Families gather to form a group and experience an overnight complete with a naturalist led night hike, s'mores for the kids, a dutch oven dessert, breakfast prepared for you and time in the canoes.

Bring a tent or borrow a cot and sleep in an adirondack shelter. Your gear will be hauled by vehicle down to the primitive, lakeside campsite that we will call home for the night.

For more Raleigh parks programs, go to www.raleigh-nc.org and click on "leisure."

The Wetland Wander, sponsored by the Raleigh parks department, provides people with an opportunity to explore the wonders of the wetlands at Durant Nature Park. Includes a leisurely walk with bird watching and other animal tracking.

Those interested in going on the walk should meet at the Durant Nature Park office off of Durant Road.

Visit the outdoor bird exploration stations at Prairie Ridge Ecostation
in west Raleigh and discover the marvels of birds, the needs of nesting
birds, and the importance of bird conservation. No registration
required. For more information contact Brian Hahn at brian.hahn@ncmail.net or 919.733.7450 x674.

The APS Walk for the Animals raises money and awareness for the community's homeless animals. In addition to the 5k or 1-mile fun walk, the event includes demonstrations, contests, children's activities, rescue group booths and more.

Historic Yates Mill celebrates its second anniversary with a picnic, old-time music, storytelling, toys and games and sack races with prizes, community displays and more. See a live milking cow and meet "Oscar the Duck" and "Sammy the Squirrel."

Go to http://www.wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill for details.

Kids and adults will delight in creating projects, discovering one another's creativity and learning about art together. A different theme each week means there's always something new to explore.

A sidewalk chalk art contest, music and games highlight a celebration of Children's Book Week on Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Holly Springs Cultural Center & Library.
Festivities will include:
* A sidewalk chalk art contest for ages 4-12
* Outdoor games and activities
* A performance by the kid rock band Sandbox starting at 11 a.m.
Space for the sidewalk chalk contest is limited, and registration is required. To register, call (919) 577-1660, e-mail Connie.Harr@co.wake.nc.us or stop by the Youth Services desk in the library.

Celebrate spring with more than 60 species at Noah's Landing, a non-profit nature center in Coats. Meet the baby skunk and baby serval, feed a carrot to the zebra, or just get eye to eye with the two-toed sloth. Crafts, games, feeding zone, moon bounce, teddy bear clinic and more! $6/person
www.noahslanding2x2.com

Raleigh’s city chicken owners invite you into their backyards for a first-hand look at keeping chickens in an urban environment. Discover the variety of breeds that might be nesting in your neighborhood, learn about raising chickens, and see how families integrate chickens into their gardening practices. In addition, you’ll be impressed by the ingenious coops that can be devised to shelter these feathered pets.

Fishin’ Frenzy: Saturday, May 17 from 10AM-Noon at the Lake Michie Boathouse, Bahama Road. This program is for children ages 5-12 who want to learn the basics of fishing. We’ll provide poles and bait- parents will provide the company to their children. COST: $2 per child. Every child must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is necessary – call 919-620-8154 to register or for more information.

Bring out the artist in your child at Artsplosure's 29th annual Spring Arts Festival.

This year’s event will be held May 17 & 18 in and around Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. Like always, Artsplosure will feature an array of artists’ booths, as well as a selection of musical performances for all tastes and Kidsplosure.

Carolina Ballet presents the classic story. Costume contest at the show. Go to www.carolinaballet.com for details.

Do you remember first-hand what it was like when your family received electric power in the home or on the farm? Were you excited? Nervous? Help us chronicle this important event in history by sharing your experiences in one of these two open forums. Your story is important and we want to make sure it is recorded!

This is a great opportunity to get some talk going between grandparents about their childhood and your own children.

Go here for details about Oak View County Park: http://www.wakegov.com/locations/oakview.htm

Part of the Museum of Life and Science Bear Awareness Week programs.

Go here: www.lifeandscience.org for details.

Carolina Ballet presents the classic story. Go to www.carolinaballet.com for details.

In the dark depths beneath the blue of the Gulf Stream exists an
ancient ecosystem of amazing beauty and diversity — the deep coral
habitats off the coast of the Carolinas. Come see these newly explored
areas in the premiere of Beneath the Blue, a stunning high-definition
production that takes you, via submersible, to these incredible
habitats 2,000 feet below the ocean's surface.

A
presentation by Chief Scientist Dr. Steve Ross (UNCW) and Dr. Martha
Nizinski (NOAA), researchers featured in the film, will immediately
precede the film's premiere.

APPLAUSE! CARY YOUTH THEATRE PRESENTS
Beauty and the Beast
By Timothy Mason

Carolina Ballet presents the classic story. Go to www.carolinaballet.com for details.

This event is designed to introduce youth to physical fitness through basic track and field events such as running, throwing and jumping. Participants have an opportunity to advance to compete at the regional, state and national level.

Registration at the event starts at 8:30 a.m. Events begin at 9:30 a.m.

For more Raleigh parks events, go to www.raleigh-nc.org and click on "leisure."

It's a day for local artists to gather on the lawn for fun in the sun, whilst sharing their art with the public-- for SALE and for strut! This is a FREE event! Please bring friends and family, and of course children are welcome!

Join a nature instructor who will guide you in capturing and observing tadpoles. Learn the different kinds of frogs and toads that begin life as tadpoles in the pond. Come ready to get muddy!

For more information about this and other Raleigh parks programs, go to www.raleighnc.gov/parks.

Mark your calendar for this once-in-a-lifetime eventmonsters becoming musicians! Elmo, The Count, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Bert & Ernie and all their funny and furry friends are taking to the stage to share the magical world of music with Raleigh children.

Water Striders, Whirligig Beetles, Dragonfly Nymphs and other aquatic insects have some very unique ways of “racing” through the water.

We’ll look for these insects with dipnets and learn how they are able to move so quickly in the water. Then we’ll build and decorate our own boats to race along the creek. Will we be faster than a Water Strider? Join the fun to find out!

Make cards for men and women in the military who are serving overseas at a joint event organized by the Wake Forest Junior Woman's Club and Stampin' Up.

Attendees can create two cards — one to send with their thoughts and wishes to a service person and a blank one for them to send back to their loved ones. Kids can create a card too for a service person. The cards will be distributed through Cards for Heroes.

This is a steam punk tea party for fans of the popular Libba Bray books (A Great and Terrible Beauty, The Sweet Far Thing, and Rebel Angels).  Please bring your own tea cup and feel free to dress up in your gothic Lolita or traditional Victorian fashions.  Grades 6-12.  To register, please call 387-2120.  You don't have to have read the books to attend.

Mark your calendar for this once-in-a-lifetime eventmonsters becoming musicians! Elmo, The Count, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Bert & Ernie and all their funny and furry friends are taking to the stage to share the magical world of music with Raleigh children.

The symphony's casual Summerfest series at the outdoor Koka Booth Amphitheatre is perfect for families. Bring a picnic and lawn chairs.

Doors open at 5 p.m. Concert starts at 7:30. Best of all, the May 31 concert is free.

Go here for details. 

Mark your calendar for this once-in-a-lifetime eventmonsters becoming musicians! Elmo, The Count, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Bert & Ernie and all their funny and furry friends are taking to the stage to share the magical world of music with Raleigh children.