Maple syrup-making is topic at Ansonia center

Nature's Child program

ANSONIA - Children of preschool age accompanied by an adult are invited to join Ranger Wendy at 10:30 a.m. March 7 at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center to learn how maple trees make sugar.

Learn how to make maple syrup the old-fashioned way, and taste a sample of real nature center syrup on ice cream.

Tuition is $6 per family, $4 for Ansonia residents and family-level members of the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc.

The nature center is at 10 Deerfield Road. To register call 203-736-1053.





This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.

Maple Festival slated Saturday at Ansonia Nature Center

Event to include tree-tapping demonstration

ANSONIA - The Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. will host a daylong Maple Festival Saturday at the center, 10 Deerfield Road.

The running of the sap is one of the earliest signs that spring is on the way.

The day will start with a pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m.

Other events scheduled between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. include a demonstration of how to identify and tap trees, and a live owl program.   

The Derby Historical Society will have early Colonial and Native American displays depicting how maple sugar was made during Colonial times.


Tim Sotir of Coon Hollow Farm in Oxford and Ansonia resident Greg Karas will demonstrate traditional and modern methods of making maple syrup.

Richard Feher from the Connecticut Maple Syrup Producers Association will give a lecture on equipment, collecting, and storing syrup.
He also will cover tools needed to tap your own backyard trees.

New this year will be Dad's Food Truck from Oxford. Food and beverages with a maple theme will be available all day.
For lunch, Dad will be serving a choice of maple pulled-pork sandwiches, maple butternut and apple soup, burgers with gorgonzola cheese and maple bacon and more.

Visit the Friends' Maple Bake Sale and purchase fresh syrup from Nil Guillet, owner of the Sugar Shack in Oxford.

Special programs for children will include crafts and Ranger Marty's popular pancake-eating contest.

Admission is free, but all proceeds will benefit the wildlife rehabilitation program.

For information call 203-736-1053.



This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.

Ansonia nature center group seeks volunteers

ANSONIA - The Friends of the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center will meet at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Center, 10 Deerfield Road.

New members are always welcome.

Volunteers are needed to help the nature center staff with daily tasks
and scheduled activities including care of wildlife, trail maintenance, administrative work, family programs and special events.


This is a press release from the nature center.

Ansonia Nature Center Friends to meet

ANSONIA - The monthly meeting of the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. will be held at Jan. 8 at the Center, 10 Deerfield Road.

New members are welcome.

Volunteers are always needed to help the Nature Center with its daily tasks, family programs, and special events.

For information call 203-736-1053.



This is taken from a press release.

Ansonia Nature Center group seeks members

ANSONIA - The Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. meet the second Wednesday of every month at the Center, 10 Deerfield Road.

Join the Friends at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11. New members are always welcome. 

Volunteers are needed to help the Nature Center with its various activities, including care of wildlife, trail maintenance, family programs, and special events. 

For information call 203-736-1053.

  

This is a press release from the nature center.

Program at Ansonia Nature Center to focus on bird feeders

ANSONIA - When freezing temperatures and winter storms destroy or cover much of the supply of natural food that wild birds depend on, bird feeders can really help them survive.

At 10:30 a.m. Dec. 6 bring your preschooler to a Nature's Child program and join Ranger Wendy to construct a simple bird feeder out of recycled materials.
Participants can then look forward to watching feathered friends come to their own feeders.

Tuition is $6 per family, and $4 for Ansonia residents and family-level members of Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc.

Call 203-736-1053 to register.



This is a press release from the nature center.

Ansonia Nature Center group seeks volunteers

ANSONIA - Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. will meet at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Center, 10 Deerfield Road.

Photo from website

New members are always welcome.

Volunteers are needed to help with many tasks including care of wildlife, help in the nature store and at the reception desk as well as family programs and special events.

For information call 203-736-1053.



This is a press release from the nature center.

Ansonia Nature Center to host Autumnfest

ANSONIA - It's fall and time once again for Autumnfest at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.

The rain or shine event will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 19 at the center, 10 Deerfield Road.

Climb aboard a horse-drawn wagon with the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center and clip-clop over hill and meadow.

Listen to the history of the park and maybe a scary story or two. You can try your hand at pumpkin carving, get your face painted, make some creative crafts, and learn about the wild animals associated with All Hallows Eve.
Enjoy fresh-squeezed apple cider, sample delicious cinnamon donuts, and take home some homemade baked goodies.

All proceeds will benefit the Nature Center’s programs and wildlife rehabilitation efforts.
No park admission fee. For information call 203-736-1053.


