Celebrate Groundhog Day Saturday at Ansonia Nature Center

 

Ansonia Nature Center to celebrate Groundhog Day

ANSONIA - Groundhog Day is coming up! 

Come to the Nature Center at 2 p.m. Feb. 4 to explore a groundhog’s natural habitat while you learn about this quirky American folk holiday. 

Watch a shadow puppet show by Ranger Evelyn, then craft your own puppets to take home. 

Please register in advance at ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org

For all ages – limited space available. FEE: $3 materials.

The Nature Center is at 10 Deerfield Lane.

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Recuperation journey: Looking out the window

 ... on a gray Groundhog Day.

Huntington Branch Library to host virtual 'groundhog themed' story time

SHELTON - Join Miss Jessica on Thursday at 11:15 a.m. for the story Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller and an accompanying activity! 
Be sure to register with an email address to receive the Zoom link. Remember to pick up your activity kit at Huntington Branch Library, 41 Church St., by the end of the day today in order to participate!

Register here: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=2661&EventID=453215&PK=

Make a craft at Seymour Public Library to celebrate Groundhog Day

SEYMOUR - Craft tables are back at Seymour Public Library, 46 Church St.

The public is invited to stop in anytime today and Wednesday [Groundhog Day] between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. and make a Groundhog Day craft!

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Celebrate Groundhog Day, make valentines at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - Fun and educational activities are on tap in February at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road. 

GROUNDHOG DAY CELEBRATION – Feb. 2, 3 p.m.

Come celebrate Groundhog Day this Sunday at the Ansonia Nature Center! 
Go outside and explore a groundhog’s natural habitat while you learn about this quirky American folk holiday. We will head back inside for a fun and interactive shadow puppet performance followed by a craft activity where you will be able to make your own shadow puppet to take home. Class limit 12. For all ages. MATERIALS FEE: $3.

ECO-ART VALENTINE WORKSHOP – Feb 14, 1:30 p.m.

Create gifts for your loved ones out of recycled materials – Valentine boxes, cards, paper bracelets, and some other sweet surprises.  
This will be a fun day to share with your family and friends! Call to register for this FREE program. For all ages.

WINTER WONDERLAND – Feb. 18, 1 p.m.

Chilly, snowy days are calling your kids outdoors. Come for fun winter activities on this day off from school. There’s nothing better than gliding through the cool air on your sled. We will take the whole family to our awesome hill for sledding fun, but toddlers should ride with a parent. Everyone should be well-bundled in layers to stay warm. After our adventure we will come inside for hot cocoa and a chance to meet one of the Nature Center’s animals. FREE for families of all ages. Registration required; families must bring their own sleds.

NATURE EXPLORERS  – Wednesdays, Feb. 19 and 26; March 4 and 11, 10 a.m.

Join us for this 4-week program for children ages 2–5 with their adult explorer. Participants will have fun exploring nature every week in these outdoor classes. 
The classes are loosely structured, influenced by the seasons and the interests of the children. We will go outside to explore nature every class so please dress for the weather. Classes will end with a light  snack. 
TUITION: $40 for all 4 weeks, Class is limited to 10 children ages 2–5. Please call to register.

LITTLE SCIENTISTS – Feb. 29, 1 p.m.

Join us for this exciting hands-on program by Little Scientists. Please call to register.

Station 1 (for ages 5–7): “Why Is It Cold Outside?” During this lesson your children will learn why the weather gets colder and it often snows outside. They will get an opportunity to observe what’s different outside when it’s cold!  Winter conditions are due to the part of the Earth that we live on being tilted away from the sun. The effect of less sunshine is that it’s colder. Lakes and ponds freeze over.  Short days, snow, and a change in the animals seen outdoors also mark the season. FEE: $6 per child.

Station 2 (for ages 8–11): “How Do Animals Survive the Winter?” During this lesson your children will learn what animals, as living organisms, do to survive through cold and winter conditions. They will learn about how animals adapt to frigid temperatures and are able to conserve body heat. Different types of animals adjust in different ways, using their protective coverings, such as feathers, fur, and even layers of fat, which help insulate them against the cold environment. FEE: $6 per child.

