Branching out fall 2017 by Reston Association

Walker Nature Center

A LOOK INSIDE • Raser Report 3 • Calendar 4 • Kids’ Corner 6 • Get Nuts for Clean Water 7

BRANCHING OUT

Nature Wild Turkeys: The Dish on a Feathered Fighter Notes SEPTEMBER By Sharon Gurtz

• • • •

Box Turtle young hatch. Snake young are born. Hummingbirds migrate to Central America. Fall warbler migration begins.

OCTOBER • • • •

Tulip Poplar and hickory trees have yellow leaves. Praying Mantises lay eggs. Asters bloom. Chipmunks and squirrels gather nuts for winter.

NOVEMBER • • • •

Viburnum shrub leaves turn red. First Dark-eyed Juncos return. Migratory waterfowl can be seen. Slugs and snails go into deep sleep.

By Susan Sims

Autumn is a perfect time to feature the “face” of the fall holidays–the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). These resilient birds should be honored with recognition for their adaptations, intelligence and survivability, though they often receive the dubious honor of “holiday entree.” Native to North America and Virginia, the wild turkey is different from its domesticated cousin, and has an historical connection to our forests. Although uncommon in Reston today, observant walkers are sometimes treated to an increasingly rare sighting.

Large and in Charge

Wild Turkeys have interesting physical features unique among birds. The turkey can grow up to 4 feet tall, the height of a wading bird like a Flamingo. With the average weight of a female, or hen, at 9 pounds and males at 17, that’s one big bird. The National Wild Turkey Federation clocks the largest male on record at 37 pounds! They have fun names, too. Baby males are called jakes, and females are jennies.

Male and female turkeys have featherless heads, and fleshy protrusions called wattles below their chins, but the males have additional features that differentiate them from females. The plumage of the male, or tom, is brighter and more iridescent, a palette of green, copper and violet. They have lengthy tailfeathers that spread out and are used to attract mates. A large flap of bright red flesh hangs over their bills, called a snood.

Another fun fact – male turkeys have beards, but they don’t grow on their chins! The beard is a projection of modified feathers that grows from the center of the breast like a poultry ponytail, growing up to 9 inches. While mostly males grow beards, some hens do, too. These unique features make the turkey stand out in the animal kingdom, but they’re also very adaptable to their environment.

Tough, Not Tender

Turkeys are omnivores, often found in oak-hickory forests in Virginia, where they eat acorns, nuts and berries.

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Wild Turkeys continued from page 1

Walker Nature Center 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191

However, their three toed feet make them ideal for scratching up insects in fields and pastures. They’re also known to consume salamanders and snakes. This varied diet helps the turkey thrive in multiple environments. But their adaptations don’t end there. They’re the Olympic champions of North American ground birds, able to run 25 miles an hour, as fast as human athletes. They can also fly, unlike their domestic counterparts, reaching speeds of up to 55 miles an hour. Additionally, the toms have a spur or talon on the back of their feet for defense, once used as arrowheads by Native Americans.

Enjoy year-round access to trails, free parking and restroom facilities dawn to dusk.

FEATURES

72 acres of forested land, a picnic pavilion, demonstration gardens, educational signage, a campfire ring, two streams, a pond, the entrance to 44-acre Lake Audubon and an interpretive green building, known as Nature House.

NATURE HOUSE HOURS

Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays

Saturday 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Sunday 1–4 p.m. CLOSED SEPT. 4 LABOR DAY OCT. 9 COLUMBUS DAY NOV. 10 VETERANS DAY OBSERVED NOV. 23 THANKSGIVING DAY NOV. 24 DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING

FOR MORE INFORMATION

703-476-9689 • www.reston.org naturecenter@reston.org www.facebook.com/walkernaturecenter

They have strong senses of hearing and sight to identify predators, and flee quickly when they perceive a threat. They roost in trees at night for protection, and the mother hen will shield her young by cuddling them beneath her wings. The wild turkey is a tough bird. But its unique adaptations couldn’t save it from overhunting and loss of habitat to timber and development by European settlers. From nearly 10 million turkeys in 1600 to a mere 30,000 in the early 1900s, Ben Franklin’s “Bird of Courage,” was at risk of extinction.