This is taken from the center's calendar.

Ansonia Nature Center Friends seek members

ANSONIA - Join the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 11 for their monthly meeting.
All those with an interest in wildlife, environmental education, and protecting the environment are invited to join a group of residents dedicated to helping the nature center with its work and family programs.

The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center is at 10 Deerfield Road.

This is a press release from the nature center.

Salamanders, chickens in spotlight at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Nature's Child program at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center will feature salamanders.

The program is for three-to five-year olds with an adult. Join Ranger Wendy to learn about the cool critters known as salamanders. Learn where they like to hang out and what they eat for lunch.

The program will include a short story and a craft to take home. Tuition is $6 per family; $4 for Ansonia residents and family-level Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. members.
Registration requested; call 203-736-1053.

Backyard chickens

At 2 p.m. Saturday, Ranger Dawn, owner/operator of Coon Hollow Farm in Oxford, will present a program designed for those who would like to explore the possibility of raising their own chickens, even in an urban setting.

She will provide tips and the all-important dos and don'ts for would-be backyard farmers. Find out how to select and acquire birds, what the feeding requirements are, and what kind of shelter they need.

Call 203-736-1053 to register for this free program.

The nature center is at 10 Deerfield Road.

Preschoolers to learn about Native Americans

ANSONIA - "Nature's Child: The First Americans" is the topic of a preschool program at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 2 at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road.

The program is for three to five-year olds accompanied by an adult.

Join a nature center ranger to find out what it was like for the Indians before people from across the ocean decided to emigrate.

The program will include a short hike and story. Children will make a Native American-related craft to take home.

Tuition is $6 ($4 for family-level Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. members and Ansonia residents.)
Call 203-736-1053 to register in advance.

Program at library to benefit Ansonia Nature Center

Mountain lions to be featured in Derby Neck Library presentation

The Mountain Lion, Felis concolor, also known as Cougar, Puma and Panther, was once a resident of the northeast, but was extirpated from Connecticut long ago. Now, they may be back!

The Mountain Lion's primary food source is Deer and the Whitetail Deer population has increased to record levels in recent years in our state. Biologists believe that a plentiful food source will inevitably attract predators to take advantage of the abundance of prey species.

A narrated slide presentation suitable for adults and older students will be provided by Bill Betty, a  Rhode Island resident, who has had close encounters with Mountain Lions near his home. Betty has studied the Mountain Lion's kill sites and movements throughout southern New England for many years.

A donation of $10 to the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. (FANCI) will benefit the Ansonia Nature Center 's wild Animal Ambassador program.

The Mountain Lion program will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 28 at Derby Neck Library, 307 Hawthorne Ave., Derby. 
For information or to make a reservation call the nature center, 203-736-1053.

The above is taken from a press release from the Ansonia Nature Center.

Nature center lesson to focus on goldenrod

ANSONIA - Goldenrod jungles is the topic of the next Nature’s Child preschool program at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road.
The program for three-to five-year olds will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 7.

Participants will join Ranger Wendy to discover the critters that live in these beautiful yellow flowers.
Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod does not make you sneeze. Come to find out more about this lovely wildflower that can even be used as a crayon.

This program is geared for early childhood learners with an adult.Tuition is $6 per family ($4 for Ansonia residents and family-level F.A.N.C.I, members.) To register call 203-736-1053.

Grant to fund touch tank for nature center

ANSONIA - The Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. (FANCI) recently received a $3,000 grant from the Valley Community Foundation.


The grant will enable the Friends to purchase a 50-gallon classroom touch tank to be used for educational purposes at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road.

Richard Wade, President of FANCI, said, “The Friends wish to express their heartfelt appreciation to The Valley Community Foundation for their continuing generous support of the Friends’ mission to support the Ansonia Nature Center.”

The new touch tank will provide a classroom habitat for creatures that live in the Redwing Pond located at the nature center.

Touch tanks promote interactive learning by producing a freshwater pond habitat in the classroom where students are able to study and learn through a hands-on experience that can not be duplicated except at a natural pond.
Students will develop a deep appreciation for the importance of freshwater habitats, and a unique understanding of the creatures that live there.
Since The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center is located in the Lower Naugatuck River watershed area it is imperative that residents are motivated to take a personal responsibility for their actions and habits which sometimes have a negative impact on our water quality.

This project is consistent with the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center's vision which is focused on appreciation of a diverse and healthy natural world in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
Through place-based environmental education and advocacy the center promotes sustainable land use practices and renewable energy technology to protect and preserve a healthy environment.



The above was taken from a release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center.