* * *  ONGOING PROGRAMS  * * *  

Sunday Guided Hikes – Sundays, 1 p.m.

Join a Nature Center guide on Sunday afternoons for fun, exercise, and learning about our trails! See the above listings for hikes with a specific theme.

Fiber Arts Group – Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Get together with others to work on your fiber arts projects! Bring any kind of fiber work—knitting, felting, crocheting, etc. A great way to dedicate time to your handiwork and socialize too. FREE.

Creature Features – Saturdays, noon 

Come to meet our furry, scaly, and feathery animal ambassadors. You’ll have the chance to touch and hold them in this FREE family program for all ages.

Recuperation journey: Just for fun

Last week I found feline friend Linus sitting in our 'winter village' by the window. 
I couldn't call it a 'Christmas village' this year because I didn't put it up until Groundhog Day. Woops.
I plan to take it down by St. Patrick's Day! 

Better late than never - that's my motto.

Learn to ID trees, go snowshoeing, more at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, offers a variety of fun and educational programs in February.

Grumpy Groundhogs - Feb. 2, 1:30 p.m. You'd be grumpy too if someone forced you to wake up when you weren't ready! 
For all ages. A short hike to discover a groundhog den, a craft, and a story. Please call to register.

It's All in the Bark: Winter Tree ID - Feb. 3, 1 p.m. Tired of straining your eyes to discern leaves to determine what type of tree you are looking at? Never worry about leaves again! During this guided hike Ranger Jess will show you how to identify at least 20 common woodland trees by their bark alone! For adults and children 9 and up. Dress for the weather and wear footwear appropriate for king. Free. Please call to register.

Sweet Treats for Valentines - Feb. 9, 1:30 p.m. Join Ranger Dawn and make a basket filled with chocolate dipped goodies that we will make for your favorite Valentine! 
Please call to register. Fee is $5 for a small basket, $10 for a large. 

Fundraiser: Creature Parade - Feb. 16, noon-3:30 p.m. Our nature center animals serve as ambassadors for their species, here for the purpose of teaching about the natural world. This is a chance to get up close and learn about each animal individually, how they've adapted and where they came from. Cost of their care is considerable; contributions help with their specialized diets, daily care, and creature comforts. 
You'll get a chance to hold a dove, pet a snake, and high-five a spider. Each animal will get a 20-minute spotlight during this fundraiser. 
A schedule of animal showings will be listed on the center's website. The program is for all ages. 

Donation: $6 a person, $15 a family.

Snowshoe Sunday: Getting ready for Bluebirds - Feb. 17, 1 p.m. Need to get outside? Enjoy the winter with this guided hike through our woodlands and fields. 
Join Ranger Dan and snowshoe around the nature center grounds to clean out the bluebird boxes. Bluebirds will start nesting again in March and April. Great exercise and fun for adults and children 8 and up. Snowshoes available to borrow. Please register.

Winter break: Winter Wonderland activities - Feb. 13, 1-3 p.m. Come for fun outdoor activities on this day off from school. There's nothing better than going through the cool air on your sled. We'll take the whole family to our hill for sledding fun. Toddlers should ride with a parent. Everyone should be well-bundled in layers to stay warm. After our adventure we'll come inside for hot cocoa and a chance to meet one of the Nature Center's animals. Free. Registration required. Families must bring their own sleds. 
The Art of Animal Tracking with Andy Dobos - Feb. 23, 10 a.m.  Naturalist and educator Andy Dobos will take you on a wildlife tracking walk through the nature center's fields and forests. There are always clues left behind by the animals for us to decipher, telling a story of their habits and lives. Get to know our beloved wildlife that much better. 
Wear good boots and extra layers; there will be a lot of standing and time off trail. For ages 6 and up. Fee is $6 a person.