Spurred to Survive

You can’t keep a good bird, or biologist, down. Through land management and conservation, regulated hunting, and relocation programs to restored lands, the turkey was ready to trot, albeit slowly. Through persistent conservation methods, the turkey population began to increase. There’s now an estimated 7 million Wild Turkeys in North America. Their conservation story is a testament to the benefit of good environmental stewardship and avian tenacity. Though not often spotted in Reston, from time to time they have been observed at the Walker Nature Center, along Glade Drive and even crossing Route 7. This autumn, get out and do some birding with your own flock. Maybe you’ll come across a rafter of turkeys, filling up on delicious acorns.

@restonnature @walkernaturecenter Groups: Please call ahead to arrange your visit. Branching Out is a quarterly publication of the Walker Nature Center (WNC), owned and operated by Reston Association. The mission of the WNC is to foster an environmental stewardship ethic in the community. It is named after Reston’s first Open Space and Nature Center Director, Vernon J. Walker.

Branching Out is printed on 100 percent recycled paper using soy ink. It is produced using 100 percent wind power. Please recycle.

If you see a Wild Turkey in Reston, please let the Nature Center know. We’d love to know more about our seldom seen bird neighbors.

Read RASER

Please and Thank You By Katie Shaw

In light of ongoing development in Reston, RA’s Environmental Advisory Committee saw a need to assess environmental conditions in our community to establish a baseline against which future changes can be measured. You can read the first Reston Annual State of the Environment Report (RASER) online.

Volunteers and donors play essential roles in Nature Center operations and environmental stewardship in Reston. We are grateful to the citizen science volunteers who helped us with the Summer Bird Count, Butterfly Count and Dragonfly Count. If you’d like to volunteer, contact habrock@reston.org or fill out the volunteer application at www.reston.org.

RASER reflects more than 1,000 hours of research by a volunteer group of scientists, citizen scientists and RA staff. RA data was supplemented with data from academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations as well as county, state, regional and federal agencies. Each chapter includes background information, a description of existing conditions, conclusions and recommendations. Colored traffic light icons indicate each environmental issue as good(green), fair(yellow), poor(red), or undetermined (black). The report is intended to inform RA about environmental concerns and trends, so it can make pertinent adjustments in policies, programs and projects.

Charitable donations are gratefully received by our 501c3 supporting organization, Friends of Reston, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191 or donate online at www.friendsofreston.org. Include a note that your donation is for the Nature Center. You will receive a letter for tax purposes.

Donors:

Family of Jane Bell, Charlie & Julie Bond, Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, Reston Garden Club

Volunteers:

Read the Executive Summary at http://bit.ly/2vfY7oj or the full report at http://bit.ly/2wC6uty.

STORYTELLING NIGHT: Science Fair

Adults Only

Naveen Abraham, Joanne & David Bauer, Sue Beffel, Stuart Black, Julie & Charlie Bond, Sara Bossenbroek, Doug Britt, Bill Brown, Bill Burton, Greg Butcher, Anne Cannizzaro, Karen Cantwell, Ian Carmack, Thomas Carver, Fabiana Cesa, Don Coram, Norma & Alex DeBeer, Freya DeCola, Marilyn Dicke, Robin Duska, Joanna Faust, June Ferrara, Kathleen Freeman, Linda Fuller, Janine Greenwood, Cathy Greulich, Carol & Jay Hadlock, Arlene Hamburg, Diana Kalaly, Leon Kolankiewicz, Lenka Kneschke, Neil Knolle, Jennie Koffman, Helaine Krob, Ilia Lachinova, Heidi & John Lankau, Elise Larsen, Paulette Lincoln-Baker, Lisa MacDonald, Barbars Maguschak, Debbie McDonald, Sharon McHugh, Jim McNeal, Farideh Mirmirani; Mona Miller, Cynthia O’Connell, Erika Olimpiew; Terri Ostrowski, Barbara Paolucci, Ellen Perrins, Beth Renswick, Ken Rosenthal, Eveleen Sass, Jim Seret, Judy Smith, Ray Smith, M. Teresa Soto-Aguilar, Brenda Van Doorn, Jenny Vick, Verna Webb

Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive Saturday, September 30, 8 p.m. Fee: $15 on sale at http://eventbrite.com or at the door. Advance tickets are recommended due to limited seating. Come out for a fun evening of personal storytelling as told by Virginia’s premiere storytelling troupe Better Said Than Done. The show is intended for an adult audience. Refreshments (beer, wine, coffee, sodas and snacks) available for purchase. Sponsored by Friends of Reston. All proceeds benefit the Walker Nature Center.

