Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary Spring | Summer Programs & Events March–September 2017
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DRUMLIN FARM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY SPRING | SUMMER PROGRAMS & EVENTS MARCH–SEPTEMBER 2017 Spring | Summer Programs & Events 2017 1 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR Behind the enduring landscape of barns, animals, and New England field/forest edge habitat that have remained intact since those “childhood visits, today’s Drumlin Farm is bursting with innovation. ” Dear Friends of Drumlin Farm, Local farms are steeped in tradition, and Drumlin Farm is no exception. With our 60th anniversary just behind us, it’s become a regular occurrence for me to meet people bringing their grandchildren here to spend time at a place that looks very close to what they remember from their own childhood visits. It’s a special honor to be part of a place so rooted in people’s memories and in the community. Even after 10 years, I still feel a burst of joy whenever people ask me where I work and then respond with, “Oh, I love Drumlin Farm!” The stories I hear from loyal visitors echo my own memories of coming here as a child and the new memories I share with my own boys, who made their first visits as what our staff fondly refers to as “backpack babies.” Behind the enduring landscape of barns, animals, and New England habitat that have remained intact since those childhood visits, today’s Drumlin Farm is bursting with innovation. Our staff constantly innovates to reinvigorate our connections to the past and bring new relevancy to our work. This can take the form of new themes and methods, such as when our education team developed a way for middle schoolers to measure carbon sequestration of their schoolyard habitat, helping them tackle the thorny problem of climate change in a positive and locally focused way. Or in how we steward the farm ecosystem, collaborating with the Mass Audubon statewide Conservation Science staff to begin restoring 27 acres of grassland to create breeding habitat for bobolinks while maintaining a source of hay for our animals. Or even in partnering with the community in decidedly modern ways, such as hosting a group of local engineers in testing an underwater remote-operated vehicle, resulting in fascinating video footage of the turtle inhabitants of Ice Pond. In addition to these and dozens of other projects bringing new insights to our work at the intersection of science, sustainability, and stewardship, we always strive to develop new and exciting programs for you and your family to enjoy. I hope you find something new—or a favorite to return to—among our spring and summer offerings. Looking forward to sharing the best of Drumlin Farm with you in 2017. Renata Pomponi, Sanctuary Director SPRING | SUMMER 2017 2 Plan Your Visit Adult Programs 3 • NEW • Community Events at Drumlin Farm 19 Birding 4 Special Events 22 Weekend and Out-of-State Birding 24 Natural History & Know Your Food Vacation Week Programs • Ages 4–12 6 April Vacation Week Additional Programs 27 Drumlin Farm Camp Family Programs • Ages 2–12 28 Drumlin Farm Community Preschool 8 Adult/Child Pair Series 29 School and Group Programs 9 Family Series 30 Accessible Programs • LEAF 10 Family Single Sessions Birthday Parties • Volunteer Opportunities 14 Chickadee Birders 31 32 Audubon Shop at Drumlin Farm • Wish List Youth Programs • Ages 4–12 15 Youth Series 33 Landscapes for Learning Campaign Update 16 • NEW • Camp Days 34 • NEW • Spring & Summer CSA Teen Programs • Ages 13–17 35 • NEW • Calendar of Events 17 Wildlife Biologists Club • Spring Wildlife Caretakers 37 General Information 18 Peregrine Birders Program Key Know Your Food programs offer year-round experiences for people of all ages to learn about, prepare, and appreciate seasonal, local produce. Bee-related programs offer an engaging way to learn about bees and beekeeping. Drumlin Farm currently has eight hives. PLAN YOUR VISIT PLAN YOUR VISIT Walk the Forest Discovery Trail for a beautiful and informative hike in our woods. Explore the accessible Sensory Trail that starts at the parking lot and swings around Ice Pond. Visit the Wildlife Blind by the Deer Pen to see our summer resident birds. Try a scavenger hunt and receive a prize for finishing or check out one of our beehives! DAILY DROP-IN ACTIVITIES Tuesday–Friday: 10 am, 11:30 am Saturday–Sunday: 10 am, 11:30 am, 2:30 pm Discover a different part of Drumlin Farm every day with our free drop-in activities. Watch our farmer milk the cow, meet one of our resident birds, and more! All daily drop-in activities are free with admission. Check our schedule board when you arrive for a list of the day’s activities. DISCOVERY DAYS Explore seasonal happenings