**Behind the Scenes Refuge Tour of Parker River NWR
Held on the following days: Saturday, January 7th @9:30 am; Sunday, January 8th @1:00 pm; Saturday, January 14th @ 9:30 am; Sunday, January 15th @ 1:00 pm; Friday, January 20th @ 9:30 am, Sunday, January 22nd @ 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 28th @ 9:30 am, Sunday, January 29th @ 1:00 pm and Monday January 30th @ 9:30 am.
Join a refuge ranger for a behind the scenes tour of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Tour will be conducted via refuge van, with several brief “drive by” stops along the way. The tour will present an “up close and personal” look at the refuge through the multiple lenses of the cultural history of Plum Island and the Great Marsh, native wildlife and their habitats, and the role of refuge management in the conservation of these precious natural resources. Participants may be driven along areas on the refuge otherwise closed to the public. This guided two hour program is most appropriate for older teens and adults. Binoculars and/or a camera are recommended, but not required. Meet the ranger in the lobby of the Refuge visitor center 15 minutes prior to the program start time.
Each session is limited to 14 participants; no more than 4 individuals per sign-up. Again, this is a vehicle – based tour, with limited stops on the Refuge. Advance registration is required for this program, as enrollment is limited. Be advised that individual tours may be subject to cancellation. *Please note: Those who call and leave messages after hours, your registration is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation call from a refuge staff member. Please call (978) 465-5753; to register for this program. **Please note: When snow and ice precludes access to the regular “behind the scenes” segments of the tour, the tour leader will, instead, include a loop to the northern tip of Plum Island.
On certain Sunday afternoons through March, the refuge will be screening FREE, child and family-friendly films that generally feature a wildlife and/or environmental theme.
All films will be projected on the big screen in the refuge visitor center’s awesome auditorium. No preregistration; simply show up! All movies begin at 1:30 pm. Here is what we have scheduled for the month of January:
EPIC—Sun, January 8th; 1:30pm
A teenager finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and evil is taking place. She bands together with a rag-tag group of characters in order to save the world – ours. (2013; Rated PG; Run Time: 1 hr, 42 mins.)…..
ZOOTOPIA—Sun, January 22nd; 1:30pm
In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy. (2016; Rated PG; Run Time: 1 hr, 48 mins.)…..
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Digital Photography for Beginners!
This free presentation is for the person who owns a digital camera (of any variety), but either doesn’t know how to use it, or has been frustrated with their results. The presentation will provide a broad overview of the entire “digital workflow” – from taking the picture to editing images on a computer. Practical tips for achieving compelling images of nature and wildlife will be shared during the session. The presentation will occur in the refuge’s visitor center auditorium. Preregistration is NOT required.
Saturday, January 14th, 9:00 – 11:00 am
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Making Tracks: Learning to Read Wildlife Clues
If you have ever seen tracks in the snow, sand, or soil and were curious about what made them, then this is the program for you! Refuge staff will lead you through the basics of identifying common animals through the clues that they leave behind. A brief introduction to animal tracks and other sign in the visitor center classroom will be followed by a trip to the refuge where we will look for tracks and attempt to determine their owner’s identity. This is a program for beginners, so parents are encouraged to bring their children 10 and older. Please dress appropriately for cold and damp weather. Meet in the lobby of the visitor center ten minutes prior to the program start time. Preregistration IS required, as the program is limited to 10 people.
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Monthly Book Club:
January’s Book Selection: Richard Louv’s “Last Child in the Woods”
Thursday, Jan. 26th from 6:30 – 8:00 pm