Get Ready for Raptors! Audubon Society of Rhode Island September 2016 Programs and Events for Children and Families

(August 8, 2016) – Bring the kids for Raptor Weekend and get up close with eagles, owls, falcons and other amazing birds of prey. Let an Audubon naturalist introduce you to the wonder of box turtles or enjoy Eco-stories and art on the lawn at the Environmental Education Center. Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts!

Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. A complete listing of activities and programs are detailed in the Audubon Nature Tours and Programs, a free guide to connecting with the natural world. Register online at www.asri.org or call (401) 949-5454.


September 3, 2016 Family Fun Day
Franklin's Hatch Day Party
Audubon Environmental Education Center
Bristol, RI 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Franklin is the resident eastern box turtle at the Environmental Education Center, and we are celebrating his birthday—the day he hatched! Learn all about this awesome species of turtle - and have fun celebrating his birthday! No need to register.
- 9:00 am to 5:00 pm: Spot the Turtle. Can you find all 10 box turtles in our exhibit hall? Spot them all and receive a prize to take home.
- 10:00 am-2:00 pm: Turtle Party Crafts
- 10:00 am and 2:30 pm: Turtle Tale Nature Story
- 11:00 am and 2:00 pm: Meet Franklin! Animal Interview
- 1:00 pm: Turtle Party Games

Programs are free with Admission.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI.






September 5, 2016 Labor Day Nature Activities
Audubon Environmental Education Center
Bristol, RI 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
End the summer with Audubon! Come to the Environmental Education Center and enjoy crafts, a nature hike, games, and more. No registration is required.

Nature Craft Table: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Nature Story: 10:00 am
Nature Walk: 11:00 am and 2:30 pm
Animal Interview: 1:00 pm
Habitat Bingo: 1:30 pm
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; September 5, 2016; 10:00 am-3:00 pm; Programs are Free with Admission. Ages: All.


September 7, 2016 Animal Tales
Audubon Environmental Education Center
Bristol, RI 10:00 - 11:00 am
Enjoy a nature story with your preschooler each month. Programs include a story with a nature lesson followed by a craft. Often a live animal comes to visit! See below for dates and times.
September 7, 2016: The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI. Program Fee: $5/member child, $7/non-member child; Ages: Ages 3-5. Register online www.asri.org.


September 10 & 11, 2016 Audubon Raptor Weekend
Audubon Environmental Education Center Bristol, RI 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Get ready! Here Come the Raptors!
Eagles, owls, hawks and falcons – the hunters of the avian world – will be featured in live flight presentations, educational programs, and activities for the whole family. Join raptor experts from across the Northeast for the largest celebration of raptors in New England!

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI. Visit www.asri.org for details.

Editor’s note: Please contact Hope Foley at hfoley@asri.org for a separate press release and images for Audubon Raptor Weekend.


September 14, 2016 Animal Tales
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge
Smithfield, RI Times vary, see below.
Enjoy a nature story with your preschooler each month. Programs include a story with a nature lesson followed by a craft. Often a live animal comes to visit! See below for dates and times. September 14, 2016: The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; 11:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00–2:00 pm; Program Fee: $5/member child, $7/non-member child; Ages: Ages 3-5. Register online www.asri.org.




September 17, 2016 Audubon Natural Dyes Workshop for Families
Audubon Environmental Education Center
Bristol, RI 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Families explore the landscape to discover plants that can make colorful dyes! Take a guided walk with fiber artist Jaclyn Pacheco to identify different local plants, and then use them to create a solar dye jar to take home. What color can we make with walnuts? How about chicory flowers? Families will also decorate a tote bag with colors sourced from collected flowers and plants. Adult must attend with child. Please register in advance. All materials provided.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: Member adult with child: $25. Non-member adult with child: $30. Other. Ages: 5+. Register online at www.asri.org.


September 17, 2016 Eco-stories and Art
Audubon Environmental Education Center Bristol, RI 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Bring a snack and relax while an Audubon naturalist reads a nature story. Then create a unique work of art from different recyclable materials and found objects. Will it be a bouquet of flowers made from plastic bottles? A bird’s nest made from scrap paper and yarn? Join us and find out! No registration required.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $3 materials fee plus admission. Ages: All.


September 20, 27, October 4, 11, 2016 Preschool Adventures
Audubon Environmental Education Center
Bristol, RI 10:00 – 11:00 am
Nature comes alive for children ages 3-5. Children will participate in games, hikes, crafts, songs, hands-on activities and more as they are introduced to the wonders of nature. Space is limited to 10 children so please register early. Adults must accompany children and there are no refunds for missed classes. Younger siblings are not permitted to attend.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program fee for four week series: $40/member child, $50/two member siblings; $44/non-member child, $54/two non-member siblings. Ages: 3-5. Register online at www.asri.org.


September 20 & 21, 2016 Junior Naturalists for Home-schooled Families
Audubon Environmental Education Center
Bristol, RI 1:30 – 3:00 pm
NEW- Audubon’s popular home-school program has extended class time. That means more time for outdoor exploration, so dress for the weather!
Join other home-schooled kids to learn about nature and science. This program introduces participants to a different topic each class, with hands-on experiments and nature-based activities that are sure to foster a love of the natural world. Classes are limited to 15 children, so please register early. Adult must attend with child.

September 20 and 21, 2016: Natural Science Illustration
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $10/member child, $6/each additional member sibling; $12/non-member child, $8/each additional non-member sibling $8. Ages: 6-12. Register online www.asri.org.


September 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27, 2016 Li’l Peeps
Audubon Environmental Education Center
Bristol, RI 9:45 – 10:45 am
This popular program introduces children ages 18 to 36 months to the delights of nature through age-appropriate, hands-on activities. Along with a nature lesson, activities may include nature walks, crafts, songs and stories. This is also a wonderful opportunity to make new friends with the other children and parents. Class is limited to 10 children so please register early. Adults must accompany children and there are no refunds for missed classes. In order to maintain an age-appropriate program we ask that older siblings not accompany the parent/child team.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program fee for six week series: $60/member child, $76/two member siblings; $65/non-member child, $82/two non-member siblings. Ages: 18 to 36 Months.


September 24, 2016 Paper Making with Audubon
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge
Smithfield, RI 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Learn how to fashion decorative paper out of old fibers, recycled paper and tissue paper. Explore how to finesse fine sheets and thick sheets and also how to embed items such as pressed flowers, threads and glitter to make interesting designs. Dress for mess. Ages 12+
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $15/member; $20/non-member. Ages: 12+. Register online at www.asri.org.


September 24, 2016 Smithsonian's Museum Day Live! 2016
Audubon Environmental Education Center
Bristol, RI 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Audubon joins participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide to open their doors free of charge to visitors who download the Museum Day Ticket from Smithsonian.com. Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people to participating museums and cultural venues.
10:00 am-2:00 pm: STEAM Table
10:00 am-2:00 pm: Biofacts Table
10:00 am: Nature Story
11:00 am: Gills Club! Calling all girls ages 8 for a meeting of the Gills Club, a club that teaches girls about sharks and the work of marine biologists.
1:30 pm: Animal Interview
2:30 pm: Land Trust Days Guided Nature Walk
3:30-4:30 pm- Presentation by Conservacion Panama: "The Northern Tufted Flycatcher”

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Admission is free with Smithsonian ticket.