Learning area work day planned

The Big Horn Basin nature and Discovery Center Joint Powers Board will be hosting a community workday for the children’s outdoor learning area on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the children’s area site on Highway 20 North across from the armory. A free lunch will be served for those who help.

Toddi Darlington with the joint powers board noted there will be projects available for people of all ages, and people should bring shovels, gloves, rakes and any other equipment they might need.

Among the work will be installation of natural play equipment for a music station, art station and weaving station, putting in a trail and doing a small bit of landscaping.

Darlington explained the natural play equipment will primarily be made of wood and natural fibers, though some plastic and plexi glass elements will be necessary.

As for the trail, it will go from the railroad bridge at the state park entrance, through the property of the discovery center, across Highway 20 and connect with the new Hot Springs State Park on T Hill. The part coming through the discovery center property, Darlington said, will be a bike and foot trail with local plants and interpretive signs. She noted this is the first of many trails planned, and one of the later trails will connect to the disc golf course.

The art station will be similar to the colorable mural seen at events like the Big Horn Basin Folk Festival, Darlington said, but will be plexi glass for people to draw pictures. It will be cleaned off every couple days.

The music station will have pipes, drums and other instruments, all connected to a wall. The weaving station will allow people to weave designs using ropes and pegs.

The new area will be open the same hours as Hot Springs State Park, Darlington said, and will be self-governed so everyone will enjoy it at their own leisure and own risk. A fence will eventually enclose it, so it can be shut down if necessary and during regular closing hours.

Darlington further added this year there is only preliminary equipment being put in, and next year the board plans to install items such as a petroglyph wall and community art wall.