May 2013

May 25: Birds, Birds, Birds! 1-3 pm, at Refuge Visitor Center. Join us for some fun hands-on activities all about birds as we celebrate ArtSpring, a community celebration of the arts. We'll have crafts, games, and information on birds for the whole family. Stop by for a few minuts or even longer. If you've never visited us, take time to visit the Center's interactive displays, do a scavenger hunt or explore our touch table. This activity is free and open to the public.

May 25: Photography Presentation/Lecture by Joe Henry - 6 pm, at Refuge Visitor Center. Enjoy the breathtaking scenes of the seasonal transition from winter to spring in this presentation by local photographer Joe Henry. Henry's images depict the rapidly moving weather fronts which produce stunning changes in light and reveal the beauty of the sub-artic flora and landscapes of Canaan Valley and Dolly Sods. This free program is part of ArtSpring, a community celebration of the arts.

May 25 and 26: Refuge Garden Workdays - 10 am, at Refuge Visitor Center. Join our energetic group of Garden Tenders for 30 minutes, an hour, or more! Bring your ideas, supplies, tools, and/or labor on these regularly scheduled workdays, weather permitting. If weather prevents work on Saturday and/or Sunday, alternate workday is Monday, May 27, 10 am. Email candymo@verizon.net, or call 703-698-0107 for more information.

June 2013

June 8: Beginning Birdwalk: "A Habitat is a Neighborhood" - 10 am, At the Refuge Visitor Center. We start with a short discussion on getting started birding. Then we'll walk a nearby trail to find out who's at home today. Note: We offer an "Early Bird Walk" for beginning birders. Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center parking lot at 7:30 a.m. for a pre-walk on a Refuge trail. We have binoculars to loan. Everyone is welcome.

June 14: Refuge Storytime - 10 am, at the Refuge Visitor Center. Join us for Refuge Storytime, a monthly series for pre-schoolers. Topic to be announced. Storytime is offered free of charge and is hosted by the Refuge and the Friends of the 500th.

June 16: What's Blooming on the Refuge? - 1 pm, Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center then carpool to a trail. What wildflowers are blooming now? What is in seed, or just in leaf? Check them out with our Master Naturalist volunteers on this guided walk.

June 22: Summer Birds in Flight Birdwalk - 7 am, Meet at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. It's high summer and the Refuge is simply a-buzz with the sounds of birds. Don't miss this walk with volunteer Casey Rucker. Maybe you'll see some of your favorites or be able to mark off that long sought-after bird from your list. Bring your binoculars--or borrow ours--and come along on this walk.

June 29: Niches and Wildlife Ways - 8 am, meet at the Refuge Visitor Center then carpool to a refuge trail. Many species share the same type of habitat. How do they all fit and get what they need to survive. Join naturalist Jackie Burns in this outdoor exploration of wildlife ways.

July 2013

July 6: Exploring Connections in Nature - 8 am, meet at the Refuge Visitor Center then carpool to a refuge trail. Wildlife depends on the physical and biological characteristics of their environment to survive. How do these vary from place to place? Join naturalist Jackie Burns in this outdoor exploration.

July 12: Refuge Storytime - 10 am, at the Refuge Visitor Center. Join us for Refuge Storytime, a monthly series for pre-schoolers. Topic to be announced. Storytime is offered free of charge and is hosted by the Refuge and the Friends of the 500th.

July 13: Beginning Birdwalk Series: "Who Said That?"  - "Listening to bird songs is also bird "watching"." - 10 am, At the Refuge Visitor Center. Learn how to use basid birding equipment, take time to study and discuss bird identification, and understand when and where to look for birds. We have binoculars to loan. . Note: We offer an "Early Bird Walk" for beginning birders. Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Of course, everyone is welcome.

July 19-21: Master Naturalist Weekend - For more information contact Andy Dalton at 304-866-7037 or e-mail: adalton2000@yahoo.com.

July 20: Bats - 7 pm, At the Refuge Visitor Center. Refuge Biologist Marquette Crockett will present this program on the bats of Canaan Valley and will discuss the impacts of white-nose syndrome on bat populations on the Refuge and throughout the region. She will demonstrate various survey methods, including acoustic recording and give us an idea of how the data is analyzed. Then we'll head out to see if we can "hear" any bats using two types of acoustic recording devices.

