Participation in any program of the Eagle River Nature Center sponsored by Friends of Eagle River Nature Center is voluntary and taken at your own risk. Your decision to join or leave any activity is a personal choice; therefore, Friends of Eagle River Nature Center are not responsible for your whereabouts.

For your safety and enjoyment…

1. STAY BEHIND THE GROUP LEADER AND WITHIN VOICE REACH.
2. CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED AT ALL TIMES BY A PARENT OR ADULT GUARDIAN, WHO IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SAFETY AND BEHAVIOR.
3. IF YOU CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE GROUP AT ANY TIME, BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TRAIL SYSTEM.

March 2008  Eagle River Nature Center Programs

Saturday, March 1, 2pm
HAWK OWL UP CLOSE
Junior Naturalist Program (Grades K-6)
Ellen Murphy Welk from the Bird Treatment and Learning Center is bringing a live Hawk owl for you to meet.   Learn about owls and the role of BTLC in rehabilitating sick, injured or orphaned wild birds. Free program, $5 parking for non-members. 

Sunday, March 2, 2pm
ALL ABOUT WOLVES
Ed Wollert, volunteer educator for Wolf Song of Alaska, presents a program on the characteristics, behavior and habitat of Alaska's wolves.  Learn more about this sometimes misunderstood animal.  Free program, $5 parking for non-members. 

Wednesday, March 5, 11am-noon
KNEEHIGH NATURALIST (Registration required)
Pre-school Program "What Animal am I?"
For preschoolers ages 3-5, limited to 10 registered children accompanied by an adult. Program is held indoors and outdoors (if above 0 F), so please dress for the weather.  Cost is $8 per child, plus parking for non-members.  Call 694-2108 to register.  
Optional: Bring lunch and join fellow Kneehighs immediately after the program.

Friday, March 7, 11am-noon
KNEEHIGH NATURALIST (Registration required)
See description on March 5th. 

Friday, March 7, 7 pm
ASTRONOMY SERIES
AURORA presented by Richard Pellessier
Join our astronomers for this popular indoor program and outdoor sky viewing.  The astronomy programs will be offered every first and third Friday of the month through April.  Bring your own binoculars or telescopes to share and dress warmly.  Due to space constraints, this program cannot accommodate large groups.  Children can earn their Junior Astronomer Certificate after attending 6 programs and completing "Star Notes".  Please complete a punch card at the front desk.  Free program, $5 parking for non-members. 

Saturday, March 8, 11am-4pm
SKI TO ECHO BEND 
(Registration required)
Pete Panarese leads a 6-8 mile cross-country ski trip for 6 experienced backcountry skiers.  Bring a daypack with lunch, water and proper attire.  The trip is free, but you must register by calling 694-2108.  $5 parking for 
non-members.

Saturday, March 8, 2pm
THE SNOWSHOE HARE
Junior Naturalist Program 
(grades K-6)
Let's go on a walk in search of signs of the snowshoe hare.   Indoor and outdoor program with a ¾ mile walk.  Please dress for the weather.  Free program, $5 parking for non-members. 

Sunday, March 9, 2pm
COSTA RICA CATERPILLARS
Join Ruth Fitzpatrick, the Alaskan Field Representative for The Earthwatch Institute, as she shares her experiences in the jungles of Costa Rica, where she spent 12 days studying caterpillars and their parasites. Discover how you, too, can take part in any one of the 135 scientific expeditions offered by Earthwatch. Program is free, 
$5 parking for non-members.

Saturday, March 15, Noon
RUN LIKE A LYNX 
SNOWSHOE RACE 
Annual 5K snowshoe race along the Albert Loop Trail.  Bib pick-up begins at 11:30am inside the Eagle River Nature Center.  Pre-registration fee is $15 and $20 on the day of the race.  Complete the race form (see page 6) and fax to 694-2119 or register by phone or mail.  Racers under 18 years of age require adult permission and signature (in person on the day of the race).  Racers do not pay a parking fee. 

Saturday, March 15, 10am-11:30pm
WEAVERS AND SPINNERS
Our local club members spin and weave.  Feel free to watch and ask questions. 

Saturday, March 15, 2pm
OWLS: THE GORY, GROSS, AND COOL 
Junior Naturalist Program (grades K-6)
Learn lots of neat stuff about owls in this fun-filled program.  We'll learn how owls hunt (the gory).  We'll dissect owl pellets (the gross).  We'll discuss just what makes an owl owly (the cool).  Indoor presentation, followed by an optional walk on the Rodak Trail.  Free program, $5 parking for non-members. 

