The Discovery Center Pre-School Nature Walk & Program on February 24

Our Pre-School Nature Walks encourage children to explore the outdoors and connect with nature. Today's program was a lot of fun. Children, with their parents, went for a walk around the Rec Center trails, and through the "Phragmite Forest." We looked for bird nests, and talked about what types of owls live in this area. After our nature walk the kids met "Screech," The Discovery Center's mounted eastern screech owl and made owl prints. We also looked at an owl pellet (this one had three different rodent skulls!) and colored owl pictures. It was a beautiful clear day, and just warm enough to enjoy the walk. For more info about our nature programs please visit our website.

Women's Hiking Group Week of Feb 24

This week, February 24 and 26, The Discovery Center's Women's Hiking Group will meet at 9:30 am at Tarrywile Park in Danbury. For more info about Tarrywile Park click here. For information about the Women's Hiking Group please contact The Discovery Center.

The Discovery Center & New Pond Farm Astronomy Program on February 28

The Discovery Center Astronomy Program planned for Saturday, February 28 at New Pond Farm looks to be a very exciting evening. Participants will be able to observe the bright stars of Winter. Among them are brilliant Sirius, Procyon, Aldebaran, Betelguese and Capella. Program participants will learn how to find these beautiful stars within their constellations in the heavens.

A special feature of this program will be two crescents in the same sky. Both the moon and the planet Venus will be in a crescent phase. The crescent moon is visible to the unaided eye, but to observe the crescent phase of Venus requires the telescope. Venus has passed greatest elongation away from the Sun and is now looping back in its path between the earth and the Sun. This is the best time to observe crescent Venus.

Another special feature in the sky will be Comet Lulin, a visitor from the outer solar system. Discovered in 2007, Comet Lulin is not expected to return for over a thousand years. Depending on weather conditions and comet conditions, this object should be visible in the telescope eyepiece and with binoculars.

The program will be held rain or shine. In the event of poor weather an indoor program will feature a digital representation of the night sky projected on a large screen. The program will be held at New Pond Farm Observatory, and is co-sponsored with New Pond Farm. To register for this program or for more info please visit our website.

The Discovery Center Family Hike and Campfire

The Discovery Center's Family Hike and Campfire on February 1 was a day of outdoor, old-fashioned family fun. In attendance were adults, grandparents, and children of all ages. After a hike around Lake Windwing in the snow, we met for a warm campfire, hot chocolate, and toasted marshmallows. Before we left many families built snowmen, and a great time was had by all!

The News-Times story about The Discovery Center's Snowshoe Clinic

The News-Times ran a great story and pictorial today about The Discovery Center's Snowshoe Clinic on February 8. It was a beautiful day for snow-shoeing, and you can tell by the photos in the story that everyone who attended had a great time.