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Ashland Nature Center
2006 Fall Program Descriptions
Click to view programs for ages:
 18-30 months
3-5 yrs
6-8 yrs
9-12 yrs
12-16 yrs
13-17 yrs
Adults
Families
Homeschool Series
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Ages 18-30 Months
On Beautiful Wings
Course #: F06-0017-AS Max: 10
Date: Tuesday, September 19 Time: 9:30-10:30am
Member Price: $7 Non-member Price: $11
Led by Derek Stoner
Beautiful colors on the wing: what's fluttering in the fields at Ashland and in our butterfly house? Meet some of these colorful insects and investigate the way that they use their "straw" to sip nectar from flowers. Release a tagged monarch butterfly to fly south for the winter. Parent participation required (no extra fee).
Color Everywhere!
Course #: F06-018-AS Max: 10
Date: Wednesday, September 27 Time: 9:30-10:30am
Member Price: $7 Non-member Price: $11
Led by Helen Fischel
Discover the many shades of nature as we look for the last flowers of the year and the first changing leaves of autumn. Watch for colorful butterflies and other insects in the meadow. Parent participation required (no extra fee).
Fall Frolic
Course #: F06-019-AS Max: 10
Date: Wednesday, October 25 Time: 9:30-10:30am
Member Price: $7 Non-member Price: $11
Led by Barbara Reader
Take a walk to look for birds flying south and squirrels gathering nuts. Feel the cool wind on your face and smell the layers of leaves in the forest. Search for milkweed pods and acorns as we explore autumn outdoors. Parent participation required (no extra fee).
Getting Ready For Winter
Course #: F06-020-AS Max: 10
Date: Tuesday, November 14 Time: 9:30-10:30am
Member Price: $7 Non-member Price: $11
Led by Helen Fischel
The cold weather makes you want to wear a coat. What do the animals do to get ready for winter? Visit with some of Ashland's live and mounted animals to discover the many ways that they prepare for the cold winter ahead. Take a short walk to search for signs of winter approaching. Parent participation required (no extra fee).
Ages 3-5
Catch the Wind
Course #: F06-025 -AS Max: 10
Date: Tuesday, September 19 Time: 9:30 -11:00am
Member Price: $8 Non-member Price: $12
Led by Jessica Meginly
Some seeds fall to the ground and some are carried by animals. Find "helicopters" and "parachutes" as we search for seeds at Ashland. Acorns, maple seeds, and walnuts are just a few of the special seeds we may find. Parent participation welcome but not required (no extra fee).
Animal Homes
Course #: F06-026-AS Max:10
Date: Tuesday, October 10 Time: 9:30-11:00am
Member Price: $8 Non-member Price: $12
Led by Annie Vinciguerra
Join us for an exploration of Ashland's many habitats. Discover who lives where and why as we hike through fields and marshes. Play a habitat game to see where you would live as a wild animal. Learn where animals make their homes and how they stay warm and dry. Parent participation welcome but not required (no extra fee).
Spooky Creatures
Course #: F06-027-AS Max: 12
Date: Wednesday, October 25 Time: 9:30-11:00am
Member Price: $8 Non-member Price: $12
Led by Judy Montgomery
Halloween is soon near, so join us as we meet some "spooky" creatures-have no fear! From a creepy cockroach to bone-white snake, what memories will you make? Learn about "scary" creatures like tarantulas and millipedes and see how nice they really are. Parent participation welcome but not required (no extra fee).
Lenape Fall
Course #: F06-028-AS Max: 12
Date: Tuesday, November 21 Time: 9:30-11:00am
Member Price: $8 Non-member Price: $12
Led by Barbara Reader
Hike Ashland's trails and see through the eyes of a Lenape child as we learn how they prepared for winter. Discover how they found food and kept warm, and touch real tools that a Lenape child would use. Parent participation welcome but not required (no extra fee).
Ages 6-8
Autumn Aquatics
Course #: F06-035-AS Max: 12
Date: Saturday, September 23 Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Member Price: $9 Non-member Price: $13
Led by Annie Vinciguerra
Explore the marsh, stream and pond at Ashland to discover the abundant life in these waters. Compare the different animals living in each type of water-minnows, frogs, diving beetles and more! Discover how the leaves that fall into the water help to provide food and shelter for many aquatic creatures.
