Education
Adults
Nature Classes and Field Trips
may
Explore the Great Outdoors with the experts
Event Details
Sign up for our year-round Nature Classes and Outings! These programs offer nature novices and experienced naturalists alike an array of opportunities to explore and learn about our area’s natural history.
Event Details
Sign up for our year-round Nature Classes and Outings!
These programs offer nature novices and experienced naturalists alike an array of opportunities to explore and learn about our area’s natural history. Our experienced naturalists lead small group classes and trips to parks and wild spaces throughout the DC-metro region — and beyond. Lectures are held at our Woodend Sanctuary. Field trips are reached by private vehicle or carpool.
Map of Field Trip Destinations
Want to see what programs you are registered for? Log into your online account here.
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Event Details
Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org. MAY Spring on Wheels Along the Potomac
Event Details
Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.
MAY
Spring on Wheels Along the Potomac CANCELED
Friday, May 1 (8:30 am-3 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $34; nonmembers $48
Spring has sprung and the towpath along the Potomac River is one of the finest places in the DC-metro area to experience the season’s richness. In order to cover more territory and visit more habitats, we’ll use bikes to explore the stretch from Swain’s Lock to Riley’s Lock, a 12.3 mile round-trip ride. We’ll dismount often to look for spring wildflowers, butterflies and other insects, and reptiles and amphibians, all the while keeping an eye and ear open for spring migrants and other breeding bird activity. Bring your own bike. REGISTER
Botanical Gems of Montgomery County: Dickerson Conservation Park CANCELED
Saturday, May 2 (9:30 am-1 pm)
Leader: Carole Bergmann
Members $26; nonmembers $36
The County’s former forest ecologist leads us on an exploration of a new “botanical gem” in this ongoing series. Come prepared to walk from 1.5-2 miles in lush floodplain forest along the Potomac River in Dickerson Conservation Park. While the focus of the hike will be to learn about the range of native trees, shrubs, and spring ephemerals in this rich habitat, the highlight will be the chance to visit some towering, old trees, including the largest known tree in the state of Maryland, a giant sycamore. REGISTER
Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
D. Saturday, May 2 – Riverbend Park, VA (Mike Bowen) CANCELED
E. Saturday, May 9 – Lois Green Conservation Park, MD (Len Bisson) CANCELED
F. Sunday, May 17 – Glover Archbold Park, DC (Cathy Stragar) CANCELED
G. Sunday, May 24 – Rachel Carson Park, MD (Len Bisson) CANCELED
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Immerse yourself in the phenomenon of spring migration with this series of short bird walks at nearby parks. These walks are designed for beginning and intermediate birders for whom the spring pulse of bird activity can sometimes be overwhelming. On each walk, we’ll search for both resident and migrant birds by song and sound. We’ll discuss the arrival sequence the spring travelers, practice spotting them in the field, and attempt to learn the songs of many species. Our trips include walking on natural surface trails and/or boardwalks which may be muddy, uneven, and/or slippery. Trips D, F and G will include some uphill/downhill on narrow and possibly rocky forest trails. REGISTER
Spring Warbler Walk CANCELED
Sunday, May 3 (7-11 am)
Leaders: Lisa Shannon and Rob Hilton
Members $26; nonmembers $36
More than 30 species of warblers pass through the mid-Atlantic during spring migration—but finding and properly identifying these active songbirds can be a real challenge. Our leaders, both long-time birders in the area, will aim this teaching trip at beginning to mid-level birders. The walk will begin at Pennyfield Lock and then move upriver to Riley’s Lock along the Potomac C&O Canal. REGISTER
Geology of Travilah Barrens CANCELED
Sunday, May 3 (1-4 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Located in southwestern Montgomery County between Potomac and Darnestown, the Serpentine Barrens Conservation Park preserves a piece of oceanic crust stranded on our continent following a tectonic collision that occurred about 450 million years ago. The park, commonly called Travilah Barrens, encompasses three land units totaling more than 350 acres. The soils are thin, dry and somewhat poisonous, producing interesting outcrops and a distinctive ecology. We will hike a mile or two within the North Unit, the largest and least disturbed part of the preserve. The trails are primitive, with frequent stretches of gravel or mud, often covered in leaves. We will explore the similarities and differences between the serpentine landscape and more normal terrain. Note that our geology field trips typically move faster and farther than our usual naturalists’ shuffle. REGISTER
Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery County, MD Free Birding Trip CANCELED
Sunday, May 3
Half day. Both nesting and migrant songbirds, waterbirds, and possible raptors. Possible nesting birds include Yellow-breasted Chat and Yellow Warbler. Meet time/place: 7 am at Zion Road parking lot. Waterproof footwear strongly recommended. For more info, contact the leader, Marc Liebermann, at mdlieberm@gmail.com (10-person limit). REGISTER
It’s May—and All is Abloom CANCELED
