Enjoy full supermoon hike Saturday at Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center

De-spookify the season with an educational night hike under October's full supermoon! 

Want to know why animals make so many different creepy noises at night? 

Ranger Evelyn sheds a light on this topic with this all-ages program, teaching participants to recognize different nighttime animal noises. Let your eyes adapt to the dark and explore the Nature Center's forest with a hike under the light of the Harvest Moon. 

Wear comfortable shoes for walking and dress for the weather. Please meet outside the Nature Center 15 minutes before the start of the hike to get checked in. 

Free for all ages. Click HERE to register.

Shared from a press release.

Naturalist to lead night hike Wednesday at Osbonedale State Park in Derby

DERBY - Venture into a winter wonderland Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Osbornedale State Park as the moon lights your path. 

Join expert master naturalist  Vince Lasorsa as he guides you through the winter season’s trails, sharing insights into how the park's wildlife adapts to the changes. 

Embrace the serenity of the winter night, experience the crisp air, and enjoy the peaceful ambiance created by the moonlight.

Event information from CT DEEP calendar:

Date:	1/17/2024
Time:	6:30 p.m.
Location:	Kellogg Environmental Center
	500 Hawthorne Avenue
	Derby, CT 06418
Accessibility:	Yes
Directions:	https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Education/Kellogg/Kellogg-Environmental-Center-Directions-and-Contact-Information
Fee:	Free
Registration:	Register in advance by calling (203)734-2513 or e-mail susan.quincy@ct.gov
Contact:	Susan Quincy, (203)734-2513
Contact Email:	Susan.Quincy@ct.gov
Details:	Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.

Ansonia Nature Center to host full moon hike

 

ANSONIA - Join the Ansonia Nature Center naturalists at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 on a hike by the light of the moon! 

Listen for coyotes howling while we gather around. We will use our night vision and other senses for this after-dark park expedition in the park. 

Wear warm clothes and proper foot gear! Inclement weather or dangerous conditions will cancel the hike. 

Fee: $1 per person; all ages are welcome. Children must be with an adult. This hike is not stroller friendly. 

Please register in advance at ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org

This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature Center.

Ansonia Nature Center schedules July fun

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has scheduled fun and educational activities for July.

REGISTER NOW FOR SUMMER NATURE DAYS! 
July 31–Aug. 4, Aug. 7–11 (FULL), Aug. 14–18, 9 am–3 p.m.               
For children from 5 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will be not only educational but also a chance to explore the 156 acres the park offers. We explore a variety of the park’s habitats. A great choice for a fun late-summer experience! 
TUITION: $150 priority students (Ansonia residents and FANCI members), $175 all others. 

CREATURES OF LONG ISLAND SOUND –July 6, 11 a.m.This is a great weekday family program to learn all about the creatures of Long Island Sound. We will explore the Nature Center’s salt water tank and learn how to identify and hold common critters you will find at New England’s local beaches this summer. 
FEE: $6 per person.

DEEP FAMILY FISHING CLASS – July 8, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. The Nature Center is sponsoring this CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection C.A.R.E. Program class. 
The topics covered by the 2-hour classroom instruction are • Connecticut Waters • Fish Identification • How & Where Fish Live • Fishing Tackle & Techniques • Fishing Laws & Regulations • How to Tie a Strong Knot • How to Clean & Cook Your Catch • Sportsmanship & Safety • How to Cast The instruction will be immediately followed by fishing with the instructors in Redwing Pond. All equipment will be provided. Adults over the age of 16 must have a fishing license to participate in the fishing event. 
This FREE program, taught by Certified DEEP C.A.R.E. Instructors, is open to everyone 7 years old and up; children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. To pre-register or for more information call the Chief Instructor, Dave Connelly, 203-231-0946.

MOONSHINE AND FIREFLY HIKE – July 9, 8 p.m. Follow the Nature Center’s ranger along our wooded paths looking for glowworms in the leaf litter under the light of the moon.  
We’ll end the hike with a show by beetles in the Lampyridae family, better known as lightning bugs and fireflies. FEE: $3 per person. Wear shoes for  hiking.

MONDAY NIGHT TRAIL RUN – Mondays starting July 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m. This is a call to all of the runners who want something that is out of the ordinary! Ranger Dan will lead you through our 156-acre network of trails, while you burn off the weekend's extra calories. 

We guarantee that this FREE program is the best way to start off your week. Please register.

FAMILY ORGANIC GARDEN PROGRAM – Tuesdays, July 11, 18, 25; Aug. 1, 8, 15; Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26. The nature center will be continuing family-friendly activities in our organic garden. Learn about growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Dress appropriately; keep in mind you will get water and soil on your clothing. 

FREE, with the potential to take home fresh local produce!

CHRIS ROWLANDS: Puppeteer and Singer – July 28, 7 p.m. Rowlands is an award-winning singer and songwriter who offers an interactive kid-friendly presentation for those who love music and nature.  Rowlands brings animals to life through song, dance, puppets, and colorful props, to teach children about animals and their habitats.
Don’t miss this FREE musical program! Please call to register 203-736-1053.


