Placer Nature Center
Events & NewsFebruary 2012

Greetings    

 

You may have already seen the story in tour local papers, but ticks in Placer County have tested positive for Lyme Disease. While chances of getting sick are low, it is a serious disease so it is important to be informed about the symptoms and how to protect yourself. The nature center has collected some information and CSUS nursing students will be presenting on Lyme Disease and prevention as part of their internships in February and May. 

Read more here.

 

Hope to see you tonight at the Roseville Utility Exploration Center to meet Andrew Niskar to learn about how the media affects perceptions about the environment. Come early to visit the Peanuts Naturally exhibit temporarily on loan from the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

 

If you haven't already joined the Placer Nature Center family, learn about the benefits of membership or all the different ways to be a donor.

 

Creature Feature - Ringtail Cat 

 Known by many names, Ringtail Cats are not cats at all, but members of the Racoon family (it's easy to see the resemblance!)! Endangered in California, these critters emerge at night and gracefully scurry about eating small rodents. Read more!

**** Upcoming Events! ****

February

The Role of Media in the Environment - First Friday Lecture
Feb. 3, Friday, 7:30pm-9:30pm
* Location: Utility Exploration Center 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd. Roseville, CA 95747
Join Canadian film producer, director and Earth advocate Andrew Nisker for a look at how film, television and even a floppy-eared beagle named Snoopy can change our view of the environment. Nisker travels the world speaking to families, corporations and students about how to flourish without harming the environment and the health of communities. This First Friday Lecture also serves as the opening night for the temporary art exhibit "Peanuts ... Naturally" from the Charles M. Schulz Museum. The exhibit shows how cartoonist Schulz explored the relationships between humans and the natural world through his characters. Entrance into the exhibit is included with the Friday Lecture Ticket.
Takes place rain or shine!
Members, Students & Roseville residents (with ID) $9/person, General Admission $12.Season Pass and bulk ticket discounts available!

Traylor Ranch Bird Sanctuary Tour - Adventures in Nature!
Feb. 4, Saturday 11:00am-1:00pm
Location: Traylor Ranch - 5050 English Colony Road, Penryn CA 95663 (Map), corner of Humphrey & English Colony Rd in Penryn. Look for parking lot located off of English Colony Road.
Take a guided tour and explore Traylor Ranch Bird Sanctuary and Nature Reserve - a County park. Traylor Ranch is a 90-acre passive park with many trails and family picnic areas. Guided guests will learn the history of the park, investigate the Antelope Creek as it twines through the property, sweep for insects in the grasslands, and discover Maidu grinding rocks.
Takes place rain or shine! Make a day out of it and bring a picnic lunch (be prepared to pack out your trash!)
Free to members, General Admission is $3/person.

Astronomy & Stargazing
Feb. 4, Saturday, 5:30pm-7:30 pm
Special focus on Jupiter, Venus, Moon, stars!
Do you have an interest in astronomy? Feed your wonder and answer your questions about the heavens! Colfax astronomer Don Machholz, author and comet-hunter, will weave tales of the galaxies and explore the night sky with his telescopes.
Pre-registration is requested:
More information and registration here...
Canceled if you cannot see the stars.
Free to membersGeneral Admission is $7/person.

School Program Docent Orientation & Tour
Feb. 7, Tuesday, 9:00am-11:00am
As a Docent you will learn the natural history and cultural science programs we share with school children who visit our site on field trips. Build the skills you need to teach these programs to the children yourself! Choose between self-paced or Fast-Track training. You'll become part of a wonderful community of friends who volunteer for Placer Nature Center
Takes place rain or shine!
Make a day out of it and bring a picnic lunch.
Nature Shop open.

Home school - Are you me? Life cycles in water
Feb. 8, Wednesday, 10am-12
Grades K-5
Many stages of life cycles can be found in water. Do you know who they belong to?
Registration is requested for materials. Takes place rain or shine! Make a day out of it and bring a picnic lunch. Nature Shop open.
$3.50 per student PNC members, $7 per student public

Weekend Docent Orientation & Tour
Feb. 11, Saturday, 9:00am-11:00am
Learn all about Placer Nature Center's programs, classes, events and facilities! Learn how to host a weekend event, fair or booth at Placer Nature Center or in the community. Come to the orientation to decide the best training dates that work for you culminating in 10 hours of training. In the process you'll meet like-minded people working to connect people and nature!
Takes place rain or shine!
Make a day out of it and bring a picnic lunch.
Nature Shop open.

Our Day Outside! (0-5 Yrs): Splish Splash!
Feb. 18, Saturday, 9:30am-11:30am
Let's learn about water! Explore, wiggle, sing, hike, do crafts and more with your 0-5 year old child. Both you and your child will engage in nature play to aid in your child's physical, mental and emotional development. You will learn techniques and strategies to continue the fun at home! Class made possible by a grant from Placer First 5.
*Spanish interpreter is always in attendance!
Read more here about these classes...

Discover Nature with Young Children: Water Wonders
Feb. 22, Wednesday, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Early Childhood educators and caregivers will learn how to weave nature themes into all your activities - support reading, math, science and physical exercise. these dynamic two-hour sessions present and demonstrate "nature play" in Early Childhood Education to help build school readiness skills through nature exploration. After learning all about the benefits, you get to use hands-on tools and receive inspirational ideas to facilitate nature study both indoors and out.
Information & Registration
Takes place rain or shine at Placer County Office of Education.
Certificate of participation, 2 hours of professional growth.
Free program thanks to First 5 partnership.

