Activities keep families out and about in winter

Activities keep families out and about in winter
By Sony Hocklander
Published News-Leader, Jan 29, 2012
Article link HERE

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time keeping active in the winter months. Walking outdoors in the neighborhood has little appeal when temperatures drop, and our warm house and comfy sofa become a little too inviting. It’s awfully easy for kids to become little couch spuds, too. There are a number of outdoor places your family can get a little rosy-cheeked cold-weather exercise — with an easy-access building to warm up in, too. Try one of these:

Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park & Botanical Center
Head for an area park that includes a building center of some kind. One of our favorites is Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park at 2400 S. Scenic Ave., across from Horton Smith Golf Course. If you get cold, pop inside the Botanical Center where a current exhibit showcases artwork by local fifth-graders, themed “I like trees because…,” for an Arbor Day Poster Contest. Treat your kids to a little snack at the gift shop where you’ll find coffee and hot chocolate, sport drinks, water, soda, granola bars, sandwiches, string cheese, apples, trail mix and more. The Botanical Center is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.friendsofthegarden.org or www.Botanicalcenter.org. For more information call 417-891-1515.

Springfield Conservation Nature Center
Hike the path behind the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way near Glenstone Avenue and Republic Road. With winter’s bare trees and shrubs, you and your kids will see a different side of nature than during summer hikes. You’ll find a “warming hut” of sorts by way of the Nature Center building. Time your visit with one of the center’s many free programs for kids and make a morning or afternoon of it. You don’t need a program, though, to enjoy the center’s exhibits and hands-on activities. Hours through February: The center building is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays (closed Sundays and Mondays); the trail is accessible 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. To find an events calendar or more information, call 417-888-4237 or visit the website.

Dickerson Park Zoo
Though it’s not free to enter, don’t save Dickerson Park Zoo for summer. Located on the north side of town, 1401 West Norton Road, it’s open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily during winter months, too (although the Titus Express train ride, giraffe feeding deck and Outback Corral petting zoo are closed through the end of February). Keep a brisk pace between animal exhibits to put color on your cheeks. Plus, the zoo hosts Z.E.B.R.A. classes for tots and older kids. A few classes in February are open (as I write this) but many are filled. If you are interested in zoo classes, sign up quick, or check out dates for March and April. For more information, call 417-864-1800 or visit www.dickersonparkzoo.org.

If it snows, outdoor exercise is a no-brainer: Bundle into snow gear, fill a thermos with hot chocolate and grab the sleds. Wondering where to go? Next week I’ll include a list of sledding hill recommendations by locals. I’m still looking for suggestions — particularly in the north, and far east and west areas of town. Post your favorite place in the comments section with this story online at News-Leader.com, or on our Facebook page at News-leader.com/facebook.