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Blue Jay
The new equipment
(in many pieces!)
has been delivered and the contractors are working on the site, so progress is being made. But in the meantime,
Blue Jay's
Playground Area
is Closed.
While we wait,
- Please enjoy time in the Natural Play Area
- Bring some balls or frisbees and have fun on the Open Play Fields
- Take a StoryWalk® (see the February StoryWalk® schedule)
- Try the Blue Jay's digital Nature Bingo scavenger hunt (the scavenger hunt URL is written on the yellow "Playground Closed" signs near the construction site).
- Remember that our sister park, Green Hills County Park off of Deponie Drive, has an awesome playground.
And don't forget to have a
of what Blue Jay's
NEW Playground
will look like!
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Register by Sunday, January 31!
Blue Jay Explorers
Virtual 3-day Winter
Mini-Camp
(free!)
February 8, 10 and 12, 2021
M-W-F virtual Zoom sessions from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
plus a wrap-up session on Friday from 3 - 3:30 p.m.
Join Blue Jay staff for a VIRTUAL Winter mini-camp! From the sun and stars to Global Positioning Systems (GPS's) join us as we progress through time to learn how explorers have used tools to find their way through our world. With virtual guidance from Blue Jay's educators each camp day and with the assistance of a grown-up in your home, you will use these tools to become skilled in such activities as letterboxing and geocaching while exploring the wilds of your backyard, neighborhood or Blue Jay Point County Park.
Each camp day will be comprised of an hour-long interactive Zoom camp session followed by at-home crafts and activities, a suggested outdoor excursion, and a short "quest" to complete and report on at the next camp session. The week will end with a short Friday afternoon wrap-up session.
A camp packet of supplies will be available to pick up one week before virtual camp begins and a short list of basic at-home supplies is required. All virtual campers will need to have access to a computer or laptop for the Zoom sessions and a cell phone is needed for several of the activities. While virtual campers must be within the targeted age range of 9-12 years, the crafts, activities and excursions would be enjoyed and enhanced by family participation as a whole.
Virtual camp registration is limited--please make a "best effort" commitment to make the online meetings, fully participate in at-home activities and engage with virtual camp staff and campers during this FREE camp.
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Psssst!
at Blue Jay Point is taking reservations for February20th!
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Wake County Parks
GO RED
in February
in honor of
Women's Heart Health!
February 5 is official
"Wear Red" day and we hope to see some park visitors out and about
in Red.
And give your heart some exercise by walking a lap or two (or more!) on the half mile Azalea Loop trail which will be brightened with RED bows all through February!
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While visiting
Blue Jay Point,
please comply with guidelines set forth
by the state:
- gathering with no more than 50 people outdoors.
- wearing a mask indoors or out when physical distancing is not possible
Measures to limit the number of people allowed in the park at one time remain in place. If a gate is closed or cones are blocking the entrance, that means the park has reached capacity.
The following restrictions will remain in place at least through February 28:
- The Blue Jay Center is closed to the public except for the Center restrooms
- "In person" park programs and events are cancelled --check out our virtual offerings!
- The Overnight Lodge remains closed for use but you may make reservations for future use.
Please check our website for an
up-to-date status of park services as we work through the phases of the COVID-19 reopening plan.
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February Opportunities
Great Backyard Bird Count
Facebook Live
Monday, February 15th
10-10:30 a.m.
Best for ages 5 - Adult
Join Blue Jay staff on a Facebook Live for some tips on how you can attract birds to your yard plus how to ID a few frequent feeder visitors--be ready with
some questions for us!
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Nature Storytime:
From Head to Toe (Virtual via Zoom)
Wednesday, February 23
10 - 10:30 a.m.
ages 2 - 6 years
Free
Giraffes can bend their necks, monkeys can wave their hands, and donkeys can kick their legs. And so can you! The animals of From Head to Toe by Eric Carle invite young readers to copy their antics as they play. Have a favorite stuffed animal with you so we can explore how it moves too! Virtual Storytime is a new virtual program at Blue Jay Point County Park for children ages 2-6 years plus a supervising adult. A Zoom link will be sent out to all registered participants the day before, to the email address used to register for this program.
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You can still catch the Snow Globe Family StoryWalk® from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
daily until February 7
Oh, when will it snow again? wonders the little family who lives inside the snow globe. They long for a snowstorm, if only someone in the big family would pick up the snow globe and give it a shake. Baby would love to. She notices the little family, but the snow globe is too high for her to reach. But then Baby is alone during a snowstorm. Will the snow globe family get a chance to go sledding, too?
You can enjoy this enchanting story by
Jane O'Connor on the self-guided StoryWalk® along the Laurel Loop Trail with the beginning near the (closed) Playground. ****On the back of each storybook page there is thematic information and suggested activities to do at home. There is also one activity you can pick up a helpful item to complete that activity at home. You'll have to do the StoryWalk® to find out more.
AND
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
February 8 thru February 28
Snowy Valentine StoryWalk®
Step out into a snowy Valentine's Day with Jasper the bunny as he searches the forest valley for a special gift for his loved one. In his picture-book debut, David Petersen, tells a delightful tale that becomes the perfect way to say "I love you."
Enjoy the StoryWalk® between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day, weather depending, rain will cancel.
****On the back of each storybook page there is thematic information and suggested activities to do at home. There is also a little craft kit for one activity that you can pick up on the front porch of the Education Center to complete at home.
New to the StoryWalk® concept? It is a great way to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time! Laminated pages from a children's book are attached to wooden stakes, which are installed along an outdoor path. As you stroll down the trail, you're directed to the next page in the story. StoryWalk® was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned
by Ms. Ferguson.
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Virtual Group Programs
are now available!
Are you a teacher or scout leader of
elementary-age kids?
We are now offering -
Exploring Plants and Animals (1st grade)
Life Cycles at the Pond (2nd Grade)
Piedmont Ecosystems (5th Grade)
Pondering Ponds (5th Grade)
These Free Virtual Group Programs
are held on Zoom or Google Meet.
Add something new to your
school day or scout meeting!
Each 50 minute program will include a live time environmental educator interacting with the kids and interpreting some recorded videos of nature in the park, plus Q&A--give us a try!
Learn more about these particular programs here!More topics and grades coming soon!
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Have you visited
Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space educators have been hard at work creating fun and educational content for all ages that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home until we can invite you for educational programs
in the parks again!
Check back often as we frequently add
new items, and be sure to check out similar
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was a HUGE success. Thank you!
6500 Christmas trees were ground into
mulch, making our parks smell like the
breath of Christmas.
Come out, take a walk and enjoy!
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Have you enjoyed a day in the park
recently? Walked on our trails? Enjoyed a family picnic? Or simply have something you'd like us to know about? Please follow the link below to fill out a short anonymous survey so we can know what our park visitors are thinking about!
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Contact us:
Blue Jay Point County Park 3200 Pleasant Union Church Road Raleigh, NC 27614 (919) 870-4330 Find us on Facebook! |
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