From Insects to the Cosmos at Landis Arboretum

ESPERANCE, NY (07/29/2010)(readMedia)-- Come to Landis and meet some of its smallest and least understood residents before summer is over. Search the old growth forests or the night skies. There's life underfoot and the air, as well as mysteries to unravel, treasures to discover, and planets to explore. Join us for one or more of the Arboretum's programs for family fun before the kids head back to school.

Search for the Arthropod Squad

We're talking about the creepy crawlies - insects, spiders, centipedes and millipedes. Meet with Science Educator George Steele on Saturday, August 7, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Use our sweep nets to look high and low for these tiny critters, and find out who's who, and what they're all about. Cost for members: $5 per person, $15 per family; non-members: $10 per person, $25 per family.

Dragons and Damselflies

The dog days of summer are the best time to see these winged jewels of the Arboretum, especially with your guide, Anne Donnelly. Anne is the official dragonfly surveyor for the New York State Natural Heritage Program and President of the Landis Board of Directors. Come to Esperance on Saturday, August 21, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm and search our ponds to capture, identify, and release dragonflies and damselflies. By the end of the program you will know what to look for, how to tell dragonflies form damselflies, how to recognize habitat preferences, and how to use a field guide for these fascinating activities. Cost for members: $5 per person, $15 per family; non-members; $10 per person, $25 per family.

Bats and Other Creatures of the Night

George Steele will be back with his bat sound translator/finder on Sunday, August 29, from 9:00 pm - 10:30 pm. You will be exploring the woods and fields of Landis in search of these small flying mammals, as well as the many other creatures of the night. Crickets, frogs, owls, katydids, maybe even coyotes - fine tune your night vision and hearing skills to locate them. Cost for members: $5 per person, $15 per family; non-members:$10 per person, $25 per family.

There are many ways to experience the pleasures of Landis. If the video on our Homepage by Landis Photographer in Residence Bill Combs Jr. has whetted your appetite, come to the Arboretum and use a different kind of guide to lead you down our paths.

Geocaching

You haven't really seen the Arboretum till you've navigated it with a GPS unit! Join Instructors Gina Nielsen and Katie Long on Wednesday, August 11, from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, and learn to use the eTrex GPS unit and the website that lists and describes geocaches. Landis is home to several geocaches; can you find them? Don't delay. Class size is limited to 10, and reservations are required. Call the Arboretum at (518) 875-6935 or register online at <http://www.landisarboretum.org>www.landisarboretum.org. Cost for members is $5 and,for non-members, $10.

The sky's the limit at Landis- calling all dreamers and stargazers for a night to remember:

Public Star Party

Alan French and the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers host an evening of star gazing at Landis on Friday and Saturday, August 13 and 14, at 9:30 pm. With their telescopes you will see nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, planets, and other celestial delights. After Alan's introductory program at the Meeting House, you will have an outdoor tour of the prominent constellations. Star parties are canceled if the skies are mostly cloudy. Call Alan at (518) 374-8460 if there is any doubt about the weather or for more information. Admission and parking are free, but donations to aid the Arboretum are always appreciated.

Intrigued by the Star Parties and want to get more involved? On Tuesday, August 17 at 7:30 pm, the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers will hold their meeting at the Arboretum. Weather permitting, it will be followed by Lunar Viewing and a Star Party. See the description above for the details on the party.

* <http://www.landisarboretum.org>www.landisarboretum.org * (518) 875-6935*

*174 Lape Road, Esperance NY 12066*