Children's Activities

The garden offers many activities throughout the year for children. Please see our listing of Children’s Classes to discover the fun!

 

Planning Your Trip With Children

As a sanctuary for birds, the garden is an excellent example of the value of and need for conserving wildlife, its habitat and natural resources in an urban setting. There is much to discover at Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary.

 

Educators planning to bring a group of youngsters to the garden must schedule a guided tour by calling 704/331-0664 x103.  Garden visits for children are offered on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

 

  • Learn about the incredible people who began these gardens.  Copies of Elizabeth’s Garden (ages 4 – 6), Elizabeth’s Wish (ages 7 – 9), and A Bird in the House are available for sale in the Clarkson home.  There are also copies of Elizabeth’s Garden and Elizabeth’s Wish that you may read while exploring our Children’s Garden.

  • Discover the birds that live here by studying the informational kiosk at the entrance to the garden or  visit For the Birds on our site.  Begin your visit by selecting 2 or 3 species that you are most likely to see in the garden—perhaps the Carolina Wren, the Cardinal and the Carolina Chickadee—and look for them as you tour the garden.  You may even want to help them make their own binoculars before you come!

  • Encourage your youngsters to be detectives…have them look for the food, water and shelter that make the garden a habitat.   Perhaps you'll want to join them on a scavenger hunt as you walk through the garden

  • Remind children that this garden belongs to the birds!  It’s not a playground; they should walk and speak softly.

  • Once you return home, perhaps you can discover ways to make your surroundings more welcoming to the songbirds and small mammals that live outside your kitchen door.

Adventure Backpacks

Our Adventure Backpacks provide a unique way for families to explore the Garden on their own.  The backpacks are equipped for 2 youngsters aged 5 to 9 and include a number of activities and tools (field guides, binoculars, etc.) to help parents teach them about the many critters that find food, water and shelter within our garden walls.

 

Cost:  $5 (Includes a copy of Elizabeth’s Garden and activity books for you to keep.  We’ll ask to keep your license as a deposit until you return with the pack.)

 

Books for Children

These books are available for sale in the Clarkson home, or may be purchased online (postage is not included in the prices below).


 

Elizabeth's Garden

Written by Julie Degni Marr and Illustrated by Laurie McGuire Richardson. This book is an illustrated tale of Elizabeth and Eddie Clarkson and Wing Haven Gardens.

$5.00
   

Elizabeth's Wish
Written by Julie Degni Marr and Illustrated by Laurie McGuire Richardson. This book is an illustrated tale of Sammy the Squirrel, birds and blossoms.

$5.00
   
Wing Haven Children’s
Activity Book

Illustrated by Laurie Richardson. A delightful coloring and activity booklet for children.

$1.00
   
A Bird in the House

By Mary Norton Kratt, is the charming and eccentric story of Wing Haven Gardens. Each year Wing Haven Gardens draws thousands of adults and children to see its captivating beauty and bird life.

$10.00