Summer Mornings, Afternoons, and Evenings at the Landis Arboretum

ESPERANCE, NY (06/27/2010)(readMedia)-- Summer Mornings at Landis:

Turtles With Wildlife Learning Company on Wednesday, July 14, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Everybody loves a turtle. We'll read One Tiny Turtle and then meet several live turtles and learn about their lives. Instructor: Jeff O'Handley and the Wildlife Learning Company. Members: $5/person; $15/family. Non-members: $10/person; $25/family.

Geocaching. Come to the Arboretum on Wednesday, July 21, from 10 AM to noon and learn how to navigate using a GPS unit. Participants will learn to how to use the eTrex GPS unit and will be introduced to the geocaching website. There will be several geocaches hidden on the Arboretum grounds. Come see if you can find them! Instructors: Gina Nielsen and Katie Long. Members: $5/person, $15/family. Non-members: $10/person, $25/family. Reservations at www.landisarboretum.org or 518-875-6935.

Brownie Plants Try-It Badge with Instructor Gina Nielsen at the Welcome Center on Saturday, July 24, at 10 AM – noon. Fee: $10 /Scout (includes badge). There is no better place to earn your plant try-it badge! Come to the Arboretum and complete the activities to earn this badge. Participants are encouraged to picnic on the grounds. Register your troop by July 16 at 518-875-6935. Class size limited to 20.

Summer Afternoons at Landis:

Ancient Forests. Join the Arboretum's arborist and president of the NY Old Growth Forest Association on a tour of Landis's Ancient Forests, on Wednesday July 14, 1 – 2 PM. Learn to recognize old growth forests by the many characteristics that make them unique. Instructor: Fred Breglia. Members: $10. Non-members: $15.

Hot Tunes for Hard Times: Rockin' Saturday. Saturday, July 24, 2 PM rain or shine. Join us on the beautiful grounds of the Arboretum for a variety of performances by area bands. The musicians and event organizer, Walter Wouk, have put together a wonderful program. Set up your picnic basket where you get the best view of the sweeping Schoharie Valley. Soft drinks and water for sale. Suggested donation: $10/person; children free.

Hot Tunes for Hard Times: Folk/Traditional/Classical. Sunday, July 25, 2 PM rain or shine. The musicians and event organizer, Walter Wouk, have put together a wonderful program. Set up your picnic basket where you get the best view of the sweeping Schoharie Valley. Soft drinks and water for sale. Suggested donation: $10/person; children free.

Dragonflies and Damselflies. Dragonflies love these hot summer days! Wednesday, July 28, 1-3 PM. You will learn what to look for, how to tell dragonflies from damselflies, how to recognize habitat preferences, and how to capture and identify specimens using a field guide. We will visit the several Arboretum ponds, each representing a different habitat, and capture, identify, and release these winged jewels. Instructor: Anne Donnelly, official dragonfly surveyor for the NYS Natural Heritage Program and Arboretum president. Members: $5/person, $15/family. Non-members: $10/person; $25/family.

Herpetology Hike. Saturday, July 31, 2-3:30 PM. Enjoy a walk around the Arboretum's fields, forests, and ponds in search of amphibians and reptiles. We hope to see several salamanders, frogs, snakes, and turtles as we learn about their habits and habitats. Instructor: George Steele, Science Educator. Members: $5/person, $15/family. Non-members: $10/person, $25/family.

Summer Evenings at Landis:

Nature Songs and Campfire on Friday, July 2, 8 – 9:30 PM. Celebrate Nature with songs and stories in the tradition of a campfire sing-a-long. You'll be part of the ballet of the air, a rainstorm, and a frog chorus. Instructor: George Steele, Science Educator. Members: $5/person, $15/family. Non-members: $10/person, $25/family.

Public Star Party on Friday and Saturday evening, July 9 and 10 at 10 PM. Alan French and the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers provide an evening of stargazing. Free admission and parking -- but donations to aid the Arboretum are always welcome. Star parties are cancelled if the skies are mostly cloudy. Call Alan at 374-8460 if in doubt about the weather or for more information.