Hikes, Creepy Crawlies, Fall Adventures On Tap at Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature Center has listed the following events for October:

 

NATURE EXPLORERS – Wednesdays, Oct. 4, 11, 10 am

Join Wendy for our preschool/toddler program. This 4-week session, which began in September, is for children ages 2–5 years old with an adult. These outdoor classes will be fun exploring and learning through play. We will learn about nature and science through activities such as hiking, exploring, singing, games, reading, and making crafts. Every class is outside!!!! TUITION: $20 to join us for these 2 weeks, space permitting  (cash or check payable to Ansonia Nature Center). Please call to register.

 

BITTERSWEET WREATHS – Sat. Oct. 7, 2 pm

Bring your own clippers and gardening gloves for this workshop led by Ranger Dawn. When you collect these beautiful orange-berried vines, you’re actually helping the park by removing this invasive plant species. FEE: $5. Please call to register.

 

ROPE MAKING: The Ancient Way – Sat. Oct. 14, 1 pm

A beginner’s chance to learn a skill practiced long ago.  Learn which native plants have been used to make rope.  Children must be accompanied by an adult who will assist in creating a sample to take home. FEE: $6 per person. Please call to register.

 

AUTUMN FESTIVAL – Sat. Oct. 21, 11 am–4 pm

Celebrate this wonderful season with the staff and the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center (FANCI)! Take a ride through our community gardens and fields in our horse-drawn story wagon, where you’ll hear some spooky Halloween tales! Learn about bats, spiders, and owls! Have some fresh apple cider and baked goods. Visit the Nature Shop to buy some creepy and crawly nature-related items. Enjoy nature-related exhibitors and vendors. You can try your hand at pumpkin painting, get your face painted, and make some original crafts. All proceeds will benefit the Nature Center. RAIN or SHINE. No park admission fee. Call us for more information at 203-736-1053.

 

CREEPY CRAWLIES – Sat. Oct. 28, 12 pm

Hold a real life tarantula, hear a cockroach hiss, and learn all about insects. Arthropods are fascinating creatures! Join us for this special Creature Feature family program. FREE. Please call to register.

 

SUNDAY GUIDED HIKE: Fall Foliage – Sun. Oct. 29, 1 pm

Join the Nature Center naturalist for a stroll through our woodlands, old fields, and wetlands. Enjoy the beauty and the crisp fall air while learning about New England’s flora and fauna.

Nature Center Offers Summer Programs

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, offers a variety of fun and educational programs in August.

 

BUTTERFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES – Aug. 6, 1 p.m.

Enjoy your Sunday afternoon at the park on our guided hike. Explore the Redwing Pond and our meadows for these beautiful six-legged, four-winged insects. 

The guide will show you our native butterfly gardens and teach you the benefits of native plants to our Connecticut butterflies and dragonflies. 

FREE. Registration required. 

FULL STURGEON MOON HIKE – Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m.

The Native American fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. Join our staff on a hike in our meadows to watch as this reddish moon rises. Each child must be accompanied by an adult. Number of participants is limited, please pre-register. 
FEE: $3 per person. Wear appropriate footwear. 

MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION FOR BEGINNERS – Aug. 12, 10 a.m.

Join a foraging family who hunt, photograph, identify, and love to eat the fungi in New England for a discussion and walk at the Ansonia Nature Center. 
We will dispel common myths, learn how to safely identify mushrooms with visual clues and guidebooks, and discuss mycophagy, the cooking and eating of wild mushrooms. 
After the lecture we’ll walk the property to search for wild fungi and put our newly learned skills to the test.
FEE: $5. Registration required.

ROCKS IN SPACE: Perseid Meteor Showers – Aug. 12, 7 p.m.

Come to Ansonia’s darkest location for some unusual night sky viewing with Bob Carruthers and the New Haven Astronomical Society.  In addition to a chance to see the annual meteor showers, there will be a short talk about meteorites. 
You and your family will get to view and touch meteorites from around the world. This night will be the peak of the showers! 
No need to bring anything except for warm clothing and a chair. Telescopes and binoculars are not necessary. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 
FREE. Registration required.

TURTLE TALK – Aug. 26, 1 p.m.

Anthony Pierlioni is Senior Director of the TurtleRoom, an online radio show dedicated to these fascinating reptiles and the people who love them. 
He’ll share his knowledge and some turtle species with us.

He is a member of the Turtle Survival Alliance, Turtle & Tortoise Preservation Group, New York Turtle & Tortoise Society, and New England Herpetological Society, as well as the online sites TurtleForum.com, TortoiseBoard.com, and TortoiseForum.org, where he can be found as Anthony P. 

You can contact him at anthony@theturtleroom.com. 
Registration required.

