By Heather Lusk
When Kim Donovan moved to Zionsville several years ago, her family fell in love with the Zion Nature Center, which she called is one of the town’s “hidden gems.”
To help promote the center and raise funds for its programs, Donovan – now president of the Friends of the Zion Nature Center – helped start NatureFest five years ago. The annual event returns March 7 this year and will include a hands-on education area, cake walk, crafts, face-painting, carnival games for kids and more.
The popular Sandfire Farms petting zoo will return for this year’s event, which is being held at Zionsville Town Hall.
“They have wonderful animals, animals that enjoy being touched,” Donovan said.
Volunteers will also be bringing their own pets so that attendees can get an up close look at a hedgehog, rabbit and Dumbo eared rat. The event is created and staffed completely by volunteers of the Friends of Zion Nature Center.
The money that’s raised from NatureFest primarily goes to the Creature Features program, which brings several speakers to the nature center each year to speak about different animals.
“Raffle and Roll” prizes presented toward the end of the day, with the big prize being a gift certificate to the Zion Nature Center Camp. The first 100 families to attend will receive a swag bag made of recycled plastic bottles donated by the Boone County Solid Waste Management District.
NatureFest
What: NatureFest
When: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 7
Where: Zionsville Town Hall, 1100 W. Oak St.
Cost: $10 per family or $3 per person. Tickets for activities, games and the cake walk are an additional cost.
More info: http://www.zionsville-in.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/nature-centercolorflyers-20151.pdf
