Adult Classes and Field Trips

Explore the Great Outdoors with the Experts!
These programs offer nature novices and experienced naturalists alike a wide array of opportunities to explore and learn more about our area's natural history. All programs are led by experienced naturalists; foray lectures are at the Woodend Sanctuary, with field trips by private vehicle or carpool, unless otherwise noted. Don't miss out, sign up early!

Questions? Email Senior Naturalist Stephanie Mason or call Stephanie at 301-652-9188 x37. For registration information, email Pam Oves or call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16. To register for a program, please mail or fax the registration form.

Did you know? Paying by check saves ANS $ on credit card processing fees!

Cancellation Policy
To qualify for a credit if you cancel a program, you must give at least six business days' notice, i.e. you can't cancel on a Monday for a weekend program and still receive a credit. The credit postcard will be mailed to you less a $5 administrative fee and must be included with a registration form to be valid. Call 301-652-9188 x 16 or email Pam Oves to cancel.

If ANS cancels a program, you will receive a full refund.

Upcoming Classes / Field Trips

MAY | JUNE | JULY 

MAY

Bird ID Series: Spring Warblers  FULL - CALL TO BE ADDED TO WAITLIST
Thursday, May 2 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Sunday, May 5 (7 am-1 pm)
Leader  Mike Bowen
Members $46; nonmembers $64
Lecture only members $20; nonmembers $28
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. We’ll use slides and recorded warbler songs for the Thursday lecture. On Sunday we’ll start early and visit Great Falls Park, VA and/or nearby Riverbend Park, where we’ll hope to hear and see a wide variety of warblers. Registration required, please use registration form

Building Stones of Pennsylvania Avenue
Saturday, May 4 (9 am-1 pm)
Leader  Joe Marx
Members $24; nonmembers $34
The buildings and monuments along the Avenue of the Presidents are faced with a variety of granites, marbles, and sandstones. We will start at the Federal Triangle Metro station and walk about 3 miles, examining the exteriors of various structures between the White House and the Capitol. We will discuss the geology and place of origin of the building stones, as well as explore aspects of political, cultural, and economic history related to the choice and use of material. All portions of our route will be paved. The pace set and distance covered on this geology field trip will be faster and farther than our usual “naturalist’s shuffle.” Registration required, please use registration form

Botanical Gems of Montgomery County: Dickerson Conservation Park
Sunday, May 5 (10 am-1:30 pm)
Leader  Carole Bergmann
Members $24; nonmembers $34
The County’s 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. Registration required, please use registration form

Walk Among the Wildflowers (With a Camera) RESCHEDULED TO 6/5 DUE TO WEATHER
Wednesday, May 8 (10-12:30 pm)
Leaders  Janice Browne and Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Here’s your chance to take a walk amongst our area’s rich display of spring wildflowers with both a naturalist (who can tell you want you’re looking at, plus a bit about its natural history) and a photographer (who can give you tips on how to record an image in the field, plus how to develop an eye for form). Choose Walk A (Carderock Recreation Area along the C&0 Canal, just outside the Beltway) or Walk B (Great Falls Park, VA.) Or sign up for both. Each walk’s limit is 10. Anyone registering for a walk is invited to attend a “show and tell” on Wednesday, May 15 (7-9 pm) where problems and successes can be shared. Check out our photographer-leader’s website www.janicebrowne.com for inspiration. Participants should be familiar with their camera and its basic functions in order to benefit from the outing. Registration required, please use registration form

Spring Birding Lecture Series
Wednesdays, 7-9 pm
B. May 8 - Territoriality, Courtship, and Nesting
Leader  Don Messersmith
Members $20; nonmembers $28
World traveler and local ornithologist Don Messersmith shares his vast knowledge, field experiences, and sense of humor in this follow-up to his popular series on winter birding. Join him for these lectures at Woodend to learn more about the marvelous migratory journeys of birds, and their territory and nesting behaviors once they arrive on their breeding grounds. Registration required, please use registration form

