The NC Museum of Natural Sciences has a wonderful outpost for outdoor education with a pond, nature playspace, hiking trails, orchard, butterfly garden, and several fields full of tall whistling grasses. Bird blinds located near the play space and the pond are great for watching backyard birds and red-winged blackbirds. The playspace is full of fun activites that drive creative play, such as a well-equipped mud kitchen, waterplay, and fossil digs. Hikes are fun and kid-friendly, as there is lots of mowed space to run freely over the hill of the prairie trails. We especially love the energy education with wind and solar power examples, and the educaton garden with ideas for bird and bug friendly backyards. 
Best of all, there is a section of milkweed, and we always see monarchs in various stages of development!! Hope your family gets to play here soon!
With Love, Turtle Dove
Know before you go: There are bathrooms located at the classroom building, near the educational garden. There is no food available on site, but there are picnic tables by the stream if you bring your own.
There are a lot of tools in the sandbox and around the kitchen area to encourage imaginative play, some may be heavy or dangerous for young children.
We always get soaked here! The water play is great, but extra clothes and sandals are a good idea. Also, the water is turned off from late fall to spring.
There are nesting ground bees in some parts of the field and orchard, and bees are encouraged in the garden.
With Love, Turtle Dove 