Nature Explorers - Wednesdays, Feb. 27, March 6,13, 20, 10 a.m. Join us for this four-week preschool/toddler program for ages 2-5 and their adult explorer. Participants will have fun exploring nature every week. Classes are loosely structured and influenced by the seasons; there will be a short hike so please dress for the weather. Classes end with a light snack (provided or bring your own) and conversation. 
Tuition is $40 for all four weeks, space permitting. Cash or check payable to Ansonia Nature Center due at first class. Limited to 10 children. 

Maple Syrup Program for Families - March 2, 1 p.m. Join us as the Nature Center staff presents an introduction to making maple syrup the old-fashioned way, and help us to choose just the right tree for tapping into for this sweet treat!
Fee is $6 per person. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call to register. 

Call 203-736-1053 to register for programs.

This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature Center. 

Take New Year's Day hike, make fiber art, more at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has scheduled a variety of fun activities for January.

NEW YEAR’S DAY HIKE – Jan 1, 10 a.m.

Bring a healthy start to your new year at the Nature Center. Our ranger will conduct this brisk walk while you learn a little natural history trivia along the way. FREE. Call to register. Inclement weather cancels.

REPURPOSE OLD CANDLES - Jan. 13, 2:30 p.m.  

Wondering what to do with all of your old, burnt out candles? Bring them to this class! Ranger Jess will show you how to melt down wax from your old candles and make brand new candles out of them. 
Bring an old glass jar with you to hold your new candle. For adults and children 11 and up. 
Pre-register as class size is limited. 
MATERIALS FEE: $3 per person.

23rd ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S LEGACY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE – Jan. 20, noon–4 p.m.; Jan. 21, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Join the Nature Center at the Yale Peabody Museum, 170 Whitney Ave., New Haven. 
The Peabody will once again offer world-class performances and educational activities for families and visitors of all ages, in honor of Dr. King and his efforts to ensure justice for all people. 
Admission to the Peabody is FREE for the two days of this event.

NATURAL FIBER CREATIONS – Jan. 26, 1:30 p.m.

Make your own natural fiber bracelet with Ranger Amie. Materials from the Nature Center grounds will be used to create this simple woven bracelet. For the ambitious, learn how to make a beautiful basket using a birds’-nest weave. Parents with children ages 5 and up are welcome to join. 
Bring a pair of scissors; all other materials will be provided. FREE. Call to register.

FEBRUARY

GRUMPY GROUNDHOGS – Feb. 2, 1:30 p.m.

You’d be grumpy too if someone forced you to wake up when you weren’t ready! Come learn all about the best winter nappers of all. For all ages. A short hike to discover a groundhog den, a craft and a story are planned. Pre-registration required. FREE.

IT’S ALL IN THE BARK: Winter Tree ID – Feb. 3, 1 p.m.

Tired of straining your eyes trying to discern leaves to determine what type of tree you are looking at? Never worry about leaves again! During this guided hike, Ranger Jess will show you how to identify at least 20 common woodland trees by their bark alone! 
For adults and children 9 and up. 
Dress for the weather and wear footwear appropriate for hiking. Call to register. FREE.

For registration or information call 203-736-1053.

***ONGOING PROGRAMS***  

Creature Features – Saturdays, noon  

Come to meet our furry, scaly, and feathery animal ambassadors. You’ll have the chance to touch and hold them in this FREE family program for all ages.

Sunday Guided Hikes – Sundays, 1 p.m.

Join a Nature Center guide on Sunday afternoons for fun, exercise, and learning about our trails! See the above listings for hikes with a specific theme.

Fiber Arts Group – Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Get together with others to work on your fiber arts projects! Bring any kind of fiber work—knitting, felting, crocheting, etc. A great way to dedicate time to your handiwork and socialize too.

This is a press release from the Center.

Recuperation journey: Cold sunset on Groundhog Day

It's nice to head outside to take a sunset photo at 5 p.m. instead of at 4:15 p.m. The days are getting longer, slowly but surely.