Tick Prevention & Lyme Disease Awareness
Feb. 25, Saturday 11:00am-12:00pm
CSUS nursing interns will cover tick bite prevention for not only you but your pets to keep the family safe while playing outside. Placer County Mosquito and Vector control District will provide free tick kits for all participants.
Takes place rain or shine, Nature Shop open.
Free program!

March

The Dirt on Soil
First Friday Lecture
Mar. 2, Friday, 7:30pm-9:30pm
* Location: State Theater, 985 Lincoln Way Auburn, CA 95603
We know less about life in the earth under our feet than we do about the far side of the moon. Yet every plant and animal you can think of depends on this vast hidden ecosystem. Each shovel of soil holds more living things than all the human beings ever born. Lots of species are still waiting for be identified. This is a world where fungi lay traps for thread-like worms. Bacteria dine on toxic chemicals. The smaller the creature, the stranger its habits. Dig into this underground universe and meet its tiny but helpful residents with Dr. Toby O'Geen, Soil Resource Specialist, form the Cooperative Extension, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources University of California, Davis.
Takes place rain or shine!
Members, Students & Roseville residents (with ID) $9/person,
General Admission $12.
Season Pass and bulk ticket discounts available!

Home school - Wetland Munchers
Mar. 7, Wednesday, 10am-12
Grades K-5
Many stages of life cycles can be found in water. Do you know who they belong to?
Registration is requested for materials. Takes place rain or shine! Make a day out of it and bring a picnic lunch. Nature Shop open.
$3.50 per student PNC members, $7 per student public

Family Campfire - Adventures in Nature!
Mar. 10, Saturday 5:30pm-7pm
Bring the whole family for an Spring evening by the campfire with hot chocolate, games, songs, and star gazing too.
Takes place rain or shine
Nature Shop open.
Free to members, General Admission is $3/person.

Our Day Outside! (0-5 Yrs): Bursting Flower Buds!
Mar. 17, Saturday, 9:30am-11:30am
Let's learn about flowers and plants! Explore, wiggle, sing, hike, do crafts and more with your 0-5 year old child. Both you and your child will engage in nature play to aid in your child's physical, mental and emotional development. You will learn techniques and strategies to continue the fun at home! Class made possible by a grant from Placer First 5. *Spanish interpreter is always in attendance!
Read more here about these classes...

Discover Nature with Young Children: Squirrely squirrels
Mar. 21, Wednesday, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Early Childhood educators and caregivers will learn how to weave nature themes into all your activities - support reading, math, science and physical exercise. these dynamic two-hour sessions present and demonstrate "nature play" in Early Childhood Education to help build school readiness skills through nature exploration. After learning all about the benefits, you get to use hands-on tools and receive inspirational ideas to facilitate nature study both indoors and out.
Information & Registration
Takes place rain or shine at Placer County Office of Education.
Certificate of participation, 2 hours of professional growth.
Free program thanks to First 5 partnership.

Vermiculture - Green Gardening with the Masters!
Mar. 31, Saturday, 10:00am-12:00pm
Learn how worms create organic compost for vegetable and flower gardening! Instead of throwing all those good kitchen scraps into the trash - feed them to your worms. Find out how to create a worm bin, how to keep your worms happy and how they do their magic! Richard Huntley, Master Composter and Gardener will take you through the basics of worm composting.
Takes place rain or shine! Make a day out of it and bring a picnic lunch. Nature Shop open.
Free to members, General Admission is $5/person.

Tick Prevention & Lyme Disease Awareness
Mar. 31, Saturday 11:00am-12:00pm and 2:00pm-3:00pm
Two workshop times are offered for yor convenience. CSUS nursing interns will cover tick bite prevention for not only you but your pets to keep the family safe while playing outside. Placer County Mosquito and Vector control District will provide free tick kits for all participants.
Takes place rain or shine, Nature Shop open.
Free program!

How to Use a Telescope & Stargazing
Mar. 31, Saturday, 6:00pm-9:00 pm
Special focus on Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, stars!
Whether you are just looking at buying a telescope and what to learn more to someone who needs to brush up on their skills, comet hunter Don Machholz will show you how to use this very specialized piece of scientific equipment. From reflectors to scopes, you will learn how to set-up, operate and use your telescope. By the end of the workshop you will know, not only how to set it up but also the best places and ways to search the night sky. You'll also learn about where to get star maps. After the class everyone will get to practice the new skills by searching the night sky using your own and a variety of large telescopes!
Pre-registration is requested.
More information and registration here...
Canceled if you cannot see the stars.
Great for ages 9+
Members are $9 each, General Admission is $15/person. 
If you wish to update your email preferences or unsubscribe, you can do so through the links at the bottom of this e-mail.  

 

Naturally yours,

 

Megan Krekorian, Linda Desai and the rest of the Placer Nature Center staff
Questions, comments, suggestions? Give us a call!
530-878-6053
Proud partner with First 5 Placer
Quick Links

Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Join Our Mailing List

 

Thank you to our

2011-2012 First Friday Lecture supporters!

 

49er Printing & Copy Center

 

Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center

 

Auburn Recreation District

Want to show your business' support for Placer Nature Center's programs?
Call Megan at