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Ansonia Nature & Recreation Center
(203) 736-1053
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Ansonia Nature & Recreation
Center:
Calendar of Events
Summer - 2009
To register for events call 736-1053 |
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JUNE
REGISTRATION CONTINUES FOR SUMMER VACATION NATURE DAYS – Mon. June 8, 9 am
Registration for Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members began
in May for these popular, and always fun-filled, hands-on discovery sessions.
Our theme this summer is NATURE AND THE ARTS (see July and August listings).
Tuition: 4- and 5-year-olds, $65 ($45 for residents and members); 6- to
14-year-olds, $95 ($75 for residents and members). One session for 11- to
14-year-olds, July 21–July 23; three sessions to choose from for 4- to
10-year-olds, July 28–30, Aug. 4–6, or Aug. 11–13. Call for more information.
MOM, DAD, & ME: Rah, Rah, Reptiles! – Fri. June 5, 10 am or 1 pm
First, we’ll hear a story about a baby snake; then we’ll learn about this
cold-blooded group of animals and make a take-home craft; next we’ll meet a
spiky lizard, a handsome turtle or two, and ET, the snake! This class is geared
for one child, 3 or 4 years old, accompanied by an adult. Class size is limited,
and pre-registration only. Tuition: FANCI members (family-level) or Ansonia
residents, $6 per child (adults are free). All others, $8 per child per class.
CONNECTICUT TRAILS DAY—HISTORY OF THE LAND HIKE – Sat. June 6, 8 am
Join Peter Rzasa, an avid hiker and history buff, and Alison for this morning
walk. Discover the old cellar holes and stone walls
that lace our property. This moderate hike will also visit the last settlement
of the Paugasucks. Bring water and sturdy shoes.
Suitable for older children and adults. FREE; call to register.
BACK TO BASICS: Honeybees with Ranger Dawn – Sat. June 6, 2 pm
A backyard beekeeper, Dawn will share the fascinating life history of these
valuable insects. Learn from the experts, who are members of the Connecticut
Backyard Beekeepers Association, see the equipment they use to manage their
hives, and maybe meet a queen! Fee: $3. Please call to register.
WILD EDIBLES INTENSIVE – Sat. June 13, 9 am to 3 pm
Backyards, vacant lots, woodlands, and old fields support tons of food for the
wild-food collector! Join Two Coyotes Wilderness School director Justin
Pegnataro (degreed in both biology and anthropology) for this in-depth
field-study class. Justin will lead us in identification of wild plants, then
guide us as we collect our wild lunch ingredients. Next, we’ll prepare an
untamed edibles feast! Our menu will include clay-baked fowl, undomesticated
leek soup, and stir-fried wild vegetables. All this will be topped off with a
sweet surprise for dessert. Registration by June 10. Fee: $35 for FANCI members
and Ansonia residents, $45 for all others. Class size is limited.
CREATURES OF LONG ISLAND SOUND – Sat. June 13, 1 pm
Get up close and personal with some denizens of our favorite estuary who are
visiting the Nature Center. When they’re not staying with us, they’re making a
living in Long Island Sound, ten miles away. Learn about this precious resource,
and discover how it affects our food, our recreation, and even our weather! You
might even meet a sponge called Bob! For children with adults. Pre-registration
only. FREE.
P.A.C.K.: Music and Nature – Mike Kachuba – Sun. June 14, 2 pm
A songwriter and performer of both traditional and contemporary folk music of
America and the British Isles, Mike has classroom teaching experience that
teaches all ages with humor and style! P.A.C.K. (Parents And Communities for
Kids) is funded by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.
NAUGATUCK RIVER RESTORATION with Laura Wildman – Fri. June 19, 7 pm
Learn about one of America’s most degraded rivers—right here in our own
backyard!—and how and why the Naugatuck River has come back from the dead!
Celebrate the amazing recovery, as Ms. Wildman, with 20 years’ experience
managing river restorations, bears witness to her favorite river—the Naugy! This
program is geared for high-school students and adults, city officials and
professionals, as well as all fans of our river. FREE. Please call to register.
