By Scott Meeker

smeeker@joplinglobe.com

When temperatures drop, some may find it easy to make like a bear and hibernate amid the comfort of indoor heating while bathing in the warm glow of the television.

But just because it’s winter doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to get out and do.

“I tell people that winter is a great time to get out,” said Chris Pistole, education director for the Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center. “We offer a variety of programs, some indoors and some with an outdoor component.”

The nature center — along with the Joplin Public Library and the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts — will offer a number of activities to entice children, teens and adults out of the house in the coming weeks.

Pistole said that there are a number of benefits to getting outdoors in the winter.

“You don’t have all the bugs to contend with, and you don’t have the heat where the people are sweating,” Pistole said. “You can actually see a lot more of the landscape and see rock formations and hidden caves that you don’t normally see during the growing season.

“People might think that a lot of the animals will be gone during the winter, but you get a warm day with the sun out and it’s amazing the animal life you’ll find.”

The winter schedule there will include:

Saturday: Yoga in Nature, 9 to 10 a.m. The class for all ages will be led by yoga instructor Connelaine Gustad. The cost is $4 per person.

Raptors Rock, 3 to 4 p.m. Children ages 5 and older can learn about eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. Cost is $5 per person.

Saturday, Jan. 23: Wildcat Archaeology: A Look at Our Region’s Prehistory, 2 to 4 p.m. Lyle Sparkman, president of the Missouri Archaeological Society, will discuss the history of the region. After the presentation, he will be available to help identify artifacts that people bring. Cost is $6.

Saturday, Jan. 30: Native American Flute Music, 3 to 4 p.m. Local musician and artist Gary Reed will perform and discuss the history of the instrument. Cost for the all ages program is $5.

Saturday, Feb. 6: Nature Connections — Playing ’Possum, 10 to 11 a.m. Children ages 3 to 6 will learn about opossums through music, stories and crafts. There will also be a short hike. Cost is $5.

“Aldo Leopold: The Missouri Connection,” 2 to 3 p.m. Those attending will learn about Leopold and his views on conservation. For ages 14 and older. Cost is $5.

Saturday, Feb. 13: The Great Backyard Bird Count, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All ages can participate in the free program by learning how to count birds at their own home.

Saturday, Feb. 20: Yoga in Nature, 9 to 10 a.m. $4 per person.

Second Time Around, 1 to 3 p.m. Children ages 7 and older can design crafts made from reusable materials.

To register for programs at the nature center, call 782-6287.



Joplin Public Library

The Joplin Public Library is now offering its weekly story time activities, which will continue through April 26.

Family storytime: 6 p.m. Monday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday. There will be stories, songs and other activities for children infant to 5 years old.

Baby Bookworms: 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. For infants as old as 23 months.

Fun for 4s and 5s: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The storytime activities are for children ages 4 and 5.

Other programs offered at the library include:

Spanish/English Story Hour: 10:30 a.m. the third Friday of the month (today, Feb. 19, March 19 and April 16). There will be stories, songs and rhymes for children ages 2 to 5.

Dog Day Afternoons: 4 p.m. the third Thursday of the month (Jan. 15, Feb. 18, March 18 and April 15). Children in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to be the storytellers during this event.

American Girl Club: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the fourth Saturday of the month (Jan. 23, Feb. 27, March 27 and April 24.

For more information about library activities, call 623-7953.



Spiva Center for the Arts

Artistic activities for children, teens and adults will be offered in the coming weeks at Spiva Center for the Arts, 222 W. Third St.

Preschool Art: 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Jan. 26. There will be lots of hands-on activities for children ages 3, 4 and 5. Cost is $15 per session.

Tango!: 6 p.m. for beginners, 7 p.m. for intermediate students on Tuesday, and Jan. 26 and Feb. 2. There will be an extra hour of practice with the instructor at 8 p.m. Cost for the program is $75 per person.

Studio Saturdays: 10 a.m. for ages 4, 5 and 6, and 11:30 a.m. for ages 7 to 12, Saturday and Jan. 30, Feb. 6 and Feb. 20. Shape, texture and color will be explored through drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. Cost is $15.

The Art of Possibilities: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Participants ages 18 and older can bring magazines and a piece of poster board to create a visual reminder for their 2010 goals. The cost is $15.

Drawing Portraits: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 21 and 28. The portrait class is for all skill levels ages 14 and older. The cost is $50 for both classes.

Mind of the Artist Film Series — “Bomb It”: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21. In the film, artists from five continents share their stories. A discussion will follow the film. Admission is $5.

PhotoSpiva Kids: 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23. Each child will receive a disposable camera, and selected images will be displayed as part of the national photography competition. For ages 4 to 8. Cost is $20.

Self-Portrait Painting: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24. For ages 12 and older. Participants must bring a 16-by-20-inch (or smaller) canvas. Cost is $35.

Back to the Basics — Charcoal: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30. Students ages 12 and older will learn about drawing skills through a series of exercises. Cost is $20.

Cabochon Class: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31. Participants will learn about glass cutting and fusing, and make a pendant or pin. For ages 16 and older. Cost is $15.

Enrollment for classes at Spiva are by first come, first serve basis. For more information, call 623-0183.