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Branches fall 2019

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Environment Investigators Environment Investigators’ programs are geared for all ages of children working with adults.

Spider SafariSaturday, October 5, 2:00 – 3:00Discover the exciting world of spiders! Learn about Ohio’s spiders and their dif-ferent lifestyles, then go out and see how many you can find!

“Creepy” CrittersSunday, October 27, 2:00 – 3:00 Come face to face with the animals we sometimes consider creepy! Distinguish truth from fiction, and gain a new appreciation for our creepiest wild critters!

TrackingSaturday, November 9, 2:00 – 3:00Was that a rabbit or a squirrel? A raccoon... or maybe an opossum? Learn the basics of animal tracking so that you can decipher animal footprints in the snow or mud and “read” the story of their activities on the landscape.

Calendar September 1 Snake Search 6 Planetarium Theater Show: The Great Planet Adventures 6 Star Watch 7 Planetarium Theater Show: The Great Planet Adventures 10 Monarch Watch 12 Monarch Watch 14 Bug Day! 14 Monarch Watch 15 Wilderness Walk 21 Woodcarving Show 21 Planetarium Theater Show: Larry Cat in Space 22 Woodcarving Show 28 Playscape Playdate: The Marvelous Mud Kitchen October 4 Planetarium Theater Show: Moons: Worlds of Mystery 4 Star Watch 5 Planetarium Theater Show: Moons: Worlds of Mystery 5 Environment Investigators: Spider Safari 11 Enchanted Forest 11 Star Watch 12 Enchanted Forest 12 Star Watch 19 Tonight’s Sky 20 Wilderness Walk 26 Twosome Tree Hike 27 Environment Investigators: “Creepy” Critters November 1 Planetarium Theater Show: Undiscovered Worlds 1 Star Watch 2 Planetarium Theater Show: Undiscovered Worlds 9 Environment Investigators: Tracking 16 Breakfast with the Birds 16 Family Backyard Birding 16 Planetarium Theater Show: Light Years From Andromeda December 6 Planetarium Theater Show: Season of Light 6 Star Watch 7 Planetarium Theater Show: Season of Light 14 Planetarium Theater Show: Season of Light 21 Winter Solstice Celebration 21 Planetarium Theater Show: Season of Light

ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE FOR MEMBERS, WITH A DONATION REQUESTED FOR NON-MEMBERS, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.

October 11 & 12Groups depart 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 & 8:00 each night

Saturday ONLY - 6:00 (for our youngest visitors)

For two nights each October, the trails surrounding The Wilderness Center are filled with the laughter and excitement

of families discovering the nocturnal creatures of the Enchanted Forest.

During this year’s “Parade of Enchanted Forest Homes” Mouse, Spider, Skunk, Mole, Turtle and Crayfish invite you to learn about how and where they make their homes. As volunteer ‘fireflies’ lead you along pumpkin-lit trails, these

friendly animals will sing songs, tell jokes and sharestories of their life in the nighttime woodlands.

$6 for members / $8 for non-members. Children age 3 and younger are free.

W I L D E R N E S S C E N T E R . O R G

Special Days and Nights Star Watch First Friday of every month at 8:00 pmThe Wilderness Center Astronomy Club members invite you to a star watch where, if it is clear, you can observe celestial objects through different types of telescopes and learn interesting facts about those objects. Cloudy or clear, a planetarium theater show and a constellation program about the night sky will be presented.

Monarch WatchTuesday, September 10, 2:00 – 3:00Thursday, September 12, 11:00 – 12:00Saturday, September 14, 1:30 – 2:30Help the Monarchs by helping to collect data for Monarch Watch’s citizen-science program. Children and adults will help catch the Monarchs using nets, and our Naturalist will place the tags on the butterflies. Cancelled if raining.

Bug Day!Saturday, September 14, 11:00 – 3:00 Bugs are everywhere and so interesting!! Check out the OARDC Bug Zoo to see (and touch?) giant millipedes, walking sticks and other amazing creatures. Go outside to catch bugs with a TWC guide, make buggy crafts and learn about Monarch butterflies. All programs are free and ongoing throughout the 11-3 time period.