Spring on Wheels Along the Potomac
Friday, May 10 (8 am-3 pm)
Leader  Stephanie Mason
Members $34; nonmembers $46
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. Registration required, please use registration form

Spring Hike on Sugarloaf Mountain
Saturday, May 11 (10 am-3 pm)
Leaders  Melanie Choukas-Bradley and Tina Thieme Brown
Members $30; nonmembers $41
Join Sugarloaf author Melanie Choukas-Bradley and artist Tina Thieme Brown for an outing devoted to the botany, wildlife, geology, and history of Sugarloaf Mountain, a monadnock in the rural Piedmont northwest of Washington, D.C. The 1.5-2.5 mile hike, with some uphill and downhill on rocky terrain, is timed to coincide with the flowering of many woodland plants, including pinxter, fringe-tree, Canada mayflower, several violet species, and possibly one or more orchids. Bring binoculars to look for Wood Thrushes, Worm-eating Warblers, Ravens, and other bird species. Tina will give a brief demonstration on illustrating plants in the field during our lunch break. Registration required, please use registration form

Spring Hike on the Appalachian Trail
Sunday, May 12 (full day hike)
Leader  Stephanie Mason
Members $34; nonmembers $46
Spring rains, warming temperature, and longer hours of daylight ignite a great burst of life in the valleys and ridges of the Appalachian Mountains. One of the best ways to explore this seasonal richness is along the Appalachian Trail. Our Senior Naturalist leads this search for spring blooms, butterflies, and breeding bird activity amongst the rocky terrain of Maryland’s South Mountain. Beginning at Gathland State Park, the former estate of a Civil War correspondent, we’ll hike to the summit of Lamb’s Knoll before ending the day at Fox Gap. We’ll cover 6 miles on this moderately strenuous uphill/downhill hike on trails that will be rocky and uneven. We’ll stop to observe natural phenomena, but will keep a pace necessary to cover the distance stated. Registration required, please use registration form

Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section E: May 15 - Violettes Lock FULL - CALL TO BE ADDED TO WAITLIST
Leader  Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $20; nonmembers $26
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. Registration required, please use registration form

Spring in Cape May County  FULL - CALL TO BE ADDED TO WAITLIST
Saturday, May 18 (8 am) to Sunday, May 19 (4 pm)
Leader  Mark Garland
Members $96; nonmembers $140
Cape May, at the southern tip of New Jersey, is one of the best-known natural areas along the East Coast, but less well known is that the rest of Cape May County has many outstanding natural areas. Join naturalist and Cape May resident Mark Garland and visit a variety of “off the beaten path” habitats in search of birds and other wildlife. We will explore salt marsh, open beach, fields, and a variety of forest habitats. The shores of Delaware Bay are typically loaded with shorebirds at this season, feasting on the eggs of horseshoe crabs. Songbirds, both migrants and breeders, are often abundant throughout May. If the days are sunny we could find a good variety of butterflies, with Frosted Elfin and Hessel’s Hairstreak among the rare species we might spot. Choose to overnight in historic Cape May, or economize and stay away from this busy resort. We’ll send a list of lodging and camping options in mid-April. Registration required, please use registration form

Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
E. Sunday, May 19 – Sycamore Landing, MD (John Bjerke)  
Each walk members $24; nonmembers $28
Immerse yourself in the phenomenon of spring migration with this series of short morning bird walks at nearby parks. These walks are designed for beginning and intermediate birders for whom the spring migration can sometimes be overwhelming. On each walk we’ll search for songbirds by sight and sound. We’ll discuss the arrival sequence of spring migrants, practice spotting them in the forest, and learn the songs of many species. Walks C&D include some uphill and downhill walking. Registration required, please use registration form

