CONTACT NAME: Rob Denkhaus
TELEPHONE: 817-237-1111
EMAIL:
JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER EVENTS AT THE
FORT WORTH NATURE CENTER
The following events are scheduled to be held at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge during the months of July, August and September. All are open to the public. All programs meet at the Hardwicke Interpretive Center, 9601 Fossil Ridge Road, unless otherwise indicated. Programs with a Å require pre-registration. Programs marked with a é are wheelchair accessible. Members of the Friends of the Nature Center (FONC) receive reduced or free program fees for most programs. Please call (817) 237-1111 for more information or to register.
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DAY, DATE, TIME |
PROGRAM TITLE: DESCRIPTION, FEES |
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Every Saturday 8 - 11 a.m. |
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. |
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Every Saturday |
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. (All ages). $5/FONC FREE. |
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Sat. & Sun., |
é*Nature Center Invertebrates: They fly, they crawl some even swim but none of them have a backbone, they are the many creatures that we rarely pay any attention to because they are everywhere. Learn about bugs, worms and a whole lot more. FREE. |
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Sat. July 5 |
é*Featured Creature: Barn Owls: Glimpse into the owl’s night world by taking a peek into the remarkable lives of barn owls. Learn about owl’s history, special adaptations, and their economic importance. Get a close look at one of these silent hunters in person. FREE. | |
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Saturdays, |
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. Lifejackets, 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. |
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Fridays, |
ÅéPreschool Discovery Club: We invite preschoolers, ages 3 – 5, and their adult companions to join us in discovering the exciting world of nature! July's activities we’ll take a closer look at what the buzz is about honey bees. August’s programs will feature our slithery and scaly reptiles. In September, we will explore the lives of the Refuge’s great giants, the bison! $5/FONC $2. |
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Sat. & Sun. |
é*Owl Alert: Hunting at night with silent flight they are some of our best friends eating all those unwanted rodents. Found almost everywhere, but because they are out at night we know little about these birds. Learn about North Texas owls. FREE. |
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Saturday, |
é*Aquatic Wonders: Come by the Marsh Boardwalk and look at the interesting creatures that reside in the surrounding waters of the Nature Center. Water Tigers, Mosquito Fish, and Snapping Turtles are just a few of the critters on display. Find out what cool things may be swimming with you this summer. FREE. | |
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Sunday, |
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. |
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Saturday, |
Greer Island Hike: Hike the trail that started it all. Join us in exploring the forested island on the Nature Center. From trees to insects, discover the natural treasures that Greer Island holds as we take a walk on the island’s trails. Meet at the Greer Island parking lot. $5/FONC FREE. |
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Sunday, |
Head North: Beat the heat by checking out a really COOL area...the bottomland hardwoods. The temperature may not be cool but the big trees and quantity of wildlife sign certainly will be. Meet at the Lotus Marsh Boardwalk parking area. $5/FONC FREE. |
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Thursdays, |
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. |
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Saturday, |
é*Worm Composting: Soil turners, composting wizards and just all-around good guys, earthworms are our friends. Learn from Sara Beckelman, the Worm Lady, how you can have these beneficial invertebrates help you with your lawn and garden needs. You won’t want to miss this fascinating down to earth presentation. FREE. |
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Saturdays, |
Nature…en español: Join a bilingual naturalist on a hike on the Refuge 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. (All ages). $5/FONC FREE. |
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Sunday, |
Å Hotter ‘n Heck 3.5: It may not be as physically challenging as the Wichita Falls event but hiking the Canyon Ridge Trail in August can be daunting. Come along if you like great views, a bit of local history, and working up a good sweat. Bring lots of water. $5/FONC FREE. |
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Saturday, |
é*Fish Prints: They inhabit our lakes, ponds, and rivers. Come by the refuge and learn about fish’s anatomy and diversity while having fun. Bring your family by the Nature Center and make your own fish print without the having to catch a real fish. FREE. |
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Saturday, |
é*What’s Eating You?: Having to scratch lately? Come by and join us in learning more on those critters that are making a meal out of you. From fleas to chiggers, explore the who’s, what’s, and why’s on these trouble makers. FREE. |
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Sunday, |
é*Native Aquaria: There’s no need to spend big bucks at the pet store in order to have an aquarium full of beautiful fish. Our native longear sunfish and red shiners are as beautiful as any tropical species. Set-up, water quality, plants, invertebrates, collecting and more will be covered in this program. FREE. | |
