[0:03] - Based on a lot of the survey data we've gotten over the [0:05] years where people are very interested in enhanced [0:08] experiences in the city's natural areas, [0:10] we decided to take advantage of all the natural areas [0:13] that Bloomington has to offer, which there are many, [0:16] not just parks, but also other smaller areas. [0:18] And what we did this year was devise a new naturalist [0:21] program series where we have naturalists go out [0:23] to somewhere in the city [0:24] and they're conducting programs on just a wide [0:27] range of topics. [0:28] We're really lucky here in Bloomington [0:30] because we have a wide range of natural areas, [0:33] ecosystems from wetlands to woodlands, prairie oak [0:37] Savannahs, marsh areas, pond areas. [0:40] We have the Minnesota River, Minnesota River Valley, [0:43] Nine Mile Creek, and we have a ton of other large [0:47] and small natural areas [0:48] that have lent themselves really well to doing programs. [0:50] Among the types of programs we've had [0:52] so far this year are prairies [0:54] and pollinators, woodland plants [0:55] and animals, wetland and pond habitats, animal tracks [0:58] and signs, couple of birding programs, creatures [1:00] of the marsh, and then also some programs [1:02] that are educational in terms [1:03] of talking about invasive plant species, [1:05] things like buckthorn, garlic mustard, things like that. [1:08] - Today we were doing faux sun prints. [1:11] So instead of using the sun to make prints on special paper, [1:14] we were using watercolor paper with acrylic paints [1:17] to a dark background [1:19] and then to paint white designs on top of it. [1:22] They were painting mostly wild plants from out [1:25] around the area here, so flowers from the garden, [1:27] grasses from out in the prairie [1:29] and dandelions from the lawn. [1:31] They learned about what you do with the dead marker [1:33] when it's done. You take it and soak it in water [1:35] and you've got free liquid watercolor paint. [1:38] And so we were making little watercolor trading cards. [1:41] - So the naturalist programs came about also as a result [1:45] of us wanting to utilize the city as a classroom itself. [1:50] All the many natural areas in the city [1:52] essentially are a classroom. It is our goal to be able [1:56] to teach kids [1:57] and families about their natural environments [1:59] right in their own neighborhoods. [2:01] The naturalist programs are designed to be year round [2:04] because all seasons are important [2:07] when you're looking at the natural environment [2:08] and various ecosystems. [2:10] They're all first come, first serve. They're free thus far. [2:12] For more information, check out the City [2:14] of Bloomington website and you can see the lineup [2:16] of programs.