Photographer: David Cappaert Country: United States http://www.forestryimages.org

Thanks to Don Coram, co-leader of the Dragonfly Count, a new species was identified in Reston, the Blue-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum).

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-fair-tickets-36957505895

Advance registration, including payment, is required for all nature activities unless otherwise noted. A WebTrac account is required for online registration. New accounts may take up to two business days for approval. If you have questions, need assistance or prefer not to register online, contact naturecenter@reston.org or 703-476-9689 ext. 3.

All programs will be held at the Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, unless otherwise noted. Refunds are available with two weeks’ notice or if we cancel for any reason. Activities may be canceled due to severe weather, severe weather warnings or low enrollment. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

September BAT-TASTIC

See a presentation on Reston’s bats, then take a stroll to Lake Audubon to look for bats. We’ll scan the sky for our favorite flying mammal, and use a bat monitor to detect bat traffic. Learn the latest from the bat world and enjoy some evening wildlife. Register by September 5. 306011008 9/8 Fri 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm All Ages $5/RA Member, $7/Non-member ANIMAL TALK

Discover how animals can communicate without using any words. Look, listen and smell different ways that animals send signals to one another. Take a walk to search for animals that are “talking” to one another. Register by September 6. 306121008 Sat Ages 3-5

9/9 10:30 am – 11:30 am $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

FOREST FRIENDS

The forest is full of wildlife if you know where to look. Search the forest for holes, nests and tracks that give us clues to their whereabouts. Meet a box turtle up close, and examine some things our forest friends have left behind such as feathers, fur and antlers. Register by September 8. 306111001 Mon 9/11 10:00 am – 11:00 am OR Tue 9/12 10:00 am – 11:00 am Ages 18-35 months $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member FALL CONTAINER GARDENING

Are your summer annual plants fading, but you still want decorative planters that last into the colder months? Learn what plants can be used in a fall container garden. Also, discover other creative items to use such as gourds or branches.

Listen to a presentation then plant a small container garden to take home. All materials provided. Register by September 10. Email Ashleigh@reston.org 307221004 9/13 Wed 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Ages 55+ $14/RA Member, $20/Non-member LAKE AUDUBON PADDLE

Investigate Lake Audubon on a guided canoe/kayak exploration. Explore the history of this Reston Lake from the 1960s to today. No experience necessary. Canoes/kayaks and all equipment provided. Park at Lake Audubon Pool, 2070 Twin Branches Rd. Register by September 13. 306011007 9/16 Sat 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Lake Audubon Boat Ramp Ages 10 - Adult $10/RA Member, $12/Non-member BIRD WALK: BRIGHT POND 9/17 Sun 7:30 am – 10:30 am Bright Pond Lane, park at the end of the cul-de-sac Adults Free, no registration required FERMENTATION- SAUERKRAUT WORKSHOP

The ancient technique of fermentation produces some of the most beloved food products around the world. Learn about this technique then practice it by making a jar of your own sauerkraut to take home. Oktoberfest is the perfect time of year to discover this recipe. Guest presenter: Katie Strong, Virginia Cooperative Extension. Register by September 15. 306201012 9/20 Wed 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Adults $20/RA Member, $25/Non-member

STEAM WORKSHOP: PAPER MACHE

Put a little STEAM in your day off from school. Learn about animals that engineer and sculpt structures in their surroundings. Then take some inspiration from natural history objects and classic shapes to create a sculpture of your own using paper mache. Wear clothes that can get messy. Register by September 19. 306131012 9/22 Fri 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Ages 5-12 $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member AUTUMN CAMPFIRE

As temperatures and leaves begin to drop, it is the perfect time of year to cozy up to a crackling campfire. Sing songs, hear stories and enjoy the change of seasons. Roast a hot dog and enjoy a tasty s’more. Park on Soapstone Drive between Glade Drive and Lawyers Road. Register by September 26. 306011003 9/29 Fri 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Walker Nature Center Fire Ring All Ages $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