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Saturday, |
Å Hummingbird Workshop: Come learn about the world’s smallest bird and how to attract it in this program presented by Mark Klym from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. This workshop is cooperatively offered through a partnership between the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge and The Birdhouse in Azle, TX. Participants must pre-register at the Birdhouse in Azle (701 Body Rd., 817-444-8581). The workshop will be held at the Hardwicke Interpretive Center at the Fort Worth Nature Center. |
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Saturday, |
Marsh Boardwalk Hike: Lotus, catfish, turtles, frogs, and all kinds of creatures make the marsh their home. Join us in exploring marsh and all living things that we may find as we hike the 1 mile trail. Explore the wonders found where water meets land by hiking the Marsh Boardwalk. Bring plenty of water! $5/FONC FREE. |
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Sunday, |
é*Nature’s Sweet Tooths: It is honey harvest time. All summer the bees have been making honey from nectar. Now it is time to find out if all that hard work has paid off when we look at this year’s crop. We will learn all about bees and how important they really are. FREE. |
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Saturday, |
Barking Dogs: Come and explore the world of the barking dogs of the Prairie. Learn about their history, diet, and lifestyle as we hike to the Nature Center's very own Prairie Dog Town. You'll be amazed at some of the characteristics they share with us. $5/FONC FREE. | |
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Saturday, |
Å Mussel Watch Workshop: Freshwater mussels or “clams” are often the forgotten creatures of our local waterways. Many species are threatened with extinction because of habitat loss and poor water quality. This Texas Parks and Wildlife Department workshop will teach participants how to identify freshwater mussels, why they are good water quality indicators, and why their populations are declining in the state. Participants will also learn mussel population monitoring techniques and how to participate in the statewide Mussel Watch program. Teachers may receive free instructional materials and 4-6 hours of SBEC approved credit for attendance. The workshop contains both classroom and field sessions. A sack lunch and proper field attire (for in the water) is recommended. Please visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/education/tracker/mussels/ for more information. To register, call 817-237-1111. $10 per person. |
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Saturday, |
Docent Orientation: This is your chance to get involved with the Nature Center. This is the Fall class for Nature Center volunteers. Learn how you can help us make the Center better than ever. RSVP to Ken Seleske at 817-237-1111 FREE. |
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Saturday, |
é*Animals Eating: Bring your family by the Nature Center and discover the how animals swallow, chomp, chew and their food. From opossum to turtles, get the chance to observe few live specimens in action. FREE. | |
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Saturday, |
Å National Public Lands Day, Demonstration Prairie Maintenance: National Public Lands Day is a program organized by the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation in partnership with federal, state and local public land agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. Projects across the country will focus on improving and preserving habitats to benefit our native flora and fauna. More information about the national program can be found on the Internet at www.npld.com. Here at the Nature Center we will focus on maintenance and improvement of our Demonstration Prairie on Fossil Ridge Road, primarily through invasive woody plant removal. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather and bring work gloves and a sack lunch. Please call our Visitors Center at (817) 237-1111 to register to volunteer. Questions should be directed to Suzanne Tuttle, Refuge Natural Resource Manager at (817) 237-0427 or via e-mail at [email protected]. |
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Saturday |
é*Learn about Leaves: They serve multiples of uses from producing oxygen to providing shade. Come by the Nature Center to discover the different shapes, sizes, and textures of leaves. Bring your kids along so they can make their own leaf rubbing or painting to take home. FREE. |
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Saturday, |
Å Introduction to Keying the Asteraceae (Sunflower) Family: The variety of Asteraceae species native to North Central Texas can be very challenging to identify. In this advanced taxonomy class, we will learn the special botanical terminology that applies to this family, and put our knowledge to use both in the classroom and field by keying out actual specimens. Prior practice using a dichotomous key is essential for participants. Instructors are botanist Dora Sylvester of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and Suzanne Tuttle, Natural Resource Manager of the Nature Center and Refuge. Participants should bring a sack lunch and dress for the outdoors. $20/$15 FONC |
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Sunday, |
é*Backyard Bird Feeding Review: It’s Fall, which means it is time to start thinking About feeding the winter birds. What kinds of seeds should I feed, what are the best feeders and a whole lot more will be discussed in this class. FREE. |
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: |
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FORT WORTH NATURE CENTER & REFUGE