Dow-sponsored Waterway Cleanup takes place Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring a refillable water bottle and be prepared to get wet. Closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times. Feel free to bring your own canoe or kayak. Those who volunteer four hours will be given lunch. This event is rain or shine. Register online, by phone or at the Visitors’ Building.
Saturday Morning Bird Walks are offered through November at 7:30 a.m. These events are free. Meet outside of the Visitors’ Building, near the parking area.
Fall Nature Crafts takes place Saturday, Oct. 12, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Fun for the whole family. Combine nature with art and watch the magic begin. Each participant can create a work of art to take home with them. Program also involves a nature hike on the trails. Dress for the weather/to be outdoors. Cost is $3 per person, or $2 per person for Friends of Silver Lake members.
Bird Seed Sale Pick-up (for orders placed by Oct. 12) takes place Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bird watching is more fun when you can attract them to your own yard, so fill your feeders with one of SLNC’s special mixes. Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center members receive a 10 percent discount on all bird seed orders. Place your order online, by phone or at the Visitors’ Building.
Birding 101 – Fall Edition takes place Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Did you ever wonder what bird that is in your backyard? This course in bird watching is designed for the beginner. Everything from binoculars to bird feeders to identification will be covered in this course before moving on to bird identification in the wilds of the preserve. Cost is $3 per person, or $2 per person for Friends of Silver Lake members.
Earthship Tours take place Saturdays, Oct. 19 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by to visit and learn about these interesting, sustainable structures.
Meet the SLNC Exhibit Animals on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 1 to 2 p.m. SLNC is home to some remarkable reptiles and fish. Visit the resident Education Animals. Take a tour of SLNC’s exhibits and learn more about its box turtles, aquatic turtles, native fish, snakes and crayfish. Enjoy this opportunity to see the animals up close, and ask questions about the scaly friends who live inside the Visitors’ Building. This event is free.
Eco-music Group Concert – Music of Puerto Rico, originally scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., is being rescheduled. The new date will be announced soon. Immerse yourself in beautiful music with a lineup that includes professor Gloria Galante on harp, Suzzette Ortiz on piano, Raul Berrios on percussion, Asaf Berrios on steel drum, and dancing by Waleska Lopez. Also, learn about the many different instruments that Raul made by reusing/recycling items that may have otherwise been trash. Concert will be held inside the Visitors’ Building. Tickets are $12 per person in advance (sale ends Oct. 12 at 5 p.m.), or $15 per person at the door. Prices are the same for all ages. No refunds/exchanges. Tickets are available online and by phone.
2019-2020 Kids’ Nature Days take place Oct. 14, Nov. 5, Nov. 11, Dec. 30, Jan. 20, Feb. 17, April 9 and April 10. These days are scheduled when most schools are off. Each day provides exciting seasonal adventures for children. Staff and campers spend the day exploring the forest, swamps and marsh in all weather. Kids’ Nature Days run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are drop-off only. Before- and after-care are available for an additional fee. Cost is $40 per child per day for 2019 Summer Camp Families; $50 per child per day for Friends of Silver Lake members; $65 per child per day for non-members. Balance must be paid in full at time of registration. Buy three days, get one free (must pay in full at the time of registration in order to qualify). Register online, by phone or at the Visitors’ Building.
Home School Enrichment Series – Fall Session takes place Wednesdays through Nov. 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. This is an option for families who take a different approach to educating their children, ages 5-14. The program provides an opportunity for children to get hands-on experience within the STEM disciplines without formal constraints. Each lesson is developed with the PA Standard Aligned System (SAS) in mind and ensures that children will excel in all settings. Children should dress for the weather and always be prepared to get dirty. Cost for members is $100 for the 8-week session, or $15 per class on a class-by-class basis. Cost for non-members is $120 for the 8-week session, or $18 per class. Register online, by phone or at the Visitors’ Building.
Silver Lake Nature Center is located at 1306 Bath Road, Bristol. For more information, visit SilverLakeNatureCenter.org or call 215-785-1177.
