Parks Conservancy's upcoming family programs in Charleston, Daniel Island

Image by Flickr user bionicteaching

This fall the Charleston Parks Conservancy is hosting a number of garden programs for children and outdoor adventures for the whole family. A nature program, bike tours and holiday crafts are on the calendar.

Listed below are the times, dates and descriptions of the upcoming events:

Garden Sprouts: A Nature Series for Toddlers and Their Parents9:30-10:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Nov. 1, Nov. 8, Nov. 15, Nov. 29 Hazel Parker Playground, 70 E. Bay St., Charleston Cost: $40

Toddlers will learn about gardening and nature through cooperative play and sharing time. Each class will include a lesson with songs and stories, a nature walk, parachute play and an insect or animal interaction. The indoor play area has four stations: a farmer’s market, gardening area, educational puzzles and blocks and an art center. This is not a drop-off class. Payment includes one child aged 18 months to 3 years and an adult chaperone. Infant siblings welcome.

Garden Shoots: A Nature Series for Preschoolers and Their Parents - 1:15-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Nov. 1, Nov. 8, Nov. 15, Nov. 29 Hazel Parker Playground, 70 E. Bay St., Charleston Cost: $40

Toddlers will learn about gardening and nature through cooperative play and sharing time. Each class will include a lesson with songs and stories, a nature walk, parachute play and an insect or animal interaction. The indoor play area has four stations: a farmer’s market, gardening area, educational puzzles and blocks and an art center. This is not a drop-off class. Payment includes one child aged 2-5 years and an adult chaperone. Infant siblings welcome.

Feeling Crabby? Beat the Blues on Daniel Island 3:30-4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 9 Daniel Island Waterfront Park and Trails, adjacent to 101 River Landing Drive, Daniel Island Cost: $10 per adult/child pair; $10 each additional child

Get the family out in the sunshine with the Charleston Parks Conservancy for a nature walk and crab talk at Daniel Island Waterfront Park and Trails. Get up close and personal with blue crabs, South Carolina’s “beautiful swimmers.” Learn about the salt marsh and net fiddler crabs. Suitable for children aged 4-10. Registration includes one child and one adult. This is not a drop-off class. Meet at the fishing pier on Daniel Island Waterfront Park and Trails (adjacent to 101 River Landing Drive). Note: There is no public bathroom at this park. Please use the public restroom at Etiwan Park at 453 Seven Farms Drive (across from Bishop England High School) before arriving. Registration will close Monday, Nov. 7. Please make sure we have your cell phone number on your registration form. In case of inclement weather, we will call you one hour prior to the event.

History and hot chocolate bicycle tour of Daniel Island - 3-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 Daniel Island Waterfront Park and Trails, adjacent to 101 River Landing Drive, Daniel Island Cost: $10 per person in advance; $15 day of the event

Bring your bike and join the Charleston Parks Conservancy for a historical bicycle tour of Daniel Island. The childhood home of master blacksmith Phillip Simmons, the area has a rich history in the timber, brick making lime, and truck farming industries. The tour will have breaks at the Lesesne graveyard and at the Conservancy’s pocket garden in Etiwan Park. Meet at 3 p.m. at Waterfront Park, adjacent to 101 River Landing Drive, Daniel Island. To pay by check in advance, contact Mary Horton at mhorton@charlestonparksconservancy.org.

Learn to Crab - 10 a.m. to Noon Saturday, Nov. 19 Daniel Island Waterfront Park and Trails, adjacent to 101 River Landing Drive, Daniel Island Cost: $20 per person

Did you know fall is the best time to harvest large blue crabs in South Carolina? Join the Charleston Parks Conservancy for crabbing. Each participate will receive one drop net to use and take home. We’ll supply the bait. The class will be set up for catch and release; however, if you choose to keep your crabs (larger than 5 inches), please bring a cooler (with ice) or a bucket. We’ll have crab recipes on hand.

Holiday in the Garden: A Craft Program for Children Ages 6 to 11 - 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 17 Hazel Parker Playground, 70 E. Bay St., Charleston Cost: $40

Finish up your shopping while the kids make a few gifts of their own. We will create garden-themed holiday crafts, including botanical bobbles and nature-inspired cards. When we’re not crafting, we’ll play reindeer games, sip on hot chocolate and enjoy some holiday cookies. *There will be a $20 charge plus $1 a minute for children left after 12:15 p.m. If your child has food allergies, please pack his/her snack and drink.