CATTAIL MAT WEAVING – Aug. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Join Ranger Dan for a two-part series on cattails. Week 1 we will begin to collectively work on a mat made from the cattail reeds, and week 2 we will add the finishing touches to our mat. Learn how Native Americans from the Eastern Woodlands would use these reeds! 
Pack a bag lunch, and be prepared for swampy conditions. 
This program is for adults only. FEE: $6 per person covers both weeks. Please call to register.

ONGOING WEEKLY PROGRAMS

CREATURE FEATURE – Saturday at noon
Have you always wanted to pet a dove or hold a bearded dragon?  Here’s your chance!  Come meet the Nature Center’s Resident Animals every Saturday at noon!

GUIDED HIKE- Sundays at 1 p.m.

Have you ever wondered where the owls nest or where the deer sleep?  Join an Ansonia Nature Center Park Ranger on a Guided Hike every Sunday!

MONDAY NIGHT TRAIL RUN – Mondays in August and September, 5:30-6:30 pm

This is a call to all of the runners who want something that is out of the ordinary! Ranger Dan will lead you through our 156-acre network of trails, while you burn off the weekend's extra calories. We guarantee that this FREE program is the best way to start off your week.  
Please register and wear appropriate footwear. 

FAMILY ORGANIC GARDEN PROGRAM – Tuesdays, August through November

ANC will be continuing family-friendly activities in our organic garden. Learn about growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Dress appropriately; keep in mind you will get water and soil on your clothing. 
FREE, with the potential to take home fresh local produce! 

 

Please call 203-736-1053 to register for all programs.

(This is a press release from the nature center)

Ansonia Nature Center Announces July Programs/Events

JULY 2017, Calendar of Events, Ansonia Nature & Recreation Center

REGISTER NOW FOR SUMMER NATURE DAYS!!!

 Mon. July 31–Fri. Aug. 4, Mon. Aug. 7–Fri. Aug. 11 (FULL), Mon. Aug. 14–Fri. Aug. 18, 9 am–3 pm.                 
For children from 5 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will be not only educational but also a chance to explore the 156 acres the park offers. We explore a variety of the park’s habitats. A great choice for a fun late-summer experience!
TUITION: $150 priority students (Ansonia residents and FANCI members), $175 all others. 

CREATURES OF LONG ISLAND SOUND –Thurs. July 6, 11 amThis is a great weekday family program to learn all about the creatures of Long Island Sound. We will explore the Nature Center’s salt water tank and learn how to identify and hold common critters you will find at New England’s local beaches this summer. FEE: $6 per person.

DEEP FAMILY FISHING CLASS – Sat. July 8, 9 am–2 pmThe Nature Center is sponsoring this CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection C.A.R.E. Program class. The topics covered by the 2-hour classroom instruction are • Connecticut Waters • Fish Identification • How & Where Fish Live • Fishing Tackle & Techniques • Fishing Laws& Regulations • How to Tie a Strong Knot • How to Clean & Cook Your Catch • Sportsmanship & Safety • How to Cast The instruction will be immediately followed by fishing with the instructors in Redwing Pond. All equipment will be provided. Adults over the age of 16 must have a fishing license to participate in the fishing event. This FREE program, taught by Certified DEEP C.A.R.E. Instructors, is open to everyone 7 years old and up; children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. To pre-register or for more information call the Chief Instructor, Dave Connelly, at 203-231-0946.

MOONSHINE AND FIREFLY HIKE – Sun. July 9, 8 pmFollow the Nature Center’s ranger along our wooded paths looking for glowworms in the leaf litter under the light of the moon.  We’ll end the hike with a show by beetles in the Lampyridae family, better known as lightning bugs and fireflies. FEE: $3 per person. Wear shoes for hiking.

MONDAY NIGHT TRAIL RUN – Mondays starting July 10, 5:30-6:30 pmThis is a call to all of the runners who want something that is out of the ordinary! Ranger Dan will lead you through our 156-acre network of trails, while you burn off the weekend's extra calories. We guarantee that this FREE program is the best way to start off your week.  Please register.

FAMILY ORGANIC GARDEN PROGRAM – Tuesdays, July 11, 18, 25; Aug. 1, 8, 15; Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26ANC will be continuing family-friendly activities in our organic garden. Learn about growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Dress appropriately; keep in mind you will get water and soil on your clothing. FREE, with the potential to take home fresh local produce!

CHRIS ROWLANDS: Puppeteer and Singer – Fri. July 28, 7 pmChris Rowlands is an award-winning singer and songwriter who offers an interactive kid-friendly presentation for those who love music and nature.  Chris brings animals to life through song, dance, puppets, and colorful props, to teach children about animals and their habitats.
Don’t miss this FREE musical program!

 

Please call to register for all programs 203-736-1053.

