How do animals survive the winter? Learn the different strategies animals use to survive a long cold Iowa winter.

Choose to #OptOutside on Black Friday with your friends and family. We’ll reconnect you with nature on a hike through Jester Park.

Attract some of our beautiful feathered friends to your yard by building a birdhouse. We will also take some time to artistically decorate them, turning them into a great gift to give during the holiday season. All materials, tools, and art supplies provided.

A cold December day is the perfect time to make yourself a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy National Cocoa Day. We’ll start the program with a brisk walk around Discovery Pond and end by enjoying a mug of hot cocoa around a fire.

The second Friday of each month from 5:00–8:00 pm, explore SCI with your family. Admission is just $5 per person! No need to grab dinner first... our Food Chain Cafe is open until 7:30 pm. (NOTE: This is not a Des Moines Public Schools activity. The district shares this information as a courtesy to create awareness of community opportunities available to our students and their families.)

Decorating a tree for our feathered friends and other wildlife is an activity the whole family can enjoy. Join us for this hands-on event. Each registered participant will take home a variety of treats to decorate their backyard.

Celebrate winter’s official arrival and the longest night of the year! We will take a short hike along the Discovery Trail lit with luminaries, enjoy a fire under the stars and share a cup of cocoa. Three sessions: 5:00, 6:30 & 8:00 PM.

Tracks and scat give us lots of clues about the animals that live around us. Even if we don’t see them, we can learn a lot about them by what they leave behind.

Come learn the basics of geology. We will discuss what rocks are made of, how they form and three basic rock categories. A large rock and mineral collection will be on display as well and other interesting geological items.

Join the Naturalist for a hike in the winter wonderland looking for animal signs. Dress for the weather.

Come visit Jester Park Nature Center’s resident turtles, snakes, and salamanders to learn about these misunderstood animals. You may even get to touch a turtle or snake. This is an open house program, so come anytime between 10-11:30.

Come learn about owls of Iowa and their adaptations as predators and their role in the food web. The presentation will be followed by a pellet dissection and analysis.

TutorHeroes is comprised of volunteer college students who provide academic assistance in areas such as Math, English, Social Studies, Science, and Spanish. (NOTE: This is not a Des Moines Public Schools activity. The district shares this information as a courtesy to create awareness of community opportunities available to our students and their families.)

Through interactive activities and games, we’ll learn about the characteristics of our Sun and how it compares to other stars in the universe. We’ll also take a look at the Sun through a telescope with a special solar viewing filter.

Lifeguard certification course to prepare students for employment at a pool. Classes 5 New Certification classes and 4 Review classes January-March 2020.

Build My Future is an immersive hands on event that allows participants to see multiple career paths available in Iowa. Participants will be able to get their hands on many careers in urgent need of a skilled workforce. Find more information at www.iowaskilledtrades.com .