Family programs at Nature Center of Cape May

Four wonderful family programs will be offered at the Nature Center of Cape May during August.
Join local historian, storyteller, and retired teacher Jack Sayre for a fascinating tour of his historic, 50 acre salt hay farm, Friday, Aug. 15, at 10:20 a.m. Salt hay farming was once an important industry along the Jersey coast. Passed down to him from his grandparents, Jack has been harvesting salt hay and sea lavender on the farm since 1950. Meet at the Sayre Farm at 1043 Seashore Road in Lower Township.
Naturalist Paige Cunningham will continue her nocturnal wanderings with a search for bats on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. At twilight, bats come out to hunt for insects. During the program called Bats About! participants will join Cunningham in searching for our only true flying mammal and learn about bats’ special adaptations as nighttime predators. Meet at the Nature Center for an indoor introduction to bats, and then carpool to the best viewing sites. For ages four and up with an adult. Come dressed for the weather.
On Friday, Aug. 22, it’s the last Family Farm Days of the season, featuring tours of two working farms found right here on Cape Island. The tours will begin at Sea Horse Farm, on Taylor Lane, an active horse training and lesson facility owned by Maria Schumann. Tour participants will visit with the horses living there and learn all about what goes on at a busy, working horse farm.
The Family Farm Days tour will continue to the award-winning Bay Springs Alpaca Farm, where a herd of 20 adorable alpacas roam and romp under the care of Barbara and Warren Nuessle.
The Nuessles breed and show the animals, which are smaller relatives of the llama and camel and are native to South America. Their fleece, valued for centuries for its soft, warm, and lightweight qualities, is harvested once a year in the summer.
Many fine alpaca fleece products can be found in the farm’s gift shop. Photos of the Bay Springs Alpaca Farm’s alpacas can be seen at CapeMayCountyHerald.com. Both farms are easily located off Seashore Road. Participants are asked to meet at Sea Horse Farm.
Celebrate life on the wild side with Steven Serwatka and New Jersey Nature, Inc., Friday, Aug. 29, at 10:30 a.m. Do not miss this opportunity to learn more about skunks and owls, snakes and spiders. New Jersey Nature, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured wild animals.
The fee for each of the four programs is $10 for adults and $7 for children ages three-12, discounted for New Jersey Audubon members to $8 for adults and $5 for children ages three-12. Free for children under three. Pre-registration is required. For tickets and directions, call 609-898-8848.
The Nature Center of Cape May is located at 1600 Delaware Avenue, in Cape May and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through August.