Outdoor Activity

Saturday Jan 26 is the Super Bowl of Birding at Joppa Flats – a birding competition to find the most birds on Plum Island in 24 hours! Which birds had the most frequent flyer miles? Which birds were the most elusive? How did THAT bird end up on the East Coast? All the answers will be revealed and we’ll also play games, practice with scopes and binoculars and make some take home bird treats!

This week's program will be about the ocean's twilight zone! Known as the mesopelagic layer in the ocean, the twilight zone starts around 660 feet, where sunlight is very faint and continues to get progressively darker and colder to a depth of 3300 feet. There are many creatures that use this zone as their habitat, many that are bio luminescen, have large eyes for seeing weel in darkness or have form factors that seem outright alien! Come learn about this strange part of the sea and the creatures that live there.

This week kids will learn about the coral reef habitat. Our afternoon starts off with self-guided activities, challenges, or puzzles that lead us to our topic for the day. As a group, we'll observe, investigate, and compare wildlife, their adaptations, and the changes that they undergo in autumn. Participants may play the role of entomologist, ornithologist, astronomer, or even glaciologist throughout this series. Each experience will leave your young naturalist eager for the next session. 

This evening's program will focus on the northern lights, what causes them, and when and how to observe and photograph them. You will learn how to use the Internet to track their activity so that you can determine on your own when observing opportunities will arise. Do not expect to view them on the evening of the program.