Learn about birds, astronomy, orienteering at Ansonia Nature Center in May

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has scheduled a variety of activities in May for all age groups.

FITNESS AWARENESS JOG – Mondays through June 27, 5 p.m.

Start your week off by jogging the path to a healthier you. Every Monday, join Ranger Dan on a Fitness Awareness Jog. This is your chance to cruise our trails on foot, sweat out impurities, and enjoy the sights and smells of our 156-acre nature preserve. 

We kick off at 5 p.m. with a stretch, then gently jog our two miles of trails for an hour and a half. 
All experience levels are welcome, so be sure to bring a friend or two! 
Free but please register.

NATURE’S CHILD: Birds – May 6, 10 a.m.

If we find a baby bird this spring, what should we do? Join one of our Nature Center naturalists to learn about the life of a baby bird. Hear a short story, make “binoculars,“ and then take a short scavenger hunt hike. 
Tuition: $7 per child ($5 for family-level FANCI members and Ansonia residents). Please register for this class for preschoolers and their adults.

WILD EDIBLES – May 7, 10 a.m.

Backyards, vacant lots, woodlands, and open fields support tons of food and medicines for the natural collector! Join Rangers Jessica and Dawn for this in-depth study class. 
The rangers will lead us in identification of wild plants, and we’ll taste and smell some along the way. Free. Please pre-register; class size limited.

PET LOSS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP – May 8, June 12, 11 a.m.

Losing a beloved animal can a very emotional time for humans. There are numerous resources to turn to for the loss of a human loved one; however, there are limited options for when we lose an animal. 
Susan Wilson has created this support group for those who have lost an animal or have one in the process of moving on. Join us for these free sessions.

ASTRONOMY: Metonic Calendar – May 13, 7 p.m.

Gaianne Jenkins, a retired mathematician with an interest in paleo-astronomy, will teach us about the lunar calendar and phases of the moon for any date in the past 300 years or for the next 300 years. 

She will be handing out examples of metonic calendars for you to take home. 
Afterward, join Bob Carruthers and the New Haven Astronomical Society for a chance to see the first quarter moon and other objects through their high powered telescopes. Free; please register.

OUTDOOR LIVING SKILLS: Lashing Project II – May 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Join Ranger Dan in creating Lashing Project series! Summer is almost here and that means campouts, fort-building, imagination, and fun! Using poles from dead trees, natural cordage, elbow grease, and some basic knot-tying, help build a watchtower on the Ansonia Nature Center lawn. 
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free; please register.

ORIENTEERING FOR BEGINNERS – May 14, 2 p.m.

Our assistant director Wendy will teach this basic orienteering and map reading class, which is a good indoor/outdoor program for families. Once the basics are learned, we will take you outdoors to follow our orienteering course. Class size is limited to 15 children at least 7 years of age, each accompanied by an adult. 

Tuition: $5 per person. 
Call for information about suitable compasses or borrow one of ours. Please register.

MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION FOR BEGINNERS – May 21, 10 a.m.

What are those weird things that pop up in the woods after the rain? Are you mystified by wild mushrooms? Curious? Scared? Or do they make you hungry? Join a foraging family who hunt, photograph, identify, and eat the fungi in New England. The three foragers are from southeast Connecticut and members of the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society, Connecticut–Westchester Mycological Association, and the North American Mycological Association. 
This program will dispel myths, teach how to safely identify mushrooms, and discuss mycophagy, the cooking and eating of wild mushrooms. Bring mushrooms you find in your yard and we’ll use our newly learned skills to identify them. 

Fee is $5 per person; please call to register.

FULL FLOWER MOON HIKE –  May 21, 7:30 p.m.

Flowers spring forth in abundance this month, so join our Nature Center staff for this nighttime fragrance hike. Some Algonquin tribes knew this full moon as the Corn Planting Moon. Fee: $1; please register.

NATURE AS A HEALER WITH MARLOW D. J. SHAMI – May 22, 2 p.m.

Join Marlow Shami—teacher, artist, and writer—for an experiential workshop in experiencing the simple power of nature’s healing effects through guided meditation, natural-healing touch, and out-of-doors activities with nature. 
Participants learn simple yet profound methods of connecting one’s inner nature with the web of life, and in the process, deepen sensitivity to Nature’s wisdom. 
No meditation experience necessary. All that’s needed is a blanket/mat if you prefer to lie down for meditation and comfortable clothes for in and out of doors. 
Free. Please register in advance.

Register for all programs by calling 203-736-1053.


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