Nature Center August Calendar of Events

The Nature Center of Cape May’s summer hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. There is always free general admission and plenty of free parking. Preregistration is recommended for all programs. For more information on any activity, call 609.898.8848. The nature center is located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May. Here’s what’s happening during the month of August.
HUNTERS OF THE SKY
10:30 a.m., Friday, August 1
Live hawks and owls visit the nature center from the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. Don’t miss this dramatic presentation that highlights the marvelous adaptations of these animals. Preregistration is recommended.
Cost: members $8 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12; nonmembers $10 adults, $7 children ages 3 to 12; children under 3 free.
BIRDS & BIRDING AT CAPE MAY: PROGRAM & BOOK SIGNING
10:30 a.m., Monday, August 4
The husband and wife team of Clay and Pat Sutton are long-time naturalists whose names are synonymous with Cape May, New Jersey — a place that has been aptly called the migration capitol of North America. Pat Sutton was the program director at the New Jersey Audubon Society’s Cape May Bird Observatory for twenty-one years. Prior to that, she was the park naturalist at Cape May Point State Park. Clay is a life-long resident of Cape May, where he has worked as an environmental program administrator, vice-president of an environmental consulting firm specializing in threatened and endangered species, and for the past decade, a self-employed naturalist and field biologist. Today, Clay and Pat are free-lance writers, naturalists, lecturers, and tour leaders. Pat’s consuming interests include owls, butterflies, and wildlife gardening and wildscapes. Clay is captivated by migration in all its forms. Their landmark 2006 book, Birds and Birding at Cape May, is the in-depth result of their efforts over many years documenting and protecting the migration and the hometown that they so love. Their program will share the history of birds and birding at Cape May. Expect a walk through time as they share images over the past thirty years and earlier during the days when hawks were gunned down for sport. Limit twenty-five. The Nature Center of Cape May, 1600 Delaware Ave., Cape May.
Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers.
CRABBING 101*
1:30 p.m., Tuesdays, August 5 and 19
Delicious and beautiful, blue crabs are abundant in saltwater bays and creeks. Come aboard the Skimmer, a comfortable forty foot, flat bottomed tour boat for a hands-on crabbing experience and demonstration. Learn methods for baiting lines and traps, the easiest methods of catching, and pinch-free ways to hold crabs. You can keep any legal size crab you catch! All equipment and materials are supplied. Preregister by calling the Skimmer at 609-884-3100. *Tours depart from Dolphin Cove Marina, across from the Two Mile Beach Unit of the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, on Ocean Drive between Cape May and Wildwood Crest. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Limit fifteen people.
Cost: $28 adults, $17 children.
FAMILY FUN FESTS AND CAMPFIRE CIRCLES
The Nature Center of Cape May’s Family Fun Fests begin each Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., followed by evening campfire circles. Hands-on activities are for children and adults of all ages. Preregister by calling the nature center at 609.898.8848. 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May. Special guests this summer will be the marine educators of the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, located in Tuckerton, NJ. See below for weekly program details.
Cost per program: NJAS members $10 per person, nonmembers $15 ($5 to attend campfire circles only)
ANIMAL OLYMPICS
August 6
Life can be a rat race at times, but what if you’re a turtle, crab, or dolphin? Join us for this Olympic event, and go for the gold against some of the world’s finest athletes in events like Turtle Hurdles, Whack-a-Fish and the Decapodathalon.
CRAB FEST
August 13
Don’t be crabby! Just come on down to the nature center and discover the fascinating life of crabs: mud crabs, blue crabs, spider crabs and the other crabby critters that live at the harbor. We’ll have lots of hands-on activities and fun games.
NIGHTTIME ON THE BEACH – SEARCHING FOR GHOST CRABS*
8 to 9 p.m., Thursdays, August 7 and 14
What can run sideways, dig a hole without a shovel, and has ten legs? Join us for an evening stroll on the beach at the Cove to look for these “ghosts” of the night and other nocturnal creatures. Bring a flashlight, and *meet at the beach access point at the end of Mount Vernon Ave., off of Broadway (toward the beach). There is free parking along the streets after 6:00 p.m. Call 898-8848 for directions and reservations.
Cost: members $8 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12; nonmembers $10 adults, $7 children ages 3 to 12; children under 3 free.
FAMILY FARM DAYS
10:20 a.m., Fridays, August 8 and 22
Join us for a morning on the farm as we touch and feed the animals and learn all about farm life. Stops include Bay Springs Alpaca Farm and Sea Horse Farm. Please meet promptly at 10:20 a.m. at Sea Horse Farm on Taylor Lane, right off of Seashore Road in Lower Twp. We will carpool to the Bay Springs Alpaca Farm about one-half mile away. Preregistration is required; call 609.898.8848 for directions.
