Did you know that Maryland has 15 species of bumblebees, but that many are disappearing? After a powerpoint introduction, we will look at real specimens of the most common species before going outside to try some field identification. Learn about the lives of these fascinating and charismatic bees from their special ability to buzz pollinate... Read more »
Explore the sights and sounds of Irvine on a warm summer evening. The animals at Irvine are used to people disappearing at the end of the workday, so dusk is a great time to see secretive mammals. On a gentle hike we will listen to our summer songsters from insects to owls, look for fireflies... Read more »
Fly on over to our Aviary to learn about our resident raptors, what makes them great hunters, and what they eat. We will start with an Aviary Tour then dissect raptor pellets to explore what their diet is made of. Families will even get a chance to watch a raptor munch on their lunch! This program... Read more »
In this hand-on workshop, learn how to correctly identify and harvest wild herbal plants for salves. The healing abilities of different plants will be discussed so each participant can create a personalized oil infusion to take home. Then we will use a blend of prepared infusions to make your own salve using ingredients harvested at... Read more »
Celebrate national moth week as we look for these fascinating insects at Irvine. Discover the world of moths: from the nighttime beauty of the luna moth, to giants such as the cecropia moth, to the amazing defenses of the tiger moth, plus meet some colorful moth caterpillars from Irvine’s butterfly house. Then hike some gentle trails to hunt for these nighttime insects. At... Read more »
Fly on over to our Aviary to learn about our resident raptors, what makes them great hunters, and what they eat. We will start with an Aviary Tour then dissect raptor pellets to explore what their diet is made of. Families will even get a chance to watch a raptor munch on their lunch! This program... Read more »
Explore the sights and sounds of Irvine on a warm summer evening. The animals at Irvine are used to people disappearing at the end of the workday, so dusk is a great time to see secretive mammals. On a gentle hike we will listen to our summer songsters from insects to owls, look for fireflies... Read more »
Summer evenings are filled with the hum, click and buzz of insects. Discover who, how and why insects are calling and how you can use them to tell the temperature! In this program, we will learn the calls of 6 target insect songsters and then go outside to the quiet of Irvine’s woods and meadows... Read more »
Celebrate BATS on International Bat Night as we dispel some common myths of these maligned animals. Learn about the different species found in Maryland, why some species are in trouble, and how you can help. We will hike some gentle trails through the woods and meadow to look and listen for bats with an echo-locator. This program is... Read more »
Flutter over to Irvine’s Butterfly House to learn about native butterflies in Maryland, specifically magical Monarchs! We’ll delve into their marvelous migration routes, their metamorphic life cycles, and their madness for milkweed! We will take a hike through our pollinator meadow, play some games, and even tag some monarchs with a Naturalist as part of... Read more »