Saturday, March 15, 7:30 - 10pm
EVENING OWL PROWL (Registration required)
Join Sirena Brownlee and Ramon Wallace with the Anchorage Audubon Society (www.anchorageaudubon.org) for an evening program and walk exploring the world of owls. We'll start indoors for the half hour, learning calls, ID, and info about our local owls, then venture outdoors to prowl for owls. This is the time that the Boreals, Northern Saw-whets and Great Horned owls are hooting up a storm.  Bring binoculars.  Free program, but limited to the first 15 (no children under 13, please) people to register by calling 694-2108.  Parking fee is $5 for non-members. 

Sunday, March 16, 2pm
IN SEARCH OF THE WATER OUZEL (Registration required)
Naturalist Doris Ivory will introduce the "water ouzel "or American Dipper, an amazing bird that spends the winters in and along our icy streams. A short indoor introduction will be followed by a 1 mile+ exploration along the stream bed. Bring appropriate footwear and snowshoes if you have them.  Free program, $5 parking for non-members.  Limited to the first 15 people who call 694-2108.

Wednesday, March 19, 11am-noon
KNEEHIGH NATURALIST (Registration required)
Pre-school Program "Bunnies"
For preschoolers ages 3-5, limited to 10 registered children accompanied by an adult. Program is held indoors and outdoors (if above 0 F), so please dress for the weather.  Cost is $8 per child, plus parking for non-members.  Call 694-2108 to register.  Optional: Bring lunch and join fellow Kneehighs immediately after the program.

Friday, March 21, 11am-noon
KNEEHIGH NATURALIST (Registration required)
Pre-school Program "Bunnies"
See description on March 19th.

Friday, March 21, 7 pm
ASTRONOMY SERIES
EXOPLANETS presented by Jeff Medkeff
Join our astronomers for this popular indoor program and outdoor sky viewing.  The astronomy programs will be offered every first and third Friday of the month through April.  Bring your own binoculars or telescopes to share and dress warmly.  Due to space constraints, this program cannot accommodate large groups.  Children can earn their Junior Astronomer Certificate after attending 6 programs and completing "Star Notes".  Please complete a punch card at the front desk.  

Saturday, March 22, 11am-3pm 
HIKE INTO SPRING ON THE DEW LAKE TRAIL (Registration required)
Join volunteers Bob and Ann Fisher for a 6.5-mile round trip hike. Hikers should be in good shape, but may be beginners. The trail is fairly level with an elevation gain of about 500 feet.  Hikers are advised to bring a daypack with lunch/snacks, water, wind/snow clothing and warm layers. Snowshoes and/or ice cleats may be needed.  Call the Nature Center for trail conditions. The hike is limited to the first 12 people (18 years old and up) who register by calling 694-2108. Well behaved dogs are welcome on the hike. Please provide a contact phone number and email address at the time of registration.

Saturday, March 22, 2pm
MINIATURE BIRCH BASKETS (Registration required)
Craft Program:  Fee $10
Participants will learn to sew miniature birch baskets; all materials provided. Limited to 10 participants (age 14 and up) who register at 694-2108. $10 fee, plus $5 parking for non-members.

Saturday, March 22, 8pm
KIDS OWL PROWL 
Junior Naturalist Program 
(Special evening time, registration required)
It's officially spring, and the moon is full. Be prepared to walk up to 1 ½ miles quietly, listening for owls along the Albert Loop Trail.  Please note special evening time. The program is best suited for ages 8 and up and children must be accompanied by an adult.   Free program, but limited to the first 15 children to register by calling 694-2108.  
$5 parking for non-members.

Sunday, March 23
EASTER SUNDAY 
The Nature Center is CLOSED today.  Enjoy a hike on the trails.

Saturday, March 29, 2pm
WHERE DO INSECTS GO IN WINTER?
Junior Naturalist Program (grades K-6)
You know its spring when insects start showing up. But where did they go during the winter? How did they survive Alaska's freezing temperatures? We'll start indoors, then explore outdoors.  Free program, $5 parking for non-members.

Sunday, March 30
FREE PARKING TODAY
Parking is free the last Sunday of this month. Now there are no excuses left for staying indoors!  Enjoy the many trails at the Eagle River Nature Center.

Sunday, March 30, 2pm
OWLING TIPS 
Volunteer Liza Sanden will share tips on where to find owls in the Anchorage area. Indoor presentation, followed by a short walk along the Rodak Trail. Free program and parking today.

Program Registration

• Registration is helpful for all programs and required if the program description specifically requests it. All programs take place at the Nature Center unless noted in the program description. For programs requiring a fee, full payment must be received when registering to secure a place. Call 907-694-2108 to register and receive details about programs (only local calls can be returned).

Program Policies

• Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• No dogs (unless specified), guns, or alcohol permitted.
• All overnight hike participants must attend a pre-trip meeting and complete required forms prior to a trip and abide by the rules of the leader.

 PROGRAM SCHEDULE
 

 32750 Eagle River Road, Eagle River AK 99577 --- (907) 694-2108