Mining & Minerals
Course #: F06-036-AS Max: 12
Date: Saturday, October 21 Time: 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Member Price: $12 Non-member Price: $18
Led by Kim Petrina
Dig for mineral treasures like mica, quartz, and garnet at a unique feldspar quarry near the Brandywine River. Learn why these minerals are here and how they were mined. Bring your rock hammer or borrow ours as we head out on a rock-ing mining expedition. Rock hammers and safety goggles provided.
Spiders, Bats, and Snakes
Course #: F06-037-AS Max: 12
Date: Saturday, October 28 Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Member Price: $9 Non-member Price: $13
Led by Victoria Douglas
Spiders, bats, and reptiles are feared by many people. Meet some of these live animals and learn about the remarkable role that these less popular animals play in the balance of nature. Take a night hike to explore their habitats and discover their wonderful adaptations. Listen to a spooky animal story with Halloween right around the corner.
Young Lenape Adventure
Course #: F06-038-AS Max: 12
Date: Saturday, November 4 Time: 1:00-3:00 pm
Member Price: $9 Non-member Price: $13
Led by Victoria Douglas
Discover the fascinating Lenni Lenape Indians as we travel back in time to recreate their way of life. Look at real Native American tools and artifacts, touch real animal furs, and try your hand at cracking the fall's nut harvest. Visit a Lenape hut to see how these people survived living in the wild. Read a story about Native Americans as we enjoy an afternoon learning about Lenape lifestyle.
Gearing Up For Winter
Course #: F06-039-AS Max: 12
Date: Saturday, November 18 Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Member Price: $9 Non-member Price: $13
Led by Shannon Tilmon
Days are getting shorter and the temperature is dropping- how will the animals deal with the long winter ahead? Search the forests and fields for signs of animals gathering food, building shelters, or even flying south to escape winter! Discover the magical warmth of thick fur on our mounted animals and learn how mammals gear up for winter.
Ages 9-12
Canoeing the Dragon
Course #: F06-045-AS Max: 13
Date: Saturday, September 16 Time: 4:00-8:30pm
Member Price: $20 Non-member Price: $30
Led by David Pragoff
Explore the incredibly diverse Dragon Run Marsh near Delaware City by canoe as we watch for muskrats, turtles, and snakes at dusk. Paddle past a Bald Eagle nest and pull up to several active beaver lodges. Dip into the water with a net to catch fish, frogs, and insects. Bring a bag dinner packed in a waterproof container, a water bottle and shoes that can get wet. Canoes and van transportation provided.
"School's Out" Day Camp: Bucktoe Wildlife Surveys
Course #: F06-046-BK Max: 13
Date: Tuesday, November 7 Time: 8:30am-5:30pm
Members Price: $45 (members only)
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Visit the Bucktoe Creek Tract for a day of discovering wildlife on a property with fields, woods, streams, a pond, and marshes. Track mammals, conduct a bird survey, search a stream for aquatic inhabitants, and hike this large wildlife preserve. Round out the day with a campfire in a secluded field. Travel back to Ashland and create your own photo-journal of the day. Bring a lunch, drink, and dress for the weather.
Ages 9-12 with Parent
Fall Flight at Cape May
Course #: F06-047-AS Max: 13
Date: Sunday, October 15 Time: 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Member Price: $30 Non-member Price: $50
Led by Judy Montgomery and Derek Stoner
Witness one of autumn's greatest spectacles as thousands of migrating songbirds, raptors, and insects converge upon Cape May, New Jersey, on their voyage southward. We'll see colorful warblers, zipping hawks, and waves of drifting monarch butterflies. Enjoy a picnic on the beach and a "bird's eye view" from on top of the Cape May Lighthouse. Participants will receive a list of what to bring.
Ages 12-16
Young Waterfowlers
Program ID #: F06-051-AS Max: 25
Dates: At Ashland Nature Center - Wed. Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, and Nov. 1;
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Plus field trips to:
Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center to learn shooting skills
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge to build blinds and to learn decoy setup
Delaware Bay to study marsh ecology and waterfowl identification
Member Price: $50 (members only).
Led by Jim Jordan, Managing Director, Red Clay Valley Association and Brandywine Valley Association; John Campanelli, National Wildlife Federation; experienced hunters Rich Stigale and Jeff Kane; Neil Daugherty, expert decoy carver; Larry Armstrong, hunting guide; Derek Stoner, education program assistant; and guest experts.