Cost: members $8 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12; nonmembers $10 adults, $7 children ages 3 to 12; children under 3 free.
KAYAK CLINIC
9:30am, Saturday, August 9
Perfect your kayaking skills with the experienced guides from Aqua Trails Kayak Tours. Includes equipment review, safety, paddling techniques, wet exits, and entry. We will not be teaching the Eskimo Roll. Learn the best sites to launch your kayak for a self-guided paddle on nearby Cape Island Creek and other local tidal salt marshes. Bring your own kayak, pfd, and paddle (or rent equipment from Aqua Trails), and sunscreen. Dress to get wet. The lecture portion of this program is also appropriate for people who do not own a kayak but would like to learn more. Class size is limited; preregistration is highly recommended. Program takes place at the Nature Center of Cape May, 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May. Call 609.898.8848 for more information.
Cost: NJAS members $25, nonmembers $35. Equipment rental: $25 for a single, sit-inside kayak.
***NEW FOR 2008!*** BELLEPLAIN PINE BARRENS ECOLOGY KAYAK TOUR
August 11, 12, or 13
Departs nature center at 8:00 a.m., returns approx. 3 p.m.
Join Aqua Trails Kayak Tours and Nature Center of Cape May naturalists for an exciting paddle on one of Belleplain State Forest’s beautiful lakes. Be prepared for sightings of warblers, eagles, rare plants, and more! Great kayaking experience for persons of all ages and abilities. All equipment and instruction is provided by experienced Aqua Trails’ staff. Space is limited due to van size; reservations are strongly advised. Call 609.898.8848. Tours depart from the nature center, located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May.
Cost: single kayak $55, double kayak $90. Includes transportation, all equipment, guide, naturalist, snacks, and water.
FULL MOON KAYAK TOURS
6:30 p.m., August 14-16
6 p.m., September 13-15
Aqua Trails Kayak Tours’ Tidal Marsh Tour by Kayak, scheduled to catch the beauty of both sunset and the ascent of the full moon. See Tidal Marsh Tour description for details, and call 609.898.8848 to make reservations.
Cost: single kayak $46, double kayak $80.
2008 TOURS OF PRIVATE BUTTERFLY GARDENS
(1) SOUTH “Cape Island”: Saturday, August 16, Sunday, September 14
(2) MID-COUNTY “North Cape May to Rio Grande”: Sunday, August 17, Friday, September 12
(3) NORTH “Goshen to Dennisville”: Friday, August 15, Saturday, September 13
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
More butterfly and hummingbird gardens are tucked into Cape May County than probably anywhere else in the country. Renowned naturalist and author, Patricia Sutton, leads these tours, which include her own garden in Goshen (North tour) and nature center director Gretchen Ferrante’s garden in Cape May (South tour). A variety of gardens will showcase young and old, sun and shade, large and small, water features, caterpillar food plants, and very cool structures for seating and savoring the gardens and their many visitors. The gardens will look completely different from one month to the next, so seriously consider joining all nine tours. Enjoy unique design ideas and new wildlife plants while being entertained by butterflies, hummingbirds, and knowledgeable wildlife gardeners. Twenty-two gardens will be showcased each weekend. Plan to bring your lunch since the group will eat in one of the gardens. Before the tours, download, print, and bring along (for ease of note taking) NJ Audubon’s articles “How to Create a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden” and the “Recommended Plantings to Attract Hummingbirds, Butterflies, and Moths” by Patricia Sutton, available at:
www.njaudubon.org/Education/BackyardHabitat/ButterHummGarden.html
www.njaudubon.org/Education/BackyardHabitat/KeyPlants.html
Limit twenty-five per tour; please call 609-898-8848 to preregister. Tours start at the Nature Center of Cape May, 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May.
Cost per tour: $25 members, $35 nonmembers. Join all three tours at a discounted rate of $60 members, $90 nonmembers.
SALT HAY FARM TOURS*
10:20 a.m., Friday, August 15
Salt hay farming was once an important industry along the Jersey coast. Join local historian, storyteller, and retired teacher Jack Sayre for an interesting and informative tour of his historic, fifty acre salt hay farm. Passed down to him from his grandparents, Jack has been harvesting salt hay and sea lavender since 1950. Beth Ciuzio, NJAS’ Stewardship Project Director for southern NJ, will also be available talk about Mr. Sayre’s Grassland Habitat Improvement Project. She will describe other incentive programs that are available to farmers and landowners. *We will meet promptly at 10:20 a.m., at 1043 Seashore Road in Lower Township. Call 609-898-8848 to preregister and get directions.