during one of our Discovery Days at the farm! All Discovery Day activities are free with the price of admission. Detailed schedules are available online closer to the event date. THE WONDERS OF WILDLIFE STRAWBERRY DAY FALL HARVEST CELEBRATION Saturday, April 29 Saturday, June 17 Saturday, September 16 10 am–4 pm 10 am–4 pm 10 am–4 pm Pick your own strawberries: 10 am–12 pm Join us as we explore the wild side of It’s harvest time! All of the hard work Drumlin Farm. Meet a wildlife ambassador Join us for our favorite summer harvest! our crops team has done through the and learn about its habitat needs and Throughout the day, you can enjoy spring and summer has paid off. Enjoy adaptations. Have you ever seen a raptor wildlife demonstrations and learn about cooking demonstrations, tastings, a tour of or a skunk up close? Enjoy “keeper talks” strawberry pollinators. Dig in the dirt with our fields, garden activities, and up-close with our Wildlife Care Staff, or visit our farm staff, meet some berry-loving encounters with some of the animals that our brand-new New England Wildlife animals, and, if weather permits, pick your love to visit the garden. Exploration exhibit. own strawberries to take home. While supplies last; additional fee applies. 2 massaudubon.org/drumlinfarm PLAN YOUR VISIT PLAN YOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS AT DRUMLIN FARM SUMMER MUSIC SERIES All Ages Fridays • June 23, July 14, August 25 • 5:30–8 pm $10 Adult • $5 Children ages 2–12 • Free for children under age 2 Join us this summer for an evening of local music and local food. Bring a picnic dinner, blankets, and chairs, and enjoy the sounds of music on the farm. Each month will feature a different Boston-area band. We’ll have farm-fresh snacks, sweets, and drinks for sale to round out your picnic dinner. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FRIDAY EVENING HAYRIDES SUNDAY MORNING YOGA All ages Adults $16.50 member • $19.50 nonmember $15 member & nonmember May 19, June 16, August 18, September 8 & 15 July 23, August 6 & 20 8–9 am 4–5:30 pm or 6–7:30 pm COMMUNITY EVENTS AT DRUMLIN FARM AT COMMUNITY EVENTS Join Lena Rakijian, yoga instructor at BURN Fitness Studio in Join us for a hayride around the farm as spring moves into Boston, for a vinyasa flow in the heart of Drumlin Farm. Salute summer. Watch for birds flying at dusk and evening fireflies as the sun as it rises over the barns and experience the farm you ride our hay wagon through the meadows. Stop at our coming to life for the day. After your session, enjoy a peaceful, campfire for stories, s’mores, and a special night-time visitor. self-guided walk around the sanctuary before heading back to Enjoy the splendid colors in the sky as the sun begins to set. our farm stand, where you can round out your healthy morning with the purchase of farm-fresh produce. Registration required. Prices are per session. Call for additional pricing details. Open to teens ages 14+ with an adult. All levels welcome. Please bring your own mat. Registration required. Prices are per session. Spring | Summer Programs & Events 2017 3 SPECIAL EVENTS SPECIAL EVENTS • SPRING PANCAKE BREAKFAST WOOLAPALOOZA Saturday & Sunday, March 11 & 12 Saturday, March 25 9 am–1 pm 10 am–4 pm $13 member • $15 nonmember $14 member • $16 nonmember (Children under age 2: Free) (Children under age 2: Free) Enjoy a hearty farmer’s breakfast of pancakes with maple Watch traditional sheep-shearing by hand. Visit our syrup, featuring Drumlin Farm sausage and produce! sheep-to-sweater interpretive trail to learn about wool Seatings are every half hour, from 9 am–12:30 pm. Learn washing, carding, spinning, and dyeing. See border collies about Native American sap-to-syrup techniques. See how herd sheep around the field. Purchase lunch made from we collect sap from our sugar bush and turn it into syrup. Drumlin Farm meat and vegetables. Advance purchase only. Walk-in only; no advance purchase. SPECIAL EVENTS 4 Register online: massaudubon.org/drumlinprograms SPECIAL EVENTS SPECIAL EVENTS • SUMMER DAIRY DAY MOON OVER DRUMLIN Saturday, June 3 Saturday, September 23 10 am–4 pm 6:30–9:30 pm $10 member • $12 nonmember (Children under age 2: Free) Watch a milking demonstration and try it yourself at our At our annual farm-to-table gala, you will have the cow and goat stations. Taste homemade butter and learn opportunity to support the mission of Mass Audubon and to make it yourself. Purchase local ice cream and celebrate Drumlin Farm while enjoying fabulous tastings featuring dairy animals with crafts, games, and more. our meat and produce prepared by some of the area’s finest chefs. Join friends and family at this festive event, Walk-in only; no advance purchase. and raise your paddle high during the live auction to support Drumlin Farm’s mission.