(5-Adult) Challenge misconceptions about frequently misunderstood animals like snapping turtles, nonvenomous snakes, spiders and other fascinating creatures. Participants will learn to distinguish harmless Dekay's brown snake from copperheads, understand their ecological roles and develop appreciation for these important species.

(6-8 yrs) In this Cybertek Academy class, students use a custom mod called “Computercraft” to program robots called “Turtles” inside the world of Minecraft. Students utilize problem-solving skills to program their robots to complete various tasks and objectives such as automatically building, mining, and crafting items and structures. Students are introduced to programming using if-then-else statements, for-while loops, and implementing their own functions using Lua, a simple scripting language.

(8-13 yrs) In this C3ybertek Academy class, students use a custom mod called “Computercraft” to program robots called “Turtles” inside the world of Minecraft. Students utilize problem-solving skills to program their robots to complete various tasks and objectives such as automatically building, mining, and crafting items and structures. Students are introduced to programming using if-then-else statements, for-while loops, and implementing their own functions using Lua, a simple scripting language.

(6-Adult) In this adapted version of the popular Escape Room games, race against the clock to solve puzzles and unlock secret codes to complete the mission of saving the captured animals. This exciting, critical-thinking adventure is both fun and educational. Learn about common animals you might encounter at Riverbend Park, what threats they face, and what we can do to protect them. End the event with prizes and a meet and greet with one of our box turtles.

(4-Adult) Enjoy a brief presentation and demonstration by our animal caretaker staff. At least one snake, two turtles and a toad will be fed. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(16-Adult) Dogs are well known for their powerful noses, and those sniffing superpowers are proving to be invaluable for conservation efforts. Join Laura Holder, founder of Conservation Dogs Collective, for an inside look at the groundbreaking work her team of canine conservationists is doing. These specially trained dogs are using their powerful noses to locate endangered species like bumblebee nests and turtles, playing a vital role in wildlife preservation. They're also helping to detect and eradicate invasive plant species and improving the health of our ecosystem. Come learn more about how these incredible dogs are protecting the natural world. Lecture is held online with an option to watch at the Horticulture Center. A link for the program will be emailed no later than the morning of the event.