Tuesday, May 5 (10 am-1 pm)
Leader. Marney Bruce
Members $26; nonmembers $36
The display of spring wildflowers and shrubs is remarkably rich in the varied habitats of Rachel Carson Park near Olney, Md. From moist bottomlands along the Hawlings River to rocky, forested uplands, the woods here in May beckon with blooms underfoot and spring-green leaves overhead. On this several mile walk, expect some uphill/downhill walking over terrain that may be uneven, rocky and/or muddy. REGISTER
Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section D: May 6 – Riley’s Lock CANCELED
Section E: May 20 – Violettes Lock CANCELED
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely walks along portions of the C&O Canal. The focus of our walks, each beginning from a different location, will be general natural history of the varied habitats along the Potomac River and the Canal. We’ll proceed at a slow “naturalist’s shuffle” pace as we watch spring unfold. We’ll stop often to observe birds, wildflowers, butterflies, snakes, turtles, and whatever else we might find. Carpool from Woodend with the leader if you desire. REGISTER
Appalachian Spring CANCELED
Sunday, May 10 (9 am-3 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $32; nonmembers $44
The G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Linden, VA is a 4000-acre area that is well known for its botanical diversity. The floral display is especially rich in early May when the hillsides are covered with many wildflowers including masses of large-flowered trillium, plus yellow-lady’s-slipper, showy orchis, wild geranium, three-lobed violet, and rue-anemone. Spring migrants such as Scarlet Tanager and American Redstart, as well early season butterflies, also abound in these mature woodlands. Our field day will focus on the sites rich plant community, but we won’t turn a blind eye to other spring sightings on our leisurely exploration of 2-3 miles. Expect some uphill/downhill walking on rocky and uneven trails. REGISTER
C&O Canal, MD Areas Free Birding Trip CANCELED
Sunday, May 10
Half day. Songbirds, waterbirds, raptors. Meet time/place: 7 am in parking lot at Riley’s Lock on the Canal. For more info, contact the leader, Tony Futcher, at 301-422- 3927 or tonyfutcher1@verizon.net (no limit—all are welcome!). REGISTER
Wonders at Woodend: Forest Bathing through the Seasons
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section B: May 13 CANCELED
Section C: July 15
Section D: October 14
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Savor the natural joys of each season on forest bathing walks led by Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a longtime ANS field trip leader and the author of The Joy of Forest Bathing—Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life. Discover the magic of shinrin-yoku, translated as “forest bathing,” a nature-oriented mindfulness practice that originated in Japan and has become popular all over the world. Our leader is a Nature & Forest Therapy Guide with certification from the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides and Programs of Sonoma County, California. Experience the restoration of Woodend as we explore and commune with the living things in our meadows, forest, and Blair Garden. A serving of maple sap “tea” and a sharing of nature poetry will conclude each walk. REGISTER
Fridays at Carderock
Section E: May 15 (9:30 am-3 pm) CANCELED
Each walk members $34; nonmembers $48
An elder of a Native American tribe from the Pacific Northwest advised: There is more to be learned by climbing the same mountain a hundred times than by climbing a hundred different mountains. Following this admonition, our Senior Naturalist continues our series of broad-based nature explorations along the Potomac River’s C&O Canal and its varied habitats, from upland rocky woods to rich floodplain forests. Our “searching for spring” hikes will return each month to a stretch of towpath from the Carderock Recreation Area upriver to Widewater. We’ll retrace our steps along the Canal back to Carderock for a total of around 4 miles. We’ll experience the winter world in January and February, and celebrate the first signs of spring in March. In April and May, we’ll enjoy spring’s great burst of new life, both in the plant world and amongst all manner of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians, and mammals. REGISTER
Spring Hike on Sugarloaf CANCELED
Saturday, May 16 (10 am-3 pm)
Leader: Tina Thieme Brown
Members $30; nonmembers $42
Join the artist of two books about Sugarloaf Mountain for a seasonal outing devoted to the botany, wildlife, geology, and history of our local monadnock in the rural Piedmont northwest of Washington, D.C. The 1.5 mile hike is timed to coincide with High Spring’s greening of the Sugarloaf Mountain woodlands and the blooming of many plants. Bring binoculars to look for Wood Thrushes, Warblers, Ravens, and other bird species. After lunch, Tina will show you how to approach a quick leaf sketch. Our hike includes uphill/downhill walking over rocky trails and a fairly steep ¼ mile hike up to the summit—all at a leisurely pace. REGISTER
Spring in the Parks CANCELED
C. Saturday, May 16 – Shenandoah National Park, VA
Leader: Stephanie Mason (Full day field trip)
Each walk members $36; nonmembers $50
