Youth and Family Weekend Programs
CLICK ON PROGRAM NAME TO REGISTER. All programs are eligible for member discounts (Pacesetters and above) unless noted with (*). Advance registration encouraged – events may be cancelled if minimums are not met.
INTRO TO WATERCOLOR- PAINTING FLOWERS
Learn how to use watercolors—even if you hate watercolor! We’ll practice different techniques and tricks before putting it all together. Your take-home piece can be a landscape, bouquets or a single flower — anything you like. You’re set up for success with MICA-trained artist, Brittany Roger. All supplies provided. Paper will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring their own supplies–if they prefer. Ideal for ages 7+ (children must be accompanied by an adult).
Instructor: Brittany Roger, Manager of School Programs
Sunday, May 24th
1:00 – 3:00PM
Cost: $20/participant
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
NATURE WORX: CALMING HOUR FOR CAREGIVERS
Nature Worx offers nature-based experiential programs designed to help participants slow down, reduce stress, and access inner calm–while fully basking in the beauty and restorative power of the outdoors.
This special session is for moms, dads, and other caregivers who need 90 minutes of much-deserved respite to help calm the mind, energize the body, and reconnect with the natural world. You will be guided through a sensory awareness exercise, nature observations, reflection, and mindful movement during this class and will wrap up with a 30-minute restorative yoga session with Irvine’s Animal Care Manager, Mallory Mlynarek. If you choose to bring your children (ages 4 and up are welcome), Irvine teachers will keep them busy with fun nature activities while you get to fully experience the restorative benefits of a guided nature saunter in the woods. Step away from the noise, breathe, and experience the rejuvenating power of the woods. Great for adults (child care provided for children ages 4+).
* Please bring your own yoga mat for the yoga portion of the session*
Instructor: Nature Worx guides, Irvine Environmental Educators, and Mallory Mlynarek, Animal Care Manager
Sunday, May 24th
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Cost: Suggested cost per person $20. Siding scale (pay what you can available)
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
NATURE BY THE FIRE- CLEVER CAMOUFLAGE
Gather by the campfire with Naturalist, Ash, for a new monthly tradition at Irvine! Each month features a different seasonal nature theme, but every session promises the same cozy fun: roasting marshmallows, meeting one of Irvine’s animal ambassadors, and diving into hands-on nature-themed fun. Fireside chats are a relaxed, family-friendly way to enjoy the outdoors, one campfire at a time! Ideal for all ages.
Instructor: Ash Miller, Environmental Educator and Animal Care Coordinator
Friday, June 5th
5:30 – 6:30PM
Cost: $5/participant and FREE for members
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
Future dates include: July 3rd, August 14th
NATURE BY THE FIRE
Gather by the campfire with Naturalist, Ash, for a new monthly tradition at Irvine! Each month features a different seasonal nature theme, but every session promises the same cozy fun: roasting marshmallows, meeting one of Irvine’s animal ambassadors, and diving into hands-on nature-themed fun. Fireside chats are a relaxed, family-friendly way to enjoy the outdoors, one campfire at a time! Ideal for all ages.
Instructor: Ash Miller, Environmental Educator and Animal Care Coordinator
Friday, July 3rd
5:30 – 6:30PM
Cost: $5/participant and FREE for members
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
Future dates include: August 14th
WORLD SNAKE DAY: HERP HIKE (most rigorous, led by Brittany through property)
Enjoy and celebrate World Snake Day by “herping” at Irvine! This hike, from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM, will be rigorous and fast-paced. Irvine Educator Brittany Roger will lead this group of experienced hikers throughout locations in Irvine’s 211 acre campus to seek out, at an hour of the day when snakes are most active, various species of these amazing creatures residing on our property. Herping is the art of hiking to search for hidden reptiles. Irvine is the home to seven different species of incredible snakes. Join our expert guides for an early morning hike in search of all seven! All ages welcome but must be able to hike at a swift pace and through areas that may be muddy, wet or overgrown. Please wear long sleeves or use a natural insect repellent to help deter ticks as well as shoes that you do not mind getting muddy.
