For your pleasure, every Saturday and Sunday there is a naturalist-guided walk at 1:15 and another at 2:15, leaving from the Blue Heron Nature Center.
NATURE LIBRARY - Visit Blue Heron Nature Center’s NATURE LIBRARY, a collection of guidebooks, books & magazines about nature in the NYC area -- for adults, youngsters & children. The NATURE LIBRARY is available daily, except Monday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Nature Center -- for your study & enjoyment.
Special Events
Saturday & Sunday, March 23 & 24 - 12:30-3:30 pm
Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating - A program for late teens and adults. Try your hand at Psyanky, the ancient Ukranian art of egg-dyeing. Karen McKernan will lead you through the intricate steps of creating a beautifully colored egg. For those repeat students, please bring your Kyska (tool). Space is limited, so reserve early!
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: 718-317-1732
Winter Programs
Saturday, Jan 26 - 2:30-4 pm
Botanical Illustration Series I: Plant Structure - Draw plants with illustrator Skye Suter. Explore varied structures in botanical forms. Pre-registration required by Jan. 15. Please call 917-750-6364 for registration and requirements.
Sunday, Jan. 27 - noon-1:30 pm
De-Stressing with Herbs - What herbs on your kitchen spice shelf can ease the stresses of daily life- Herbalist Gert Coleman will show you some simple herbal teas and other remedies. Call 718-356-9235 for more information.
Sundays, Jan. 27, February 10, 24, March 3, 10 - 6-8 pm
Owl Prowl - Join Cliff Hagen, naturalist, as he explores the dark woodlands of Blue Heron Park in search of our nocturnal neighbors. Screech owls and great horned owls frequent the park and a quiet stroll through the woods often allows us to hear these raptors of the night. Dress warmly and enjoy the crisp, winter night. For more information call Cliff Hagen at 718-313-8591.---
Tuesdays, Jan. 29, Feb. 5, 19, March 5, 19 - 3:00-4:30 pm
Yoga for the Young at Heart - Chair Yoga - The best remedy for seniors is yoga. Prevent stiff muscles and achy joints. Lift your spirits and calm your mind. Creating greater flexibility gives you a new sense of self. Instructor: Terry Seaman Information: 718-356-0106
Friday, Feb. 1 - 7:30-9:30 pm (snow date Friday, Feb. 8)
Intro-Overview of Human Evolution - First in a series of lectures that will trace human evolution from ape-like ancestors in the trees of African jungles to the emergence of Homo Sapiens (us) and to the birth of farming and the first civilizations. For more info, call Len Warner 718-948-0230
Saturdays, Feb. 2, March 2 - 11 am-12:30 pm
Medicinal & Useful Plants in Ecosystems - Indulge your senses. Stimulate your taste buds, imagination, and let them lead you to more vibrant health habits. Learn how to use plants, spices and herbs that heal in your daily life. Join John Paul Learn to discuss their traditional medicinal usage and how to use them in cooking, preparing teas, and baths as well as their uses in various agricultural applications. If weather permits, we-ll walk on a trail and you will learn how to identify local plants. Please call 718-619-5051 for more information or to pre-register.
Thursdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 - 3:00-4:30 pm
Learn to Crochet - Crochet is easy to learn; it can stand on its own or add pizzazz to your knitting. During this four week program, students will learn the basic crochet stitches and symbols, and read patterns with ease. This is a basic how-to class for those with little or no crochet experience. Plan to attend all four classes. All ages are welcome. Instructor: Kathleen Ruoti
Registration: 718-967-6158
Saturday, Feb. 23 - 2:30-4 pm
Botanical Illustration Series II: Shading and Light - Draw plants with illustrator Skye Suter. See how light plays off of plant forms. Pre-registration required by Feb. 15. Please call 917-750-6364 for registration and requirements.
Saturday, Feb. 23 - 1-2:30 pm
Herbs for Winter Health - Sore throat, colds, flu, dry skin- Join herbalist Gert Coleman to learn what herbs you can use to make delicious herbal teas and other remedies for common winter and spring ailments. Call 718-356-9235 for more information.
