Program Calendar

Tours and programs at the Nature Center are FREE, so bring the family!

February 2026

• 2/14, 10-11 a.m.: ”Breathe with the Trees” with Robin Carpenter, Heart Rhythm Meditation leader. Experience how your breath can connect you more deeply with nature (and your valentine!)
• 2/14 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks.
• 2/15 Sunday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks.
• 2/21 Saturday, 10 a.m. – 12 noon: Hart Park “Adopt-A-Park” Cleanup – grabbers, gloves & trash bags provided. Come help us make Hart Part even more beautiful! Open for tours after!
• 2/22 Sunday, 2 p.m.: “What’s This Thing?” A closer look at relics of the past within the historic “Kern River Park” with Laura Turner.
• 2/28 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks.

December 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 12/6 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks
• 12/7 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Snakes Wrangler! Doug Lemmons will educate & entertain audiences of all ages with his snakes & reptiles. Look for them in front of the Nature Center. Experience & learn even more as you hold or observe these lovely creatures, just in time to share stories with your family for the holidays!
• 12/13 Saturday, 10-11 a.m.: Breathe with the Trees with Robin Carpenter, Heart Rhythm Meditation teacher. Experience how your breath can connect you more deeply with nature.
• 12/13 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks
• 12/14 Sunday, 2 – 4 p.m.: Nature Center Annual Open House – a family event! Join us for an Omnipresent Puppet Theatre show & activities. Bring your friends too!
• 12/20 Saturday & 12/21 Sunday: Closed for Christmas & Hanukkah
• 12/27 Saturday & 12/28 Sunday: Closed for Christmas

November 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 11/1 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks.
• 11/2 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Geology, Rocks, & Minerals with David Schaad, retired science teacher & Kern County Mineral Society speaker. Geared to adults. (Craft/coloring in the children’s room.)
• 11/9 Sunday, 10-11 a.m.: Breathe with the Trees with Robin Carpenter, Heart Rhythm Meditation teacher. Experience how your breath can connect you more deeply with nature.
• 11/9 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Birding 101 with guest presenter Karen Evans of Audubon Society. Enjoy a brief introduction inside, then take a guided bird walk through “Warbler Alley” of Hart Park!
• 11/15 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks.
• CANCELED! 11/16 Sunday, Due to the welcomed, but soggy weekend forecast, the Peacock Party has been canceled. The peacocks apologize for any inconvenience!
• 11/22 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks.
• 11/23 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Electric Vehicles – What You Need to Know (the Real Story!) with guest presenter Paul Gipe, Wind Energy & Electric Vehicle expert.
• 11/29 Saturday & 11/30 Sunday: Closed for Thanksgiving

October 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 10/4 Saturday, 9-11 a.m. Hart Park “Adopt-A-Park” Cleanup – grabbers, gloves, & trash bags provided, come help us make Hart Park even more beautiful & visit the peacocks!
• 10/5 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Something’s Fishy at Hart Park!, Come Find Out What with David Schaad
• 10/11 Saturday, 10-11 a.m.: Breathe with the Trees with Robin Carpenter, Heart Rhythm Meditation teacher. Experience how your breath can connect you more deeply with nature.
• 10/11 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 10/12 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Easy Native Plants & How to Grow Them with guest presenter Monica Tudor of CNPS, California Native Plant Society.
• 10/18 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 10/19 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Brooke’s Bat Buddies with animal rehabilitation specialist Brooke Stutz, our guest presenter.
• 10/25 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 10/26 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Making Monsters from Owl Pellets with Dave Hanley, just in time for Halloween! Owl pellets contain hidden bone treasures the kids use to form their own monsters.

September 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 9/6 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 9/7 Sunday, 2 p.m.: 100 Years of Peacocks at Hart Park – A Peacock Party Preview with Peghi Webb
• 9/13 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 9/14 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Bones Tell All with Dave Hanley
• 9/20 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 9/21 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Life is Better with Reptiles with snake wrangler Doug Lemmons
• 9/27 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 9/28 Sunday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• (No program due to this final weekend of the 2025 Great Kern County Fair.)

August 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 8/2 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 8/3 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Something’s Fishy at Hart Park, Come Find Out What with David Schaad
• 8/9 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 8/10 Sunday, 1-3 p.m.: Family Fun Day in the Park with Dave Hanley & Mike Turner. Water rockets, gyroscopes, stomp rockets, paper airplanes… outside in front of the Nature Center
• 8/16 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 8/17 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Cuteness Endangered, Kit Foxes with Erica Kelly, CSUB Biology
• 8/23 Saturday, 8-10 a.m. Hart Park “Adopt-A-Park” Cleanup – grabbers, gloves, & trash bags provided, come help us make Hart Park even more beautiful & visit the peacocks!
• 8/24 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Breathe with the Trees with Robin Carpenter, Heart Rhythm Meditation teacher. Learn basic practices inside, then experience the energy field of the trees outside
• 8/30 Saturday: Closed for Labor Day weekend
• 8/31 Sunday: Closed for Labor Day Weekend

July 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 7 /5 Saturday: Closed for the 4th of July weekend
• 7/6 Sunday: Closed for the 4th of July weekend
• 7/12 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 7/13 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Organic Regenerative Agriculture with Mary Jean Russell of Fortitude Farms. Learn about community garden farming techniques for our future!
• 7/19 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 7/20 Sunday, Noon to 2 p.m.: FAMILY SCIENCE DAY PROGRAM – “Waves Part 2 – Waves throughout the science disciplines” How waves are part of our everyday lives., with Dave Hanley, science teacher.
• 7/26 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 7/27 Sunday, 2 p.m.: Geology & Rocks with science teacher David Schaad. Why are there hills and cliffs at Hart Park? Have you heard about Sharktooth Hill?