October

NATURE WALK AT RESTON NATIONAL GOLF COURSE

Join a naturalist and some golf course neighbors to learn about the natural resources and experiences that this valuable open space provides. Look for a variety of birds, including Purple Martins, and visit old field and pond habitats. Cohosted by Rescue Reston. Meet at South Lakes Park on South Lakes Drive between Escalante Ct. and Olde Crafts Dr. Register by September 29. 406201007 10/2 Mon 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm South Lakes Park, 11100 South Lakes Drive Adults Free

MUSHROOM HIKE

Explore the forest with local mushroom expert Mark Richman. Look for the fruiting bodies of these curious organisms that live 99% below ground. Learn about their life cycle, the types found in our area and which edible mushrooms are commonly foraged for. Register by October 5. 406201007 10/8 Sun 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Adults $5/RA Member, $7/Non-member

SLITHERING SNAKES

Take one last look for snakes before the fall weather gets too cold. Discover how big and how small snakes can be in Reston. Make a scaly craft and meet a snake up close. Register by October 13. 406111001 Mon 10/16 10:00 am – 11:00 am OR Tue 10/17 10:00 am – 11:00 am Ages 18-35 months $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member BEEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS

ALL ABOUT BONES

Are all bones the same? Nope. Bones have some very unique differences. Compare animal skeletons from an amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal. Then make a fun craft. Register by October 8. 406121008 10/11 Wed 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Ages 3-5 $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member BACKYARD COMPOSTING

Dealing with all of the fallen leaves in the yard can be tough. Learn how to recycle them the natural way. Plants will love the rich organic soil that your composting efforts provide. Also learn how kitchen waste and other yard debris can be composted right in your own backyard. Register by October 9. 406201006 10/12 Thu 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Adults $5/RA Member, $7/Non-member BIRD WALK: UPPER GLADE STREAM VALLEY 10/15 Sun 7:30 am – 10:30 am Park at Glade Pool, 11550 Glade Drive Adults Free, no registration required FALL FAVORITES

Caramel apples, corn husk crafts, smells of cinnamon and spices. What fall traditions does your family have? Celebrate the natural delights of the season with some Nature Center favorites. Register by October 12. 406011012 10/15 Sun 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm All Ages $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

Certified Master Beekeepers, Todd and Jane Harding, will present an overview, covering the basics of keeping honeybees. This class provides information on honeybees as well as the rules and regulations for keeping them locally. Learning about the costs, equipment and time involved in keeping them will help you to make an informed decision about pursuing this wonderful hobby. Register by October 18. 406201006 10/21 Sat 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm RA Conference Center, 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr. Adults $5/RA Member, $7/Non-member

November

SCAMPERING SQUIRRELS

Have you ever seen a squirrel on a mission? Acorns are falling from the trees and squirrels sure are serious about hiding them away for a winter snack. Listen to a story about a busy squirrel and make a squirrel craft. Enjoy a crunchy snack and a scavenger hunt on the trail. Register by November 10. 406111001 Mon 11/13 10:00 am –11:00 am OR Tue 11/14 10:00 am – 11:00 am Ages 18-35 months $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member THANKSGIVING CENTERPIECES

Start your holiday season with this festive workshop. Make a beautiful centerpiece with native plant materials and four simple napkin rings for your Thanksgiving table ($1 per additional ring). Enjoy mulled cider and seasonal treats as we work. All supplies provided. When making reservations, include the number of people and how many centerpieces you wish to make. Register by November 15. 406011012 11/18 Sat 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Or 1:00 am – 2:30 pm All ages $20/centerpiece RA member, $25/centerpiece Non-member

PUPPET SHOW- EARL’S LUNCH

Enjoy a creative puppet show about what animals like Earl the Squirrel like to eat for their Thanksgiving feast. Afterwards, take a short walk to look for Earl and his friends out on the trails. This is a great way to enjoy the day off from school. Register by November 4. 406101011 11/7 Tue 10:00 am – 10:45 am Or 11:15 am – 12:00 pm Ages 3-8 $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

