It's Almost Kids 'n' Critters Time

It's Almost Kids 'n' Critters Time - With a Big Admission Bargain - at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.

It’s not too early to make family plans for President’s Day Weekend. And Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is offering an unbeatable combination of outdoor experience, animal viewing and budget-friendly fun.

Up to four children ages 12 and under are admitted free with each paying adult during Kids ‘n’ Critters weekend, Saturday, Feb. 14, through Monday, Feb. 16.

That means an adult and four children 12 and younger can enter the wildlife park that weekend for a grand total of less than $20.

Each visit to Northwest Trek includes a narrated tram tour through a 435-acre Free-Roaming Area that is home to bison, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, deer and other animals. For this special event, tram seating is limited to the first 1,500 visitors each day. All tram tours during Kids ‘n’ Critters weekend are 30 minutes long.

And Northwest Trek staff members are busily creating a weekend slate of nonstop fun and learning for all ages. The list each day includes:

• 11 am: Story Time
• 11:30 am: Up-close Trailside Encounter with a small animal
• Noon: Special workshop (12:30 on Sunday) on topics like photography, foraging, animal training, NatureMapping and birding
• 1 pm: Up-close Trailside Encounter with a small animal
• 1 pm: Special workshop
• 1:30 pm: Up-close Trailside Encounter with a small animal
• 2 pm: Moose crafts
• Ongoing: Bird feeder crafts in the Baker Research Cabin

And, of course, there are black bears Benton and Fern to see, as well as wolves, Canada lynx, bobcats, foxes, owls, river otters, beavers and many other animals in natural exhibits along paved walking paths.

l activities are free with admission to Kids ‘n’ Critters.

Northwest Trek is open from 9:30 am to 3 pm each day of Kids ‘n’ Critters. For more information, go to www.nwtrek.org.