 

(This is a press release from Ansonia Nature Center)

Ansonia Nature Center Announces Summer Programs

ANSONIA- The Ansonia Nature & Recreation Center has announced the following  programs for June:

 

 

CONNECTICUT TRAILS DAY – Sat. June 3, 9 am

Join Nature Center Director Alison Rubelmann and Ranger Dan Bosques for this morning walk. Discover the beauty of the Nature Center’s typical New England woodland during the CT Forest and Park Association’s annual Trails Day weekend. We might get lucky and find a lady slipper or two. This moderate hike will also visit the settlement of the Paugasucks. Bring water, a snack, and bug spray, and wear sturdy shoes. Suitable for older children and adults. FREE.

 

CARTOONING THE NATURAL WORLD – Sun. June 10 & 24, 10 am

Please see May 7 listing.

 

SUMMER SUN SPOTS – Sat. June 10, 1 pm

Join Bob Carruthers for a chance to view the sun safely. Serious eye damage or blindness can result from even a brief glimpse of our star. Never view it directly with the naked eye or with any unfiltered optical device, such as binoculars or a telescope. Bob will use a special instrument to observe the sun spots safely. He will project an image of the sun through a telescope onto a white screen. He will teach you what the sun is, what makes it shine, and what it’s made from. FREE.

 

“A PASSION FOR BIRDS” WITH HENRY LAPPEN – Sun. June 11, 2 pm

In this family program, participants learn how birds adapt to their environment, and why they look and act the way they do. Be captivated by Henry Lappen’s beautiful masks and by his dances among the crowd demonstrating the form and motion of the different species. The audience joins him while learning some mime skills and imaging. FEE: $5 per person.

 

EXPLORE REDWING POND – Wed. June 14, 1 pm

An introduction for our young naturalists and adults to learn about the inhabitants of Redwing Pond. We will scoop with ponding nets to capture and identify aquatic insects, fish, frogs, and turtles. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes—you will get muddy and wet.  FREE.

 

FANCI ANNUAL MEETING AND POTLUCK SUPPER – Wed. June 14, 5:00 pm   

If you’re a member of FANCI and can’t make the regular meetings, now is the time to find out what we’ve been up to! Reports and the election of officers will take place. Bring your own table setting and a dish to share (12 servings), and your ideas and suggestions for next year’s activities. Please register by June 9.

 

FIELD TRIP: Meigs Point Nature Center, Three Shoreline Ecosystems – Wed. June 21, 10 am–12 pm

Meet the Ansonia Nature Center staff at the Meigs Point Nature Center, Hammonasset Beach State Park. We will explore three very distinct shoreline ecosystems with the Meigs Point staff – rocky shore, sandy beach, and salt marsh. We will learn what makes a species invasive and how animals adapt in order to survive in the intertidal zone at the rocky shore. Along the sandy beach we’ll identify shells and seaweed as well as drag a seine net to see what lives in Long Island Sound. In the salt marsh we’ll discover its age and why marshes are important to people and Long Island Sound. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. FEE: $5 per person. Please visit www.MeigsPointNatureCenter.org for directions. We will meet promptly at 9:45 am.  Limited space.

 

NIGHT HIKE: Strawberry Moon – Fri. June 23, 7 pm

Native American tribes traditionally kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. The name of this moon, given because strawberries are harvested in June, was universal to all Algonquin tribes. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Wear appropriate footwear. For all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult). FEE: $1.00.

 

And register now for SUMMER NATURE DAYS!

Open registration; choose one or more of our week-long sessions, each held Mon.–Fri., 9 am to 3 pm.

Dates: July 31–Aug. 4, Aug. 7–11, Aug. 14–18.

 

For children 5 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will be not only educational but also a chance to explore the 156 acres the park offers.  We will visit a variety of habitats in the park such as wetlands, fields, and woodlands. Hikes, games, crafts, and cooking will be incorporated into our lessons. A great choice for a fun late-summer experience!

 

TUITION PER WEEK: $150 for priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members), $175 all others.

 

***ONGOING PROGRAMS*** 

•  Sundays: Guided Hikes, 1 pm  •  Thursdays: Yoga for Your Health, 6:30 pm — call Pam, 203-888-4124 •  Saturdays: Creature Features, 12 noon 

 

***THINGS TO COME  (Summer 2017)***  •  Firefly Hike  •  Summer Nature Days  •  Astronomy  •  Insects  • Chris Rowlands

 

 

Ansonia Nature Center Announces Spring Programs

 

NATURE EXPLORERS – Wednesdays, May 3 and 10,  10 am – 11:30am

Join Wendy for our preschool/toddler program. This 4-week session is for children ages 2–5 years old with an adult. These outdoor classes will be fun exploring and learning through play. We will learn about nature and science through activities such as hiking, exploring, singing, games, reading, and making crafts. Every class is outside!!!! TUITION: $40 per 4-week session.  Please call to register 203 736-1053

