Newsletter — December, 2019

>> DECEMBER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES –>

Christmas Bird Count 

Get to Know Your Winter Neighbors: The Birds in Your Yard

On Saturday, December 14th, from 10 AM to 1 PM,

The Nature Center will host an "Open Porch" for backyard birders –

an opportunity to drop by the porch of the cabin by the pond and join others in observing and identifying the birds that are common to Closter throughout the winter. 

These birds are bright bits of outdoor color, energy, and activity, while we stay snug in our homes. Bring binoculars if you have them.  We have some to loan, as well as a chance to look through a powerful telescope as if the bird is sitting on your hand!   Hot beverages will be available to keep you warm.  Stop by and get to know these perky wonders of winter survival.

END OF YEAR GIVING

The Closter Nature Center would like to thank the many families and individuals who support our environmental education program through their generous donations.

 Nature Center educational programs, held in Northern Valley classrooms, after school at the Nature Center, and during the summer session, reach over 6,000 children each year. Our goal is to disconnect children from digital devices and reconnect them with Nature!

The Closter Nature Center needs your support to extend our curriculum to as many Northern Valley schools as possible, and to expand our program offerings at the Nature Center. Please consider a donation to the Closter Nature Center in your year-end giving plans.

You can give either by going online to closternaturecenter.org, or by sending a check to P.O. Box 80, Closter NJ, 07624.

We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your tax –deductible donation will help support our programming, our facility and stewardship of our 136-acre tract of forested woodlands.

Thank-You for your support!

 

...And Speaking of Giving Thanks:

The Closter Nature Center will be giving thanks this year to John Moran, of the NY-NJ Trail Conference, for updating and maintaining trail markers on all 3-miles of our marked trails. 

Get out on the trails and check them out!! 

Welcome Winter Hike

Sunday, December 22nd at 3pm

 Come one, come all! Layer up your winter clothes, meet at the cabin, and join us for an afternoon forest adventure. With no leaves on the trees, finding wildlife becomes much easier! You never know what you may see around the next bend in the trail...

After-School Program:  Rocks + Minerals

This month’s after school program will be about the amazing world of geology.
We will get to see the Nature Center’s incredible collection of rocks and minerals and get to make our very own crystals to take home and eat!
This program will be inside and out so please dress for the weather!

Only 2 weeks this month:

PreK and K - Tuesdays - 10th and 17th

1st and 2nd Gr. - Wednesdays - 11th and 18th

3rd - 6th Gr. - Thursdays - 12th and 19th

Time: 3:45pm - 5:00pm

Cost: $30 members, $40 non-members

To register online please go to:

https://register.communitypass.net/Closter and you will be taken to Community Pass, our online registration and payment system. If you would prefer to register in person, please call Marc Gussen at (201) 750-2778

 

HOLIDAY BREAK CLASSES

Need something fun and educational for the kids to do during the holiday break? We have the answer:

Four days of Nature exploration and animal fun here at the Closter Nature Center. Our Break programs have been so successful, we will be doing it again! Depending on your schedule you can sign up for one, two, or all the days.

We will try to spend time outside each day, so please dress for the weather.

December 23rd, 24th, 26th and 27th

1st and 2nd grades 9:00 - 11:30am
3rd thru 6th grades 1:00 - 3:30pm 

Cost: Members $80 for full session; Non-members $100 for full session

For SINGLE days: Members $25; Non-members $30

To register online please go to:

https://register.communitypass.net/Closter , and you will be taken to Community Pass, our online registration and payment system. If you would prefer to register in person, please call Marc Gussen at (201) 750-2778

Deer Exclosure Fence Project - Off and Walking

The 8-foot vinyl fencing which excludes deer from 3 separate habitats in our Nature Center forest is holding up very well, despite wind storms and a few deer who have been reluctant to accept these detours from their accustomed paths. 

Frequent monitoring and walking of the fence line is being done by teams of volunteers, (high school through senior adults), who get out as they are able, report back their findings, and make minor repairs.  Another core group of volunteers is prepared to repair any reported major damage. 

Want some useful exercise in all seasons?  Join our sturdy band of Fence Maintenance volunteers. Register at closternaturecenter.org, under the "Get Involved" tab.

 

CNC Month By Month:

December 22nd @ 3pm Welcome Winter Hike 

December 14th Bergen Audubon Christmas Bird Count 

January 16th @ 7pm Primitive Tech

February 9th @ 3pm Winter Hike

March 15th @ 3pm Meet the Animals of the Nature Center

April 15th @ 7pm Invasive/Native Plants 

April 19th Soup Supper

May Forest Stewardship/Deer Exclosure community update

May Bird Count

June Summer Hike

June 7th Pond Celebration

 

 

 

 

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