Waterfowling is an American Tradition that combines hunting with an appreciation of wetlands and their wildlife. In order to instill a strong conservation ethic for all our natural resources, the Delaware Nature Society in partnership with the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife's Hunter Education Program and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, is providing an exciting opportunity for young Nature Society members. Participants will study wildlife management, habitat protection, conservation practices, and wetlands values during a comprehensive introduction to the American waterfowling heritage. Field identification of waterfowl, conservation ethics, safety skills, good sportsmanship, camouflage techniques, and boat and water safety will be covered. Instruction by experts from partnering organizations will provide participants with effective sporting techniques along with a responsible stewardship approach for wildlife and their habitats. An optional hunt at the conclusion of the program, under the supervision of experienced guides, will further reinforce the sound practices taught during the course. Parent participation is encouraged but not required(no extra fee). Materials provided. Upon the completion of the course, participants will have the opportunity to fulfill the state hunter safety education requirement and will receive a certification card(required for ages 15 and up to hunt in Delaware). To participate in this program, a Delaware Nature Society Household membership is required. This program is offered as a partnership of the Delaware Nature Society, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Red Clay Valley Association and the Brandywine Valley Association.
Advanced Young Waterfowlers
Program ID #: F06-052-AS Max: 25
Dates: At Ashland Nature Center - Wed. Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, and Nov. 1;
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Member Price: $50 (members only)
For alumnae of previous Young Waterfowler programs, we offer additional training in blind preparation, decoy setup, firearm safety and waterfowl identification. Students will have an opportunity to participate in a specially-guided hunt at a private club near Smyrna and enjoy the experience of waterfowling in a tidal marsh. Instructors the same as listed above. To participate in this program, a Delaware Nature Society Household Membership is required.
Ages 13-17
Adventure - Nature Study - Volunteering for the Environment:
Teen Naturalists
Program ID #: F06-053-AS Max: 30
Dates: September 2006-August 2007
September meeting date is Friday, September 22, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
We will have a geocaching competition and campfire at Ashland.
Member Price: $100 (Members only)
Led by Joe Sebastiani, Members Program Coordinator and other Delaware Nature Society Staff
Do you enjoy hiking, canoeing, wildlife, nature, or just being outdoors? Join the Teen Naturalists! Meet once per month for outdoor activities, volunteering at Nature Society events, and embark on a weeklong trip each summer. Outings dates will be sent to participants in September, but will include half and full day outings each month on Friday evenings, Saturdays, Sundays, or public school days off. Registration fee does not include cost for occasional overnight trips or the weeklong summer trip.
Families
Pond Fishing I and II
Course #: F06-054 -AS Max: 20
Course #: F06-055-AS Max: 20 (sign up for one or both)
Pond Fishing I - Thursday, September 21 Time: 5:30pm-dusk
Pond Fishing II - Friday, September 22 Time: 5:30pm-dusk
Member Price: adult $8, child $5
Nonmember Price: adult $12, child $7
Led by Jim Jordan
Try your luck at fishing for bluegill and bass at a nearby private pond while learning basic fish biology. Bring your own pole and tackle or use the Nature Center's. Bait and instructions provided. Bring a picnic supper or snack and, if you wish, a container to take home your catch. Meet at the Ashland Nature Center to car pool to the nearby site. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Night Flyers
Course #: F06-056-AS Max: 20
Date: Friday, September 29 Time: 7:30-9:00 pm
Member Price: adult $6, child $4
Nonmember Price: adult $9, child $7
Led by Lori and Alyssa Molin
Join us for an evening exploration of moths, katydids, beetles and other winged insects that whir through the night air. Learn about the amazing variety of beautiful and beneficial insects living all around us that only come out under the cover of darkness. Find out how you can raise unique species like the luna moth and how you can attract them to your backyard habitat.
Autumn Stroll at Bucktoe
Course #: F06-057-BK Max: 14
Date: Sunday, October 1 Time: 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Member Price: adult $8, child $6
Nonmember Price: adult $12, child $10
Led by Shannon Tilmon
Early fall brings lots of animal activity to the land at Bucktoe Creek Tract, a privately-owned preserve near Kennett Square, PA. Search for concentrations of grasshoppers in the meadow, watch for migrating monarch butterflies and look for white-tailed deer. Stop by the pond to see what may be hopping around and look under a log to discover what's hiding underneath. Van transportation provided.