TURKEY TRAIL

Let’s get moving after your big Thanksgiving meal. Sharpen your skills of logic as you follow the clues left from a “wild” turkey to see where they lead you. Discover more about these fascinating birds. Register by November 21. 406011008 11/25 Sat 11:00 am – 12:00 pm All Ages $5/RA Member, $7/Non-member

NUTTY FOR NUTS

In fall, many animals are on the hunt for nuts. Learn why nuts are so important to our furry neighbors during their preparation for winter. Learn about our native nuts. Make a craft and go on a short hike to see what types of nuts we can find. Register by November 8. 406121009 11/11 Sat 10:30 am – 11:30 am Ages 3-5 $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

Craft:

1. Go on a nature walk to collect acorns.

Materials • Acorn caps • Marbles of different colors • Drill • Jute twine or yarn • Glue gun or clear drying glue

2. Remove the caps from the acorns and figure out which marbles fit inside the caps. 3. Ask an adult to help you drill holes in acorn caps. You will want two holes on either side of where the stem was. 4. String the twine through the holes. Cut your string shorter to make an ornament and longer to make a necklace. 5. Glue marbles into acorn caps.

Note: If you don’t have marbles, you can use large beads or pom poms.

Nuts about Nuts By Earl the Squirrel (with help from Idalina Walker)

Fall is fast approaching. I have noticed the days getting shorter, the nights getting cooler, and some of my younger brothers and sisters leaving the family drey to go off on their own. These clues mean my favorite time of year is here. Some of the trees have huge seeds that are called nuts. In nut collecting season, some squirrels will find and store just about any nut they find, even the ones other squirrels or bugs have already chewed on. Eww! Not me. I believe a healthy gray squirrel needs a wide variety of perfect nuts to make it through the winter in good form. Over the years, I have perfected the task of finding gourmet nut treats. I use my nose to find them, just like you can smell if a fruit is ripe or that there are cookies baking in the oven. Here are some of my favorite delicacies. White Oak Acorn-They are the best in the forest, so sweet and meaty. I can carry a few in my mouth at the same time. These oval shaped nuts have round cups– like hats–that are easy to remove for eating, and they are very nutritious.

Activity: Leaf Nut Match

Draw a line from the nut to its matching leaf. White Oak leaves have wavy lobes. Shagbark Hickory leaves have 5-7 leaflets. Black Walnuts have 10-24 leaflets. See bottom of page for answer.

A. Oak Acorn

1. Leaf

B. Hickory Nut

2. Leaf

Shagbark Hickory Nuts-I like these nuts for their C. Black Walnut wonderful smell, light brown color and sweet taste. They are covered by a thick, brownish-black husk that splits open in mid-fall.

3. Leaf

Black Walnuts-Walnuts are tough nuts to crack. But the reward is worth the effort. First you have to make it through a thick, brownish-green husk on the outside. Then comes the dark brown, ridged shell. I usually wait until the late fall to eat these. That’s the time that they drop to the ground. The outer husk is darker and drier by then. With any luck, it will split open when it hits the ground. Just keep an eye on the sky so one doesn’t hit you and split your noggin instead. I suppose dodging fallen nuts is just a part of the job for an animal like me. Happy nut hunting, Your friend Earl

Answers: A. 3 B. 2 C. 1

Kids’ Corner

Get Nuts for Clean Water Citizens throughout the Potomac River watershed are invited to once again take part in a native seed collection effort. Collected seeds are donated to state tree nurseries where they are nurtured and transplanted for use in streamside and riverside reforestation. You can help to restore native forests and protect streams one acorn at a time. When you rake the leaves, don’t throw out the acorns. Get involved in this fun activity that can be enjoyed by all.

How to help: • Collect nuts in your yard or other open areas where they will be unable to grow. • Please do not collect at the Nature Center or any natural area in Reston. • Separate the nuts by species and place them into breathable bags (no plastic bags). Identification aids are available at the Nature Center and online at the dendro.cnre.vt.edu • Label each bag with the kind of nuts that are inside. • Store in a cool dry place then drop them off at the Nature Center. When: Seed drop offs will be accepted through October 22. Where: Information and collection bags can be picked up at the Nature Center. Please deposit bagged and identified acorns in the container on the side porch.