Join our Senior Naturalist for these broad-based hikes in three of our region’s state or federal parks. On each outing, we’ll experience the dramatic seasonal changes in the natural world ignited by spring’s longer hours of daylight and warming temperatures. We’ll search for showy wildflowers, the unfolding leaves of trees and shrubs, and all manner of spring wildlife activity. As the pace of spring change slows down here in the DMV, we’ll head to higher elevations to the west and take a hike along the Appalachian Trail. Here spring will still be unfolding. On this moderately-strenuous hike in the northern section of Shenandoah National Park, we’ll cover a total of around 4 miles, with fairly significant uphill/downhill hiking along the way. Participants should be in adequate physical condition for moving faster and farther than our usual naturalists’ shuffle. All hikes include some uphill/downhill (steepest on A & C) on natural surface trails. Expect hikes in the mountains (A & C) to cover terrain that will be rocky, uneven, and maybe muddy. Hike B trails may be muddy and/or slippery. REGISTER
Introduction to Bird ID by Voice CANCELED
Tuesday, May 19 (7:30-9 pm)
Thursday, May 21 (7:30-9 pm)
Saturday, May 23 (7 am-Noon)
Leader: Mark England
Members $49; nonmembers $70
The sounds made by birds can help find and identify many species, yet to beginning birders, the wide variety of sounds can be confusing. If you know many of our area birds by sight but not by sound, this class is for you. Two evening sessions will use recordings and slides to study bird songs and calls. Our field trip to one or more sites in Montgomery County will give us a chance to listen for and try to learn some of the local species. REGISTER
Woodbridge/Occoquan Bay NWR, VA Free Birding Trip CANCELED
Wednesday, May 27
Half day. Songbirds, waterfowl, eagles, and other raptors. Meet time/place: 7:30 am inside the refuge at central parking lot. 6-adult limit. For more info, contact leader Jim Waggener at 703-567-3555. REGISTER
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Event Details
Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org. JUNE Geology at Flag Ponds Wednesday, June 3
Event Details
Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.
JUNE
Geology at Flag Ponds
Wednesday, June 3 (1-6 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $32; nonmembers $44
Maryland’s Flag Ponds Nature Park, next to the Chesapeake near the southern end of Calvert Cliffs, contains landscape features more dynamic than most in our region. Two longshore currents converge there, forming a promontory called a cuspate foreland. The freshwater ponds and marshes that give their name to the park are bits of the bay cut off by a steady southward migration of the foreland. Even the shape of the cliffs is affected by the sandy promontory, with beach-protected slopes only half as steep as those exposed to direct wave action. We will walk two or three miles over relatively flat terrain. The beach is loaded with fossils and collecting is permitted. Image credit: Acroterion REGISTER
Little Bennett Regional Park, Montgomery Co., MD Free Birding Trip
Saturday, June 6
Half day. Nesting songbirds, possibly including Yellow-breasted Chat, Willow Flycatcher, Prairie Warbler, and Kentucky Warbler. Meet time/place: 7:30 am at Kingsley Trail parking area. Insect repellent highly advised, as is waterproof footwear. Extra water and sunscreen also recommended. For more info, contact the leader, Paul DeAnna, at 202-544-2680 or ppdeanna47@gmail.com (12-person limit). REGISTER
A Year at Theodore Roosevelt Island
A: Budbreak and Spring Wildflower Walk, Wednesday, June 10 (9:30 am-1:30 pm) Rescheduled from 4/8
B: Summer Kayaking Trip, Wednesday, July 29 (10 am-1:30 pm)
C: Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, November 4 (10 am-2 pm)
D: Late Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, December 2 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk: members $28; nonmembers $38
Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of the forthcoming Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island (August 2020), for a year-long exploration of Theodore Roosevelt Island, a 90-acre island in the Potomac that serves as a fitting memorial to our conservationist and naturalist 26th president—and Audubon Naturalist Society member! In the early spring, we’ll witness the miracle of budbreak among the island’s remarkable trees and see the floodplain forest come alive with Virginia bluebells, spring beauties, trout lilies, and trilliums. During summer, we will kayak around the island, launching from Key Bridge Boathouse on the Georgetown waterfront. We’ll paddle under the island’s graceful silver maples and sycamores, get close to the summer wildflowers along the shore, and watch herons, egrets, wood ducks and—hopefully—the noisy kingfisher! As a bonus, we’ll be treated to stunning views of the Lincoln Memorial and the “City of Trees” on the horizon. Our fall tree walks will take us deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald-cypresses and cattails frame views of the city behind it. Melanie will share details of the island’s fascinating history during this year-long exploration and we’ll witness the ebb and flow of the Potomac tides along with the changing seasons. Fee for trip B does not include canoe or kayak rental. REGISTER
Advanced Odonate Studies: Common Damselflies of the Mid-Atlantic
Thursday, June 11 (7:30-9:30)
Sunday, June 14 (3/4-day field trip)
Leaders: Lisa Shannon and Richard Orr
Members $46; nonmembers $64
Lecture only Members $24; nonmembers $34
