FAIRY FESTIVAL Please and Thank You

By Ken Rosenthal

By the time you read this, spring will have sprung! Spring is wonderful for the changes it brings, and it is also a time of great activity at Walker Nature Center, with a plant sale, plantings of native plants, special events, and as always, greeting visitors to Nature House. Volunteers are integral to these activities. We had a record number for plant sales, and volunteers were so important in efficiently helping patrons pick up their flowers. We are very grateful for the volunteers who dug in to help at Reston’s Arbor Day and at our Earth Day Project. They planted 100 trees and shrubs, as well as 80 wildflowers, ferns and grasses. Volunteers also made our Spring Festival and Egg-stravaganza events possible.

If you’re looking for ways to get involved this summer, we have many activities to participate in or volunteer at, including the Fairy Festival on July 15, and a full season of wildlife counts. We are also excited to welcome a full number of counselors and campers (ages 3-12) to our nature camps. If you’d like to volunteer at camp, we have some fun opportunities.

Thanks to our donors:

Julie & Charlie Bond and the Reston Garden Club for the seasonal container gardens, delightful mantel creations, and the lovely floral arrangements at the Welcome Desk; Wetland Studies and Solutions for providing the fish for Kids’ Trout Fishing Day; Friends of Reston and Reston Community Center for our Spring Festival entertainment.

Thanks to our volunteers:

Advance registration required for adults and children over 18 months of age by July 12.

Stroll along a woodland trail, decorated with fairy houses and vote for your favorite. Search for hidden fairies and colorful mushrooms. Sip tea and enjoy a story with the Fairy Queen. Make a craft and do some fairy house construction. Children and adults are encouraged to wear fairy costumes.

306011306 7/15

Sat. 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

All Ages $10/RA Member, $15/Non-member

OPTIONAL FAIRY HOUSE CONTEST- Make a homemade fairy house for a chance to win a prize.

Alex & Max Alfert; Dima Andriyenko; Ayisha Asharaf; Joanne & David Bauer; Matt Bender; Julie & Charlie Bond; AJ & Steve Bowen; Joane Carlson; John Connor; Mike Corrigan; Don Coram; Isabelle D’Achille; Dirk Der Kinderen; Marilyn Dicke; Jody Douglas; Robin Duska; Hafiz Einahas; Jennifer Evidos; Lori Faunce; June Ferrara; Melissa Frost; Linda Fuller; Martha Furniss; Martha Garcia; Corbett Glaros; Sharon Gurtz; Roy Gutta; Lewis Hart; Barbara Heubner; Pete Huffer; Derek Huenneke; Diana Kalaly; Carolina & Francesca Keda; Evan Kim; Adeel Ky; Laurie Lewis; Marjorie Majorenos; Visha Makwana; Sharon McHugh; Meaghan McLaughlin; Ilene & Jim McNeal; Farideh Mimirani; Ande Mitchell; Sara Moezie; John Moyle; Keshav Nair; Isabelle Nam; Ines Nedelcovic; NOVA Trout Unlimited; William O’Brien; Irvin Ortiz; Barbara Paolucci; Ellen Perrins; Sara & Mike Piper; Lucy Rosst; Mehmet San; Yasmine Sana; Dana Scheibe; Karin & Zenon Slawinski; Jim Schoppet; Jim Seret; Lisa Shey; Melissa Shields; Nikolas Stuard; Zack Suhr; Brenda van Doorn; Charlotte Wayner; Matthew Webb; Verna Webb; Ellen and Peter Whalen; Stella Whitney; Brooke Whityney.

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.

June

OWL PROWL

Meet a wildlife rehabilitator from Secret Garden Birds and Bees for an up-close look at live owls of Virginia. Then prowl the trails in search of the Nature Center’s resident owls. Register by May 30.

206011008 6/2

Fri 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Ages 5-Adult $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

BIRD COUNT

Sat 6/3

See ad on page 3.

RADICAL REPTILES

Learn about the fascinating world of Reston’s coldblooded creatures. Meet a Box Turtle, make a reptile craft, and walk the trails to look for reptiles and their homes. Register by June 2.

206111001

Mon 6/5 10:00 am – 11:00 am

OR Tue 6/6 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Ages 18-35 months

$8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

KIDS FISHING DERBY

Bring your fishing rod or borrow one of ours to compete in this fun morning of fishing. No experience necessary. We’ll provide bait, prizes and light refreshments. A fishing license is not required for kids. Adults are not permitted to fish during the kids’ time. Register by June 7.

206101302 6/10

Sat 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Lake Audubon Boat Ramp, 2070 Twin Branches Road

Ages 3-15 $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

Marvelous Monarchs

Monarch butterflies are not only a delight to see, but they have fascinating life cycles. Discover where these insects live and how far they migrate for the winter. Learn how you can support monarchs and go for a walk to look for the plants they need to survive. Register by June 8.

206011008

6/11

Sun 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

All Ages $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

Celebrate Summer Campfire

School is out for the summer! Join us around the campfire. Sing songs, share stories, and enjoy a memorable evening full of fun. Make a campfire cone– a yummy twist on a marshmallow treat. Register by June 13.

206011003

6/16

Fri 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

WNC Fire Ring on Soapstone Drive between Glade Drive and Lawyers Road

All Ages $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

Animal Dads

It’s the month of dads! Do animals have dads? What do animal dads do? Learn how animal dads are like human dads and how they are different. Take a walk through the woods and make a craft. Register by June 14.

