By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Children have the opportunity during the summer to get out of the classroom and learn in different ways and about different things.

Giving young ones another option is Clanton First United Methodist Church, which will host its God’s World nature program on Tuesdays through Thursdays from June 13-22. The program is open to toilet-trained children three years of age through sixth grade.

The program will teach children about nature and the importance of conservation through field trips, guest speakers and activities. This year, topics include tree identification, waterways and endangered bats.

According to children’s minister Christi Mitchell, the program has been at FUMC for more than 40 years.

“The idea is to teach children that God cares for us and provided all these things in our world that we are to take care of,” Mitchell said.

The program is free, although there are costs for the field trips and optional shirts. Early registration is strongly encouraged, as space is limited on field trips. Parents can select which trips they wish to register their child for, and scholarships are available for the trips if needed.

June 13 and 20 will be guest speaker days. June 14 and June 21 will be field trips to Alabama Nature Center at Lanark and Rickwood Caverns State Park, respectively. June 15 and 22 will be a tour of Mitchell Dam and a local farm, respectively.

Children should be dropped off no later than 9 a.m. each morning, except for June 21, when the group will leave at 8 a.m.

To register for God’s World, or for a complete schedule and list of costs, email Mitchell at children@clantonfumc.org.