Feel like you’re ready to “graduate” from our annual “Introduction to Dragons and Damsels” class? Join us for this advanced workshop focusing on the field ID of the common damselflies of the Mid-Atlantic region. Naturalist Lisa Shannon will deliver our evening’s illustrated lecture. She’ll be joined on the field trip to the North Tract of the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge by dragonfly expert Richard Orr where the group will work on field ID of these small, brightly-colored dragonfly “cousins.” REGISTER
Fern Basics
Saturday, June 13 (9 am-Noon)
Leader: Kit Sheffield
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Walk the moderate trails of Riverbend Park, home to at least fifteen fern species, with a naturalist who knows this area well. We’ll ID what we find, and along the way learn what it is that makes a plant a fern, plus the common characteristics you can use to identify ferns on your own. Note: there will be some uphill/downhill on this hike of several miles. REGISTER
Fort C.F. Smith Park, Arlington, VA Free Birding Trip
Saturday, June 13
One-third day. Nesting songbirds in woods, edge, and meadow habitat. Conditions may be muddy. Meet time/place: 7 am in parking lot. For more info, contact the leader, Karen Fairweather, at twofairs@msn.com or 703-841-1299 (10-person limit). REGISTER
Summer Shuffles Along the Canal
Wednesdays (9-11:30 am)
Section A: June 17 – Pennyfield Lock
Section B: July 1 – Riley’s Lock
Section C: July 15 – Carderock
Section D: July 29 – Swain’s Lock
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Entire series $92/$128
Summer’s here and it may be hot, so we’ll keep our pace to a shuffle as we visit four areas along the Potomac River and the C&O Canal. We’ll stop often to observe birds, wildflowers, butterflies, dragonflies, snakes, and whatever else we may find underfoot or overhead. Carpooling will be available from Woodend. REGISTER
Botany by Nose
Friday, June 19 (9:30 am-1 pm)
Leader Carole Bergmann
Members $26; nonmembers $36
While most of us rely on visual clues to identify the plants that comprise our landscape, our sense of smell can be an important, complementary tool. Anyone who has broken a Spicebush or Black Birch twig can confirm that. Our outdoor classroom will be Little Bennett Regional Park near Clarskburg, MD, as we “scratch and sniff” our way through woodland and wetland habitats. REGISTER
Summer Walks on the Wild Side
(8-11:30 am)
A: Saturday, June 20 – Blue Mash Nature Trail, MD
B: Sunday, July 5 – Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (DC)
C: Saturday, August 1 – Huntley Meadows Park (VA)
Each Walk: Members $26; nonmembers $36
Entire Series: Members $78; nonmembers $108
Join a naturalist to explore the summer richness of parks in the DC-Metro area. As summer arrives and brings with it long, hot, muggy days and nights, wetlands and meadows soak up the sunlight and come alive with plant and wildlife activity. We’ll explore these open habitats with walks of up to 2-3 miles at a slow summer pace. We’ll search for birds, butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, amphibians, and summer plant life on natural surface paths and boardwalk. REGISTER
Bluebells and Budbreak at Boundary Bridge Rescheduled from 4/4
Saturday, June 20 (9 am-1:30 pm)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Members $28; nonmembers $38
We’re delighted that the author of the award-winning book, A Year in Rock Creek Park and the critically acclaimed, City of Trees, will offer her 14th year of nature walks for ANS in the country’s oldest urban national park. On our walk, we will witness the annual floral miracle of Virginia bluebells, spring beauties, and trout lilies in the floodplain forest, as we admire the leaves of tulip tree and American beech begin to spill from their buds. We’ll hope to catch bloodroot, wild ginger, cut-leafed toothwort and other spring ephemerals in bloom as we explore both floodplain and upland woods at a leisurely pace. Our lunch stop, high above the creek on a dramatic rock outcrop offering, will offer spectacular views. Here, we’ll do a bit of “forest bathing,” time permitting. Throughout, we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for belted kingfishers, wood ducks, migrating songbirds, and tiny spring peepers. REGISTER
Woodbridge/Occoquan Bay NWR, VA Free Birding Trip
Wednesday, June 24
Half day. Songbirds, waterfowl, eagles, and other raptors. Meet time/place: 7:30 am inside the refuge at central parking lot. 6-adult limit. For more info, contact leader Jim Waggener at 703-567-3555. REGISTER
Firefly Fling
Thursday, June 25 (8-9:30 pm)
Free, but registration required.
As dusk descends, come and enjoy nature’s fireworks—the courting of fireflies over our Woodend fields and forests. The evening begins with a short discussion of the life history and behavior of these luminescent beetles. We’ll then move outdoors to observe the various flash and light patterns of different species and try to “communicate” with these insects ourselves. REGISTER
Western Montgomery County Butterfly Count
Saturday, June 27
Join us for the 31st annual Western Montgomery County Butterfly Count. Participants in this citizen science project will be sent into the field in teams to count butterfly species in a given area. No experience is necessary. This mid-summer count, modeled after the Christmas Bird Counts, is organized by ANS and sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association and Xerces Society. Email Stephanie Mason at stephanie.mason@ anshome.org for a participant’s information letter.