 

 

ADVENTURES IN EDIBLE PLANT FORAGING – Sat. May 6, 10 am

Karen Monger is the author of the 3 Foragers blog, which she runs with her husband, Robert, and their daughter, Gillian. Come join their family in discovering edible plants and harvesting them together in the park. Their mission is to impart their knowledge of wild edible plants to others. After the walk, try a wild food “sampler” made by the staff of the Nature Center.
FEE: $5.  Please call to register 203 736-1053

 

 

CARTOONING THE NATURAL WORLD – Sun. May 7 & 21, 10 am

Ranger Amie Ziner, our artist in residence, will teach four classes in cartooning nature! We will use on site materials, stuffed specimens, and live animal observation to complete four cartoons with a plant and animal in each one. Improve your drawing accuracy and realism for fun, for story illustration, and for expressing yourself using pictures—a picture is worth a thousand words! For ages 10 to adult. Limited space. FEE: $5 per class.  Please call to register 203 736-1053

 

 

SUNDAY GUIDED HIKE: History Hike – Sun. May 7, 1 pm

Hike to the Nature Center’s historic sites with Ranger Dan. Discover old roads, stone walls, and even some secret treasures he’s found during his exploring. Enjoy the day off with your family on this Sunday hike. FREE. Please call to register 203 736-1053

 

 

EARLY MORNING BIRDING – Sat. May 13, 9 am

Join Ranger Jessica for our early morning birding. Find the birds living in or moving through our parklands to nest farther north. This is a prime time for birders to come and spot some of our magnificent migratory birds. Bring your own binoculars or use ours. Dress for walking outdoors. We will start with a quick introduction to birds. FREE.  Please call to register 203 736-1053

 

NATURE EXPLORERS – Wednesday, May 10, 10 am – 11:30am

Join Wendy for our preschool/toddler program. This 4-week session is for children ages 2–5 years old with an adult. These outdoor classes will be fun exploring and learning through play. We will learn about nature and science through activities such as hiking, exploring, singing, games, reading, and making crafts. Every class is outside!!!! TUITION: $40 per 4-week session

Please call to register 203 736-1053

Ansonia Nature Center slates January events

New Year's Day hike
 Start your New Year off on the right foot and resolve to spend more time outdoors this year!  On Jan. 1 at 10 a.m.  join Ranger Marty for a brisk hike through the frosty landscape of the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road. Look for tracks and other signs of wildlife.
If there is suitable snow, the Nature Center's snowshoes may be made available. Dangerous walking conditions will cancel the hike. 
Call 203-736-1053 to register for this free program.

Saturday Creature Features
This ongoing program is held weekly at noon. It's a short program for families that features the Center's resident
critters, and offers a chance to get acquainted with your favorite mammal, bird, or reptile.  Also check out who is visiting the Center's feeding stations. For the best viewing, bring binoculars.


Sunday guided hike
At 1 p.m. every Sunday, weather permitting, join a park ranger for a hike long the park's trail system.
If there is suitable snow, hikers are welcome to bring cross-country skis or snowshoes.

There is no need to register for either of these free weekly programs.

Park tots
Winter Fun is the theme of this nature-based class for infants and toddlers and their caregivers.
Join Ranger Wendy at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 18  to discover how much fun the natural world can be in winter. 
The program provides an opportunity for socialization with other young children as the group takes a short excursion into the park.

Depending on the weather, enjoy fun in the snow or look for signs of winter wildlife including hungry birds at the park's feeders.
Tuition is $6 per child ($4 for Ansonia residents and family-level Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. members.) Call 203-736-1053 to register.

Ice fishing
From 9-11 a.m. Jan. 19  the Connecticut D.E.E.P. and the Ansonia Nature Center are offering a free  family Ice Fishing class at the nature center.

Join certified Aquatic Resource Education Instructor, Dave Connelly and Ranger Martin for a morning of instruction including a review of equipment, techniques, what bait to use, regulations and rules to ensure safety.

The program will also include information on where to fish, and what species are likely to be caught.
Adults and youngsters are invited to attend, but those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Class size is limited; register by calling 203-736-1053.

Winter star party
At 7 p.m. Jan. 19 the Nature Center invites all those with an interest in astronomy to a winter star party. 
 
A study of the red planet is planned by Andy Poniros, an affiliate of NASA, and Bob Carruthers, a retired civil engineer with a passionate interest and expertise in astronomy.
Astronomers have examined Mars in detail for over a century, but with the landing of the Curiosity Rover, there is lots of new information to share.

If the weather outside is suitable, telescopes will be ready for viewing the night sky. Dress for the weather. 
Call 203-736-1053 to register for this free program.