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Ansonia Nature & Recreation Center
(203) 736-1053
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Ansonia Nature & Recreation
Center:
Calendar of Events
Winter 2009-2010
To register for events call 736-1053 |
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Calendar of Events
2010 Theme—Sustainability
Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center Mission Statement
The mission of the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center is to foster an ethic of
environmental stewardship that will connect our communities to the natural world
of the Lower Naugatuck River Valley, and balance the demand for recreation with
the need for conservation.
DECEMBER
MOM, DAD, & ME: Ready or Not, Here Comes Cold! – Fri. Dec. 4, 10 am or 1 pm
The coldest and darkest season is just around the corner, so how do our park’s
many animals cope? Come to learn which critters dig deep under the ground, grow
warmer feathers or hair, or gain more fat! For children 3 to 5 years with an
adult. FEE: FANCI members (family-level) or Ansonia residents, $6 per child
(adults are free). All others, $8 per child per class. Please register by Dec.
3.
PAPOOSE PARADE: Keeping Warm and Healthy – Sun. Dec. 6, 2 pm
Join Ranger Stefanie for this easy hike with your little ones riding in a
backpack or front snuggler. Outdoor exercise and cold fresh air are good for us
all! FREE. Please call to register.
WINTER HOLIDAY NATURE DAYS – Registration begins Mon. Dec. 7, 9 am. See Dec. 30
listing.
BACK TO BASICS: Make Your Own Evergreen Wreath or Swag – Sat. Dec. 12, 1 pm
Celebrate this festive season as you create (with fresh greens which are locally
grown), then decorate your masterpiece with natural trimmings. The Friends will
help to decorate small gift bags and make gift boxes outside the Nature Shop.
Enjoy some warm mulled cider and a cookie too! Bring a 12” wreath frame or
smaller, if you have one; we’ll supply the rest. Small materials fee. Please
call to register by Dec. 10.
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT – Sat. Dec. 19, about noon.
Join the New Haven Bird Club for this traditional bird count, which has been
taking place for 110 years! Bird count results are sent to the National Audubon
Society, and are included in the international census of early winter bird
populations. Dress for the weather. Rain or shine. FREE. Middle-school age
children and their adults welcome.
WINTER SOLSTICE DRUMMING CIRCLE – Sat. Dec. 19, 5 pm
Come with your own percussion instruments as we drum in the beginning of winter,
when our portion of the planet takes a nap! Please bring a nutritious canned
good for Spooner House. Dress for the cold. Children over 10 and adults welcome.
FREE, but please call to register.
WINTER HOLIDAY NATURE DAYS – Wed. Dec. 30 and Thurs. Dec. 31, 10 am
These popular classes are designed for children 4 through 10 years. We’ll create
beautiful and useful stuff using natural objects and recycled materials.
Registration begins on Dec. 7 for priority students (current FANCI family-level
members and Ansonia residents). All others may register on Dec. 14. TUITION: 4-
and 5-year-olds meet from 10 am to 1 pm; $45 ($30 priority students). Six- to
10-year-olds meet from 10 am to 3 pm; $65 ($50 priority students). Note, these
classes fill up quickly – don’t delay.
JANUARY
HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR’S DAY HIKE – Fri. Jan. 1, 2010, 10 am
Join Ranger Martin, who will ring in the new year by celebrating with you during
an invigorating hike along our woodland trails. If we have sufficient snow
cover, we may even break out the snowshoes! FREE. Please call to register in
advance.
BACK TO BASICS: Eating Raw Food for Healthy Living with RawDawg Rory – Sat. Jan.
2, 2 pm
Will you make a New Year’s resolution this year? Maybe you will, when you learn
about the benefits of a raw diet with RawDawg Rory, who highly recommends this
practice. A full discussion; several recipes and tastes will be included.
TUITION: $5. Snow date, Jan. 16. Please register in advance.
MOM, DAD, & ME: Ice ‘n’ Snow – Fri. Jan. 8, 10 am or 1 pm (note: 2nd Friday)
Don’t you love to play in the snow each winter? There’s so many fun things to
do! Build snowmen (or women), build a snow fort, track wild animals, catch
snowflakes, go sledding and more! We’ll learn all about the fluffy white stuff,
and hope for some to play with today. See Dec. 4 for tuition information. Please
register in advance.
PAPOOSE PARADE – Wed. Jan 13, 2 pm
Meet Ranger Stefanie in the visitors’ center, then head out on the easy trails
of the Nature Center property to find sights and sounds of the wildlife living
in our park, while getting some healthy exercise too! Bring infants or toddlers
in backpacks or carriers. FREE, but please call to register.
FLY FISHING WITH JIM TURECEK – Sat. Jan. 16, 2:30 pm
You’re sure to enjoy an afternoon learning about the art and craft of fly
fishing. We’ll travel local trout streams and Long Island Sound to bonefish
flats of the Caribbean in Jim’s slide show and lecture. See equipment, prey
species, and the best flies to use. FREE. Please call to register.