Lums Pond Canoeing
Course #: F06-058-AS Max: 12
Date: Saturday, October 14 Time: 4:00-7:30 pm
Member Price: adult $15, child $10
Nonmember Price: adult $22, child $15
Led by Bradley Reynolds
Visit Lums Pond State Park near Glasgow as autumn takes hold and marvel at the color of the changing leaves as we leisurely paddle. Watch for Great Blue Herons, beavers and other wildlife that frequent the pond. Bring along a picnic supper packed in waterproof containers. Children must be 8 years old and accompanied by an adult. No previous canoeing experience is needed. Fee includes van transportation, canoes and preservers.
Family Campout at Bucktoe
Course #: F06-059-BK Max: 5 families (family of 4 individuals)
Date: Friday, October 20-Saturday, October 21
Time: 6:00pm Friday at Bucktoe Creek Tract, to 11am Saturday
Member Price: $70 per family for a lean-to shelter (2 available); $50 per family for tents; $40 per family if you bring your own tent(s).
Non-member Price: $90/$70/$60
Location: This program meets at Bucktoe Creek Tract
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Join us for a family camping trip at the Bucktoe Creek Tract near Kennett Square, PA. Choose to stay in one of two shelters, borrow tents from us or bring your own tents. Enjoy two guided naturalist walks around this beautiful 285-acre private property, a campfire with snacks, and camping in a secluded meadow surrounded by forest with colorful fall foliage. Bring your own bag dinner, but a complete breakfast will be provided. This program meets at Bucktoe Creek Tract; registrants will receive directions.
Trip to Autumn at Abbott's Festival
Course #: F06-060-AS Max: 12
Date: Saturday, October 21 Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Member Price: adult $20, child under age 16 $5
Non-member Price: adult $30, child under age 16 $7
Driver: Helen Fischel
Ride in our van to our other nature center near Milford for the 22nd annual Autumn at Abbott's Festival. As we celebrate the land and its people, enjoy live animal exhibits and demonstrations, make a straw man to take home, paddle a canoe on Abbott's Pond and tour the historic gristmill. Story telling, music, and special children's activities will please young family members. Bring a bag lunch or money to purchase treats. Fee includes transportation from Ashland Nature Center, but not festival admission.
Evening Campfire at Ashland
Course #: F06-061-AS Max: 15
Date: Saturday, October 21 Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Member Price: adult $9, child $6
Nonmember Price: adult $13, child $11
Led by Jessica Meginly
As dusk settles into darkness, gather wood and help to set up a campfire site. Take a walk through the forest and around the marsh, listening to the sounds of the evening. Watch for bats and listen for owls hooting in the woods. Then light the fire, roast marshmallows and share campfire stories. Dress warmly. Children must be at least 6 years old and accompanied by an adult.
All About Archery
Course #: F06-062-AS Max: 12
Date: Sunday, October 29 Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Member Price: adult $10, child $7
Nonmember Price: adult $15, child $12
Led by Derek Stoner
Crafted out of simple materials yet capable of launching an arrow at incredible speeds-this is the power of a wooden bow! Learn about the amazing tool that Native Americans depended upon to help them obtain food and to protect themselves from danger. Touch real stone arrowheads made by the Lenni Lenape tribe, and make your very own arrow to take home! Test your skill shooting our own wooden bows and arrows at an outdoor target.
Burrows Run Preserve Scavenger Hunt
Course #: F06-063-BR Max: 12
Date: Saturday, November 18 Time: 3:00-5:00pm
Member Price: adult $8, child $6
Nonmember Price: adult $12, child $10
Location: This program meets at Burrows Run Preserve
Led by Shannon Tilmon
Fall is full of amazing sights and we will test our observations skills on a fun scavenger hunt at Burrows Run Preserve. Look for animal tracks in the mud, bird's nests in trees, and milkweed seeds bursting from the pod. Discover praying mantis egg cases, mammal burrows, and other signs of local wildlife. Meet at Burrows Run Preserve, Hockessin, DE; registrants will receive directions.
Full Moon Hike at the Burrows Run Preserve
Course #: F06-064-BR Max: 14
Date: Monday, December 4 (the night of the Cold Full Moon)
Time: 6:30-9:00pm
Member Price: adult $10; child $5 (no children under age 6)
Non-member Price: adult $15; child $7 (no children under age 6)
This program meets at Burrows Run Preserve
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Walk the beautiful trails and hills of the Burrows Run Preserve on the night of the Cold Full Moon. Let the light of the moon illuminate the dark woods and fields instead of using a flashlight. We will try to call in a screech-owl and listen for Great Horned Owls, foxes, and other night creatures. Enjoy a fire at a huge outdoor fireplace and cook s'mores and hot chocolate at the end. Bring a flashlight (which we won't use unless absolutely necessary!). Meet at Burrows Run Preserve, Hockessin, DE; registrants will receive directions.