Butterflies of Early Summer
Sunday, June 28 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Tom Stock
Members $26; nonmembers $36
The varied habitats of the vast Little Bennett Regional Park near Clarksburg, MD are the setting for our search for early summer butterflies, their host plants, and their nectar resources. Species such as American Copper, Great Spangled Fritillary, Little Wood Satyr, Summer Azure, and Little Glassywing are possible, just to name a few. Field conditions will include open areas with possibly tall vegetation, and some bushwhacking necessary for access. Bring along your closefocusing binoculars to benefit most from this outing. REGISTER
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Event Details
Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org. JULY Six-legged Songsters of Summer Wednesday, July 8
Event Details
Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.
JULY
Six-legged Songsters of Summer
Wednesday, July 8 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Leader: Cathy Stragar
Free, but registration is required.
Sticky summer has arrived, and the songs of insects such as cicadas, crickets, and katydids begin to swell into a noisy and riotous chorus. Join naturalist Cathy Stragar at our Woodend Sanctuary for a slide introduction to the most common of these songsters: who they are, why they sing, and how they make their amazing sounds. She’ll also describe how to get involved with the eighth annual Cricket Crawl citizen science activity in late August. REGISTER
Art and Nature Journaling
Saturday, July 11 (10 am-1:30 pm)
Leader: Tina Thieme Brown
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Create an art journal page under the guidance of the artist of the Sugarloaf Mountain books and the illustrated Agricultural Reserve Map. Following a short stroll looking closely at nature, participants will share observations of native trees along the trail. Tina will show you how to create an art journal page using sketches and handwritten notes that reflect your walk in the woods. The only experience required is a love for our native woodland trees. Site for this outdoor drawing workshop will be Black Hill Regional Park. A list of art supplies will be provided with the confirmation letter. REGISTER
On the Wing at Lilypons
Saturday, July 11 (8 am-Noon)
Rain date: July 12 (8 am-Noon)
Leader: Tom Stock
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Because of its on-site manmade ponds combined with adjacent open fields and riparian woodlands along the Monocacy River and Bennett Creek, Lilypons Water Gardens in Frederick County attracts an abundance of bird species in all seasons. Its varied habitats can also be a productive spot for summer butterfly watching, according to our leader. Join him for a morning walk in search of both birds and butterflies—wings feathered and scaled, respectively—as he shares tips for field ID of the species we encounter. Don’t forget your binoculars! REGISTER
Wonders at Woodend: Forest Bathing through the Seasons
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section C: July 15
Section D: October 14
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Savor the natural joys of each season on forest bathing walks led by Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a longtime ANS field trip leader and the author of The Joy of Forest Bathing—Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life. Discover the magic of shinrin-yoku, translated as “forest bathing,” a nature-oriented mindfulness practice that originated in Japan and has become popular all over the world. Our leader is a Nature & Forest Therapy Guide with certification from the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides and Programs of Sonoma County, California. Experience the restoration of Woodend as we explore and commune with the living things in our meadows, forest, and Blair Garden. A serving of maple sap “tea” and a sharing of nature poetry will conclude each walk. REGISTER
Dragons of the Air
Saturday, July 18 (9-11:30 am)
Raindate: Sunday, July 19
Leader: Lisa Shannon
Members $24; nonmembers $34
The wetlands around Pine Lake in Wheaton Regional Park, MD, are an ideal spot to start learning how to ID the most common dragonflies in our area. Naturalist Lisa Shannon will help beginning dragonfly enthusiasts focus on identifying characteristics, as well as the life histories, of these aerial insects. Close-focusing binoculars are recommended for optimal dragon-watching. Image credit: Frankenplant REGISTER
Summer Morning in the Hollow
Sunday, July 26 (8-11:30 am)
Leader: Cathy Stragar
Members $26; nonmembers $36
The McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area near Poolesville, MD—affectionately known as Hughes Hollow by its enthusiasts—is alive with wildlife sights and sounds during the long, hot, muggy days of July. Enjoy a slow stroll through and around the field, forest, and wetland habitats here in search of summer insect life and all manner of seasonal animal activity and plant life. REGISTER
A Year at Theodore Roosevelt Island
B: Summer Kayaking Trip, Wednesday, July 29 (10 am-1:30 pm)
C: Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, November 4 (10 am-2 pm)
D: Late Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, December 2 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk: members $28; nonmembers $38
Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of the forthcoming Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island (August 2020), for a year-long exploration of Theodore Roosevelt Island, a 90-acre island in the Potomac that serves as a fitting memorial to our conservationist and naturalist 26th president—and Audubon Naturalist Society member! In the early spring, we’ll witness the miracle of budbreak among the island’s remarkable trees and see the floodplain forest come alive with Virginia bluebells, spring beauties, trout lilies, and trilliums. During summer, we will kayak around the island, launching from Key Bridge Boathouse on the Georgetown waterfront. We’ll paddle under the island’s graceful silver maples and sycamores, get close to the summer wildflowers along the shore, and watch herons, egrets, wood ducks and—hopefully—the noisy kingfisher! As a bonus, we’ll be treated to stunning views of the Lincoln Memorial and the “City of Trees” on the horizon. Our fall tree walks will take us deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald-cypresses and cattails frame views of the city behind it. Melanie will share details of the island’s fascinating history during this year-long exploration and we’ll witness the ebb and flow of the Potomac tides along with the changing seasons. Fee for trip B does not include canoe or kayak rental. REGISTER
Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Event Details
Questions?
