are invited to explore the wetland to look for frogs, crayfish, fish and more.
The week of events will round out with an Animal Discovery program from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Zionsville Nature Center where participants can meet and learn more about reptiles outside of the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library.