Woodcarving ShowSaturday, September 21, 10:00 – 5:00Sunday, September 22, 1:00 – 4:30This annual show will feature carving exhibits, demonstrations, People’s Choice award, raffle and door prizes. Enjoy the carvings, vote for your favorites, have a slice of pie, watch folks carving and maybe even learn to carve by attending one of the demonstrations.

Star Watch and Planetarium Shows after Enchanted ForestFriday, October 11, 7:00 – 9:00Saturday, October 12, 6:30 – 8:30If it is clear, The Astronomy Club will have the Observatory roof rolled back and offer visitors a chance to view stars and other celestial objects through the telescopes. Whether it is clear or cloudy, we will present planetarium shows so that you can learn star names, constellation stories and the planets in tonight’s sky. Show times on Friday night are 8:00, 8:30 and 9:00. Show times on Saturday are 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30.

Breakfast with the BirdsSaturday, November 16, 9:00 – 11:00 Join The Wilderness Center Bird Club in the observation room for coffee, juice and breakfast treats to watch/count birds from the cool of the indoors – don’t forget your camera!

Family Backyard Birding Saturday, November 16, 10:00 – 11:00Bring your kids, your grandchildren or even your neighbor kids for a fun and interesting look at backyard birding. Learn more about our feathered friends, their habits and how to attract them to YOUR yard! After the program, we will make PINECONE BIRDFEEDERS for everyone to take home. Note: the feeders are made with peanut butter, so please let us know if anyone has a peanut allergy, and we will provide an alternative.

Winter Solstice CelebrationSaturday, December 21, 1: 00 – 6:00Astronomically, the Winter Solstice is the time when the sun reaches the south-ernmost point of its annual journey around our sky. It occurs this year at 5:23 p.m. on the 21st. In the Northern Hemisphere the Winter Solstice marks the first day of Winter and is the shortest day of the year. The word solstice literally means “sun standing still” – as the sun reaches its southern extreme, its motion appears to slow, stop and reverse – hardly moving its rise and set points for several days. Many ancient cultures noticed this and planned celebrations to encourage the sun to return north again and bring new life after the dying of the autumn.

In our celebration, you can learn the how and why of the solstice and changing seasons and explore the festivals of light that abound in the northern world at this time of year in our full-dome planetarium program Season of Light. Show times at 12:30, 1:30, 3:00 and 6:00. You can get crafty making candles and a yule log to celebrate the season of light at home. If skies are clear, you can also look at the early winter skies through TWC’s telescopes once it gets dark.

Fri., December 6 8:00 pm

Sat., December 7 12:30 & 2:00

Sat., December 14 12:30 & 2:00

Sat., December 21 12:30, 1:30, 3:00 & 6:00

Planetarium Theater Shows Come inside to discover the wonders of our universe! Our digital planetarium theater offers a unique learning experience. Seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will be viewed in the star field after each show. Cost: Free for members, $2.00 per person for non-members.

The Great Planet AdventuresFriday, September 6, 8:00 pm with the Star WatchSaturday, September 7, 12:30 and 2:00 show timesWhat would it be like living and working on other planets of the solar system? With muscles and bones made on Earth, you’ll be a superstar on the solar system’s low-gravity worlds. Imagine zip lining on scorched Mercury, snowmobiling during Pluto’s winter, bungee jumping off an asteroid, rappelling into the deepest canyon in the solar system or gliding over the methane lakes of Titan. These are only a few of the off-world adventures we’ll experience. A “Tonight’s Sky” program showing seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will follow the show.

Larry Cat in SpaceSaturday, September 21, 12:30 and 2:00 show timesJoin us for a playful, imaginative cartoon presentation about an inquisitive cat named Larry that takes a trip to the moon. Adults and children alike will be charmed by Larry’s adventurous nature, and you’ll learn something about the moon, too. A “Tonight’s Sky” program showing seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will follow the show.

Moons: Worlds of MysteryFriday, October 4, 8:00 pm with the Star WatchSaturday, October 5, 12:30 and 2:00, 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm show times Saturday is International Observe the Moon Night! Celebrate it with a planetarium theater show and observing during the evening planetarium theater shows.

