For your pleasure, every Saturday and Sunday there is a naturalist-guided walk at 1:15 and another at 2:15, leaving from the Blue Heron Nature Center.
NATURE LIBRARY - Visit Blue Heron Nature Center’s NATURE LIBRARY, a collection of guidebooks, books & magazines about nature in the NYC area -- for adults, youngsters & children. The NATURE LIBRARY is available daily, except Monday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Nature Center -- for your study & enjoyment.
Special Events
BLUE HERON CELEBRATION - This year, our 16th annual Blue Heron Celebration will take place on April 19th. We will be honoring Cliff Hagen, teacher, birder, naturalist, and Friends of Blue Heron Park 1st Vice President. Cliff, for several years, has not only been our Vice President, but sees that the birds that visit Blue Heron Park are fed, teaches many about the wildlife we have in our park, arranges for our week-end naturalists, assists our President in many ways, and is now offering to work with Scouts, both girl and boy scouts to help them obtain their environmental badges. He also successfully ran the Summer Nature Workshop for a few years. This event, a country luncheon, will take place at the Blue Heron Nature Center, on April 19th, from 1 to 4 pm. It is by advance reservation ONLY. If you wish to attend and didn't receive an invitation, please call 718-317-1732 and an invitation will be sent to you. We don't want to leave anyone out that would like to share this special day with Cliff.
Spring Programs
Origami For Children - We will do beginners origami of animals with Kathy Zelonis showing us how to. This program is for ages 4 to 8. Registration is a must –
917-596-4198 and there is a $1 materials charge.
Sunday, April 5 - 1 pm - 2:30
Salamander Census – Join Cliff Hagen in a search and count of Salamanders in Blue Heron Park.
Sunday, April 5 – 10 am
Learn to Knit – During this four-week program, students will learn the basics of knitting. After practicing the knit and purl stitches, students will learn a new stitch pattern each week. Students will create swatches demonstrating the cable, bobble, moss and lace stitches. There is a one-time materials charge of $6. Plan to attend all four classes. All ages welcome. Registration 718-967-6158.
Tuesdays, April 7, 14, 21 and 28 – 3 - 4:30 pm
Starting and Growing an Herb Garden – Planning to grow herbs in the garden this year? Gert Coleman, Vice President of the SI Herb Society, will provide practical and helpful tips on soil, sun and watering conditions as well as culinary, craft, medicinal and historical uses of herbs.
Sunday, April 26 – 1 - 2:30 pm
Freshwater Wetlands Walk at Blue Heron Park - Join Sandra Mechanic, Naturalist and Photographer for a walk in the woods – a delightful stroll learning about native trees, wetland wildflowers and butterflies. Learn how oriental bittersweet, poison ivy and multiflora rose vines wrap themselves tightly around shrubs/trees strangling them. Our adventure will begin on a foot trail that will lead us to the Field of Ten Thousand Lilies. This area once grew rare orchids such as Nodding Ladies Tresses and yellow-fringed orchids. We will continue to a historic bungalow community called Spanish Camp where a fresh-water pond runs into the bay; the area is a habitat for hawks and owls. Bring binoculars and camera. Questions - call 718-967-1037
Sunday, April 26 - from 1 - 3 pm
Yoga - Join Terry Seaman, RYT, Holistic Health Practitioner, for mind-body yoga for health and stress reduction. Take this time to renew your body and mind. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat. Yoga is - taking time to strengthen your body and mind and then allowing it to relax and unwind. Come and share this time with your body and nature. For information, please call Terry Seaman, 356-0106. 12:30-2 pm on the following Sundays:
May 9, June 13, June 27
Chair Side Travel - Join Jack Baird, President of Friends of Blue Heron Park, in a slide show tour of the Copper Canyons of Mexico.
Sunday, May 17 - 2 - 3:30 pm
Spring Birds – Join Cliff Hagen for a walk in the woods to search for Spring Birds.
