Beachy Butterflies

Hatchling Hikers: A Preschool Nature Series at Hammocks Beach State Park
Tuesday, May 22, 10:00 am - 10:30 am

Come join a ranger at Hammocks Beach State Park to learn about butterflies. There will be a story, dedicated craft time, and a short hike. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Preschool & day care groups are welcomed.

Pre-registration is required
Admission: FREE!
Phone: 910.326.4881

Hammocks Beach State Park
1572 Hammocks Beach Road
Swansboro, NC 28584


To learn more about the park, visit: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/habe/main.php

Celebrate Wetlands!

Wetland Month Open House at Walnut Creek Wetland Center - Sunday, May 20
10:30 am - 7:00 pm

Come celebrate wetland month at the Walnut Creek Wetland Center where you can watch a demonstration, create a craft, complete the scavenger hunt on the deck, and explore the greenway trail with your family before heading home.

Walnut Creek Wetland Center
950 Peterson Street
Raleigh, NC 27610
Phone: 919-831-1960
To visit the Wetland Center's website go to: http://www.raleighnc.gov/home/content/PRecRecreation/Articles/WalnutCreekWetlandCenter.html

American Wetlands Month
May is a time when the Environmental Protection Agency and its partners in federal, state, tribal, local, non-profit and private sector organizations celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the nation's ecological, economic and social health.

It is also a great opportunity to discover and teach others about the important role that wetlands play in our environment and the significant benefits they provide – improved water quality, increased water storage and supply, reduced flood and storm surge risk, and critical habitat for plants and wildlife. Here are some ways you can celebrate wetlands:

1. Learn about wetlands. This is a great time to better understand what a wetland is, where wetlands can be found and the importance of wetlands. Activities may include reading and studying about wetland areas, drawing maps or illustrations of wetlands and identifying native species found in wetlands.

2. Explore a wetland near you. Unless you live in the most extreme climate zones, there is a good chance a scenic wetland exists nearby for you to visit and explore during American Wetlands Month and throughout the year. To find a wetland near you, consult your local parks department, state natural resource agency, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For more information visit: http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/outreach/index.cfm

National Kids to Parks Day

Saturday, May 19

The National Park Trust wants everyone to have an American park experience and is inviting every family in America to visit a national, state or local park and play outdoors on May 19, 2012.

The vision is simply to remind adults to take a child in their lives to a park – where they can hike a trail, visit a national historic site, or even canoe on a river. American adults live busy and pressure-filled lives – why not give them a reason to take the time to connect a child with an American treasure – a park?
North Carolina: Lineberger Park in Gastonia, NC is hosting special activities for this year's celebration. You can get complete details here: http://www.kidstoparks.org/component/rsevents/event/154-gastonia-kids-to-parks-day?Itemid=138

You can take a free train ride and get your picture taken with Buddy Bison!

Visit the National Park Trust's website to make your pledge to visit a park! http://www.kidstoparks.org/ Then check out all the great activities they have in store!

Family Twilight Hike

Saturday, May 19, 8 pm - 9:30 pm

Many animals are active right around sunset or shortly after. Take a walk with a park naturalist to explore the woods and fields at this special time. Look for deer, foxes, coyotes, owls, moths and lightning bugs. If it rains, an indoor activity related to nocturnal animals and spooky nature stories are planned. Children must be at least four years old to participate. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Annie Louise Wilkerson MD Nature Preserve Park
11408 Raven Ridge Road
Raleigh, NC United States 27614

Admission: $2/person
Register on RecLink at www.raleighnc.gov or you can call the park in advance at (919) 996-6764

Explore the Universe

Astronomy Days at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Saturday, May 19, 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday, May 20, 12 pm - 5 pm

Come out to the Museum of Natural Sciences this weekend for a celebration of the final frontier!

The Museum partners with NASA and the Raleigh Astronomy Club to help you see the big picture — the Universe!

Activities:
  • Visit the museum’s new Astronomy Lab in the new wing!
  • World Wide Telescope in the museum’s new Visualization Lab
  • Scale of the Universe
  • Astrophotography
  • Take your picture in a space suit
  • Rockets on Display
  • Modeling the Cosmos
  • Your Age and Weight on other Planets
  • Face Painting
  • Moon Bounce
  • Make and Launch a Bottle Rocket
  • Thermal Imaging
  • Microgravity Research Team
  • Astronomical Arthropods
  • Bringing Back the Night Sky
  • How Craters are Formed
    …and More!
For more information visit http://naturalsciences.org/programs-events/astronomy-days-0.

Make Recycled Totes out of Coffee Bags this Saturday!

Check out the "Recycled Totes--Coffee Bags"  workshop for teens and adults at Blue Jay Point County Park!

This Saturday, May 12
2–3:30 p.m.
Raleigh, NC
Free Teen and Adult Event

Add a green element to your wardrobe by making a reusable lunch tote!  Join D’Nise Hefner from Blue Jay Point to learn how to transform empty, mylar-lined coffee bags  into an attractive and useful small tote/lunchbag. Add a “green” element to your wardrobe while you think about the environmental ins and outs of coffee drinking!


Note:  All supplies for a single tote will be supplied, but you may bring
your favorite two coffee bags and a roll of duct tape to use for personal style.
The workshop is FREE but preregistration is required by calling 919-870-4330.

Wonderful World of Amphibians

Amphibians Program for ages 8-10
Tuesday, May 15, 3 pm - 5 pm
Admission: Free!

Enter the hopping, calling, metamorphosing world of amphibians. If you have ever wondered what the differences between amphibians and reptiles are, then this is the class for you. Please come dressed for the weather with closed toe shoes and long pants. For ages 8-10. Registration is required. For registration info email centennialcampus@ncwildlife.org or call 919-707-0209.

To view a listing of the Center's programs for the general public visit this site: http://216.27.39.101/Apps/CentennialEdPrograms/Centennial_General_Pub_Programs.asp?region=5

Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education
NC State University's Centennial Campus
1751 Varsity Dr
Raleigh, NC 27606

For information and directions visit: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/Centennial.aspx