Instructor: Brittany Roger, Irvine Naturalist and Manager of School Programs
Saturday, July 18th
6:00 – 7:00AM
Cost: $10/participant (babies and infants in self-worn carriers are free)
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
WORLD SNAKE DAY: HERP HIKE (moderate, through the wetlands)
Enjoy and celebrate World Snake Day by “herping” at Irvine! This hike, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM will be moderately paced. Irvine Educators will lead this group of relatively experienced hikers through Irvine’s wetlands to seek out, at an hour of the day when snakes are most active, various species of these amazing creatures residing on our property. Herping is the art of hiking to search for hidden reptiles. Irvine is the home to seven different species of incredible snakes. Join our expert guides for an early morning hike in search of all seven!
Instructor: Irvine Environmental Educators
Saturday, July 18th
7:00 – 8:00AM
Cost: $10/participant (babies and infants in self-worn carriers are free)
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
WORLD SNAKE DAY: HERP HIKE (beginner friendly, through headwaters, understory & woodland garden trails)
Enjoy and celebrate World Snake Day by “herping” at Irvine! This hike, from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM will be paced for the novice level of hiking. Irvine Educators will lead this group of hikers gently through a few of Irvine’s trails to seek out, at an hour of the day when snakes are most active, various species of these amazing creatures residing on our property. Herping is the art of hiking to search for hidden reptiles. Irvine is the home to seven different species of incredible snakes. Join our expert guides for an early morning hike in search of all seven!
Instructor: Irvine Environmental Educators
Saturday, July 18th
8:00 – 9:00AM
Cost: $10/participant (babies and infants in self-worn carriers are free)
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
WORLD SNAKE DAY: Snakes Around the World Presentation
Celebrate World Snake Day by meeting different snakes from around the world! Brittany Roger, Irvine’s own snake enthusiast and expert extraordinaire, will give an interactive presentation covering the incredible diversity and superpowers of snakes. Come and see up close the many ways snakes behave in the world–some climb, some dig, and some use their camouflage skills to be masters of disguise. This presentation will include an opportunity to meet a number of different species of snakes from around the world as well as a demonstration outlining steps to take to set up a habitat for those who would like to have a corn snake as a pet.
Instructor: Brittany Roger, Irvine Naturalist and Manager of School Programs
Saturday, July 18th
12:00 – 2:00PM
Cost: $15/participant (children under 2 are free)
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
WORLD SNAKE DAY 2026: ANIMAL ART- LIVE ANIMAL PAINTING
As part of our day celebrating the wonderful world of snakes, this class invites you to hone your creative skills by engaging in a studio-style-live-subject art adventure. With a flowerpot as our “canvas”, participants may study and paint the various animal models set up in the space –including live snakes. Led by snake enthusiast and MICA-trained scientific illustration artist Brittany Roger, this final event in our World Snake Day celebration will allow you to take home your own hand-made memento of the day.
Instructor: Brittany Roger, Irvine Naturalist and Manager of School Programs
Saturday, July 18th
4:00 – 6:00PM
Cost: $25/participant
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
NATURE BY THE FIRE
Gather by the campfire with Naturalist, Ash, for a new monthly tradition at Irvine! Each month features a different seasonal nature theme, but every session promises the same cozy fun: roasting marshmallows, meeting one of Irvine’s animal ambassadors, and diving into hands-on nature-themed fun. Fireside chats are a relaxed, family-friendly way to enjoy the outdoors, one campfire at a time! Ideal for all ages.
Instructor: Ash Miller, Environmental Educator and Animal Care Coordinator
Friday, August 14th
5:30 – 6:30PM
Cost: $5/participant and FREE for members
Advance registration encouraged – event will be cancelled if minimum not met.
