By Esther Massey … and frogs and toads and snakes. O, my! Showing the Gulf Branch reptiles to the birthday party attendees has been an absolute blast for me. As a former teacher, I really appreciate being able to enjoy the instructional part without the daily toil. Each party is different, as are the parents and the children. The children vary in ages from 3-6 and sometimes their older siblings come along as well. Before the children and parents arrive, I decorate the room with posters and pictures availablable at the center and put up the “Private—Birthday Party” sign. I gather the materials that I intend to use for the talks on a table in the front of the room and place a cloth over them to keep the children from playing with them. The center provides puppets, skeletons, models, and other audiovisual aids to help the kids learn about the life cycle of the different reptiles and amphibians. The one they seem to like the most is the frog croak identifier. Pushing a button elicits the different calls of the specific frog. I let the kids take turns pushing the buttons. Some parents bring activities to start the party, such as assembling binoculars made from toilet paper tubes or string toss toys. At the most recent party, the parents brought in a face painter. The parents bring their own party decorations, delectable snacks, and cake. As the kids arrive, I ask them to make up name tags for themselves so I can call out their names duringContinueContinue reading “Turtle Talks”
Tag Archives: education
Join ARMN for MLK National Day of Service events
Throughout the year, ARMN volunteers contribute to a myriad of service activities that benefit our neighborhoods and communities. For Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, ARMN inivites you to join our dedicated volunteers to honor Dr. King’s legacy by participating in two of our focus service projects to restore habitat in Barcroft Park and in Tuckahoe Park. Barcroft Park January 19th at 9:30 am Our main focus will be to clear ivy off the trees so that IPC (Invasive Plant Control), Arlington County’s contractor, willContinueContinue reading “Join ARMN for MLK National Day of Service events”
Rod Simmons on ecological restoration
By Monique Wong How useful is the idea of planting on public lands as a part of ecological restoration? How do we create a solid conservation agenda for a natural area that is degraded in various ways? How do we know that we are getting it right? What are the pitfalls of using cultivars? What are theContinueContinue reading “Rod Simmons on ecological restoration”
Top 10 Tips for Holiday Waste Reduction
By Kent Taylor 1. Reuse foam peanuts. Most packaging materials for shipping can be used more than once. 2. Compost your leftover food. It’s easy and makes for a great fertilizer! 3. Wrap creatively. Use comics, old maps, sheet music, fabric/wallpaper scraps. And use fun tins and food boxes you crush and recycle for giftContinueContinue reading “Top 10 Tips for Holiday Waste Reduction”
Arlington is the “South” for Many Migratory Birds
By Monique Wong Did you know that Arlington is the “south” for many migratory birds? Welcoming Winter Birds in the Winter-2013 Snag E-newsletter tells us which species share their winter with us. If you are new to birding, Aududon Society of Northern Virginia offers these start to bird tips for beginners. Learn all about birds from The CornellContinueContinue reading “Arlington is the “South” for Many Migratory Birds”
Power of Passion and Persistence
By Sue Dingwell The power of passion and persistence brought to life a new wetland last Saturday at Campbell Elementary School, a Title One, alternative school bordering Long Branch Park in Arlington. Two and a half years in the planning and fund-raising stage, the garden was installed by an all-volunteer crew at an event they calledContinueContinue reading “Power of Passion and Persistence”
Flowers Come to Tuckahoe Park
By Mary McLean Thanks to Eagle Scout Jacob Heidig, Tuckahoe Park now has beautiful blue, red, and yellow flowers to admire. These plants (listed below) provide the best natural source of food and nectar for beautiful butterflies, goldfinch, and hummingbirds. In June, guided by a plan he developed, Jacob led a team of high schoolContinueContinue reading “Flowers Come to Tuckahoe Park”
“The City Dark” Movie and Stargazing
Come view “The City Dark” at: Long Branch Nature Center 625 S. Carlin Springs Arlington, VA 22204 On this Wednesday, 7/18, 7:30-9pm, with stargazing after the film, weather permitting. “Is darkness becoming extinct? When filmmaker Ian Cheney moves from rural Maine to New York City and discovers streets awash in light and skies devoid ofContinueContinue reading ““The City Dark” Movie and Stargazing”
Second Graders Create Bird Habitat Outside Classroom Windows
By Christine Payack Bird Watching It was subtle at first. “I think I saw a bird!” I was sure I heard a child chirp, as he fluttered to the classroom windows. Do my eyes and ears deceive me? A flock of children swoop swiftly by. I blink as other fledglings fly toward the window panes,ContinueContinue reading “Second Graders Create Bird Habitat Outside Classroom Windows”
Demonstration Native Plant Garden for Shady Backyards
By Kathy Landis and Joanne Hutton On Sunday May 6, 2012, Potomac Overlook Regional Park (PORP) held a dedication ceremony that marked the official opening of the new demonstration native plant garden for shady backyards. The garden is adjacent to the Master Gardeners’ demonstration vegetable garden, across the driveway from the Native American garden. NextContinueContinue reading “Demonstration Native Plant Garden for Shady Backyards”