Holiday Craft-Making
Course #: F06-065-AS Max: 15
Date: Sunday, December 10 Time: 3:00-5:00pm
Member Price: adult $9, child $6
Nonmember Price: adult $13, child $11
Led by Judy Montgomery
Have some holiday fun creating your own crafts and decorations from natural materials. Make a wild grapevine wreath and weave in fragrant pine and hemlock boughs. Create a unique decorative glass ball filled with nature's treasures. Roll colored beeswax sheets to create your own holiday candles. Bring your imagination and creative side with you. We will finish with a warm holiday snack by a crackling fire. Fee includes materials.
Adults
Flint Woods Ferns
Course #: F06-001-FW Max: 12
Date: Tuesday, September 19 Time: 5:00-7:30pm
Member Price: $10 Non-member Price: $15
Led by Lorraine Fleming and Mike Weaver
Spend the evening among the huge trees and lush ferns in the Delaware Nature Society's Flint Woods Preserve. Noted for 17 species of ferns, this outstanding old-growth forest provides an ideal opportunity to learn about these non-flowering plants and their allies that propagate by spores. A hearty snack will be served. Bring a hand lens if you have one. Meet at the Twaddell Mill Road entrance at Flint Woods Preserve.
Fall Wildflowers at Bucktoe Creek Tract
Course #: F06-002-BK Max: 12
Date: Tuesday, September 19 Time: 8:30-11:30am
Member Price: $10 Non-member Price: $15
Led by Janet Ebert, Botanist and William Ryan, Property Manager
Travel to the Bucktoe Creek Tract near Kennett Square, PA to learn how to identify fall wildflowers such as the more difficult asters and goldenrods and see how the property is ecologically managed. Walk through woodlands, wetlands, and a wonderful floodplain meadow in search of our late blooming wildflowers. Enjoy a beverage and a snack in the middle of walking this highly diverse private property. This program meets at the Bucktoe Creek Tract. Directions to the property will be sent.
Fall Astronomy Series
Course #: F06-003-AS Max: 12
Dates:
Wednesday, September 20 - Ashland Nature Center
Wednesday, October 18 - Bucktoe Creek Tract
Wednesday, November 15 - Coverdale Farm
Wednesday, December 13 - Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory
Time: 8:00-10:00pm
Member Price: $40 Non-member Price: $60
Led by Sheila Vincent
Use a variety of telescopes, binoculars, and your naked eye at a different dark-sky site each month to observe constellations, star clusters, galaxies, and the slow and certain changes in the celestial sphere. In September, with the Summer Triangle still high overhead, view the sapphire and topaz stars of Albireo. October brings prominence to the mighty Andromeda Galaxy in the Great Square. In November, witness the rise of Orion and its famous star-forming nebula, and in December, look through the historic duPont refractor, the 24-inch research reflector, and enjoy a demonstration in the state-of-the art planetarium. Participants will be notified if rain or clouds cancel. Make up dates will be set. Participants provide their own transportation; registrants will receive directions.
Rain Garden Tour
Course #: F06-004-AS Max: 28
Date: Wednesday, September 20 Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Member Price: $10 Non-Member Price: $15
Supplemental training session for Habitat Stewards
Led by Bill Haldeman, Land Manager at Flint Woods Preserve
Would you like to better manage runoff from your roof and driveway or to turn that muddy spot into a beautiful garden? Tour large two-tiered rain gardens and a small residential-scale rain garden which manage the property's storm water. This is a unique opportunity to see first-hand how rain gardens function and how to design and implement one which is tailored to your property's specific needs. This tour covers rain gardens appropriate for homeowner yards and businesses with storm water management needs. Meet in the Ashland Nature Center parking lot. Transportation to the sites provided.
Naturalist Walk at Burrows Run Preserve
Course #: F06-005-BR Max: 14
Date: Wednesday, September 20 Time: 8:30-11:30am
Member Price: $8 Non-member Price: $12
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Visit Burrows Run Preserve as the seasons are changing! Walk about three miles through the preserve to find migratory songbirds and possible Broad-winged Hawks. Identify fall wildflowers, butterflies, and look for migratory monarch butterflies. Linger by the largest black gum tree in the state of Delaware and enjoy a drink and snack.
