January

Sunday & Monday, January 1 & 2; New Year’s Day
Parks office, Nature Center and park gates closed. Park grounds open.

Tuesdays & Wednesdays, January 3–4, 10–11, 17–18, 24–25, 31; Project FeederWatch
Nixon Park, 8:30am–4:30pm
Join Project FeederWatch volunteers as they learn to identify common winter birds and collect data to assist the Cornell Lab of Ornithology track bird populations around the nation. NF, NR.

Monday, January 9
Registration for Nature Discovery Programs Open for Park Members
Early registration for the popular summer programs is now open to Parks members. Classes offered for a range of ages. Download 2012 dates and a description of programs.

Saturday, January 14; Eastern Penn Mushroomers Club Meeting
Nixon Park, 10am–12noon
Interested in learning about wild mushrooms? Join the Eastern Penn Mushroomers for their monthly meeting. Each meeting consists of a presentation and concludes with a tasting of hors d’oeuvres cooked using wild mushrooms prepared by club members. For more information, visit www.epennmushroomers.org. NF, NR.

Monday, January 16; End of Archery Hunting
Rocky Ridge, Kain & Spring Valley Parks
End of Flintlock Muzzleloader Hunting
Spring Valley Park
This marks the end of hunting for the season.

Monday, January 16; Martin Luther King Day
Parks office and Nature Center closed. Park grounds open.

Saturday, January 21; Wildlife Art Class I
Nixon Park, 1–3pm
Artist Teanna Byerts will introduce participants ages 9 and up to drawing wildlife using the collection housed at the Nature Center. Topics include basic shapes, detailing and sketching. Can be taken alone or with Wildlife Art II (see January 28). $10 fee, register at 428-1961.

Sunday, January 22; The Wonders of the Universe
Nixon Park, 2:30–4pm
Join Parks Program Coordinator Jeri Jones as he takes participants on a journey through our solar system and deep out into space. This PowerPoint show will feature some of the newest photography of “out of this world” objects including planets, comets, asteroids, galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. NF, NR.

Friday, January 27; Owl Walk
Nixon Park, 7–9:30pm
Join staff and a wildlife rehabilitator for an indoor/outdoor look into the world of owls. Learn the who, what and why of owls. See a local species or two up close, and go on a quiet hike while calling for owls. Dress for the weather. All children under 16 years must be accompanied by a parent. Only deep-red-tinted flashlights allowed. Appropriate for ages 10 and up. Donations will be accepted to support wildlife rehabilitation work in York County. NF, register at 428-1961.

Saturday, January 28; Wildlife Art Class II
Nixon Park, 1–3pm
This class can be taken alone or as a continuation of Wildlife Art Class I (January 21). This class will cover the basics of wildlife sketching but also give students a chance to sharpen skills learned in Wildlife Art I and experiment with different media. $10 fee, register at 428-1961.

Saturday, January 28; Public Star Watch
Rudy Park Observatory, 6:30–8:30pm
View the 1st quarter moon, planets, and stars through the York County Astronomical Society’s telescopes and binoculars. Refreshments provided. Event held if skies are partly cloudy to clear. Call YCAS at 578-9109 after 5pm for update. For more info and directions, visit www.ycas.org. Groups with ten or more should place a courtesy call to YCAS. NF, NR.

Sunday, January 29; Wildlife CSI
Nixon Park, 2:30–4pm
PA Game Commission Officer Kyle Jury will explain the skills and science of investigating wildlife crimes. Test your observation skills at the mock crime scene. Participants will also learn about PA’s wildlife including a lesser-known creature, the fisher, during this hands-on indoor/outdoor presentation. NF, NR.