Event Details
Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.
AUGUST
How Does Her Garden Grow?
Wednesday, August 5 (10-11:30 am)
Leader: Marney Bruce
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Here’s your chance to visit the home garden of an ANS member who has worked to reduce lawn coverage, increase food and shelter for wildlife, and incorporate native plants whenever possible. Marney will share her successes and failures on a stroll through her yard, which includes sun-loving plants in the front, shade-loving species in the back, and a water feature. Our destination garden is located in the Bethesda, MD vicinity. Participants will meet at our Woodend Sanctuary at 9:45 to carpool over to Marney’s home, where parking is limited. Limited 10 participants. REGISTER
Introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies
Thursday, August 6 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Sunday, August 9 (3/4 day field trip)
Leaders: Lisa Shannon and Richard Orr
Members $46; nonmembers $64
Lecture only $24/$34
Grab your binoculars and prepare to set your sights not on birds—although “mosquito hawk” is a common moniker—but on those six-legged, aerial acrobats of wetland habitats: the dragonflies and damselflies. At our evening lecture, Lisa Shannon will discuss ID, biology, and behavior of the more common species of Odonates in our area. Dragonfly expert Richard Orr will join her on our field trip to the Patuxent Research Refuge (North Tract) near Bowie, MD, where everyone will have a chance to test their identification skills. REGISTER
Intro to the Natural History and ID of Shorebirds
Thursday, August 6 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, August 8 (full-day field trip)
Leaders: Cyndie Loeper and Paul Pisano
Members $50; nonmembers $70
Lecture only $24/$34
Shorebirds are among the most spectacular migrants of the avian world. Many species breed as far north as the Arctic tundra and winter as far south as Patagonia. In this advanced session, our leaders will review the natural histories of shorebirds and offer ID pointers in the classroom part of the workshop. On the field trip to Delaware’s Bombay Hook, we’ll encounter the more difficult plumages of this time of year, including juveniles. Our August date will give us chances for rarities, such as Baird’s Sandpiper, and “grasspipers”, such as American Golden Plover and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Although the IDs can be more challenging in late summer, beginners who wish to experience the great diversity of species in southbound migration are welcome to sign up. REGISTER
Summer Fungus Walk
Saturday, August 8 (9-11 am)
Leader: Serenella Linares
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Summer is a great time to get introduced to the most common families of fungi in our area and find out more about their natural history and many ecological functions. We’ll visit a variety of habitats at our Woodend Sanctuary using natural surface trails. Note: the focus of our field trip is fungi’s important and under-appreciated role in forest ecology, not the edibility of particular species of mushrooms. REGISTER
Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Continuing Education / NHFS
may
Event Details
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take classes in the NHFS program. Most environmental education is aimed at children and youth. Because nature programming
Event Details
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take classes in the NHFS program. Most environmental education is aimed at children and youth. Because nature programming wasn’t a part of my suburban childhood (and I might not have cared about it or retained it in any case) I am thrilled to be able to learn about natural history as an adult – ‘when the student is ready, the teacher appears.’ Thanks to the Audubon Naturalist Society, natural history is becoming a passion.” Field Studies student R. Gray
Our Natural History Field Studies courses, offered quarterly on a rotating basis, provide a unique opportunity to learn natural science from experts while exploring the ecosystems of the Central Atlantic region. Intended for the lay person and taught at the college freshman level, these evening courses are open to anyone at least 18 years old. Individual courses are useful to professional and amateurs alike in acquiring knowledge of specific subject matter and enhancing enjoyment of the out-of-doors.
The Natural History Field Studies curriculum has been designed to provide participants with a comprehensive and stimulating overview of the regions natural history and conservation issues with an emphasis on learning in the field. A Certificate of Accomplishment is awarded for completion of a required curriculum of 39 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) taken in five subject areas.
SUMMARY OF REQUIRED COURSES
Classes are offered at the Audubon Naturalist Society’s Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD, and the metro-accessible Capital Gallery (L’Enfant Plaza stop) in downtown DC. The Natural History Field Studies program is cosponsored by the Audubon Naturalist Society and the Graduate School USA.
