Every Saturday
9 a.m. - Noon

Natural Guard: Help keep the Nature Center beautiful by volunteering for the Natural Guard. Natural Guard members assist Refuge staff in trail maintenance, brush clearing, bridge building and much more! Meet at the Refuge Service Center. For more information call 237-1111. FREE.

Every Saturday,
10 a.m. - Noon

Naturalist-led Nature Hikes: Stop in and join a naturalist for a leisurely hike on the trails of the FWNC&R. Hikes feature current natural history events such as blooming wildflowers, commonly seen insects, birds and other animals and current projects on the Refuge. Water and appropriate clothing suggested. $2/FONC FREE. (All ages).

Saturday,
January 4,
1-3 p.m.

é Tracking About: Tracks are evidence of an animal's presence in an area, but which animal? Come by the Hardwicke to check some of the possible animal tracks you might encounter on your next hike. From a bullfrog to a beaver track, see them before you go tracking about. FREE.

Saturdays
January 11, February 22, March 22
8:30 a.m. - Noon

Å Canoe Tour: Glide up to a great blue heron. Check out a wood duck. Visit an active beaver lodge. On this 3-hour canoe tour, visitors get close to nature while paddling along the West Fork of the Trinity River. Sunscreen, water and weather appropriate clothing (shoes that can get wet) are recommended. Life jackets, paddles and canoes provided. Children must be 5 years or older. Parents must sign a liability waiver for minor children. Register by Thursday preceding the tour date. $15/adult, $10/child/FONC $10/$6.

Saturday, January 11
1-3 p.m.

Nature in winter: Do you know which animals hibernate and which do not? Or how plants endure the freezing temperature of winter? Join us in exploring the lives and behaviors of plants and animals during winter as we hike the Riverbottom Trail. Become enthralled with nature in winter! $5/FONC FREE.

Saturdays, January 11 & 25
1-4 p.m.

Å Winter Woody Plant ID: Join Natural Resource Manager Suzanne Tuttle and learn to identify deciduous trees and shrubs in winter by their growth habits, bark, twigs, buds and leaf scars while on a 2.5 mile loop trail around the Refuge. Dress for the weather. Class size limited to 25. $5/FONC $3.

Sunday, January 12
1-3 p.m.

é Boardwalk Waterfowl Watching: Join a naturalist down on the Boardwalk to see what kinds of waterfowl are visiting this winter. Mallards, pintails, gadwalls, northern shovelers, and more are usually in attendance! Bring your own binoculars or use ours! FREE.

Third & Fourth Fridays of each month, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Åé Preschool Discovery Club: We invite preschoolers, age 3-5 and their adult companions to join us in discovering the exciting world of nature! January's activities will explore the cool world of Alligators. February's programs will feature Animal Tracks and who left them. In March, we'll examine our beneficial companions, Earthworms! $5/FONC $2. Pre-registration required.

Saturday, January 18
1-3 p.m.

é Night Prowlers: Have you ever thought about what may be prowling around in the wee hours of the night. Come by and uncover the lives and adaptations of these nighttime creatures. We'll even have a visit from some of the Refuge's nightly prowlers. FREE.

Sundays, January 19, February 16, March 16
Noon - 4 p.m.

Canoe Fest: Come out and enjoy a bit of canoeing on your own on the quiet waters around Greer Island. Canoes, paddles, and life jackets provided. Children must be 5 years or older and accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents must sign a liability waiver for minor children. NO REGISTRATION NEEDED, FIRST COME-FIRST SERVED. Meet at Greer Island. $5/FONC $3.

Saturday January 25
10 a.m.-Noon

Å Spring Docent Orientation: Interested in becoming a volunteer nature teacher at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge? Then attend this informative meeting to learn how. For more information or to register, call Ken Seleske at 237-1111. FREE.

Saturdays, Jan. 25, Feb. 15, March 22 1-3 p.m.

Nature en Espanol: Join a bilingual naturalist on a hike on the Nature Center's trails in search of interesting plants and animals. Whether Spanish is your first or second language, these hikes provide a new opportunity at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. $5/FONC FREE.

Sunday, January 26
1 - 4 p.m.

Å Super Bowl Sunday Pre-Game Stroll: Come on out to the Nature Center to stretch your legs prior to settling in to watch the Super Bowl. We'll hike the Canyon Ridge Trail which will get your quads in shape for all that jumping up and down (in joy or frustration) and help to work up an appetite for all those healthy game time snacks! Meet at the Greer Island Parking area. $5/FONC FREE.

Thursdays, Jan. 30, Feb. 27, March 27
7 - 9 p.m.

Å Nature Center Night Stalkers: Enjoy a different kind of hike on the Nature Center's trails as we explore the nature of twilight and darkness. Evening is the best time to see many of the animals that make the Nature Center home. Bring water and wear weather appropriate clothing. $5/FONC FREE.

Saturdays, Feb. 1 - Mar 29 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Å Docent Training: Learn how to interpret natural history topics for all ages. Participants will learn about the natural history of the area and how to assist Nature Center staff in leading tours for school groups, scouts, and the general public. For more information, call Ken Seleske at 817-237-1111.

Saturday, February 1
1-3 p.m.

é Microscopic Mania: Is there really a small world after all? From cool lichen to nature's treasures, come by the Hardwicke and discover how many things you can see under a microscope. You'll be amazed at the miniature world that is right before your eyes. FREE.

Sunday,
February 2
1, 2 & 3 p.m..