Sundays, May 17 and May 24 – 10 am
Adult Origami - Whether beginner, intermediate or complex - come and learn. Kathy Zelonis will be your guide . Material's charge - $1. Information or registration –
917-596-4198
Sunday May 24 - 11am - 12:30.
Dragonflies and Damselflies at Spring and Butterfly Ponds - Join naturalist and photographer Sandra Mechanic for hike through the varied wetlands of Blue Heron Park for dragonflies and damselflies. Bring close up binoculars, camera, insect repellant and guide book. We will find Common Whitetails, Blue Dasher and Eastern Amberwing Dragonflies. The Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly is magnificent in color with its jet-black slick wings.
Sunday, May 31 - 1-3 pm
Mt. Loretta Hard-Core Urbanite Butterfly Walk - Join naturalist and Photographer Sandra Mechanic on a guided butterfly walk at Mt. Loretta. Bring along binoculars, guidebooks, camera and insect repellant. Be ready for a fun afternoon. We will look for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Pearl Crescent, Spicebush Swallowtail, Banded Hairstriek and the Zabulon Skipper.
Saturday, June 13 - 1-3 pm
Chair Side Travel – Join Don Riepe on a slide show trip to Iceland – Glaciers, waterfalls and puffins.
Sunday, June 14 – 2 pm
Blue Skies & Butterflies – Join Cliff Hagen under (hopefully) blue skies on a search for butterflies.
Sundays, June 14 and June 28 – 11 am – 12:30
Cooking with Bay, Basil and Other Herbs – Bay Laurel, the 2009 Her of the Year, is used to flavor sauces, soups, stews and many desserts. Whether they’re herb plants on the windowsill or dried herbs in the spice cabinet, cooking with herbs can liven up any meal. Herbalist Gert Coleman will have herbs, recipes and samples of some easy ways to use herbs in the kitchen.
Saturday, June 27 – 1-2:30 pm
Origami For Kids - This time we will do easy folding, like - a cup, a piano and flowers. Kathy Zelonis will show us how. Materials charge - $ 1. Registration call 917-596-4198.
Sunday, June 28 - 2-3:30
For those who have asked about Ellen Pratt's famous garden sale this Spring, she
is not planning at this time to have it. Thanks for asking.
Children's Programs
Kids & Kritters
Join Nancy Zawada Clair, naturalist, for a fun time at Blue Heron Park. Dress your child in weather-appropriate attire (coats, hats, gloves & shoes you don’t mind getting dirty). Part of these programs will take place outdoors, weather permitting. All programs take place on Saturdays, from 11 am-12:30 pm and will include a craft, story or game as part of the program. Parent or guardian presence required. REGISTRATION: 718-751-0071
Nature With Kathy
Fluttering Flowers - Go out with Kathy Zelonis on a search for flowers fluttering in the breeze, and then go inside and make your own to take home. Materials charge $1. Registration required - 917-596-4198.
Sunday, April 5 – 11 am - 12:30
Accordion Books On Spring - We will go outside, listen, look, discover and collect. Then we will make the books with things we learned about nature. We will draw, paint, cut and paste under the guidance of Kathy Zelonis. Material charge $1.
Registration required - 917-596-4198.
Sunday - May 3 – 11 am - 12:30
The Very Hungry Caterpillar - We will hear the story about The Very Hungry Caterpillar, go out to look for some, and then make our own with the help of Kathy Zelonis. Materials charge $1. Registration required - 917-596-4198.
Sunday - June 28 – 11 am - 12:30
Krafty Kids
Join Nancy Zawada Clair and wiggle, hop or fly over to the Nature Center and join us for some Tuesday after school crafty fun. Materials fee is $1 per child.