This is a press release from the nature center.

Learn cartooning, take a hike, more at Ansonia Nature Center

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

CONNECTICUT TRAILS DAY – June 3, 9 a.m.

Join Nature Center Director Alison Rubelmann and Ranger Dan Bosques for this morning walk.

Discover the beauty of the Nature Center’s typical New England woodland during the CT Forest and Park Association’s annual Trails Day weekend. We might get lucky and find a lady slipper or two.

This moderate hike will also visit the settlement of the Paugasucks. Bring water, a snack, and bug spray, and wear sturdy shoes. Suitable for older children and adults. FREE.

CARTOONING THE NATURAL WORLD – June 10 and 24, 10 a.m.
Ranger Amie Ziner, our artist in residence, will teach four classes in cartooning nature! We will use on site materials, stuffed specimens, and live animal observation to complete four cartoons with a plant and animal in each one.

Improve your drawing accuracy and realism for fun, for story illustration, and for expressing yourself using pictures—a picture is worth a thousand words! For ages 10 to adult. Limited space. FEE: $5 per class.
Please call to register 203 736-1053.

SUMMER SUN SPOTS – June 10, 1 p.m.
Join Bob Carruthers for a chance to view the sun safely. Serious eye damage or blindness can result from even a brief glimpse of our star. Never view it directly with the naked eye or with any unfiltered optical device, such as binoculars or a telescope. Bob will use a special instrument to observe the sun spots safely. He will project an image of the sun through a telescope onto a white screen. He will teach you what the sun is, what makes it shine, and what it’s made from. FREE.

“A PASSION FOR BIRDS” WITH HENRY LAPPEN – June 11, 2 p.m.
In this family program, participants learn how birds adapt to their environment, and why they look and act the way they do. Be captivated by Henry Lappen’s beautiful masks and by his dances among the crowd demonstrating the form and motion of the different species. The audience joins him while learning some mime skills and imaging. FEE: $5 per person.

EXPLORE REDWING POND – June 14, 1 p.m.
An introduction for our young naturalists and adults to learn about the inhabitants of Redwing Pond. We will scoop with ponding nets to capture and identify aquatic insects, fish, frogs, and turtles. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes—you will get muddy and wet. FREE.

FANCI ANNUAL MEETING AND POTLUCK SUPPER – June 14, 5:30 p.m. If you’re a member of FANCI and can’t make the regular meetings, now is the time to find out what we’ve been up to! Reports and the election of officers will take place. Bring your own table setting and a dish to share (12 servings), and your ideas and suggestions for next year’s activities. Please register by June 9.

FIELD TRIP: Meigs Point Nature Center, Three Shoreline Ecosystems – June 21, 10 a.m.–noon
Meet the Ansonia Nature Center staff at the Meigs Point Nature Center, Hammonasset Beach State Park.
We will explore three very distinct shoreline ecosystems with the Meigs Point staff – rocky shore, sandy beach, and salt marsh. We will learn what makes a species invasive and how animals adapt in order to survive in the intertidal zone at the rocky shore. Along the sandy beach we’ll identify shells and seaweed as well as drag a seine net to see what lives in Long Island Sound. In the salt marsh we’ll discover its age and why marshes are important to people and Long Island Sound. 

Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear shoes that can get wet and muddy.
FEE: $5 per person.

Please visit www.MeigsPointNatureCenter.org for directions. We will meet promptly at 9:45 am. Limited space.

NIGHT HIKE: Strawberry Moon – June 23, 7 p.m.
Native American tribes traditionally kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. The name of this moon, given because strawberries are harvested in June, was universal to all Algonquin tribes. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Wear appropriate footwear. For all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult). FEE: $1.

And register now for SUMMER NATURE DAYS!
Open registration; choose one or more week-long sessions, each held Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dates: July 31–Aug. 4, Aug. 7–11, Aug. 14–18.

For children 5 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will be not only educational but also a chance to explore the 156 acres the park offers. We will visit a variety of habitats in the park such as wetlands, fields, and woodlands. Hikes, games, crafts, and cooking will be incorporated into our lessons. A great choice for a fun late-summer experience!

TUITION PER WEEK: $150 for priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members), $175 all others.

***ONGOING PROGRAMS***

• Sundays: Guided Hikes, 1 p.m. • Thursdays: Yoga for Your Health, 6:30 p.m. — call Pam, 203-888-4124 • Saturdays: Creature Features, noon

***THINGS TO COME (Summer 2017)*** • Firefly Hike • Summer Nature Days • Astronomy • Insects • Chris Rowlands


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

Mark CT Trails Day, learn outdoor skills, drumming at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has scheduled a variety of activities in June.

NATURE’S CHILD: Creatures of Redwing Pond – June 3, 10 a.m.

Join the Nature Center staff for a fun morning catching frogs and other creatures of Redwing Pond. We’ll start with a small talk on the animals that inhabit the pond. Then we will use our collection equipment to catch, observe, and release these critters. TUITION:  $7 per child ($5.00 for family-level FANCI members and Ansonia residents).  Please pre-register for this class for preschoolers and their adults.