July 28: What's Blooming on the Refuge? - 1 pm, Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center then carpool to a trail. What wildflowers are blooming in the mid-summer heat? What is in seed, or just in leaf? Check them out with our Master Naturalist volunteers on this guided walk.

August 2013

August 3: Beginning Birdwalk Series: A Change in Fashion - "Basic plumage for the trip home" - 10 am, At the Refuge Visitor Center. Migration time is on its way. Let's see who goes and who will stay. These are bird walks on the Refuge for beginning and intermediate birders. We have binoculars to loan.

August 9: Refuge Storytime - 10 am, at the Refuge Visitor Center. Join us for Refuge Storytime, a monthly series for pre-schoolers. Topic to be announced. Storytime is offered free of charge and is hosted by the Refuge and the Friends of the 500th.

August 17: Camp 70 Exploration - 8 am, meet at the Refuge parking lot at Camp 70. The Refuge was established in 1994 to conserve wetlands and migratory birds. We will explore them as we look at the center of the valley. Join naturalist Jackie Burns in this outdoor exploration.

August 18: Canaan Valley History Walk- 1 pm, meet at the Refuge Visitor Center, then carpool to sites. Join members of TCHHEP, a committee of the Friends of the 500th, for this walk to sites "where history was made" in the Valley. Hiking will be minimal and non-strenuous. Plan for 2-3 hours.

August 25: What's Blooming on the Refuge? - 1 pm, Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center then carpool to a trail. What wildflowers are blooming in late summer? What is in seed, or just in leaf? Check them out with our Master Naturalist volunteers on this guided walk.

August 31: Beginning Birdwalk Series: "Who's Going Where?" - 10 am, At the Refuge Visitor Center. Summer's over and most of our feathered friends already have started home. Where are they going? These are bird walks on the Refuge for beginning and intermediate birders. We have binoculars to loan.

September 2013

September 13: Refuge Storytime - 10 am, at the Refuge Visitor Center. Join us for Refuge Storytime, a monthly series for pre-schoolers. Topic to be announced. Storytime is offered free of charge and is hosted by the Refuge and the Friends of the 500th.

September 13-15: Master Naturalist Weekend - For more information contact Andy Dalton at 304-866-7037 or e-mail: adalton2000@yahoo.com.

September 15: What's Blooming on the Refuge? - 1 pm, Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center then carpool to a trail. What wildflowers are blooming now? Many are in seed this late in the growing season? Do you recognize them? Check them out with our Master Naturalist volunteers on this guided walk.

September 21: Beginning Birdwalk Series: "Who's New in the Neighborhood" - 10 am, At the Refuge Visitor Center. Many species migrate to the Canaan Valley for the winger. These are bird walks for beginning and intermediate birders on Refuge trails. We take the time to discuss field marks and try to understand when and where to look for birds. We have binoculars to loan.

September 28: Nature Exploration - 8 am, meet at the Refuge Visitor Center then carpool to a refuge trail. Join naturalist Jackie Burns in this outdoor exploration.

October 2013

October 11: Refuge Storytime - 10 am, at the Refuge Visitor Center. Join us for Refuge Storytime, a monthly series for pre-schoolers. Topic to be announced. Storytime is offered free of charge and is hosted by the Refuge and the Friends of the 500th.

November 2013

November 8: Refuge Storytime - 10 am, at the Refuge Visitor Center. Join us for Refuge Storytime, a monthly series for pre-schoolers. Topic to be announced. Storytime is offered free of charge and is hosted by the Refuge and the Friends of the 500th. This event will be cancelled if area schools are not in session. Please call ahead to confirm, 304.866.3858.

December 2013

December 13: Refuge Storytime - 10 am, at the Refuge Visitor Center. Join us for Refuge Storytime, a monthly series for pre-schoolers. Topic to be announced. Storytime is offered free of charge and is hosted by the Refuge and the Friends of the 500th. This event will be cancelled if area schools are not in session. Please call ahead to confirm, 304.866.3858.

All events are free.  These events are co-sponsored by the Friends of the 500th and the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.  Most of the winter events are also co-sponsored by White Grass Ski Touring Center.

For walks:  Please wear warm comfortable walking boots and dress for the weather.  Unless otherwise stated, walks meet at the Refuge office to carpool to a Refuge trail.  Binoculars may be borrowed during Refuge sponsored events.  Bring drinking water and enthusiasm!  Call 304-866-3858 for more information.