Children learn to connect with nature

Preschoolers make bird feeders at French Creek

The French Creek Nature and Arts Center, at 4530 Colorado Ave. in Sheffield Village, recently held an activity for preschoolers and their parents to enjoy.

“Today’s craft is all about winter birds,” said Aimee Potonic, park manager and naturalist at the nature center. “The goal is to teach kids what the birds do, how they behave and their adaptations to the weather.”

Potonic said it’s important to give kids experience in utilizing some nature tools.

“We have some binoculars for the kids to peer through and gaze at the birds,” she said. “We also will instruct them on how to utilize bird feeders and we will be making one as a craft.”

Potonic said the craft will allow kids to make something the birds will be drawn to.

“They’re going to take a pinecone and cover it with lard so the substances stick,” she said. “The next step will be to cover them with bird seed and other healthy ingredients. I think it’s kind of neat and the kids seem to enjoy it. It’s an easy craft to do and it helps the birds in a naturally safe way.”

Potonic said she has been organizing these crafts for a decade.

“This is part of what we call our Kiddie Craft Club,” she said. “The goal is to get kids, ages 3 to 5, interested in nature,” she said. “We try to rope them in at a young age and get them involved in the program. We also have activities for older kids and it’s really neat when you have someone who has been coming here since they were 4 years old.”

Potonic said the crafts are also there to help the parents.

“It gives the kids something to do, and provides a way for parents to bond with their kids. It’s also important for the educational aspect. We have certain camps and activities that will deepen a child’s understanding of nature and the world around them,” Potonic said.

Potonic said the crafts are typically scheduled for the second Monday of every month.

“We try to have a variety of activities for the kids,” she said. “It’s mostly crafts, but there are also movies, role playing, whatever we can do to get them engaged. We try to combine the nature and the arts here, and through these activities I feel kids get a well rounded experience.”

ERIC BONZAR—THE MORNING JOURNAL Aimee Potonic, naturalist and park manager, makes a pine cone bird feeder with her son, Keller, 6, during Lorain County Metro Parks’ Kiddie Craft Club.

ERIC BONZAR—THE MORNING JOURNAL A tufted titmouse perches on the string of a pine cone bird feeder at the Lorain County Metro Parks’ French Creek Reservation.