January 2019

• Tiny Trekkers- “Who Has These Feet?” from

10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 5th. Follow

along with LEC volunteers as we read a book about which feet

belong to which animals. Then take a short hike and create a craft

to take home. This program is recommended for children ages 2-5.

• Popcorn & a Movie “Snowbound: Animals of Winter” from

3:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday, January 5th. From the shelter of our homes,

snow looks magical, but it's a harsh reality to many animals. Snow means

freezing temperatures, which the animals in this film must endure

for many months. Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan meets some of

the world's most iconic snow animals across the globe, from the penguins

of Antarctica to the bison of Yellowstone and the Arctic fox. Popcorn is

provided free. Soda, bottled water, chips and candy are available for purchase.

• “Ice, Ice Baby” from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Sunday, January 6th. Glaciers are cool!

Calling kids and adults to come be a part of the “cool” club and join us for

some frosty fun as we conduct some fascinating experiments using ice.

Glaciers appear on almost every continent, however, they are rapidly melting

due to the warming climate. We’ll watch a short film and learn more about how

glaciers form and other interesting facts.

"A Night's Sky Viewing" from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 10th. In the midst of winter,

we will take a look at the wonderful celestial objects

of the season like Orion the Hunter, Taurus the Bull,

and the brightest star, Sirius. The moon will be in the best phase for

telescopic viewing as its beautiful crescent shape allows long

shadows to be cast along its surface. Mars will be the planet of the

evening, glowing red above the moon in the west. The farthest object

visible to the naked eye will also be present, the Andromeda Galaxy, our

nearest large spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way at 2.5 million light-years

distance. We may also have time to “scope out” the moon and some

planets. Seth Mayo, Curator of Astronomy of the Museum of Arts &

Science, LEC staff and volunteers will be manning telescopes and

answering any questions. This program is limited to 25 participants that

should dress appropriately for the weather and bring binoculars.

• “In Search of Green” Hike from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Saturday January 12th.

Break out of the winter blues by hunting for pine needles, moss and other plant

life. We will venture out onto the trails of Lyonia Preserve to observe the color

green in nature. Participants should bring water, wear closed toed shoes dress

appropriately for the weather and be prepared to hike on unpaved sugar sand trails.

• “Who Flies There?” from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Saturday January 12th. Migrating birds

are visiting our area this time of year. We will discuss who these seasonal visitors

are, how to identify each species, learn about their beaks, what they eat and create a

bird treat to take home with their favorite food.

Caw vs. Croak from 3:00-4:30 p.m. Sunday,

January 13th. Ravens, crows and magpies are

some of the most intelligent animals in the world

and can solve complex puzzles, use tools and

sometimes even hold “funerals” for each other! Join LEC education

staff to learn some interesting facts and how to tell the difference

between these fascinating and clever corvids. Participants can make

a take-home crow craft following the classroom presentation.

• Winter Wonders Scrub Hike from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday, January

19th. Time to dust off those winter boots and take to the trails. We will be

going on this exploratory hike into the preserve to see what animals and

tracks we can observe. Participants should bring water, wear closed toed

shoes dress appropriately for the weather and be prepared to hike on

unpaved sugar sand trails.

“What’s on the Menu?” from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 19th. Come

learn about the eating habits of our resident animal ambassadors at the LEC. We

will discuss the techniques they use to eat, what they eat and how they avoid

being eaten! This will be followed by a live feeding demonstration of some of our

resident animals by trained staff.

.Nature Movie-“Magic of the Snowy Owl” from

3:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday, January 20th. A team

of intrepid filmmakers provides an intimate look at

the snowy owl, a bird made popular by Harry Potter's faithful

companion Hedwig. Though "snowies" naturally stand out for their

beauty, intelligence and charm, in their eerie, bleak Arctic home it is

their determination and survival skills that are truly magical. Life is

difficult, if not impossible, for all but the toughest and most experienced of

animals. Snowy owls are built for the challenge, their every sense and skill

honed to take on their frozen world. And when the brief Arctic summer

approaches, bringing light back to the tundra, they embark upon an even

more daunting challenge than keeping themselves alive. Popcorn is

provided free. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase.

• Critter Corner: “Alligators” from 11:00-11:30 a.m. Thursday, January 24th.

Have you ever wondered why snakes shed their skin, or wanted to know the

difference between alligators and crocodiles? Join one of the LEC’s experienced

Animal Care volunteers to learn the answers to these questions. This program is

designed for participants ages 2-8. We strongly encourage participants to ask

questions, explore and have fun!

“Jay Walking” from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Saturday,

January 26th. This program spotlights our

threatened Florida scrub jay. We will start by learning

their calls and interesting facts about their lifestyle. Then we’ll take

a stroll into the preserve immersing ourselves in their habitat,

keeping our eyes and ears open in hopes of spotting a scrub jay.

Binoculars and cameras are suggested. Closed toe shoes are required

and dress appropriately for the weather.

• Scales & Tails from 1:00-2:30 p.m. Saturday, January 26th. Florida is

home to 46 species of snakes and other reptiles. During this presentation

LEC staff will share with you the differences between venomous and

non-venomous reptiles, various species of snakes and other reptiles that

live among us. Afterwards, LEC Animal Care volunteers will introduce you to

some of our reptile animal ambassadors.

Critter Corner from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 27th. Stop by the

LEC to meet our animal ambassadors. Come explore and have fun as you

get to meet these featured animals up close! Resident animal ambassadors

will be handled by trained staff who are happy to answer your questions.

Guided Scrub Strolls at 9 am every Monday

& Friday in January except January 21st. LEC

staff will lead these guided hikes in Lyonia Preserve.

Strolls will be offered every Monday & Friday from 9:00 am –10:00

am. It is strongly suggested that participants wear closed toed

shoes, bring water, and be prepared to hike on unpaved sugar

sand trails.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is strongly suggested and can be done by

calling (386) 789-7207 ext. # 21028. Please arrive 10 minutes before the

program to sign in.

We are able to provide many of our programs free of charge thanks to the

generous support of The Friends of Lyonia Environmental Center. To continue

this support of our education programs, your donations are always appreciated. To

learn more about the friends group and to donate please visit the LEC Friends

website here.