June 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 6/1 Sunday, 2 p.m.: “Reptiles & Amphibians” with Dave Hanley, science teacher
• 6/7 Saturday, 8 – 10 a.m.: “Adopt-A-Park Cleanup“; After the cleanup from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 6/8 Sunday, 2 p.m.: “Birds of Hart Park” with David Schaad, retired science teacher
• 6/14 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 6/15 Sunday, 2 p.m.: ”How to Stop Burning Stuff: Home Electrification” with Paul Gipe, world renowned wind energy expert
• 6/21 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 6/22 Sunday, Noon to 2 p.m.: FAMILY SCIENCE DAY PROGRAM – “River Margins, Guided Tour” with Dave Hanley, science teacher. Discover the riparian zone & its tiny inhabitants.
• 6/28 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 6/29 Sunday, 2 p.m.: “Antlers of All Sorts” with Jerelyn Oliveira of Tule Elk State Natural Reserve

May 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 5/3 Saturday: Closed – Cinco de Mayo weekend
• 5/3 Saturday: Closed – Cinco de Mayo weekend
• 5/10 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 5/11 Sunday, 2 p.m.: “Flintknapping – How to Create Ancient Tools” (e.g. arrowheads) with guest presenter Gary Pickett. Gary is known as the driving force behind teaching this skill throughout California.
• 5/17 Saturday, 2 – 4 p.m.: FAMILY PROGRAM “Burble Rocks” with science teacher Dave Hanley. Discover life in the shallows under the rocks where the river burbles over them.
• 5/18 Sunday, 2 p.m.: “Reptiles with Doug Lemmons, the snake wrangler”. Law enforcement agencies (& the public) utilize Doug’s special skills to relocate unwanted snakes & other reptiles.
• 5/24 Saturday: Closed – Memorial Day weekend
• 5/25 Sunday: Closed – Memorial Day weekend
• 5/31 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!

April 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 4/5 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center & visit the peacocks!
• 4/6 Sunday, Noon to 4 p.m.: “Peacock Party – 90+ Years of Peacocks in Hart Park” – Take your photo with the peacock banner, peafowl feeding tips & more
• 4/12 Saturday, 10 a.m. – Noon: Hart Park “Adopt-A-Park” Cleanup – grabbers/gloves/trash bags provided, come help us make Hart Park beautiful & visit the peacocks!
• 4/13 Sunday, 2 p.m.: “Flowers & Pollinators: Nature at Work” with guest presenter Isabel Stierle, retired Bakersfield College biology professor
• 4/19 Saturday: Closed for Easter
• 4/20 Sunday: Closed for Easter
• FAMILY PROGRAM – 4/26 Saturday, 12 – 4 p.m.: “Owl Pellet Bone Dissection” with Dave Hanley. The kids love making fun creatures out of the bones found in owl pellets, come learn & create!
• 4/27 Sunday, Noon to 4 p.m.: “Celebrating Earth Day” Outdoor exhibits, reptiles, Native American tools & baskets, geology & minerals, and more!

March 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 3/1 Saturday: Children’s Turtle craft with Peghi Webb, bring the family!
• 3/2 Sunday: 2 p.m. Adobe House History & Renovation Project – Presented by Stephen Montgomery
• 3/8 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center!
• 3/9 Sunday: 2 p.m. “Glorious Green” Stones & Geology – presented by David Schaad
• FAMILY PROGRAM – 3/15 Saturday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. “Let’s Fly A Kite” Make & fly paper airplanes, gliders & kites with Dave Hanley & Mike Turner (outdoors)
• 3/16 Sunday: 2 p.m. Markers & Memorials followed by a walk to see the tree markers on Hill Road – presented by Teresa King
• 3/22 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center!
• 3/23 Sunday: 2 p.m. Cats of Hart Park, 2024 Review – presented by Carol Lair
• 3/29 Saturday: Explore the Historic 1939 W.P.A. Adobe Nature Center!
• 3/30 Sunday: 2 p.m. “Hangin’ with the Bats” – presented by Guest Speaker Brooke Stutz
  

February 2025 Weekend Schedule

• 2/1 Saturday: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Hart Park “Adopt-A-Park” Cleanup – Grabbers, gloves, & trash bags provided. Come help us make Hart Park beautiful & visit the peachick juveniles who are rapidly becoming adults!
• 2/16 Sunday: 2 p.m. “Come Fly with Me” birds presented by David Schaad
• 2/23 Sunday: 2 p.m. “The Wonder of Waves” Explore patterns with Dave Hanley

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