Bonnet Springs Park moves 'full steam ahead' into spring break with free family activities

Sara-Megan Walsh, The Ledger
·3 min read
Bonnet Springs Park will celebrate its first spring break since opening in October 2022 with five days of free activitities for children and their families.
Bonnet Springs Park will celebrate its first spring break since opening in October 2022 with five days of free activitities for children and their families.

LAKELAND — Bonnet Springs Park will celebrate its first spring break by hosting a week full of free activities for Lakeland families to explore.

The park will host "Full Steam Ahead," featuring five days of interactive exhibits and activities based on STEM education, the sciences, technology, engineering and math plus an infusion of art, or the "A" in "steam," according to Kirsten Hein, BSP's vice president of programming.

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"We focus on environmental education to teach people about the nature they see and experience in the park," she said. "We've added art, which as we all know is an important part of education."

The signature event kicks off Monday and will run daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each day has its own focused theme with exhibitors and activities that will follow the "steam trail" running from Mable the Mosaic Owl playground down to the Ann and Ward Edwards Boathouse, Hein said.

"We're amping it up for spring break," she said. "It will be educational, but it will be fun. It won't be like a regular classroom."

Monday's theme is slated to be the science of animals. Children and their families can learn about Florida's native animals with educators from Gatorland talking on alligators, The Florida Aquarium about sea turtles and Polk County master gardeners sharing information about pollinators. Binoculars and bird guides will be available at the boathouse.

Mable the Owl is a sculpture that also functions as a kids' slide. Lake Bonnet Spring Park in Lakeland, Fl. October 19th 2022.
Mable the Owl is a sculpture that also functions as a kids' slide. Lake Bonnet Spring Park in Lakeland, Fl. October 19th 2022.

There's a chance of rain in Monday's forecast, Hein said, but the park is prepared if it happens. She encouraged Lakeland residents to check Bonnet Spring Park's Facebook, Instagram and social media accounts for the latest updates.

Tuesday will focus on technology ranging from Orlando Science Center's mobile planetarium and demonstrations by Polk County Fire Rescue to Snapology's Bot Builders inviting children to try their hand at making robots.

'The activities are probably best for elementary school aged kids, but there are also activities older children will enjoy," Hein said. "There are things adults will enjoy doing with their children."

Wednesday's engineering theme will have several activities catered to slightly older children as the Orlando Science Center brings its drone zone and Aerospace Center for Excellence for a chance to operate a virtual flight simulator.

Art-inspired activities will take over the park Thursday ranging from bubble art to Broadway Beginnings offering a chance to try one's hand at the fast-paced game of improv, where dialogue is made up in the moment.

Parents or guardians will be expected to supervise their children during the activities, according to Hein, rather than dropping off their children to the park.

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On Friday, children can explore math on St. Patrick's Day as WondereHere, a Lakeland learn and play studio, invites families to learn where math can be found in nature. Lakeland artist Bump Galletta will host a special color-by-number activity station where math will help create a special piece.

A full schedule and interactive map of the planned activites can be found on the park's website at bonnetpsringspark.com.

There will be a daily DJ spinning family-friendly tunes along with various entertainers throughout the park, Hein said. These are pop-up surprises ranging from face painting to magicians, and will not appear on the schedule.

Visitors can look for volunteers in blue T-shirts to ask where to find specific activities and general information, Hein said. All activities are free of charge and the park's tram service will provide rides to either end of the stream trail.

If parking should reach capacity, Hein said there will be overflow parking available opposite the park on George Jenkins Boulevard.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Bonnet Springs Park moves 'full steam ahead' into spring break