The sun is peeking out of the clouds on this Thursday morning, the birds are zig-zagging overhead and sounds of the river and children’s laughter fill the air. The families start arriving to the Audubon Center — new families are welcomed and returning families begin to notice changes from previous visits.

As the group begins, they put on their creature powers to notice things more closely on their adventure. They will learn about nature plants, play games on the trail and end up at the river to listen to oral stories and create projects in the sand and water. This is Adventure Club. A multi-age discovery group for families at Railroad Bridge Park in Sequim. The group starts in front of the Dungeness River Audubon Center every Thursday at 10 a.m.

“Maybe you find going outdoors with your child intimidating, or you want them to have more time with peers, or you want to meet more families … Those are just some of the reasons we run Adventure Club. Our goal is to provide a safe, supportive, community-minded environment to explore together,” said Sarah Salazar-Tipton, executive director of Olympic Nature Experience.

Studies show that time in nature can reduce stress, increase focus, create higher levels of problems solving and be excellent for brain development in young and old alike.

Olympic Nature Experience runs programs that educate, empower and enrich people’s lives by taking them outside to learn and explore.

“At Adventure Club, both children and their parents have the opportunity to become familiar with the plants and animals in the changing seasons of the place we call home,’” said Ellie Rose, a longtime parent at Adventure Club.

“Adventure Club brings families together to explore, play and experience nature in new ways. My daughter and I look forward to the ritual of putting on our owl eyes and fox feet to discover what the changing seasons will reveal every week at the river.”

Adventure Club is an all-ages, outdoor nature discovery group for families. Cost is $5 per child or $10 per family. Olympic Nature Experience runs programs and community events including summer camps, preschool, after school and homeschool enrichment classes for children ages 3-12. To learn more about Adventure Club, visit www.olympicnatureexperience.org.

To learn more about the Dungeness River Audubon Center, visit www. dungenessrivercenter.org