The show begins by exploring our own Moon then turns to the incredible diversity of moons around Jupiter and Saturn and the possibility that some of these moons may support extraterrestrial life. Our exploration takes us to the outer solar system, with the discovery of moons orbiting asteroids and Kuiper Belt objects like Pluto. We are introduced to the great diversity of worlds both large and small that orbit the Sun. “Tonight’s Sky” program showing seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will follow the show.

Tonight’s SkySaturday, October 19, 12:30 and 2:00 show timesDiscover your way around the night sky! The instructor will follow from one constellation to another to help you learn how to navigate amongst the stars. You will learn star names, constellation stories and the planets in tonight’s sky.

Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our SunFriday, November 1, 8:00 pm with the Star WatchSaturday, November 2, 12:30 and 2:00 show times Come along on the search for extrasolar planets. Humans have long imagined exotic and intriguing worlds out among the stars. Science fiction has become science fact. See what our sophisticated telescopes and detection techniques are finding out there. A “Tonight’s Sky” program showing seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will follow the show.

Light Years from AndromedaSaturday, November 16, 12:30 and 2:00 show timesA light beam journeying between two galaxies will span human history and reveal the secrets of the cosmos. This is the story of cosmic distances and humanity’s quest to understand the universe. We learn about light speed and the light year and how astronomers use them to measure distance, how light is used to determine a star’s age and temperature and how light and distance allow us to look back in time as we gaze deeper into the cosmos. A “Tonight’s Sky” program showing seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will follow the show.

Season of Light Friday, December 6, 8:00 pm with the Star WatchSaturday, December 7, 12:30 and 2:00 show timesSaturday, December 14, 12:30 and 2:00 show timesSaturday, December 21, 12:30, 1:30, 3:00 and 6:00 show timesThis seasonal program favorite traces the history and development of many of the world’s most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season — from the burning Yule log, festive Christmas tree lights and sparkling candles in windows, to the lighting of luminarias and setting off fireworks in the American Southwest and the traditional ritual lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah. The show also recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice — not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi. Naturally, there is some astronomy in Season of Light. We learn a selection of Northern hemisphere winter constellations and find out why we even have seasons, and of course, the program explores the possible astronomical explanations for a “Star over Bethlehem.” A “Tonight’s Sky” program showing seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will follow the show.

Take a HikeSnake SearchSunday, September 1, 2:00 – 3:00Learn about the common snakes of Ohio on a short walk to look for them! We will hike in brushy fields, so wear sturdy shoes and long pants. After the hike, meet the resident teaching snakes of TWC.

Wilderness WalksLearn the natural history of the area and season. Spend an afternoon on a walk around one of the trails with a TWC guide! Sunday, September 15, 2:00 – 3:00Sunday, October 20, 2:00 – 3:00

Insect Mania Thursday, September 19

Darkness All Around UsThursday, October 17

Whether the Weather Thursday, November 21

Nature-Palooza Thursday, December 12

Classes are age-appropriate and include hands-on learning, outdoor exploration and other activities to help students understand the

presented concepts. Check out the complete brochure on our website for more details!

Homeschool classes are free for members and $4 per child

for non-members. Registration is not required, but preferred.

P layscape P laydatesJoin us at the Playscape as we add fun activities and extra imagination to your visit. Stop by any time during the Playdate to participate in the fun!

The Marvelous Mud KitchenSaturday, September 28, 2:00 – 4:00Take advantage of the summer’s last wildflowers to bake and decorate delightful dishes in the mud kitchen. Create delectable cupcakes, pies, cakes, tarts and desserts with floral or pebble garnishes. Your imaginary taste buds await. Twosome Tree HikeSaturday, October 26, 2:00 – 4:00Bring a friend or family member and help each other on a rope hike between the trees in the Playscape area. Maneuver your partner around or among but never beyond the trees.

Homeschool Thursdays

d e c e m b e r 21 s t

Winter Solstice Celebration

Celebrate the changing of the season with crafts, star gazing and a planetarium theater show

to introduce the customs surrounding winter solstice.

The Wilderness Center9877 Alabama Ave. S.W.

Wilmot, OH 44689 330.359.5235

programs@wildernesscenter.org

w i l d e rn e s s c e n t e r . o rg