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Event Details
SUMMER COURSES CANCELLED The summer term of Natural History Field Studies classes will not run due to the continuing “stay at home” and physical distancing orders from area governments in response
Event Details
SUMMER COURSES CANCELLED
The summer term of Natural History Field Studies classes will not run due to the continuing “stay at home” and physical distancing orders from area governments in response to the Covid 19 pandemic. Since the most important feature of these natural history and environmental courses is the linking of field experiences with classroom learning, we are pausing the program until we are able to safely offer field trips again. We hope that this will be possible by the fall quarter.
If by late summer, it appears that this will not be the case, we will consider the feasibility of another model of instruction through discussions with NHFS teachers and students. Tentatively planned for the fall are the following courses, using the current format of classroom lectures, with in-classroom materials, combined with 2-3 field trips: Mammals; Introduction to Ecology; Bird Life; The Living Soil; and Wildlife Ecology.
The Audubon Naturalist Society will communicate any changes regarding this status as soon as we are able. Keep an eye on our website, our monthly E-news, and our Facebook page for updates. We will also contact former NHFS students directly when fall plans are determined.
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Nature Travel
october
Event Details
October 3-11, 2020 Leaders: Rob Cahill & David Farner Our trip to Guatemala will combine the opportunity to study the bird
Event Details
October 3-11, 2020
Leaders: Rob Cahill & David Farner
Our trip to Guatemala will combine the opportunity to study the bird life of Guatemala while learning about the work of the Community Cloud Forest Conservation organization. We’ll take some time to participate in projects designed to protect cloud forest habitat through restoration and helping to improve the lives of local Q’eqchi’ Maya people. Image credit: Bob Keener
Although our emphasis will be on birding in Guatemala, our journey will allow plenty of opportunities to discover the natural history of the Central Highlands of Guatemala while learning about Q’eqchi Maya culture. Among the bird species we’ll hope to see are resplendent quetzal, blue and white mockingbird, ocellated quail, golden-cheeked warbler, and Guatemalan tyrannulet. Image credit: Dixie Sommers
Itinerary| Cost Sheet| Registration
Time
october 3 (Saturday) - 11 (Sunday)
november
05novAll Day13South Texas: Subtropical Habitats and Specialty Birds
Event Details
November 5-13, 2020 Leaders: Mark England & Paul Pisano Subtropical wildlife from Mexico barely crosses into the US in the Rio Grande Valley of extreme south Texas. Enjoy the great variety of
Event Details
November 5-13, 2020
Leaders: Mark England & Paul Pisano
Subtropical wildlife from Mexico barely crosses into the US in the Rio Grande Valley of extreme south Texas. Enjoy the great variety of birds, butterflies and other wildlife with a week-long exploration of this dynamic ecosystem. Plain Chachalaca, Great Kiskadee, Ringed Kingfisher, Altamira Oriole and Green Jay are just a few of the species rarely, if ever, found elsewhere in the US. We will take day trips to habitats ranging from the Chihuahuan desert scrub of Falcon State Park to the expansive coastal flats of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and nearby South Padre Island. Other great birding sites we will be sure to visit include Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and Estero Llano Grande State Park, among others. Contact Carol at carol.hayes@anshome.org or 301-652-9188 x10 if you’d like to receive further information when it’s available.
Itinerary| Cost Sheet| Registration
Time
november 5 (Thursday) - 13 (Friday)
january
Event Details
Panama with Terry Lawson Dunn & local guides: 01/2021 Costa Rica with Stephanie Mason & local guides: 02/2021 Northern Arizona & the Grand Canyon with Rob Gibbs & Mark
Event Details
- Panama with Terry Lawson Dunn & local guides: 01/2021
- Costa Rica with Stephanie Mason & local guides: 02/2021
- Northern Arizona & the Grand Canyon with Rob Gibbs & Mark England: May 2021 (rescheduled from May 2020)
- Brazil’s Pantanal with Mark Garland & Xavier Muñoz: Summer 2021
- Galapagos with Stephanie Mason and local guides: Summer, 2022
Please email carol.hayes@anshome.org if you would like to receive information once the trips are confirmed.
Time
Year Around Event (2021)
Water Quality Monitoring
may
Event Details
Stream Science at ANS For 25 years, ANS has been teaching the natural history of aquatic ecology and training volunteer stream monitors who track the health of our region’s streams.
Event Details
Stream Science at ANS
For 25 years, ANS has been teaching the natural history of aquatic ecology and training volunteer stream monitors who track the health of our region’s streams. Learn from the experts: study stream science in our introductory classes, and you just might be inspired to become a stream monitor yourself! Our advanced classes are perfect for those interested in deepening their knowledge about biological stream monitoring and are taught by our Maryland Biological Stream Survey-certified instructor Cathy Wiss.