Lunch Break Hawkwatching at Ashland
Course #: F06-006-AS
Dates: Thursdays, September 21, 28, October 5, 12, 19, 26, November 2, and 9
Time: 11:30am-1:30pm
Member Price: $15 for the season Non-member Price: $22 for the season
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Spend your lunch break with the hawks on beautiful autumn days. Meet Joe on the top of Hawk Watch Hill at Ashland Nature Center, any time between 11:30am and 1:30pm on the specified Thursdays listed above. Come and go when you please; come to one outing or make them all! Bring a chair, your lunch, and binoculars and be on the lookout for migratory hawks. Last year, we tallied over 50 hawks in an hour including several species. On another day, seven bald eagles flew by in under an hour. The season will span from the height of Broad-winged Hawk migration to Golden Eagle migration, of which we saw two last year.
Fall Birding Series
Course #: F06-007-AS Max: 12
Dates:
Friday, September 22 - Bucktoe Creek Tract - Kennett Square, PA
Friday, October 6 - Mount Cuba Center - Greenville, DE
Friday, October 20 - Woodlawn Trustees Preserve - North Wilmington, DE
Friday, November 3 - Burrows Run Preserve - Greenville, DE
Friday, November 17 - Winterthur, Greenville, DE
Time: 8:00-11:00am
Member Price: $40 Non-member Price: $60
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Visit five locations this fall to look for migratory, resident, and wintering birds. Start the fall in September at the Bucktoe Creek Tract to look for warblers, vireos, thrushes, and many other species in this diverse property. In October, visit the Mount Cuba Center and walk natural areas on the perimeter of the property, then bird the beautiful Woodlawn Trustees Preserve by the Brandywine River. In November, look for the late migrants, sparrows, and wintering birds at our Burrows Run Preserve, and wrap up the season by walking the grounds of Winterthur in search of birds that have settled in for the winter. Participants will provide their own transportation and will be called regarding directions.
Batsto Village and Pine Barrens Canoe trip
Course #: F06-008-AS Max: 11
Date: Saturday, September 23 Time: 8:00am-7:00pm
Member Price: $40 Non-member Price: $60
Led by David Pragoff and John Harrod
Travel to New Jersey and visit Batsto Village, a restored ironworks village originally founded in 1766, that was of great importance during the American Revolution. Tour the sawmill, gristmill and other buildings. Then canoe Batsto Pond and River for an ideal look at this outstanding Pine Barrens ecosystem. Look for fall blooming wildflowers such as turtle head, asters, goldenrods and pick wild cranberries. Transportation, canoes and admissions provided. No canoeing experience is necessary. Participants will receive further information.
Hike with Mike
Course #: F06-009-AS Max: 14
Date: Wednesday, October 4 Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Member Price: $8 Non-member Price: $12
Led by Mike Riska
Discover vistas not seen by the general public. With Executive Director Mike Riska, learn about the history of the land, identify plants and watch for wildlife. We will leave Ashland Nature Center and cover about four miles at a moderate pace with some hills while walking through the Red Clay Reservation and Mount Cuba Center. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a snack if you wish.
Morning Migration and Hawk Watching at Granogue
Course #: F06-010-AS Max: 13
Date: Tuesday, October 17 Time: 8:00am-1:00pm
Member Price: $12 Non-member Price: $18
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Spend the morning looking for migratory songbirds at the Granogue Estate along the Brandywine River. Walk the Cabin Woods Natural Area and other woodlands and fields of this large estate in search of vireos, warblers, sparrows, and other migrants. During lunch, sit atop a hill on the estate overlooking the Brandywine Valley in search of migratory hawks. Bring a bag lunch.
Flight of the Snow Geese: Bombay Hook
Course #: F06-011-AS Max: 12
Date: Thursday, October 26 Time: 4:00-8:30pm
Member Price: $15 Non-member Price: $22
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Visit Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge at dusk during the height of Snow Goose congregations. Witness vast, deafening, swirling flocks of Snow Geese as they settle for the night in the freshwater impoundments of the refuge. Surely, this is one of nature's greatest spectacles in Delaware and should not be missed. We will look for other waterfowl and raptors that are in the area as well. Bring a bag dinner, a drink, binoculars, camera, and a folding chair to enjoy this incredible sight.