Sunday, Feb. 24 - 10:30 am-1 pm
Mid-Winter Feeder Watch- Hike With Mike - Join naturalist and educator Mike Shanley as we watch the bird feeders from inside the warmth of the Blue Heron Park nature center. We will be identifying common feeder birds, and looking for uncommon and rare feeder birds. Coffee and light snacks will be served. At noon, we will head out for a short walk through the park as we look for other winter birds and wildlife.--A limited number of binoculars are-available, so please bring binoculars if you can, and dress accordingly.Call Mike Shanley at 917-753-7155 for more info
Saturday, March 9 - 1-2:30 pm
Walk on the Wild Side-- Join herbalist Gert Coleman to see what plants are coming back to life as spring comes back to Blue Heron Park. Call 718-356-9235 for more information.
Saturday, March 23 - 2:30-4 pm
Botanical Illustration Series III: Plants as Still-Life - Draw plants with illustrator Skye Suter. Illustrate plants in a setting. Pre-registration required by March 15. Please call 917-750-6364 for registration and requirements.
Sunday, March 24 - 1:30-3:30 pm
Early Spring Hike With Mike - Join naturalist and educator Mike Shanley as we discover the early signs of Spring at Blue Heron Park. We will be doing plant and animal identification, looking for snakes and critters, as well as looking for birds. This hike
is perfect for-fulfilling-nature based badge requirements for boy and girl scouts. Please bring binoculars, and dress accordingly. Call Mike Shanley at 917-753-7155 to reserve your spots.
Children's Programs
Doodlebug FunTime
Series 1 - Jan 18, Feb 8, March 8
Series 2 - Jan 25, Feb 15, March 15
Kick off the weekend early with some Friday afternoon fun. Join Kathleen Hagen for storytelling, music & crafts. Registration is a must in order for us to have a craft project for each little one. Please restrict registration to one series only. Fridays, 1:00 pm
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: 718-227-8839
Kids & Kritters
All programs take place on Saturdays, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Dress your child weather appropriate. (Coats, hats, gloves and shoes you don-t mind getting dirty) Part of these programs will take place outdoors. All programs will include a craft, story
or game indoors. Instructor: Nancy Zawada Clair 917-751-0071
Jan. 19 - Winter Hike - Start the year off as we become familiar with our trails and search for evidence of our animal friends. Jan. 26 - Winter Birds - Why do they leave- Why do they stay- Come join us and find out.
Feb. 9 - Animal Tracking - Whose footprints are whose- Come join us and find out.
Feb. 23 - Marvelous Mammals - Learn about the mammals of Blue Heron Park.
March 16 - Snakes - St. Pat may have drove the snakes out of Ireland, but see what snakes still live at Blue Heron Park.
March 23 - Spring Hike - Let-s explore the ponds and wood of Blue Heron.
Krafty Kids
Join Nancy Zawada Clair and wiggle, hop or fly over to the Nature Center and join us for some Saturday afternoon crafty fun. These Programs are free, though pre-registration is required so we have enough materials for crafts for each child: 917-751-0071. 1-2 pm on the following Saturdays:
Jan. 19 - Crystals and Snow - Join us in making a crystal snowflake.
Jan. 26 - Winter Bird Craft
Feb. 9 - Valentine Wreathes - Join us as we make a sweetheart wreath of natural items.
Feb. 23 - Potato Prints - Bring your own T-shirt and we-ll bring the potatoes! Make a beautiful print shirt with this tuber! March 16 - Pinecone Leprechauns - Make a mischievous fellow to take home, and maybe you will find a pot o-gold!
March 23 - Nature Boxes - Come decorate a box with a natural accent. Call to register.
Natural Science Club
Programs for curious nature-oriented students ages 8-12. This Club will meet with Clay Wollney on the days listed with different topics relating to natural science. On the following Sundays from 2-3:30 pm. INFORMATION: 718-967-3542
Jan. 20 - 2-3:30 pm
Keeping Warm: Protection from the cold is important for both animals and humans in the winter. Participants will use both natural and man-made materials for experimentation to discover their insulating properties.