CT TRAILS DAY – June 4, 9 a.m.

Join Nature Center director Alison Rubelmann and Ranger Dan Bosques for this morning walk.  Discover the flora and fauna of our typical New England woodland. This moderate hike will also visit the settlement of the Paugasucks. Bring water and snacks, and wear sturdy shoes. Suitable for older children and adults. FREE; call to register.

TREE I.D. HIKE – June 5, 1 p.m.

The towering giants that fill our forests have many uses and many names. Learn all about the trees we have here in CT, what they are used for, where they grow, which ones you can use for food, and which ones are best for lighting fires. You’ll learn not only how to I.D. trees by their leaves, but also by their bark! 

FREE. Please register and wear appropriate shoes.

FANCI ANNUAL MEETING – June 8, 5:30 p.m.

Join the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. to see what new and exciting projects they’ve been working on. Bring your own table setting and a casserole, salad, dessert, or other dish to share. Election of FANCI officers will take place at this meeting. Bring ideas for next year’s programs and projects.  Please register in advance.

PRIMITIVE FIRE SKILLS – June 11, 10 a.m.

Join Tom Nedweden, primitive technologist, in the art of fire making. Two hundred and fifty years ago this skill could have meant life or death. This ability, no longer widely known, will be shared with you. Learn where to find the best firewood when you’re stranded in the wilderness, the types of trees and other plants used to make tinder bundle, and how to create our very own coals to ignite the blaze! FEE: $5 per person.  Please register; all children must be accompanied by an adult.

OUTDOOR LIVING SKILLS: Lashing Project III – June 18, 10 a.m.

Join Ranger Dan for the final session of his Lashing Projects. Hike into the forest, find a suitable group of trees, and build a raised platform using what we find in nature! Our goal is to build a tree house using our lashing skills. 

FREE; please register in advance.

SUMMER SOLSTICE DRUMMING WITH CHE CARTAFALSA – June 18, 2 p.m.

Che Cartafalsa is a musician, instrument maker, and educator whose work has ranged from concert halls and orchestras to rock bands and West African street weddings. He has played in the Northeast as a member of Toubabou and the White-Eyed Lizard 

Band, Che passes on to his students what he has learned from African percussion masters, emphasizing instrumental technique, listening skills, and multilayered rhythms in percussion. Authentic instruments will help us learn traditional African rhythms. 
FREE; please register for this family program.

FULL STRAWBERRY MOON HIKE – June 20, 8 p.m.

The Algonquin tribes knew this moon as a time to gather the ripening strawberries. It is also known as the Rose Moon. Join the Nature Center rangers for this nighttime exploration of the park’s trails as we follow the scents of the summer through the forest and fields. This adventure is geared toward adults and children. Wear sturdy shoes. Enjoy the summer fire too! FEE: $1; please register.

SUMMER NATURE DAYS – Open registration; choose one or more of our week-long sessions, each held Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dates: Aug. 1–5, Aug. 8–12, and Aug. 15–19.

For children 5 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will be not only educational but also a chance to explore the 156 acres the park offers. We will visit a variety of habitats in the park such as wetlands, fields, and woodlands. A great choice for a fun late-summer experience! 
TUITION PER WEEK: $150 priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members); $175 all others.


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

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.

Learn wildlife rehab, take night hike at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, will host a wildlife rehabilitation open house and a night hike on April 4.

At 2 p.m. Dawn Sotir will introduce you to the “job description” of 
wildlife rehabilitators, what to expect if you become one, and what to do to provide “first aid” to a wild animal in need.
Free, but please register. Call 203-736-1053.

At 7:30 p.m. a Full Pink Moon Hike will be held.
Enjoy the sounds of spring with Nature Center guides as they lead you around the
wetlands to spot some spring amphibians by the light of the moon. 
For all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult), fee is $1. 
Please call to register.

Ansonia Nature Center to host pet loss support, maple sugar program

ANSONIA - These are some of the activities planned at the Ansonia Nature Center in March.

PET LOSS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Losing a beloved animal can be extremely 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 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 at 11 a.m. Sunday for this free session.

NATURE’S CHILD: Maple Sugar
“Sinsibucwat” time! The Native Americans celebrated this time of year, when the “sap runs from wood.”
Come to the Nature Center at 10:30 a.m. March 6 to learn more about our sweet trees!
Tuition: $7 per child ($5 for family-level FANCI members and Ansonia residents).
Please pre-register for this class for preschoolers and adult caregivers.

FULL WORM MOON HIKE   
At the time of this Spring Moon the ground begins to soften and earthworm casts reappear, inviting the is also known as the Sap Moon, as it marks the time when maple sap begins to flow and the annual tapping of maple trees begins.

Join Rangers Jess and Mike at 6 p.m. March 6 for this evening hike.

Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Fee is $1.

To register for these programs call 203-736-1053.
The nature center is at 10 Deerfield Road.


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