From stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us Mon Sep 20 13:02:55 2010 From: stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us (stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:02:55 -0400 Subject: [Stonykillalmanac] October Nature Programs at Stony Kill Farm Message-ID: <4C975B7F020000B60005C7BB@gwsmtp.dec.state.ny.us> DEAR FRIENDS: Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center has an assortment of family-friendly nature programs that will keep your family educated and interested about the natural world. Please join us this fall at our Saturday walks or at the Thursday after-school programs and learn more about native plants and animals and re-acquaint yourself to Stony Kill; it?s your backyard extension. Come, relax, enjoy a picnic or some quiet time and take in the autumn sunshine and scenic views. You may want to bring a camera! Saturday Morning Guided Nature Walks Saturdays, October 9, 16, 23 and 30 November 6, 13, 20 and 27 10:00 AM We?ll see glorious colors come and go as the leaves on our trees turn various hues and then fall to the earth. Each Saturday we will walk a different area at Stony Kill to see what the different types of trees and bushes are doing and how animals are preparing for the cold months ahead. Family Program: Open Barn Saturdays, October 9, 16, 23 and 30 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Meet the livestock that live at Stony Kill Farm and learn interesting facts about them and about sustainable farming. Learn where your food comes from and the importance of open space. Nature Discovery After-School Program Thursdays, September 23 and 30 October 7, 14, 21 and 28 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM For school-aged children and their caregivers The crisp days of autumn will soon be upon us?a perfect time to bring your children to Stony Kill to enjoy and explore the outdoors together with a Stony Kill naturalist. There is plenty to see as plants and animals prepare for the coming winter: wildflowers going to seed, migrating birds and monarch butterflies, squirrels gathering up and storing food. We?ll watch for groundhogs, too, eating as much as they can to increase their body fat in preparation for the long hibernation ahead. Harvest Festival Saturday, October 2 Noon to 5:00 PM A crisp fall day is perfect for celebrating the harvest at Stony Kill. Join in the celebration, with activities and information for all ages: DEC?s invasive forest pests, a live raptor presentation, nature and recycled crafts, green gardening and green living, live music and more. Light refreshments available for purchase. Rain or shine. Family Fun: Leaf Art Saturday, October 9 2:00 PM We?ll begin outdoors by exploring the wide variety of leaf shapes and colors at Stony Kill in fall as we talk about the processes trees and shrubs go through in preparation for winter. We?ll gather up some of our colorful finds and use them to create fabulous leaf pictures to take home. Meet at the Learning Center (behind the Visitor Center). Autumn Ablaze Saturday, October 16 2:00 PM Reds, oranges and golds abound! Discover the chemistry behind the annual fall foliage display. Wear clothing appropriate for a hike and meet at the Sierra Trail on Red Schoolhouse Road. Natural Dyes and Inks Saturday, October 23 2:00 PM Join a naturalist for a guided walk around Stony Kill and learn about local plants and how to make dyes and inks from them. Use some pre-prepared natural inks to paint a picture of Stony Kill. Night Hike Saturday, October 30 5:00 PM On the night before Halloween, come out and explore a side of Stony Kill you have never seen. Bat observation, night vision experiments and night sounds will all be explored. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants, and bring a flashlight. Costumes are strongly encouraged. Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Dress for the weather; programs include indoor activities and outdoor exploring. All programs are approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long, unless otherwise stated. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and is located on Route 9D in Wappingers Falls, about 2 miles north of the Beacon-Newburgh bridge (I-84). Visit Stony Kill?s website at www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html for a listing of more programs and activities you and your family can take part in. From the website, you can also join a listserve and be among the first to learn about special programs and events at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is a designated New York State Watchable Wildlife site, where wildlife viewing opportunities abound. Learn more by visiting ?Watchable Wildlife? at www.dec.ny.gov.