Raptors at Hawk Mountain Overnight
Course #: F06-012-AS Max: 12
Dates: Wednesday, November 8-Thursday, November 9
Time: 8:30 am Wednesday-4:30 pm Thursday
Member Price: $150 (double occupancy)
Non-member Price: $185 (double occupancy)
Single Supplement: $40
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Take an overnight trip to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and try to find upwards of 14 species of migratory raptors as we spend two days at the Sanctuary. Early November is a great time to find a wide variety of species including Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, and Golden Eagle. Feel the seasonal change at this time of year with brisk conditions. Sit back on a rock, relax, and let the hawks float past as you witness this dramatic daytime migration on a beautiful mountaintop setting. Trip includes admission to Hawk Mountain, double-occupancy lodging at a motel in Hamburg, snacks, beverages, transportation, and naturalist leadership. Participants will bring a bag lunch for the first day, and dinner will be Dutch treat. NOTE: The walk to the north lookout (where the group will be) requires a one-mile hike over very rocky terrain with a steep climb at the end.
Eagles at Conowingo Dam
Course #: F06-013-AS Max:12
Date: Monday, November 13 Time: 8:00am-12:00pm
Member Price: $15 Non-member Price: $22
Led by Joe Sebastiani, Darwin Palmer, and Charlie Gant
Witness large numbers of eagles roosting and hunting along the Susquehanna River. As fish pass through the Conowingo Dam, eagles, Great Blue Herons, and thousands of gulls, capitalize on the bounty. In previous years, we have seen upwards of 70 eagles at once. Dress warmly and bring binoculars.
Ivorybill Woodpecker Lecture & Wine Tasting
Course #: F06-014-AS
Date: Wednesday, December 6 Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Member Price: $8 Non-member Price: $12
Hosted by Jeffrey Gordon and Jim White
Where were you when you heard that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker had been rediscovered in Arkansas? For many birders, naturalists, and conservationists, that time and place is burned deeply into their memories. But instead of catastrophe, this was wonderfully good news-miraculous, even. It felt as if we all had awakened from a horrible dream and been handed a second chance to right a grievous wrong. But now, the news is filled with conflicting stories, some expressing open skepticism that the rediscovery had happened at all-that it was a case of wishful thinking run amok, while others report that the evidence in favor is as compelling as ever. And the rumor mill is still buzzing about possible announcements of new sightings in other states. What's going on here? Why is this one bird so significant? From 6:30-7:00 pm, enjoy a wine tasting presented by Chadds Ford Winery complimented with desserts (no extra fee). Then at 7:00 pm, join Jeffrey Gordon and Jim White as they shed some light on the fascinating story of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Drawing on their experiences and the photographs they took as volunteers on the 2006 search team, Jeffrey and Jim will give an insider's perspective on the controversy and present arguments both for and against the Arkansas sightings. Join us for a uniquely American tale of hope, hype, frustration, and-maybe-redemption.
National Wildlife Refuge Series: Eastern Neck Island
Course #: F06-015-AS Max: 12
Date: Thursday, December 7 Time: 8:30am-4:30pm
Member Price: $20 Non-member Price: $30
Led by Joe Sebastiani
Take a trip to the Eastern Shore of Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay to visit one of the best waterfowl hotspots in our area. Tour Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,286-acre island that narrowly escaped development in the 1950's, and is home to large numbers of waterfowl, raptors, and may be the northernmost home of the Brown-headed Nuthatch. See large numbers of Tundra Swan, Canada Geese, and many types of ducks. We should see many Bald Eagles in the area, which will be a special highlight of the trip. Stop at other key waterfowl and raptor areas on your trip to beautiful Chesapeake country.
Homeschool Program Series
The Delaware Nature Society offers outdoor educational programs to schools in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. Offered at Ashland Nature Center, our programs are designed to meet state and national standards and are appropriate for students of all ages. Each season we reserve dates to offer a program series exclusively for homeschool groups. The selected programs are appropriate to the time of year and for students age 6 through 12.
The cost for each program is $8 per student, or register for the entire series of four programs for $25 per student. If you are a homeshool parent or organizer and are interested in programs for older students or topics that are not covered in our fall offerings, please contact David Pragoff, School Program Coordinator at 302-239-2334, ext.133 or Email to request a copy of our School Program Brochure.