Cost: members $8 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12; nonmembers $10 adults, $7 children ages 3 to 12; children under 3 free.
EXPLORE THE SHORE
10:30 a.m., Mondays, August 18 and 25
For children ages 6 and up. How about some end-of-summer fun? One of our most popular programs is now just for kids! Join our marine biologists as they pull a forty foot seine net through the waters of Cape May Harbor. We’ll get up-close and personal with a large variety of fish, crabs, and other aquatic wildlife. Then we’ll head into the lab and learn more about this wild and watery world. Preregistration is strongly recommended. Limited to twenty children.
Cost: members $6, nonmembers $8.
BATS ABOUT!
6 p.m., Thursday, August 21
For ages 4 and up with an adult. In the twilight, bats actively hunt for insects. We’ll watch for the only true flying mammals and learn about their special adaptations as nighttime predators. Meet at the nature center for an indoor introduction to bats and then carpool to viewing site. Come dressed for the weather.
Cost: members $8 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12; nonmembers $10 adults, $7 children ages 3 to 12; children under 3 free.
WILD ABOUT ANIMALS
10:30 a.m., Friday, August 29
From hawks and owls, to snakes and turtles — enjoy this opportunity to see and hold live, wild animals. Learn about the interesting lives of these wild creatures from Steve Serwatka, of New Jersey Nature, Inc, an organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured wild animals. Guaranteed to capture the interest of curious minds of all ages! Program takes place at the Nature Center of Cape May, 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May. Call 609.898.8848 for more information.
Cost: members $8 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12; nonmembers $10 adults, $7 children ages 3 to 12; children under 3 free.
DAILY PROGRAMS
AQUA TRAILS KAYAKING NATURE TOURS
Daily tours at 11 a.m.
Join Aqua Trails Kayaking for a two-hour guided kayak eco-tour through Cape May Harbor and surrounding coastal wetlands. Naturalists will point out migratory birds, marine life, and explain the local ecology of the region. Tours depart from the Nature Center of Cape May, located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May. Spaces are limited; reservations are strongly suggested at 609.898.8848.
Cost: single $46, double $80.
THE A. J. MEERWALD OYSTER SCHOONER COMES TO CAPE MAY*
Daily during August
Come for a sail aboard the historic and authentically restored 1928 oyster schooner, the A.J. Meerwald – New Jersey’s Tall Ship. You can experience the past with presentations on history, ecology, and traditional maritime skills. *Sails from Utsch’s Marina in Cape May at 1121 Route 109, just north of the Lobster House at the base of the Cape May canal bridge. The ship cruises the harbor, and, weather permitting, out the Cold Spring Inlet and into the Atlantic Ocean. Reservations are required by calling 856-785-2060. Pick up a coupon at the Nature Center of Cape May or mention the nature center when making your reservation to receive a $5 discount. Part of the proceeds from your sail will benefit our education programs.
Cost: afternoon sails $30, evening sails $35, other prices for special sails. Call for details.
WEEKLY PROGRAMS
BEACHCOMBING AT THE COVE*
9:00 a.m., Sundays through August 31
*Meet a naturalist from the Nature Center of Cape May at the 2nd St. pavilion on the promenade in Cape May to explore one of the area’s ever-changing coastal habitats – the ocean, beach, and dunes of “the Cove.” For more information, call 609.898.8848.
Cost: $10 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12, children under 3 free.
SALT MARSH SAFARI
10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Mondays through August 25
Welcome aboard the Jersey Cape’s premier wildlife tour boat, the forty foot Skimmer, and explore Cape May’s beautiful coastal wetlands and wildlife. Fun and educational for all ages! To preregister, call 609.884.3100. Boat leaves from Dolphin Cove Marina, across from the Two Mile Beach Unit of the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge on Ocean Drive between Cape May and Wildwood Crest.
Cost: $26 adults, $15 children.
MARINE LIFE DISCOVERY CRUISE
6 to 8 p.m., Mondays through August 25
Board a voyage of discovery into the Cape’s greatest wilderness, the Atlantic coastal tidal marshes, on board the local tour boat Skimmer. Make reservations through the center. Tours depart from the Miss Chris Marina. Call 609-898-8848 for cruise details.
Cost: $26 adults, $15 children.
HARBOR SAFARIS
10:30 a.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays through August 28
One of our most popular programs for all ages! Join our naturalists as they pull a seine net through the waters of Cape May Harbor. Encounter an incredible diversity of marine life, and learn about the fascinating lives of the animals that inhabit our coastal waters. Have an up-close experience with horseshoe crabs, and learn why these living fossils are so important to migrating shorebirds and biodiversity. Walk-ins welcome—no pre-registration necessary. The Nature Center is located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May.
Cost: $10 adults; $5 children ages 3-12; children under 3 free.
SUNSET KAYAK TOURS
Tuesdays & Saturdays through September 1 (Time varies)
Our Tidal Marsh Tour by Kayak, with the added scenery of a beautiful sunset over the marshes. See Tidal Marsh Tour description for details and call 609.898.8848 for reservations.
Cost: single kayak $46, double kayak $80.
CYCLING THE SOUTHERN CAPE
9 a.m., Wednesdays through August 27
Hop on your bike for a leisurely twelve-mile tour of the natural areas of Cape Island. Bring helmet, water, sunscreen, and bike. Call 609.898.8848 for info. on local bike rental merchants. 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May.
Cost: members $8 adults, $5 kids 3-12; nonmembers $10 adults, $7 kids 3-12; under 3 free.
BRADNER’S RUN*
9:30 a.m., Wednesdays through August 27
Meander through a swamp forest along the southern border of Historic Cold Spring Village with a nature center naturalist. Birds are ever-present and the species change in response to the seasons. Learn about the natural history of the beautiful native plants found there. Use your senses to watch flowers for insect pollinators, listen for birds in the forest, feel the bark of trees and the texture of the leaves, and look for signs of reclusive wildlife. *Tour leaves from Historic Cold Spring Village. Call 609.898.8848 for directions and to preregister.
Cost: members $8 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12; nonmembers $10 adults, $7 children ages 3 to 12; children under 3 free.
GARDENING WITH GRETCHEN
10:30 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays through August 27
Join NCCM Director and Master Gardener Gretchen Ferrante in our gardens to learn about wildlife-friendly gardens and the challenges of gardening at the shore. Become a regular volunteer, and receive a free tee-shirt and garden gloves! The nature center is located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May. Call 609.898.8848 for details.
Cost: free!
SUMMER CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
EARTH ARTS FOR LITTLE HANDS
For children 4-6 years
10:00 a.m.-noon, Fridays through Aug. 29
Stories of Mother Earth and her fascinating creatures will inspire your “little hands” to create wonderful arts-and-crafts projects with the teacher-naturalists at the Nature Center of Cape May. Class size is limited and fills quickly. Call 609.898.8848 to pre-register.
Cost: $12/day members, $16/day nonmembers.
WONDER KIDS DAY PROGRAM
For children entering Pre-K (age 3 & 4) through Kindergarten (separate classes for each grade level)
June 23 through August 14
10:00 a.m. to noon, Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday (Two sessions per week)
Hey kids! Time to have fun at the Nature Center of Cape May. Summer’s here and away we go! Are you ready for wild adventures and outdoor fun? We’re waiting for you to join us at the nature center. We will explore and learn about nature through outdoor games, stories, arts and crafts, experiments, critter encounters, and so much more. Programs are planned for each grade level. Class sizes are small and fill quickly. Preregistration is strongly recommended. Call 609.898.8848. The nature center is located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May.
Cost: $12 per day members;$16 per day nonmembers.
NATURE RANGERS DAY PROGRAM
For children entering grades 1 and 2
June 23 through August 14
10:00 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday (Four day session)
Hey Nature Rangers, come get busy with us at the Nature Center of Cape May! We’re interested in the world around us, and we’re ready to explore. Each week we’ll investigate our environment through experiments, games, arts & crafts, and hands-on activities. Class sizes are small and fill quickly. Preregister now! Call 609.898.8848. The nature center is located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May.
Cost: $12 per day members;$16 per day nonmembers.
NATURE WIZARDS DAY PROGRAM
For children entering grade 3 through grade 5
June 23 through August 14
10:00 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday (Four day session)
Come one, come all to the Nature Center of Cape May, and join us for a summer of fun and discovery! Each week we’ll investigate our environment and examine the scientific method through experiments, games, and hands-on activities. Let’s explore the secrets of earth, sea, and sky in a new and exciting way. Class sizes are small and fill quickly. Preregistration is strongly recommended. Call 609.898.8848. The nature center is located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May.
Cost: $12 per day members;$16 per day nonmembers.
HARBORSIDE EXPLORERS DAY PROGRAM
For children entering grades 4 – 9
June 23 through August 14
9:30 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday
Become a real scientist for the summer at the Nature Center of Cape May! Every two weeks we will have fun in the sun as we focus on a different aspect of marine science and explore Cape May Harbor up and down, day and night, inside and out! Class size is limited. Preregister now! Daily walk-in registrations will be accepted on a space-available basis. Call 609.898.8848. The nature center is located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May.
Cost: $12 per day members;$16 per day nonmembers.
For more detailed program information and photos, contact Linda Horner, NCCM PR Consultant, 609.884.1884, outdoorzin@comcast.net