206121008

6/17

Sat 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Ages 3-5 $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

Sunset Stand Up Paddle Board

Enjoy an evening discovering the fun of stand up paddle boarding on Lake Audubon. Join a naturalist and observe the beauty of the lake and wildlife from a new perspective. Paddle in the glow of sunset. Boats, safety equipment and instruction provided. Register by June 20.

206201007

6/23

Fri 7:30 – 9:00 pm

Lake Audubon Boat Ramp

Ages 16-Adult $25/Member, $30 Non-member

JUNE BIRD WALK: WALKER NATURE CENTER & SNAKEDEN STREAM VALLEY

206201002

6/25

Sun 7:30 am – 10:30 am

FIREFLIES AT NIGHT

What makes those little bugs glow and why do they do it? Learn what they eat and where they live. How can you attract them to your yard? Stroll by Lake Newport and explore Brown’s Chapel Park to catch a glimpse of this bioluminescent phenomenon. Register by June 25.

206011008 6/28

Wed 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Brown’s Chapel Picnic Pavilion, 1575 Brown’s Chapel Rd. Ages 5-Adult $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

July

BUTTERFLY COUNT AND CLASS

Sat 7/8

See ad on page 3.

BUZZING BEES

Flowers are blooming, and bees are gathering nectar and pollen. Get your own antennae and stingers, and fly like a bee. Make a bee craft and taste a honey treat. Look for bees buzzing around flowers. Register by July 7. 306111001

Mon 7/10 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Or Tue 7/11 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Pony Barn Pavilion, Triple Crown Rd. & Steeplechase Dr. Ages 18-35 months$8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

FAIRY FESTIVAL

Sat 7/15

See ad on page 3.

BIRD WALK- UPPER GLADE STREAM VALLEY 306201002 7/16

Sun 7:30 am – 10:30 am

Park at WNC Fire Ring, on Soapstone Drive between Glade Drive and Lawyers Road

CAMPFIRE FUN

Gather around a crackling campfire. Sing songs, play a game, hear a story and make a s’more. Register by July 18.

306011003

7/21

Fri 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

WNC Fire Ring on Soapstone Dr. between Glade Dr. and Lawyers Rd.

All Ages $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

KNEE DEEP IN A CREEK

Hot days are perfect for dipping your feet in cool water. Explore Snakeden Branch stream looking for frogs, minnows, and other creatures. Wear your wading shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Nets and buckets provided. Register by July 26.

306121008

7/29

Sat 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Ages 3-5 $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

August

DRAGONFLY COUNT AND CLASS

Sat 8/5

See ad on page 3.

WHOSE HOOF?

What do horses, deer and unicorns have in common? They all have hooved feet! See some large “horseshoes” at the Pony Barn pavilion. Make a footprint craft and use your imagination on a short “trot” through the woods.

306111001

Mon 8/7 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Or Tue 8/8 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Pony Barn Pavilion, Triple Crown Rd. & Steeplechase Dr. Ages 18-35 months

$8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

SMOKEY BEAR CAMPFIRE

Celebrate Smokey Bear’s birth month with some fun around the campfire. Learn how to build a fire and keep it safe. Make a s’more and sing Happy Birthday to our beloved friend. Register by August 8.

306011003

8/11

Fri 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

WNC Fire Ring on Soapstone Dr. between Glade Dr. and Lawyers Rd.

All Ages $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

BIRD WALK- BUTTERMILK CREEK TRAIL

306201002

8/13

Sun 7:30 am – 10:30 am Park at Uplands Pool, 11032 Ring Road

SNAKES OF RESTON

Learn which species live in Reston and which is our only venomous snake. Meet a real snake up close and bring your snake questions. Take a walk to the pond and the lake to look for these elusive reptiles. Register by August 10.

306011008

8/13

Sun 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

All Ages $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

MOTHS OF RESTON

Discover the diversity of moths in our area using a light trap and white sheet setup. Learn how to distinguish moths from butterflies, why moths are ecologically important, and how many different shapes and colors they can be. Register by August 13.

306011008

8/16

Fri 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Ages 5-Adult $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

STREAM SLOSH

Dip into a cool stream to escape the heat. Use a net to search for fish and frogs and take a peek under rocks to look for insects. Wear wading shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Nets and buckets provided. Register by August 16.

306011007

8/19

Sat 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

All Ages $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

SUNSET STAND UP PADDLE BOARD

Enjoy an evening discovering the fun of stand up paddle boarding on Lake Audubon. Join a naturalist and observe the beauty of the lake and wildlife from a new perspective. Paddle in the glow of sunset. Boats, safety equipment and instruction provided. Register by August 22.

306201007

8/24

Thu 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Lake Audubon Boat Ramp, 2070 TwinBranches Road

Ages 16-Adult $16.50 /RA Member, $22/Non-member

ANIMAL PJ PARTY

Wear your favorite pajamas and learn about what animals are active at night. Learn about owls, bats, coyotes, moths and more. Search for sleepy animals on the trail. Listen to animal sounds and touch coyote fur and owl feathers. Make a nocturnal animal craft. Register by August 23.

306121008 8/26

Sat 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Ages 3-5 $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member