Registration & Fee Information
Registration required: click here to register online. The classes are open to anyone 10 years and older. Except for Macro ID Review & Quiz, prices for all classes are $15 Members/$25 non-members (plus a $1 non-refundable registration fee per class); waivers are available for existing monitors and students earning SSL credit—email cathy.wiss@anshome.org for details.
Typically we teach our Introductory series twice each year, in spring & fall, and our Advanced series (required for ANS volunteer team leaders) January – March.
See the full list of classes on our Water Quality Monitoring Page.
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Conservation Café
june
2020 Conservation CafésEnjoy a fun evening, learn about conservation topics, and support ANS!
Event Details
Join us for virtual fellowship while enjoying inspiring presentations on a variety of nature conservation topics. Click the link for each event below to see more information and register. Unless otherwise
Event Details
Join us for virtual fellowship while enjoying inspiring presentations on a variety of nature conservation topics. Click the link for each event below to see more information and register.
Unless otherwise noted, due to Covid-19, events are held online via Zoom webinar, from 7-8:30 pm. Registration fees (available within each registration page) go to support our ANS Conservation Program!
Wednesday, April 15
Thursday, May 7
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Master Naturalist
Free Birding Trips
may
Event Details
Directions MAY Sunday, May 3 CANCELED Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery County, MD Half day. Both nesting and migrant songbirds, waterbirds, and possible raptors.
Event Details
Directions
MAY
Sunday, May 3 CANCELED
Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery County, MD
Half day. Both nesting and migrant songbirds, waterbirds, and possible raptors. Possible nesting birds include Yellow-breasted Chat and Yellow Warbler. Meet time/place: 7 am at Zion Road parking lot. Waterproof footwear strongly recommended. For more info, contact the leader, Marc Liebermann, at mdlieberm@gmail.com (10-person limit). REGISTER
Sunday, May 10 CANCELED
C&O Canal, MD Areas
Half day. Songbirds, waterbirds, raptors. Meet time/place: 7 am in parking lot at Riley’s Lock on the Canal. For more info, contact the leader, Tony Futcher, at 301-422-3927 or tonyfutcher1@verizon.net (no limit—all are welcome!). REGISTER
Wednesday, May 27 CANCELED
Woodbridge/Occoquan Bay NWR, VA
Half day. Songbirds, waterfowl, eagles, and other raptors. Meet time/place: 7:30 am inside the refuge at central parking lot. 6-adult limit. For more info, contact leader Jim Waggener at 703-567-3555. REGISTER
JUNE
Saturday, June 6
Little Bennett Regional Park, Montgomery Co., MD
Half day. Nesting songbirds, possibly including Yellow-breasted Chat, Willow Flycatcher, Prairie Warbler, and Kentucky Warbler. Meet time/place: 7:30 am at Kingsley Trail parking area. Insect repellent highly advised, as is waterproof footwear. Extra water and sunscreen also recommended. For more info, contact the leader, Paul DeAnna, at 202-544-2680 or ppdeanna47@gmail.com (12-person limit). REGISTER
Saturday, June 13
Fort C.F. Smith Park, Arlington, VA
One-third day. Nesting songbirds in woods, edge, and meadow habitat. Conditions may be muddy. Meet time/place: 7 am in parking lot. For more info, contact the leader, Karen Fairweather, at twofairs@msn.com or 703-841-1299 (10-person limit). REGISTER
Wednesday, June 24
Woodbridge/Occoquan Bay NWR, VA
Half day. Songbirds, waterfowl, eagles, and other raptors. Meet time/place: 7:30 am inside the refuge at central parking lot. 6-adult limit. For more info, contact leader Jim Waggener at 703-567-3555. REGISTER
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Beginner Bird Walks
may
Beginner Bird Walks at Woodend
Event Details
Walks currently canceled Have you ever wanted to learn about the birds you see regularly around Washington? Did you know that about 250 birds either pass through or make
Event Details
Walks currently canceled
Have you ever wanted to learn about the birds you see regularly around Washington? Did you know that about 250 birds either pass through or make this area their home?
Join us every Saturday morning at Woodend for our Beginner Bird Walks. An excellent place to come for those just starting out or for those who want to learn more about our area’s birds. From 9-10 am a volunteer leader will guide you through the important how tos: from how to use binoculars to how to identify our most prevalent resident birds.
Meet at the Audubon Naturalist Shop parking lot. Bring binoculars or use ours. Register here.
These gentle walks happen every Saturday morning from March through June, and September through November. Walks take place only on the first Saturday of December through February. There are no walks in July and August.
Be sure to visit the Audubon Naturalist Shop after the bird walk. The shop opens at 9 am on Saturdays and if you let the cashier know you attended that morning’s bird walk they will provide you with a coupon for a discount in the shop.
Time
Year Around Event (2020)
Location
Woodend Nature Sanctuary
8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA