Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center to celebrate Autumnfest

Ansonia Nature Center photo

ANSONIA - Celebrate Autumnfest with the staff and the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 22.

Take a ride over hill and dale in a horse-drawn story wagon, where you’ll hear some spooky Halloween tales! 
Learn about bats, spiders, and owls! Have some fresh apple cider and baked goods. 

Visit the Nature Shop to buy some creepy and crawly nature-related items. Enjoy nature-related exhibitors and vendors. Try your hand at pumpkin painting, get your face painted, and make some original crafts. 

All proceeds will benefit the nature center’s exhibits. The annual event is rain or shine. 
No admission fee. The nature center is at 10 Deerfield Road.

For more information call 203-736-1053.


This information is shared from Facebook.

Make a wreath, take a hike, celebrate autumn at Ansonia Nature Center

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

BITTERSWEET WREATHS – Oct. 1, 2 p.m.

Bring clippers and gardening gloves for this FREE workshop led by Ranger Dawn. When you collect these beautiful orange-berried vines, you’re actually helping the park by removing this invasive plant species. Please call to pre-register. 

NATURE’S CHILD: Leafy Critters – Oct. 7, 10 a.m.

Join our ranger to create an animal out of leaves that have already fallen from the trees and shrubs in the park. 

Go for a fall discovery hike to learn why leaves change color! 
TUITION: $7 per child ($5 for family-level FANCI members and Ansonia residents). Please call to pre-register for this class for preschoolers and their adults. 

HIKE AND DRAW WITH AMIE ZINER – Oct. 8 and Nov. 12, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Ranger Amie, ANRC’s resident artist, will teach this FREE outdoor drawing class at the Nature Center. We will walk to a number of pretty spots along the trails, collecting small things to draw and stopping to do some landscapes, in pencil and watercolor. 
Bring your own sketchbook and pencils, portable watercolor and brush (optional), a portable stool if desired, and a water bottle. You must be able to walk on an easy trail for a mile or two. Please preregister.

ASTRONOMY: Lunar Sketching – Oct. 8, 7 p.m.
Come to Ansonia's darkest location for some fun viewing the moon with Bob Carruthers and the New Haven Astronomical Society. Get a chance to see the first-quarter moon's surface on Bob's TV camera as well as sketch its craters. Bring a clipboard and pencil. 

Class size is limited; please register in advance. 

MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION FOR BEGINNERS – Oct. 9, 1 p.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 CT and members of the CT Mycological Society 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: $5 per person; call to register.

PET LOSS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP – Oct. 9 and Nov. 13, 1 p.m.
Losing a beloved animal can be tragic and 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.

BACK TO BASICS: Soap Making with Goat’s Milk - Oct. 15, 2 p.m.
This two-hour class will provide the basic skills you’ll need to make wonderful soaps! 
Attendees will learn basic safety and traditional techniques required for this time-honored craft which makes great gifts—or soaps to keep for your own use. Soap samples and recipes will be provided. Bring a small container for your take-home samples. 
Instructor: Dawn Sotir. Fee: $10 per person. Registration required.

FULL HUNTER’S MOON HIKE – Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m. 
This full moon is often referred to as the Full Hunter’s Moon, Blood Moon, or Sanguine Moon. Many moons ago Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons. The leaves are falling from trees, the deer are fattened, and it’s time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead. 
Historically this moon was honored and served as an important feast day among many tribes. Join the Nature Center guides as we lead you around our park by the light of the moon. For all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult). Wear comfortable walking shoes for uneven terrain. Fee: $1. Please register.

AUTUMNFEST – Oct. 22, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Celebrate this wonderful season with the staff and the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center (FANCI)! Take a ride over hill and dale in our horse-drawn story wagon, where you’ll hear some spooky Halloween tales! Meet some bats, spiders, and owls! Have some fresh apple cider and baked goods. 
Visit the Nature Shop to buy some creepy, crawly nature-related items. Enjoy nature-related exhibitors and vendors. You can try your hand at pumpkin painting, get your face painted, children’s games, live music, explore a maze, go on a spooky hike and make a craft. 
All proceeds will benefit the Ansonia Nature Center. 
Rain or shine. No admission fee. 

FALL DISCOVERY HIKE – Oct. 30, 1 p.m.
Join the Nature Center naturalist for a stroll through our woodlands, old fields, and wetlands. Enjoy the beauty and crisp fall air while learning about New England’s flora and fauna. 
Wear appropriate shoes for this moderate hike. Free. 

Call 203-736-1053 for information and to register for all programs.

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

Autumnfest slated Oct. 17 at Ansonia Nature Center

Enjoy the season, support playground project 

Visitors enjoy a horse-drawn hay wagon ride at a previous Autumnfest at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. / Contributed photo

  

ANSONIA - Celebrate this wonderful season with the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center at Autumnfest. The event will run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 17.

Take a ride over hill and dale in a horse drawn, story hay wagon, where you’ll hear some spooky Halloween tales!  

Learn about bats, spiders and owls! Have some fresh-squeezed apple cider and freshly-made donuts, then visit the Friends Nature Shop to buy some creepy and crawly nature-related gifts. 

You can try your hand at pumpkin carving, get your face painted, and make some creative crafts. 
All proceeds will benefit the Nature Center’s playground project efforts. 

The fest is rain or shine. No park admission fee. 

For more information call 203-736-1053.

Learn about bees, identify trees, take a hike at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has announced its calendar for October. 

Check out the variety of fun activities offered!

NATURE’S CHILD: Seeds and Pods – Oct. 2, 10 a.m.

We’ll learn that some plants produce thousands of seeds, while other types produce only a few, but all natural plant fruits have them for a very special reason. Find out about plants’ clever “travel plans” too! 
Tuition: $7 per child ($5 for family-level Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. members and Ansonia residents). 
Please pre-register for this class for preschoolers and their adults. 

BITTERSWEET WREATHS –  Oct. 3, 2 p.m.

Bring clippers and gardening gloves for this workshop led by Ranger Dawn. 
When you collect these beautiful orange-berried vines, you’re actually helping the park by removing this invasive plant species. 
Please register in advance. Free.

AUTUMN TREE ID HIKE – Oct. 10, 9:30–11:30 a.m. 

Enjoy the season’s beautiful colors while learning helpful characteristics used to identify trees—leaves, buds, twigs, bark, nuts and overall shape. 
Naturalists Barbara and Peter Rzasa and Viola Waldo will lead hikers along the two-mile Donna Lindgren Tree ID Trail, where over 40 trees have been marked with descriptive signs. This is a family-oriented hike appropriate for school-aged children.  Free.

BEEKEEPING WITH ERAST MARKIW – Oct. 10, 10 a.m.

Erast Markiw, a local beekeeper for over 20 years, emphasizes that honeybees are important to us because they pollinate many of our local crops and native plants. He will show the essential parts of a hive, demonstrate how to shave sealed comb in preparation for honey extraction, and give us Information on how to get started with beekeeping. 
Come enjoy his presentation and have a chance to chew on freshly shaven beeswax with honey.

Please register. Free.

    

PET LOSS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP – Oct. 11, Nov. 8, Dec. 13, 1 p.m.

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

FORESTER WEBELOS – Oct. 12 (Columbus Day), 10 a.m.

Calling all Scouts! Join the Nature Center naturalist for an interpretive hike and earn your badge. Call to register. $5 per child.

AUTUMNFEST – Oct. 17, 11 am – 4 p.m.

Celebrate this wonderful season with the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center. 
Take a ride over hill and dale in our horse-drawn story hay wagon, where you’ll hear some spooky Halloween tales!  
Learn about bats, spiders and owls! Have some fresh-squeezed apple cider and fresh-made donuts, then visit the Friends Nature Shop to buy some creepy and crawly nature-related gifts. 
You can try your hand at pumpkin carving, get your face painted, and make some creative crafts. 
All proceeds will benefit the Nature Center’s playground project efforts. Rain or shine. 
No park admission fee. 

SIRIUS COYOTE: Musical Performance –  Oct. 23, 7 p.m.

The duo Sirius Coyote (Giovanni Ciarlo and Kathleen Sartor) focuses on environmental awareness, community building, sustainability, and diversity through music emphasizing the culture of Latin America and the Caribbean. 
The audience will participate in singing, clapping and playing upbeat, fun original songs in Spanish and English. Free.

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP –  Oct. 24, 10 a.m.

Join Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo for a watercolor workshop.  Be inspired by nature’s beauty while painting at the Nature Center’s natural environment.  
Taxidermy models, as well as the resident animals, are available to paint. Please call to register for this free event. For ages 7 and up.

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY –  Oct. 24, 6 p.m.

Join “Bobcat” Carruthers and members of the New Haven Astronomical Society for another great night. Did you ever wonder why we have four seasons or why the moon goes through different phases?  
Learn why during a good old fashioned slide show and short lecture inside and then venture outside (weather permitting) to view the night sky with the Astronomical Society’s high-tech telescopes. Free. Please pre-register.

FALL FOLIAGE RANGER HIKE – Oct. 25, 1 p.m.

Join the Nature Center naturalist for a stroll through our woodlands, old fields, and wetlands. Enjoy the beauty and the crisp fall air while learning about New England’s flora and fauna.  
Wear appropriate shoes for this moderate hike. Please register in advance. Free.

Call 203-736-1053 for more information on any programs. 

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

Ansonia Nature Center plans cleanup, Autumnfest

Photo from center website

ANSONIA - Calling all Scouts and high school student volunteers!
Need to do community service and don't know where to go?

The staff of the Ansonia Nature Center can always use your help. Jobs include trail work, leaf cleanup, and fall garden preparation.

A cleanup is scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 13, Columbus Day, a school holiday.

The nature center is at 10 Deerfield Road. Please register in advance by calling 203-736-1053. 

Volunteer forms may be picked up in the office or downloaded from ansonianaturecenter.org.

Autumnfest on tap

The nature center's annual Autumnfest celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18, rain or shine.

Climb aboard a horse-drawn wagon with the Friends of the Ansonia Nature
Center (FANCI) as we clip-clop over hill and meadow.
Listen to the history of the park and maybe a scary story or two.

You can try your hand at pumpkin carving, get your face painted, make some creative crafts, and learn about the wild animals associated with All Hallows Eve.

Enjoy some fresh-squeezed apple cider, sample our delicious cinnamon donuts, and take home some fresh homemade baked goodies.

All proceeds will benefit the Nature Center's programs and wildlife rehabilitation efforts.

Park admission is free.