SURVIVAL HIKE WITH TWO COYOTES – Sun. Jan. 17, 1 pm
Staying alive if you get lost is the topic, and learning how to behave and how
NOT to could save your life. Accompany Justin of Two Coyotes and Ranger Martin
for this afternoon of survival skills presentation and hike. FREE, but please
register in advance.
SNOWSHOEING or CROSS COUNTRY SKIING (or hiking if no snow) – Mon. Jan. 18. 10 am
and 2 pm
Come on over on Martin Luther King Day and accompany our rangers on your day off
from school, as we explore park trails and fields on skis or snowshoes (if
there’s good snow cover), or on foot! We can supply some snowshoes, but not
skis. No snow? We’ll hike instead. Get outside to enjoy this winter! FREE, but
please register in advance.
WINTER TREES AND SHRUBS – Sat. Jan. 23, 2 pm
Join Ali for some twig-en-ometry lessons. Learn about leaf scars and growth
patterns as you sharpen your skills in identifying Connecticut’s woody
specimens. Also learn how to separate the natives from the plant invasives.
FREE. Please register for this indoor and outdoor class.
WINTER BREAK NATURE DAYS – Registration begins Mon. Jan. 25, 9 am. See Feb. 16
listing.
FULL MOON HIKE – Sat. Jan. 30 (rain/snow/cloud date, Jan. 31), 5:30 pm
If you have never hiked our trails at night, in the cold crisp winter air,
you’re in for a treat. The full moon will guide our quiet steps as we listen to
the sounds of park wildlife. Shoes and outerwear should suit the weather
conditions. PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY! FREE. Recommended for 6 years and up with
adult.
FEBRUARY
MOM, DAD, & ME: Groundhog, Where Are You? – Fri. Feb. 5, 10 am or 1 pm
Even though Groundhog Day was on Tuesday, we’ll learn all about these super
sleepers with Ranger Wendy to help us. Take a short walk to look for their
sleeping quarters, make a take-home craft, and hear a short story about these
furry critters. See Dec. 4 listing for tuition information.
SCAVENGER HUNT at the Nature Center – Fri. Feb. 12, 2 pm
Celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday this afternoon by developing your senses as you
search the parklands for these natural treasures. FREE, but please register in
advance.
PAPOOSE PARADE – Sat. Feb. 13, 10 am
See January 13 listing for description. FREE.
SCIENCE SATURDAY: Chefs – Sat. Feb. 13, 10 am
Join us at the Redwing Pond House for this first in a series of science-based
and fun-filled programs for children 8 to 12 years old. Just before Saint
Valentine’s Day, create some homemade goodies for you and those you love! Of
course we’ll also learn the science and math behind all good cooking! TUITION:
$15/2-hour class; includes all materials and recipes. Instructor, Marisa Gillio.
BACK TO BASICS: Building Your Own Coldframe – Sat. Feb. 13, 2 pm
As you home gardeners browse the new seed catalogues arriving in your mailboxes,
you will get a jump on growing your own plants earlier this year by using a
coldframe of your own creation! You’ll leave with plans
and complete directions to get you started. FEE: $5. Please register in advance.
WINTER BREAK NATURE DAYS – Tues., Wed., Thurs. Feb. 16, 17, 18, 10 am to 3 pm
For children 4 to 10 years old, our popular school vacation camp will promote
living a sustainable life. Even young children will learn how to make
earth-friendly choices, and have fun too! Registration begins on Mon., Jan. 25
at 9 am for priority students (current FANCI family-level members and Ansonia
residents). All others may register on Feb. 1. TUITION: 4- and 5-year-olds meet
from 10 am to 1 pm; $65 ($45 priority students). Six- to 10-year-olds meet from
10 am to 3 pm; $95 ($75 priority students). Register as early as you can,
because classes fill up quickly.
ORIENTEERING – Sat. Feb. 20, 2 pm
Calling all scouts who want to find their way around our parklands by using a
compass and a map. This class is open to youth groups and families with children
in third grade and up. TUITION: $3.
NORDIC SKIING – Sun. Feb. 21, 10 am
Please register in advance for this FREE program with Ranger Wendy. See the
January 18 listing.
SCIENCE SATURDAY: Playing with Electricity – Sat. Feb. 27, 10 am
Join us at the Redwing Pond House for the second in our series of science-based
programs for children 8 to 12 years old. We will make static electricity, and
“bolts out of the blue” during this session, using kitchen items and
experimentation. Instructor, Marisa Gillio. TUITION: $15/2-hour class; includes
all materials.
ONGOING PROGRAMS
• Saturdays: Creature Features, 12 noon • Sundays: Guided Hikes, 1 pm, weather
permitting. • Thursdays: Yoga for Your Health, 6:30 pm. 7 wks/$55.
UPCOMING
Maple Syrup, Drumming, Kites, Amphibians, Land Care for Homeowners/NOFA,
Sustainability Movie Nights & Panel Discussions, EARTH DAY 2010 on Sat. April 24
with FANCI.
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