Registration is required - 917-751-0071. 1-2 pm on the following Saturdays:
April 4, April 11, April 25, May 16, May 23, May 30
Natural Science Club
Programs for curious nature-oriented students ages 8-12. This Club will meet with Clay Wollney on the days listed with different topics relating to natural science. On the following days from 2-3:30 pm INFORMATION: 718-967-3542
Sunday, April 5 - Soil Isn’t Just Dirt - The composition of the ground under our feet is this month’s subject. Soil composition determines what plants and animals can live in an area. Through a series of experiments students will learn about the make-up of the soil and the organisms that call it home.
Sunday, May 3 - Make a Simple Weather Station - Simple observations as well as the use of simple instruments can be used to judge changes in the weather. Participants will build a simple weather instrument and learn some of the tricks of weather prediction.
Sunday, May 24 - Reptile Adaptations - From the ancient turtles to the relatively recent evolution of snakes, reptiles are a varied class of vertebrates. Live specimens and observations of the local populations in Spring Pond will be used to learn about the anatomy, adaptations and behavior of these scaly, cold-blooded animals.
Explorers of the Wild
Explorers can learn a lot about the environment from Clay Wollney. Clay is a Naturalist, a science teacher at Staten Island Academy, & a featured columnist for the Staten Island ADVANCE. Clay is also known as “Mr. Discovery” at the Staten Island Institute of Arts & Sciences. On the following Sundays from 2-3:30 pm INFORMATION: 718-967-3542
Sunday, April 26 - Amphibians: Living in Water and Land - Frogs, toads, and salamanders are some of the most ecologically sensitive animals on the planet. Some species of frogs have not been observed in the wild for over twenty years and may already be extinct. Participants will have the opportunity to meet some local representatives as well as exotic members of this class of animals.
Sunday, May 17 - Importance of the Insect World - The classification, life cycles, diet, ecology and economic impact of insects are the subject of this session. Bugs, beetles, dragonflies and ants are just a few of the six-legged arthropods that participants will examine and learn about.
Sunday, June 14 - Radar and Other Secrets of Animal Senses - While humans largely rely on sight and hearing to find their way through the world, many animals rely more heavily on their other senses. Some animals even have senses that we don’t. Participants will explore other animal’s senses through activities and observations of various animals.
Birding with Friends of Blue Heron
(Formerly “Jr. Audubon”)
Young birders & enthusiastic “bird people” will learn about how birds behave & migrate. Howie Fischer will emphasize bird identification. Places and times are listed below. Please dress weather-appropriately and bring your binoculars! Information: 718-317-1732
Saturday, April 4 - Clove Lakes Park in the late afternoon to find early spring birds. Meet at the Martling Avenue bridge at 3 pm. We will hike the easy trails of the park and bird the stream and lakes to find migrants. Eastern Phoebes and sparrows will be present and perhaps some lingering waterfowl. Bring binoculars.
Saturday, April 11 - High Rock Park at 8-10 am High Rock parking lot. This will be an early spring birding walk to find migrants in the Greenbelt. We will look for warblers, vireos, sparrows and raptors in the woods and wetlands of the Greenbelt. Comfortable walking shoes and binoculars are a must.
Saturday, May 2 - Clove Lakes Park. We will meet on the Martling Avenue bridge at 8 am to look for spring migrants in one of Staten Island's best birding areas. Binoculars are required. We will walk along the stream and bird the drier "upland" area near the fire tower to find a good variety of birds that have arrived from areas well south of us.
Sunday, May 10 - "Mother's Day in Clove Lakes Park" - 9-11 am Meet on the Martling Avenue bridge and bring binoculars. Again, we will be in a great local park, known for its spring migration. Our goal will be to find a good variety of neotropical migrants that are northbound. We hope to have a number of moms come out and enjoy their birding hobby on their special day.
Saturday, May 16 – High Rock Park at 8-10 am High Rock parking lot.
Saturday, June 6 - Blue Heron Park at 8 am - We will focus on finding the local breeding resident birds of Blue Heron Park. Meet in the parking lot and bring binoculars. We will hear the birds this time of the year in full song. Some of our specialties include the Wood Thrush, Eastern Towhee and woodpeckers.
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