Nature Room and Outdoor Natural Play Area
Our Nature Room features a variety of educational, hands-on action stations that will have you and your family learning about all the wonderful aspects of nature right here in West Bloomfield. The Nature Room is located within the Recreation Activities Center (4640 Walnut Lake Road) and is home to the majority of our nature interpretive programs. Check out this great article from the West Bloomfield Beacon which highlights the Nature Room and its offerings.
Outdoor Natural Play Area
Come out and play in the dirt, create a masterpiece with sticks, hop on log stepping stones, dig in the garden bin, hunt for bugs and have some fun! The area is sensory-rich and a treasure trove of experiential learning, imagination and wonder.
The space features natural elements for play, intentionally designed to engage children with nature. We use the area for various nature programs and it is also be open for public use during select hours.
Research has found that frequent, unstructured play in natural environments is a strong positive influence on the developmental needs of young children. Benches are available for parents while children craft their own activities using natural materials.
Outdoor Natural Play Area
Come out and play in the dirt, create a masterpiece with sticks, hop on log stepping stones, dig in the garden bin, hunt for bugs and have some fun! The area is sensory-rich and a treasure trove of experiential learning, imagination and wonder.
The space features natural elements for play, intentionally designed to engage children with nature. We use the area for various nature programs and it is also be open for public use during select hours.
Research has found that frequent, unstructured play in natural environments is a strong positive influence on the developmental needs of young children. Benches are available for parents while children craft their own activities using natural materials.
Scheduled Open Hours:
Please note: The Nature Room is closed at this time. We have additional outdoor nature explore stations outdoors for families to enjoy. Pre-registration is required and capacities are limited to ensure proper social distancing is possible. Please register every adult and child attending with you.
- 3/13 Saturday 11 AM-1 PM
- 3/16 Tuesday 3-5 PM
- 4/20 Tuesday 4-6 PM - this is our Earth Day Celebration!
- 4/24 Saturday 2-4 PM
- 5/7 Friday 1-4 PM
- 5/8 Saturday 1-4 PM
- 5/18 Tuesday 3-6 PM
- 6/4 Friday 1-4 PM
- 6/15 Tuesday 4-6 PM
- 7/20 Tuesday 4-6 PM
- 7/25 Sunday 10 AM-1 PM
- 8/17 Tuesday 3-6 PM
- 8/22 Sunday 1-4 PM
- 8/28 Saturday 9 AM-12 PM
Please note: The Nature Room is closed at this time. We have additional outdoor nature explore stations outdoors for families to enjoy. Pre-registration is required and capacities are limited to ensure proper social distancing is possible. Please register every adult and child attending with you.
Meet Our Naturalists:
Lauren Azoury
Hello fellow nature lovers! Please allow me to introduce myself…my name is Lauren Azoury and I am the part-time Naturalist for West Bloomfield Parks.
I am fortunate to be a part of the WB Parks team and enjoy teaching new and innovative nature interpretive programs to West Bloomfield residents. I especially love being able to provide first time nature experiences for adults, children and families. Through a partnership with Civic Center TV, we have a series of short videos titled "Minute with Nature" that help families learn more about nature. Check them out on our YouTube page here!
I’ve always been passionate about the importance of getting people outdoors and prior to my time here at WB Parks I facilitated nature education programs at Oakland County Parks from 2007 to 2013. Prior to that, I had an amazing experience as a team member of the animal presenter team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. My Bachelors of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife comes from Michigan State University. Go Green!
I love sharing my passion for the outdoors with others, including my own family (my husband and our 3 year old son). Please take a look at our Seasonal Activity Guide to see some of the programs I am teaching this year. I would love for you and your group to come visit me at the Nature Room too! There are lots of options for nature appointments.
I am fortunate to be a part of the WB Parks team and enjoy teaching new and innovative nature interpretive programs to West Bloomfield residents. I especially love being able to provide first time nature experiences for adults, children and families. Through a partnership with Civic Center TV, we have a series of short videos titled "Minute with Nature" that help families learn more about nature. Check them out on our YouTube page here!
I’ve always been passionate about the importance of getting people outdoors and prior to my time here at WB Parks I facilitated nature education programs at Oakland County Parks from 2007 to 2013. Prior to that, I had an amazing experience as a team member of the animal presenter team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. My Bachelors of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife comes from Michigan State University. Go Green!
I love sharing my passion for the outdoors with others, including my own family (my husband and our 3 year old son). Please take a look at our Seasonal Activity Guide to see some of the programs I am teaching this year. I would love for you and your group to come visit me at the Nature Room too! There are lots of options for nature appointments.
Cathy Wesley
Come get wild about nature with me! Hello, I’m Cathy Wesley, a Part-Time Naturalist Programmer at West Bloomfield Parks Nature Room.
My love of the outdoors comes from growing up in the country and always being outside. That passion led me to study Wildlife Biology at the University of Michigan. After graduation I was a Naturalist at Seven Ponds Nature Center. Six years later I moved to West Bloomfield and took a position with WB Parks.
Being your Naturalist at WB Parks allows me to share my love of nature with you through all of our various programs. From hikes at Marshbank Park to Summer Adventure Nature Camp to listening to owls in the woods, let’s get immersed in the nature of West Bloomfield!
My love of the outdoors comes from growing up in the country and always being outside. That passion led me to study Wildlife Biology at the University of Michigan. After graduation I was a Naturalist at Seven Ponds Nature Center. Six years later I moved to West Bloomfield and took a position with WB Parks.
Being your Naturalist at WB Parks allows me to share my love of nature with you through all of our various programs. From hikes at Marshbank Park to Summer Adventure Nature Camp to listening to owls in the woods, let’s get immersed in the nature of West Bloomfield!
Annabelle Raines
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Annabelle is one of the naturalists at West Bloomfield Parks. Annabelle has lived in multiple states, including Tennessee, Hawaii, and North Dakota, but she calls the outdoors her home. You can find her caring for the ambassador animals in the Nature Room and spreading her love and curiosity of nature with the public. Outside of work, she’s looking for new paces to hike and explore!
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