Åé Tracks: You may not actually see the animal but if you look carefully you may find its tracks. Discover which tracks you may see at the Nature Center. Make some tracks with rubber stamps and color a track coloring page. FREE.

Sundays, February 2,9,16 & 23 March 2 & 9
1-4 p.m.

Å Wildflower Identification Class: Join Dora Sylvester, BRIT botanist, and Suzanne Tuttle, Natural Resource Manager, and learn to identify our beautiful Texas wildflowers. In this 6-session class, students learn taxonomy (classification) and identification using scientific techniques. This course is designed for amateur wildflower watchers and will start at the beginner's level. Class size limited to 15. Class fee includes all materials. $75/FONC $50.

Saturday, February 8
1-3 p.m.

Nature's Engineer: Come and explore the world of the industrious beaver. Learn about their history, diet, and lifestyle as we hike to see one of the Refuge's beaver lodges. Unearth the facts from the myths of one nature's engineers. $5/FONC FREE.

Sunday, February 9
1-4 p.m.

é Microscopic World: Have you ever looked at a grasshopper's eye under a microscope? How about a leaf? A fish scale? Check out this FREE activity to see all kinds of natural things with the help of a microscope.

Sat. - Mon., February 15-17

Å Warren Pulich Commemorative Birding Trip: Spend the weekend of Presidents' Day birding at one of the premier areas on the Texas coast. The bus will leave Fort Worth on Saturday Feb. 15 and drive to Fulton, TX stopping for lunch and birding at Monument Hill State Park. After checking in at the motel, we will travel to Port Aransas to visit the birding center and check out the beach. On Sunday morning, we will drive to Aransas Pass, in the Connie Hagar Wildlife Refuge, before loading the boat for a 4- hour trip to view whooping cranes. After the boat trip, we will go to Goose Island State park and bird in the big tree area. Monday, we will travel to Aransas Wildlife Refuge for a morning of birding and then take back roads through brush country looking for hawks on our way to lunch in Victoria. Finally, we journey home, returning to Fort Worth on Monday evening. Fees include transportation, lodging, boat trip, and entrance fees to parks. The cost is $195 per person for double occupancy (FONC $180). Space is limited and payment in full is required by January 15, 2003.

Sunday, February 16
1 & 3 p.m.

Åé Purple Martin Workshop: Did you get a new Martin house during the Holidays or have you been thinking about getting a Martin House for this spring? Come to this program and learn the do's and don'ts of being a successful Purple Martin Landlord. It won't be long before North America's largest swallows return to North Texas. $5/FONC $2.

Saturday, February 22 1-3 p.m.

Å Exploring the Marsh Boardwalk: Take a leisurely stroll through forest and wetland habitats while looking for mammals, birds, and other natural treasures. Meet at the Boardwalk Parking lot. $5/FONC FREE.

Sunday,
March 2
1 - 3 p.m.

é Nature Center Mammals: It is almost spring and the Nature Center's mammals have or will have new babies. Learn about the prairie dogs and when you should look for new pups. There may also be some new buffalo calves in the buffalo range. Find out what the other mammals at the Refuge are doing this spring. FREE.

Tuesday & Thursday, March 11 & 13 10-11:30 a.m. 12-1:30 p.m.

Å Spring Break Bison Feeding Hayrides: Enjoy an old-fashioned hayride into the bison range where you will get to see the bison up close and personal while they are getting their rations of range cubes and hay. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $5/FONC $3.

Wednesday & Friday,
March 12 & 14
11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Spring Break Canoe Fest: Come out and enjoy a bit of canoeing on your own on the quiet waters around Greer Island. Canoes, paddles, and life jackets provided. Children must be 5 years or older and accompanied by a parent or guardian. An adult is REQUIRED in every canoe. Parents must sign a liability waiver for minor children. NO REGISTRATION NEEDED, FIRST COME-FIRST SERVED. Meet at Greer Island. $5/FONC $3.

Sunday,
March 16
1, 2 & 3 p.m.

é Refuge Reptiles: Warm spring temperatures mean sleeping reptiles are becoming active after their winter sleep. Find out what reptiles you might see while visiting the Nature Center. Meet some of the Reptile Ambassadors that live at the Hardwicke Center. Turtles, snakes and maybe even an alligator will be at this exciting program. FREE.

Thursday-Friday,
March 20-21

Å Big Bend Camel Trek: Discover the beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert and the history of the US Camel Corps while enjoying camp cooked meals, sleeping under the stars and a one of a kind experience. The cost is $690 per person (FONC $650). Space is limited. $50 deposit due by February 15. Payment in full is required by March 1. For more information call 817-237-1111.

Sunday,
March 23
1 - 4 p.m.

é Limestone Ledge Wildflower Walks: See which wildflowers come up first on these short walks along the paved Limestone Ledge Trail. Walks will be led by a naturalist and will leave on the hour. The last walk begins at 3 p.m. $5/FONC FREE.

Saturday,
March 29
1-3 p.m.

Spring Peek: Come and join us on a hike as we explore which plants have a head start towards spring. From trees to wildflowers, enjoy the beauty of these early bloomers. Get an early peek of things to come. $5/FONC FREE.

Sunday,
March 30
1 & 3 p.m.

é Gardening for Butterflies and Hummingbirds: Now is the time of year to plant those special plants to attract some of our favorite garden visitors the butterflies and hummingbirds. Learn the secrets for hosting these interesting animals in your yard. $5/FONC $2.