two hundred and forty eight

When traveling with the girls or when visiting different museums and cultural institutions, I always try to do some research and planning ahead of time to make sure that I can make the visit relevant and interesting for them. I am always amazed at how, with just a tiny bit of effort, even a stuffy sort of place can become a great outing with kids.

I never expect places to have kids programming or kids activities available when we show up, so it was so, so lovely to go to Polly Hill Arboretum today and be welcomed by a wonderful children’s exploration kit.

The girls each signed out a backpack at the visitor’s center; each bag had maps, a compass, a bird identification card, crayons, sketch pad and notebook and a spiral bound plant identification book with at least fifteen different ‘stops’ throughout the grounds. Everything a young naturalist needs!

At several points on our walk about the girls sat and sketched. Their first subject? The stone wall and it’s surrounds. They also drew some plants and flowers along the way. They also collected leaves and seed pods from several plants (from the ground, never fear!) and were genuinely reverent in their surroundings.

We were all charmed by a temporary exhibit on the grounds called “A Walk Through Imagination“. This series of sculpture and pottery told the story of mythical ‘plant guardians’ and the houses and tiny books and tiny dragons and fairies was perfectly timed during Catherine and Esme’s current fascination with faerie houses!

It was a wonderful visit and we can’t wait to go back again!