Historic Oak View County Park offers programs covering history, nature and recreational topics. Public programs are open for registration to the general public.
Register for a Public Program
Poetry in the Park
Designed with elementary-aged kids in mind, this public program introduces and instructs young poets to write different styles of poems. Participants will be guided to spots of inspiration around the park to craft one-of-a-kind poems. This program is free, but registration is required. Best suited to grades 2–5.
Join us on Tuesday, April 9, or Saturday, April 13, at 11 a.m.
In the Farm's Kitchen
Join us in the plank kitchen for an introduction to the history of southern foodways and the cultural fusions that shaped the region's diverse food systems. Discover the story of Eliza Hutchings, an enslaved woman at Oak View, and how the transition from slavery to freedom affected the domestic work and skills of women in the 19th and 20th centuries. Afterward, participants can engage in some hands-on history and try making butter! This program is free, but registration is required for all participants. Recommended for upper-elementary age and up.
Join us on Saturday, April 20, at 11 a.m.
Become a Junior Park Explorer
Do you like to explore parks and preserves? Do you like winning prizes? Our Junior Park Explorers program is for you! Learn more here.
Take a Self-Guided Mobile Tour
Check out the Oak View Mobile Tour and learn about the history of the farmland and historic structures, as well as the lives of the people who lived and worked at Oak View throughout its history.
Haga el recorrido móvil de Oak View y conozca la historia de las tierras de cultivo y las estructuras históricas, así como la vida de las personas que vivieron y trabajaron en Oak View a lo largo de su historia.
Go on a StoryWalk®
Take a StoryWalk® at Oak View! A StoryWalk® is a children’s book that is presented, page by page, along a trail or path. It combines the pleasures of reading a children's book while enjoying nature.
¡Disfrute de un StoryWalk® en Oak View! StoryWalk® es un libro para niños presentado por páginas a lo largo de un sendero o andador. Combina los placeres de leer un libro infantil mientras se disfruta de la naturaleza.
March StoryWalk®: Little Melba and Her Big Trombone
From March 1–31, Oak View's brick walkways will feature the children's book "Little Melba and Her Big Trombone," written by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrated by Frank Morrison.
Melba Doretta Liston loved the sounds of music from as far back as she could remember. As a child, she daydreamed about beats and lyrics, and hummed along with the music from her family's Majestic radio. At age seven, Melba fell in love with a big, shiny trombone and soon taught herself to play the instrument. By the time she was a teenager, Melba's extraordinary gift for music led her to the world of jazz.
April StoryWalk®: A Day With No Words
From April 1–30, Oak View's brick walkways will feature the children's book "A Day With No Words," written by Tiffany Hammond and illustrated by Kate Cosgrove.
A Day With No Words is a colorful and engaging picture book for young readers that shares what life can look like for families who use nonverbal communication, using tools to embrace their unique method of "speaking." The story highlights the bond between mother and child and follows them on a day where they use a tablet to communicate with others.
StoryWalk® Social Narrative
StoryWalk® at Oak View is free, requires no advance registration, and is open during the park's normal hours of operation. Check out our StoryWalk® Social Narrative to download and print before going to the park.
StoryWalk® en Oak View es gratis, no requiere registrarse con antelación y estará abierta durante el horario normal del parque. Consulte nuestra Narrativa social StoryWalk® para descargar e imprimir antes de acudir al parque.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
El proyecto StoryWalk® fue creado por Anne Ferguson, de Montpelier, VT, y desarrollado en colaboración con la Biblioteca Kellogg-Hubbard. StoryWalk® es una marca registrada propiedad de la señorita Ferguson.
More Self-Guided Activities
Historic Oak View County Park also offers several activities for small groups or families, which can be checked out at the front desk in the Farm History Center (our visitors' center). Ask any staff member about how to check out one of these fun activities!
The Oak View Scavenger Hunt is a great self-guided activity for kids. Stop by the Farm History Center to pick up a scavenger hunt and then learn all about Oak View while searching for answers to the clues.
The Adventure Backpack Series are individual backpacks full of fun, self-guided programs on different topics related to Oak View. Check one out by stopping by the Farm History Center during regular business hours. Choose from the following offerings:
Preschool:
- Goat In My Boat – Arlo the Goat goes on adventure in a boat, but what happens when he gets some big feelings and can't stop rocking the boat? This delightful story with accompanying activities teaches children practical and age-appropriate strategies to deal with big feelings.
- Barnyard Friends – A preschool-friendly adventure that teaches children about animals and life on the farm through games, play and exploration.
Elementary:
- All About Bugs – Visit the buildings and gardens around the park and complete hands-on activities that teach you about insects and their friends, and how they help out on the farm!
- Watching the Weather – Learn about weather tools and instruments, create your own weather forecast, and even play with a "pet" tornado! This backpack is a great way introduce kids to the elements that make up the weather.
- From Field to Fiber: The Story of Cotton – Learn all about the history of cotton through hands-on activities such as feeling real cotton straight from the cotton field, turning cotton sliver into thread, and learning about different figures important to the history of cotton.
- Kid Curator – Discover what makes a museum (like Oak View) a museum, and who decides what to exhibit and how. The backpack includes lots of activities to learn how to be a curator, along with a workbook that you keep at the end of your activity!
Everyone's Welcome
Historic Oak View County Park welcomes all visitors and affirms its commitment to offering programs and services that are accessible to everyone. We will make every effort to ensure that visitors of all abilities are fully included in all our programs and facilities. Check back regularly to see what new opportunities become available!
For questions about our accessibility resources or how we may best meet your needs in any of our programs, please contact Abby Kellerman, assistant park manager of education, at 919-212-7695 or abigail.kellerman@wake.gov.