RIVER KAYAKING – Sat. June 20, 10:30 am, launch site provided upon registration
Connecticut Outdoors and the Nature Center are teaming up to offer an
introduction to recreational kayaking, 54 years after the “Great Floods” of
1955. Help us celebrate the dramatic comeback of the once super-polluted
Naugatuck River, which has gone from most-destroyed to most-enjoyed! This
program is suitable for anyone from beginners to the more experienced kayaker.
All equipment is provided for up to 15 participants, but those with their own
boats are welcome to join us. Only severe weather cancels. Personal flotation
devices are required. Advance registration with insurance payment of $4 per
person will hold your place.
SUMMER SOLSTICE DRUMMING CIRCLE – Sat. June 20, 6 pm
Bring your own drum or other percussion instrument and join Ranger Dawn as we
welcome back the lazy, hazy days of summer. FREE with a donation of canned food
for the homeless-shelter pantry.
PAPOOSE PARADE – Fri. June 26, 10 am
Join Ranger Stefanie with your tiny naturalists as we explore the sights and
sounds of our parklands. Geared for parents with toddlers and infants in back
and front packs. FREE, but please call to register.
RABIES CLINIC – Sun. June 28, 12 to 2 pm – Check or Cash to FANCI
Dr. Tara Nanavati from the Ansonia Animal Hospital and Seymour Animal Hospital
will provide a rabies vaccination to your dogs and cats. The Nature Center will
host the clinic and provide volunteers to assist the veterinarian. All dogs must
be on a leash and cats must be in crates. The fee of $15 per animal benefits the
Nature Center Wildlife Rehabilitation program. Please bring proof of previous
rabies vaccinations for a 3-year immunization certificate. Please call for more
information and to register.
JULY
MOM, DAD, & ME: Salty Critters – Fri. July 3, 10 am or 1 pm
Come to meet some animals from Long Island Sound who are visiting the Nature
Center’s salt water pool so they can meet you! Snails, crabs, a sea star
perhaps, and even a sponge may be on hand to delight you. A craft to take home
is planned, and a short story too. This class is geared for one child, 3 or 4
years old, accompanied by an adult. Rain or shine. Pre-register, please. See
June 5 listing for tuition information.
FRAGRANCE HIKE with Peter Rzasa – Sun. July 5, 1 pm
You won’t want to miss this unusual hike—a sensory experience through the woods
and fields of our park. Join Peter and Ranger Martin for this early-afternoon
Sunday stroll. Please register in advance, and get ready for a program you’ll
long remember! FREE.
“TOM SAWYER” TEEN CAMP with Justin Pegnataro – Mon. through Fri. July 6–10, 9 am
to 3 pm
Learn the art of wildlife tracking, make your own fishing pole, gather and
prepare a wild-edible lunch, practice making a friction fire, do some wood
carving and hike every day! Paid registrations should be in early for this 5-day
experience with Justin, the director of the Two Coyotes Wilderness School.
Tuition: $185 for Ansonia residents and FANCI members, and $225 for all others.
The class needs a minimum enrollment of 7 students.
PAPOOSE PARADE – Sat. July 11, 4 pm
See June 26 listing for description. FREE.
FIREFLIES AND ROSES—A Night Hike – Sat. July 11, 7:30 pm
Join Alison, our assistant director, and other nighttime enthusiasts as we
experience the park after dark. We’ll explore the woodland trails and open
fields for interesting sights and sounds. Pre-registration is required. No
artificial lights, please. FREE.
P.A.C.K.: Music and Nature – Dances of India – Sun. July 12, 2 pm
A dancer, singer, artist and published author, Rachna Agrawal holds a Masters in
Art from her native India. She will perform Kathak, a dramatic North Indian
classical dance that originated in temples 2,000 years ago. Please register.
FREE
IN TROUBLE: BATS OF NEW ENGLAND AND WHITE NOSE SYNDROME with Jenny Dickson/CT
DEP – Fri. July 17, 7 pm
You may have heard that a mysterious and as-yet undetected cause has been
killing thousands of bats in the northeast. Our State of Connecticut biologists
have been investigating this die-off since it appeared over a year ago. Jenny, a
CT DEP biologist specializing in bats, will give us an overview of Connecticut
species and their current status, and tell us how we can help. An introduction
to a live bat is planned. Please register in advance. FREE.
