Nature-house events geared to kids

Kick off December by taking your young children to outdoor programs at Francis/King Regional Park in Saanich, Sunday and Wednesday.

• On Sunday, children five years and older can join What’s That Evergreen?, a guided walk that takes a closer look at the survival strategies of local evergreen plants. During the 90-minute guided walk, a CRD Regional Parks naturalist will talk about the most common local species and give children the lowdown on how the plants stay green all year.

The program is free to join. It runs 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Meet at the nature centre, off Munn Road.

• Wee Winter Ones is a guided walk geared to children five years and younger on Wednesday.

Children will be encouraged to explore the winter woods under the guidance of a CRD Regional Parks naturalist, using their senses to find creatures that live there.

Participants will also be treated to storytime and exploration at the Francis/King Nature Centre.

Although there is no fee for this program for children ages five and younger, parents and caregivers need to pre-register by Nov. 30, as space is limited.

The event runs 10 to 11 a.m. Dec. 5. Participants are advised to arrive 10 minutes before the start of either program and leave pets at home. For more information, go to crd.bc.ca/parks-events.