For more information, see www.growingnative.org.

Native Spotlight: AMERICAN WITCHHAZEL

(Hamamelis virginiana) By Sharon Gurtz

While on your late fall or winter saunter through the local forest, you may be surprised to stumble upon a shrub or small tree with vibrant yellow blossoms. COLOR—and just when you thought the forest had shut down for winter. Our native Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) becomes a showy beacon of yellow, blooming as the leaves are falling, and the forest is becoming brown. Non-native versions (Chinese H. mollis and the Japanese H. japonica) bloom even later, showing their color in the dead of winter from January to March. Witchhazel is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree reaching heights of 15 – 20 feet. The generic name Hamamelis means “together with fruit.” It is the only North American tree that has flowers, ripe fruit and next year’s leaf buds at the same time. Three small but showy flowers, resembling clusters of shredded paper, flutter on the leaf axils during the day but close up when temperatures drop. Pollination occurs in autumn by insects, but the fruit capsule does not mature until the following year. While admiring the colorful fall leaves, you might be lucky enough to hear a snapping sound as this capsule explodes, sending the seeds up to 25 feet away. That explains one of this plant’s common names – the snapping hazelnut – but where’s the “witch”?

Witching for Water If you lived in Virginia at the time of the first European settlers, you may have witnessed colonists learning from Native Americans how to use the bending, flexible limbs of this plant to find water. The dowsing end of the forked branch would bend – a signal to the dowser that underground water was below their feet. Dowsing was used to guide well-digging into the 20th century. The “witch” in the plant’s name probably comes from the Old English “wich,” meaning “bendable,” and the so-called divining powers became known as “witching.” This plant was “exported” back to Europe, as an ornamental, gracing European gardens as early as the mid-17th century. Witchhazel also has a rich history of medicinal use. Native Americans brewed a medicinal tea, and the bark and leaves were used to make topical medications for the treatment of cuts, abrasions, hemorrhoids, eczema and other skin conditions. Witchhazel is still used today as an ingredient in many skin lotions, soaps and hemorrhoid creams.

Witches in the Garden In the garden, patience is necessary. Witchhazel is a slow grower, sometimes requiring up to six years to flower. It can be used as a border, mixed hedge or even a specimen plant, in part shade or sun if given enough room to spread. If you are looking for some winter color in your yard, you may just want to add a Witchhazel. When the weather turns dry, you will be ready with your own divining rod!

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID RESTON, VA PERMIT NO. 21

www.reston.org Walker Nature Center 11450 Glade Drive Reston, Virginia 20191

Halloween House & Trick-or-Treat Trail Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston VA 20191

You’re invited to the best family friendly Halloween event this side of Transylvania. (Ages 3-Adult) RAIN OR SHINE

Choose from one of four event times: Friday, October 27 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm or 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm

Saturday, October 28 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm or 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm Gate opens 15 minutes prior to the event start time. Please park along Glade Drive or at Glade Pool, and bring a flashlight.

This is NOT a horror show or a haunted house. Meet a creative cast of characters, including live animals, along our nature themed Trick-or-Treat Trail and inside our Nature House, turned Halloween House for this very special evening. Enjoy jack-o-lanterns, carnival style games, sound and light effects, and creatures of the night. Children must be accompanied by a ticketed adult at all times. Ticket price includes a Trick-or-Treat bag. Participants are encouraged to wear non-scary costumes, and enjoy the activities at their own self-guided pace. For more information, call 703- 476-9689, and press 5 or email naturecenter@reston.org.

NEW TICKET PROCEDURES RA $10/person NON-RA $12/person (Adults and children must have a ticket.) Online advance tickets only. No refunds. Buy your tickets using RA’s online registration system, WebTrac. Go to www.restonwebtrac.org. IMPORTANT - Make sure you have created your WebTrac user account by September 27. Go to www.restonwebtrac.org and click “Need an Account” under “Member Login”. Your account may take up to 2 business days for approval. RA Members Only Sale begins on Monday, October 2 at 9:00 a.m. We highly recommend that you purchase your tickets online on the first morning of sales. This event sells out extremely quickly. If any tickets remain, non-member sales will begin Tuesday, October 3 at 9:00 a.m.

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