Homeschool Series #1 - Insect Studies
Course #: F06-072-AS Max: 15
Date: Friday, September 29 Time: 12:30-2:30 pm
Led by DNS staff
Students learn to identify and classify insects using identification keys and guide books. They investigate insects up close with mounted specimens, and describe what enables them to reproduce, grow, and survive in their environment. With nets and jars, students will collect insects to identify them and discover their life cycles and their role in the food chains of meadow, forest and stream ecosystems.
Homeschool Series #2 - Habitats & Ecosystems
Course #: F06-073-AS Max: 15
Date: Friday, October 13 Time: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Led by DNS staff
Students will explore forest, meadow, and pond habitats to determine which of these ecosystems has the greatest diversity of living things. In each habitat, students search for producers, consumers and decomposers and collect data on the non-living factors of the system that affect the growth and reproduction of the organisms within it. Using the data they collect at each ecosystem as evidence, students then determine which of the habitats was the most diverse and develop statements explaining why.
Homeschool Series #3 - Aquatic Environments
Course #: F06-074-AS Max: 15
Date: Friday, October 27 Time: 12:30-2:30 pm
Led by DNS Staff
Students use your senses to explore a marsh, pond, and stream and discover the importance of water as a habitat. They observe animal adaptations and the stages of life cycles as they investigate these habitats. Completing this lesson qualifies your class to adopt a stream.
Homeschool Series #4 - Earth Science & Field Geology
Course #: F06-075-AS Max: 15
Date: Friday, November 10 Time: 12:30-2:30 pm
Led by DNS Staff
Students learn about the rock cycle, where rocks come from, weathering, and the differences between a rock and a mineral. They will investigate Ashland's geological past and our local geology. They will look for evidence of geologic processes in action on an interpretive hike, use rock hammers to collect samples for identification, and classify rocks by formation type and composition.
2006 Summer Program Registration/Cancellation Policy
Membership/Summer Program Registration Guidelines
Priority registration for "Household PLUS" Members will take place between February 1 - February 15, 2006. To qualify for priority registration, as a Household PLUS Member, your membership application must have been received (postmarked/faxed) by December 31, 2005.
Current and new "Household" Members may register for programs beginning February 16, 2006.
Non-member registration begins May 16, 2006.
Note:
Children 1-1/2 - 15 must be listed under a Household or higher-level membership category to sign up for summer programs.
Members registering out-of-town family members must have a Household, or higher-level membership.
Reservations & payments
Pre-registration with payment in full for each program or trip is due ten days prior to the program date. No phone reservations are accepted. Registrants will receive a program confirmation including site map. If a class is full, you will be notified.
Class times and weather
Please drop off and pick up your child on time. Programs and trips are held rain or shine-please dress children accordingly. In case of inclement weather, activities may be modified and moved indoors.
Medical and emergency information
So that we may obtain the best care for your child in case of an emergency, please complete all the medical information on the program registration form.
Snacks and lunches
Each day includes a snack. Participants in day-long programs should bring a lunch and beverage. If your child has dietary restrictions or allergies, please note this information on the registration form. For residental camps and programs that include overnights, registrants will receive additional information.
Extra siblings
Class size is limited to maintain program quality. Please make sure all children are registered and within the appropriate age range.
Extended day service
Additional nature activities and a snack available for $10/day per child from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Sign up is for an entire week.
NOTE: Extended day service is not available at Coverdale Farm or Abbott's Mill Nature Center.
Photographs
Delaware Nature Society reserves the right to use any pictures of campers to promote Delaware Society's programs unless otherwise notified by parents.
Registrant withdrawal & refunds
Requests for withdrawal 10 days or more prior to the scheduled program date will be honored. Refunds for withdrawal less than 10 days prior to the scheduled program date will be issued only if the slot is filled. A $25 administrative fee will be withheld for each program withdrawal.
Program cancellations
Every effort will be made to avoid program cancellations.
Full classes
Waiting lists are maintained. No fee required.
Scholarships
Through the generosity of the Delaware garden clubs, MBNA America, PSEG, Wilmington Trust, and generous individuals, a limited number of scholarships are available for individuals needing assistance. For information, call 302-239-2334, ext. 133.
Souvenir Tee-shirts
As an option, you may purchase a custom designed, full-color Ashland Summer tee-shirt for only $7. Shirts, in both child and adult sizes, are available at Visitor Services inside the Ashland Nature Center.
© 2005 Delaware Nature Society
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