Feb. 17 - 2-3:30 pm
Identifying Minerals: The properties used to identify minerals will be studied through the use of some simple techniques conducted by the participants. In the process of learning to identify minerals, participants will perform hardness tests, streak tests, and observe the reaction of minerals to acids using common household materials. Fluorescent minerals will also be observed.
March 17 - 2-3:30 pm
Signs of Spring: With the end of winter only a few days away, indications of the coming spring season have already begun to appear. Participants will search for evidence that the plant and animal life of the park is preparing to gear up for the return of warmer weather.
Explorers of the Wild
Explorers can learn a lot about the environment from Clay Wollney. Clay is a Naturalist, a science teacher at Staten Island Academy, & a featured columnist for the Staten Island ADVANCE. Clay is also known as -Mr. Discovery- at the Staten Island
Institute of Arts & Sciences. On the following Sundays from 2-3:30 pm INFORMATION: 718-967-3542
Jan. 27 - 2-3:30 pm
Life in Hiding: Neither predators or their prey benefit from being too obvious. Participants in this session will learn how camouflage is used by both the hunter and the hunted for survival and have a chance to try their own hand at creating a camouflaged creature.
Feb. 24 - 2-3:30 pm
Muscles and Bones - The Biology of Movement: Participants will learn how the skeletal and muscular systems work together to create movement. Through the dissection of a chicken wing, the action of opposing pairs of muscles and their action as levers will be discerned.
March 24 - 2-3:30 pm:
Amphibians - Living a Double Life: Participants will learn about the adaptations of frogs, toads and salamanders to life in and out of water. Living and preserved specimens will be examined as participants discover the natural history of the amphibians.
Youth Eco-Exploration
Want to have fun learning more about the earth and the environment with your child- This series will have families actively exploring the seasons through nature observation and imaginative play. We-ll meet at the Nature Center, and then take a fun and invigorating walk on the trails to get a first-hand glimpse at local plant and animal species. In case of rain, we-ll do a nature craft, such as seashell and sea glass mandalas, rain sticks, etc. Please call John Paul Learn at 718-619-5051 for more information or to pre-register.
Thursdays, Jan. 17, Feb 7, March 7 - 3-4:30 pm
Birding with Friends of Blue Heron
Young birders & enthusiastic -bird people- will learn about how birds behave & migrate. Howie Fischer will emphasize bird identification. Places and times are listed below. Dress for cold conditions and boots are a necessity. All participants (for-every walk)-should bring binoculars and be prepared for some walking. Rain, snow or any severe weather-will cancel any scheduled walk.
Questions- Call Howie at 718-981-4002 or email him at cotingas@aol.com
Anyone interested in joining us for -off Island- excursions should contact me by email: cotingas@aol.com or call me at 718-981-4002, so we can make arrangements prior to the trip. Any off Island trip may begin at an earlier time so please-be aware-of that.
Due to an injury, programs usually scheduled for Jan & Feb have been canceled.
Saturday, March 23 - 9 am - Adults Only
Barnegat Light in Long Beach Island, New Jersey - Call Howie at 718-981-4002 or 347-279-2819 or email him at cotingas@aol.com for information and directions. We may carpool to LBI (90 minute ride from SI), so it will be helpful to know who needs a ride.
Dress for cold conditions. The jetty is made up of large, slippery rocks with gaps, so good shoes-boots are a must! We may see a number of seabirds if we are lucky. Barnegat is one of the best places to see Harlequin Ducks at close range. These birds are very likely the most photographed Harlequins in the world! In the case of very cold conditions, we may not be able to walk out to the birds.
Saturday, March 30 - 9 am
Clove Lakes Park - Our chances of finding the first spring arrivals is quite good. Early warblers and Eastern Phoebes should be in the park. Meet at 9 am on Royal Oaks Rd (near Rice Ave).
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