SUMMER NATURE DAYS for 11- to 14-year-olds – Tues., Wed., & Thurs., July 21–July
23
Register early for this class, which is planned for the nature-loving adolescent
in your house. Spend five hours a day immersed in the arts and sciences of the
natural world around us. One session only for this age group, meeting from 9:30
am to 2:30 pm. See SUMMER VACATION NATURE DAYS tuition/registration information
at the top of this page.
SUMMER NATURE DAYS for 4- to 10-year-olds: Nature and the Arts – choose from 3
sessions, July 28–30, Aug. 4–6, or Aug. 11–13
Registration for these classes began earlier, but if there’s room in the class,
you may still be able to join us. Our popular summer classes combine fun with
hands-on learning about all things natural. Expect indoor and outdoor activities
and excursions into our 150-acre natural preserve. Our small-size classes insure
a maximum of quality time. Four- and five-year-olds meet from 9:30 am to 12:30
pm; six- to ten-year-olds meet from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. See SUMMER VACATION
NATURE DAYS tuition/registration information at the top of this page.
FAMILY CAMPING - Fri. July 31–Sat. Aug. 1, 6 pm to 10 am
Back by popular request! We offer tent camping as a great way to connect with
nature. In partnership with Two Coyotes and the Friends of the Ansonia Nature
Center, we’ll have a campfire, roast marshmallows, participate in an optional
night hike through the park trails, and share some campfire stories before
turning in. Bring your own picnic dinner, and we’ll provide an eggs ‘n’ bacon
breakfast in the morning. FEE: $10 per person to benefit FANCI. REGISTER NOW—we
had a waiting list last year!
AUGUST
MOM, DAD, & ME: What’s Bugging You? – Fri. Aug. 7, 10 am or 1 pm
Insects can be a pain, or they can be very helpful to people—sometimes they’re
both! Come to learn about them, then go on a bug
safari with us. A short story and a take-home craft are planned. This class is
geared for one child, 3 or 4 years old, accompanied by an
adult. Class size is limited, and pre-registration only. See June 5 listing for
tuition information.
BACK TO BASICS: Felting – Sat. Aug. 8, 2 pm
Join Ranger Dawn Sotir as she leads us in this “Art of Felting” workshop using
alpaca and lamb’s wool. The ancients knew the real value of these tightly woven
materials. We’ll make a change purse to give as a gift or to keep. All supplies
are included. Tuition: $8.
P.A.C.K.: Music and Nature – From Trash to Tunes! – Sun. Aug. 9, 2 pm
Dennis Waring, a Master Teaching Artist, specializes in music, science and fun!
See and hear flutes made from water pipes; xylophones made from scrap wood; and
guitars made from plastic containers, sticks and fishing line. Don’t miss this
recycled show! Call to register. FREE.
2009: THE YEAR OF ASTRONOMY– Perseid Meteor Shower Views – Fri. Aug. 14, 7 pm
Join the after-dark fan club for a clear view of the firmament over our heads.
Enjoy the shower! Bring a lawn chair, a picnic supper (we’ll provide the
popcorn), and binoculars or telescopes if you have them. Please register in
advance and hope for clear skies! FREE.
PAPOOSE PARADE – Sun. Aug. 16, 9:30 am
See June 26 listing for description. FREE.
SNAKES ALIVE & REPTILIAN ART – Sat. Aug. 29, 10 am
Meet some of nature’s most important predators! Discover how irresponsible pet
traders and their customers upset the balance of our native species—here and
elsewhere. See some original art pieces suitable for framing created by our
students and one-of-a-kind creations by our four-legged animal ambassadors!
Please call to register. FREE. Sales benefit our Animal Ambassadors Fund.
ONGOING PROGRAMS
• Saturdays: Creature Features, 12 noon • Sundays: Guided Hikes, 1 pm. Themes
vary from animal signs, trees, birds, wildflowers, and local history to invasive
species. • Thursdays: Yoga for Your Health, 6:30 pm. Hatha Yoga is great healthy
exercise. There are a few openings in Pam’s popular class. 7 wks/$55.
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Mask Making • Foliage of New England • Nature Photography • Fiber Arts •
Invasive Plant Species I.D. • Summer Harvest Dinner
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