FRIDAY FAMILY CAMPFIRE - Bats with Caroline
Caroline Glaser, our bat expert, will share her knowledge and tall tales of our local bats. She will bring out our resident animal ambassador bats to see close up. Toast some marshmallows and make a s’more. Bring along a blanket or folding chair.

Friday July 17, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
$8 per member, $10 per non-member
Pre-registration required

TOUCH-A-BUG DAY
See insects close up! They are all around us – in the house, in the garden, along the woodland trails. Get to know your tiny neighbors. Insect crafts like bug faces, noisemakers, butterfly costumes. All day!

Saturday July 18, 10 AM – 4 PM

FRIDAY FAMILY CAMPFIRE - Moths and other night fliers
Soft, fluttering butterflies of the night will fly over our campfire. Larry Gall, Westport’s resident moth hunter, will lure them in with a yummy-for-moths bait so we can see the moths up close. For the two-legged creatures, we’ll provide s’more fixings. Bring a blanket or folding chair. We are ending later so we can see more moths!

Friday August 7, 7:30 – 9:30 PM
$8 per member, $10 per non-member
Pre-registration required

SEASHORE DAY
Explore the world of the beach with exhibits, crafts and games. Learn how to identify seashells and beach critters. Perform scientific water tests just like a real marine scientist. Make fish prints. There will be something to do here all day!

Saturday August 8, 10 AM – 4 PM

POND & STREAM EXPLORATIONS
Can you imagine what lies below the quiet surface of a pond?  Our naturalist will help you get a fish-eye view of the wet world.  We’ll explore the Swamp Loop Trail pond or Stony Brook.  Wear old sneakers or water shoes and be prepared to get wet! 

Saturday August 15, 11 AM - Noon

CRITTERS AND CRAFTS - Saturdays 2:30-3:15 PM

WORKSHOPS - Note: Pre-registration required, call (203) 227-7253. 

STREAM EXPLORATION AND MONITORING WORKSHOP- for High School Students & Adults

Do you have an interest in learning about the health of our local watershed? This four-week workshop will explore how the health of a stream or river is measured, the kinds of parameters a scientist might look at, and why we all should be concerned.

Topics on physical, chemical, bacteriological and macro-invertebrate parameters (highlighting aquatic insects) will be explored. Hands-on water testing will also be highlighted with a special emphasis on nutrients and how field measurements can lead to the understanding and detecting of pollution. The correct procedures for sampling and the proper techniques for measuring dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, ammonia-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, fecal coliform bacteria and other indicator bacteria forms will be included. A discussion on field and laboratory instrumentation will be highlighted.

Adults and high school students who participate in this workshop may wish to volunteer for on-going monitoring efforts that are helping to assess the water quality of some of our local watersheds like the Norwalk, Aspetuck and Saugatuck rivers. This workshop would be ideal for teachers who would like to introduce the topic of aquatic biology into the classroom. Handout materials and refreshments will be included.

Saturday October 17, 24, 31, November 7
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Fee: $45 members & students; $75 non-members
Pre-registration, call 227-7253.

ANIMAL CARE VOLUNTEERS

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Program at Earthplace takes in hundreds of injured and/or orphaned wild animals each year with the goal of restoring them to health and returning them to their natural environment. Additionally, over thirty domestic and non-releasable wild animals act as species ambassadors in the many Earthplace educational programs. We are seeking volunteers to help provide the quality care these animals require.

If you are over 18 years of age, can commit to a three-hour shift once each week and are interested in becoming part of the Animal Care Team at Earthplace, we’d like to meet you.  Please call Linda Roberts at (203) 227-7253 for further information.