BY AMANDA PEVEY
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
TOP PHOTO: Matt Vines assured Santa and Mrs. Claus he has been a very good boy and working hard for the Alabama Nature Center all year.
The annual Christmas at Lanark at the Alabama Nature Center in Millbrook, Alabama was held on Saturday, December 4th. Over 150 families with their children came out to enjoy this fun event put on by the staff.
This annual tradition has been happening for 10 years now, though last year was missed due to COVID-19. Christmas at the ANC is a fun holiday event that brings out the children and their families to do holiday activities and to have a special visit with Santa. Children of all ages came to enjoy fun holiday crafts and enjoy a candy cane hike as well.
Matt Vines, who is the Camps and Community Programs Coordinator, was the one in charge of this entire holiday event.
“This event is held the first Saturday in December annually. There were 11 staff/volunteers that came out and helped with this event today. I want to thank the staff and volunteers and the community for coming out to enjoy these Christmas activities with their families,” said Vines.
All proceeds went back into the Alabama Nature Center. Every dollar that is given to the Nature Center helps take care of the animals and their natural habitats.
Activities included meeting with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children could tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas or ask Santa questions. The parents could take as many pictures as they wanted with the children.
Next, a Christmas ornament craft was a great opportunity to sit with their child and make a priceless memory for the tree. The ornament was a round piece of wood with a string on the top for hanging. Participants could decorate the round piece of wood by putting a Christmas tree or any picture and paint it, too. Once complete, the staff would put “magic snow” to make it shiny.
Another activity was decorating a sugar cookie. One cookie per person, but the families could decorate and eat a sugar cookie with their choice of toppings. Children enjoyed putting icing on their cookie, adding unlimited amounts of sprinkles and then devouring the sweet, delicious cookie.
A hayride took place around the Nature Center. Children enjoyed going through the woods and admiring the beauty of what nature has to offer. A self-guided candy cane hike activity was fun for children and their families. Along the way, if a candy cane was found, it was theirs for the eating.
Included was a candy cane hike winter sensory area.
A movie, “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,:” was played throughout the day in the Theatre.
A hot chocolate and coffee bar was available all day in front of the Gift shop for one dollar.
Christmas at the ANC Field Trips from area schools are taking place now through December 17th. Schools that sign up and attend can enjoy fun Christmas activities planned by the staff at the Alabama Nature Center. For more information please visit their Facebook page at: www.Facebook.com/AlabamaNatureCenter&NaturePlex or call (800) 822-9453.
