Warmer weather is officially on the horizon, and Churchville Nature Center is gearing up with a jam-packed schedule of events
The Times
Warmer weather is officially on the horizon, and Churchville Nature Center is already gearing up with a jam-packed schedule of spring and summer events.
The 4th Annual Rock & Minerals Expo will take place Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join CNC for a weekend of rocks and minerals. Whether your hobby is collecting minerals, lapidary or gem setting, if you like to look for fossils, there will be something to interest you.
Area collectors and mineral club members will have their collections available for sale or exhibit. This event is a great way for beginners to start their collections or for collectors to add to theirs. This event is super family-oriented with plenty of activities and learning events for the kids.
Admission donation is $5 for adults. Admission is free for anyone under 12 years. There will be a cost for some activities: panning for gold then shopping at the trading post is $3, exploring the cave to look for fossils is $4, cracking open a dinosaur egg is $2 and making a sand clay fossil is $2.
CNC will offer a kid’s combo package, which combines gold panning, the cave fossil hunt, dinosaur egg smash and fossil imprint, an $11 value, for $10 that can be purchased during the event.
New this year is the free Silica room where you will learn all about sand — where it comes from and what it looks like through a microscope. Who knows? You might become an Arenophile, someone who collects samples from around the world.
Inner Coastal Clean-Up will take place Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will be focusing on the three-mile Preserve Reservoir, picking up trash and recording the types and amount of debris collected. These items will then be weighed and the information gathered will be analyzed. This information is used to educate the public, industry and government about the problems and to foster long-lasting solutions.
Debris and litter is more than an eyesore — these items are dangerous to both humans and wildlife. Scientists estimate that more than one million birds die each year as a result of entanglement or ingestion of litter and debris.
On Earth Day this year, CNC encourages everyone to become better stewards of our Earth by becoming part of the solution to the problem of litter and debris.
For more information on the event and to register call Diane V. Sears at 215–357–4005, ext. 5038 or email her at [email protected].
The Annual Wildflower Sale will take place April 28 and 29 and May 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CNC will be selling a variety of native perennial wildflowers selected to attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and other native wildlife to your garden. It will also be selling annuals and herbs just in time for Mother’s Day.
Knowledgeable staff and volunteers, including resident master gardener Michael Gordon, will be on hand to direct attendees to the best plants and answer any questions.
Churchville Nature Center’s summer camps begin June 18 and end the week of Aug. 20. The camps are structured, educational, fun learning experiences. Each week features a nature-related topic, with lots of outdoor activities and crafts related to the topic.
CNC offers a half day camp (mornings only) and a full day camp from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is an option for early camp 9 to 10 a.m. and extended day from 3 to 4 p.m. Half day campers also have the option of staying for lunch at 12 p.m. Explorer camps are for kids ages 8 to 13 years and are full day camps. Tadpoles and Jr. Naturalist (4 to 9 years) may register for half day camps.
Every Friday is a special activities day. Some activities include a reptile show, cookout over campfire, picnic in the woods, Lenape feast in the village, science show, scavenger hunt for butterflies and a rock and roll party.
Summer assistant counselors are needed for the summer camps, which run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Besides the enormous contributions the volunteers will be making to the center, they will be learning skills and enhancing their education. CNC offers a safe, positive environment where volunteers can socialize with other youth, all of whom share a mutual interest in their environment.
Anyone ages 14 years and up interested in volunteering as a counselor for the summer camps should call Peg Mongillo at 215–357–4005, ext. 5036.
For further information on any events, visit churchvillenaturecenter.org or call 215–357–4005. Churchville Nature Center is located at 501 Churchville Lane in Churchville.
