Spring is in the air at Discovery Place Nature and we are ready to make the most of the warmer weather, budding blossoms and longer days by spending a whole lot of time outside. Join us in March as we take a closer look at the clouds, make our own fizzy rainbows and go on a spring scavenger hunt, all while enjoying the great outdoors.

A new tool

A special Tools of the Trail activity happening this month invites Discovery Place Nature guests to try a new experience we’re prototyping, where guests help shape an in-depth exploration of the urban forest around our Museum and Freedom Park.

The Museum grounds are filled with potential discoveries including a variety of wildlife, fascinating stories of flora and a site ripe for discussion about the role humans play in nature.

Led by our in-house Naturalists, the Tools of the Trail experience will offer a couple of options to drive your exploration and support your own curiosity in our 100-year-old forest. You won’t want to miss the event, happening March 14 and March 28 at the Museum.

There’s more outdoors

The celebration of spring doesn’t stop there.

Do some Cloud Observations with us on March 4, March 7 and March 11. Big and puffy, small and thin, clouds come in all shapes and sizes. We’ll be using our imaginations as we look to the sky for different shapes. Then we’ll create paintings inspired by what we discovered in the sky.

From clouds, we will move to Fizzy Rainbows on March 14 and March 18. Come learn why there is always rain before the appearance of a rainbow. Plus, make your own fizzy phenomenon!

Later in the month, on March 21, March 25 and March 28, everyone is invited to take part in our Spring Scavenger Hunt at the Museum. Get outside with one of our Naturalists and see how many signs of spring you can check off your list along the Paw Paw Nature Trail.

Spring shows

Guests can enjoy plenty of springtime fun inside Discovery Place Nature, too.

Tales of springtime in North Carolina will take place daily during Story Time at 11 a.m. We also are hosting daily showings of the puppet show, Carolina Morning, in which Owl and Dirty Dog spend time in the park searching for Dog’s lost family.

Get a dose of springtime at night during Seasonal Stargazing, where you can visit the Planetarium to gaze up at the stars and constellations waiting to be seen this season. Plus, the Museum is all a-buzz with our latest Pollen Nation event. Join us every Friday in March at 12:30 p.m. as we play a special game of pollinator bingo, where we’ll learn all about pollinators and the impact they have on the world around us!