Clanton First United Methodist Church is offering the last of this summer’s God’s World for Kids programs on June 19-22.

The program will explore the wonders of God’s creation and feature field trips to the Alabama Nature Center in Millbrook and Shark Tooth Creek in Aliceville.

Although there are entrance fees to field trip destinations, registration for God’s World for Kids is free.

Entrance to the Alabama Nature Center is $15 per child. Children should bring a sack lunch, change of clothes, towel and shoes for hiking.

Sandals are fine, but “an old pair of tennis shoes” or water shoes would be best, Clanton FUMC administrative assistant Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith said. “They’re going to go through a creek that has rocks in it and just explore everything out there in nature.”

Entrance to Shark Tooth Creek is $25 per child. Children should bring a sack lunch, swimwear, towel, dry clothes and sunscreen.

“It’s back from times when sharks were here in Alabama, and they still have shark teeth that are in this creek,” Altamirano-Smith explained. “The (Shark Tooth Creek) people allow children and groups to come out and explore the creek for shark teeth, and they get to keep them if they find them.”

The following is the schedule for God’s World for Kids:

• June 19, 21: 9-11:30 a.m. at Clanton FUMC
• June 20, Alabama Nature Center: Leave the church 8 a.m., return by 2:30 p.m.
• June 22, Shark Tooth Creek: Leave the church 8 a.m., return by 4 p.m.

Altamirano-Smith said God’s World for Kids was created by former Clanton resident and CFUMC employee Helen Parrish, who sought to teach children the expanse and intentionality of God’s creation.

“She took a special approach and made a program specific to children to teach them how much thought and love God put into creating the earth and the universe and the stars,” Altamirano-Smith said. “She would take something really simple, such as a leaf, and she would show the intricate little veins inside of the leaf and how God uses that to disperse water and nutrients to the entire leaf.”

Parrish would emphasize God’s even greater love for the children, whom he also made, and teach them that “part of our role and responsibility is to be good stewards of the earth and to take care of it — that God put his love and great consideration into making these wonderful things in the earth, and that we need to also love and take care of it.”

Parents are encouraged to RSVP and register by June 18.

To RSVP or register a child, call Christi Mitchell through the church office at (205) 755-0490 or email children@clantonfumc.org.