With 48 kids and parents registered for the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Itty Bitty Bay Explorers program, the first hike of the month-long program doubled as winter playtime.

The event featured a hike through Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust’s Smith Farm property combined with a storytime filled with educational facts about chipmunks, narrated by coalition volunteer Jeannine Louro, including chipmunk sounds, how they store their food and how they hibernate.

Prior to the hike, she set up storyboards at points along the trail, where the group stopped to hear more facts about chipmunks. While the group did not spot any as they are currently in hibernation, it was still an opportunity to get outside.

“It’s aimed at families with kids under five – we get them out and exploring,” Louro said.

Itty Bitty Bay Explorers continues every Wednesday for the month of February. The next outing on February 8 will feature lessons on birds and a hike at the Acushnet Sawmill, 32 Mill Road in Acushnet. For more information, visit savebuzzardsbay.org.