Illinois Metro East

Kids of all ages will learn about common trees at this free Discovery Day at the Watershed Nature Center. Then they'll make leaf sun catchers with colorful leaves, tree bark rubbings, examine leaf anatomy and tree rings, sort leaves and seeds and more.

Kids of all ages will learn about owls, bats and spiders at this free Discovery Day at Watershed Nature Center. Visitors will disect owl pellets, learn about owl body part, build a spider and play a spider web game.

10 a.m. to noon. Free, but tickets are required.

For more information and tickets: watershednaturecenter.org

Bring your whole family to learn, explore and play on the farm at Family Hike and Play Day at Willoughby Farm. Explore the nature trails and then enjoy games around the farm yard. 

Cost is $2 per person with a maximum of $10 per family.

Ike Day, a former librarian for the City of Edwardsville, will lead preschoolers through a wonderful story telling time in the treehouse at the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville. The stories are focused on teaching children about nature through storytelling and exploration.

Cardinals mascot Fredbird will visit Eckert Farms in Belleville so he can meet and greet guests.

Bring your kids to meet Fredbird between 11 and 11:30 a.m. on July 18. or from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on August 8.

The visit with Fredbird is free. No reservations are required. 

More information: eckerts.com

Celebrate the hero in your life at Superhero Night with the Gateway Grizzlies. Enjoy the baseball game, a costume contest, kids' pirate and superhero-themed games, a bounce house and lots more.

Summer is the season for sunshine, sports and barbecues, but with all of that fun comes an increased risk of injuries as families head outdoors. Touchette Regional Hospital and Southern Illinois Healthcare are helping Metro East families enjoy a safe summer by sponsoring this free Summer Safety Fest.