Even though we don’t live in an area that has snow, we can still enjoy some beautiful snowflakes! Have your children create their own snowflakes that you can decorate windows with or hang from thread. Fold white paper circles (trace around a plate) in half, then in thirds, and then in half again (vertically). Snip little circles, triangles, and other shapes on both sides of the folded up paper. When you unfold the paper, the resulting snowflakes will have the requisite six sides. By altering the little cuts from one snowflake to the next, your snowflakes will be as varied as those found in nature!

January is also a great month to see migrating Gray Whales off the coast heading south for the winter. Point Reyes Lighthouse is an excellent viewpoint. This is also the time the elephant seals return to the Point Reyes Headlands. Point Reyes National Park will have shuttle buses from now through mid-April, 2009 on holidays and weekends to ease congestion for visitors. Visit www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/shuttle.htm to get more information about times, costs, and pick up and drop off locations for the shuttles.