On Saturday, June 10, Audubon Community Nature Center Little Explorers – 3 to 8-year-olds and their adults – will get “Down in the Dirt” to learn about soil, sand, rocks and minerals.

It’s easy to focus on the living things that are moving and changing outside, but what is going on in the ground?

On Saturday, June 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Audubon Community Nature Center Little Explorers get “Down in the Dirt.” Three to 8-year-olds and their favorite adults are invited to come and see what they find buried in the dirt and mud. Those attending can learn what different kinds of rocks and soil are made of and how they change over time. Then explore the soil, sand, rocks and minerals people travel across regularly.

After an indoor lesson, be prepared to get a little dirty as you head outside for a short hike to get the scoop on soil, dig deep into mud, and see why rocks can be so interesting. A snack is provided after the hike and a craft is offered if there is time. This program takes place rain or shine, so dress for the weather. The fee is $12 for adults, $9 for children ages 3 – 8 and Nature Center members. Enrollment is limited to 15 children, 30 participants total.

Make required paid reservations by Thursday, June 8, by calling 716-569-2345 during business hours or by going to AudubonCNC.org and clicking through “Programs and Events.”

The Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. Visit the nearly 600-acre nature preserve, check in on the live birds of prey, and hike more than five miles of trails dawn until dusk daily for free.

The three-story Nature Center building houses interactive displays, a collection of live animals including the Hellbender exhibit, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors are welcome Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Nature Center members and SNAP/EBT cardholders have free building admission daily. Building admission is also free every Sunday for non-Nature Center members.