Butterflies of Blue Mountain
Sunday, May 19 (full-day field trip)
Leaders  Dick Smith and Cathy Stragar
Members $34; nonmembers $46
Blue Mountain, near Linden, VA, is best known for its spectacular wildflower display earlier in the month at the Thompson Wildlife Management Area. We’ll search for the rich diversity of butterflies that can be found here at the lower elevation Lake Thompson. We’ll hope to find swallowtails, including the uncommon Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail; the Appalachian Azure and other blues; plus other species both common and uncommon. We’ll walk up to several miles, with some uphill and downhill over uneven terrain. Registration required, please use registration form

Introduction to Bird ID by Voice  FULL - CALL TO BE ADDED TO WAITLIST
Tuesday, May 21 (7:30-9 pm)
Thursday, May 23 (7:30-9 pm)
Saturday, May 25 (7 am-Noon)
Leader  Mark England
Members $46; nonmembers $64
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. Registration required, please use registration form

JUNE

Late Spring in the Blue Ridge
Saturday, June 1 (8 am-5 pm)
Leader Cliff Fairweather
Members $34; nonmembers $46
Get some good exercise and chase disappearing spring up into the mountains on this 7.5 mile hike from the Blackburn Appalachian Trail Center near Round Hill, VA to Snickers Gap near Bluemont. Along the way, we'll watch for nesting bird and other wildlife activity, as well as late spring wildflowers. This hike along the Appalachian Trail should be considered strenuous, with steep up/downhill grades over rocky terrain. Participants should be in adequate physical condition to maintain a pace faster than our usual “naturalist’s shuffle.” We will use a carpool shuttle to facilitate the beginning and end of the hike. Registration required, please use registration form

Natural Heritage Series: Suitland Bog
Thursday, June 6 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, June 8 (morning field trip)
Leader Cris Fleming
Members $46; nonmembers $64
Lecture only members $20; nonmembers $28
Suitland Bog is a tiny “magnolia bog,” the best preserved of over 30 bogs that once occurred in the Beltsville-Suitland area. At least 20 state-listed species still occur in the bog, including the delicate rose pogonia orchid and two species of sundew. Thursday’s class will include slides of plants and a discussion of bog formation and characteristics of various bog types. Saturday’s field trip to the bog, which we’ll explore by boardwalk, is limited to 14 people. Registration required, please use registration form

Breeding Bird Walk at Jug Bay Natural Area of Patuxent River Park
Saturday, June 8 (7-11 am)
Leader John Bjerke
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Breeding birds are excellent environmental indicators, and breeding bird surveys generate important data for monitoring the health of ecosystems. At the Jug Bay Natural Area of Patuxent River Park in Prince Georges County, we’ll explore woods and marshes to search out both common and uncommon breeders of this wetland habitat. We’ll discuss the breeding strategies of species such as Osprey, Northern Parula, and White-eyed Vireo, among others, as well as the types of census techniques which ornithologists and citizen scientists use to determine population levels and trends. We’ll walk up to 2.5 miles at a leisurely pace on natural surface paths and boardwalk. Our leader has participated in the Maryland/DC Breeding Bird Atlas Project. Registration required, please use registration form

Natural Heritage Series: Terrapin Beach State Park
Sunday, June 9 (8:30 am-3 pm)
Leader Stephanie Mason
Members $30; nonmembers $42
Just on the other side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Kent Island sits Terrapin Beach Nature Park. On this day’s general nature walk, we’ll explore up to 3.5 miles in generally open and sunny terrain as we explore the meadow, woodland, and beach habitats of this natural area. We’ll search for seasonal wildlife and blooms as spring winds down and summer sneaks in. Registration required, please use registration form

Advanced Dragonfly Studies: Common Emeralds and Skimmers of the Mid-Atlantic
Thursday, June 13 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Sunday, June 16 (full-day field trip)
Leader Richard Orr
Members $50; nonmembers $70
Lecture only $20/$28
Feel like you’re ready to “graduate” from our annual Introduction to Dragonfly and Damselfly class led by entomologist and dragonfly expert Richard Orr? Join us for his advanced series of classes, returning this year with field identification of Common Emeralds and Skimmers (Families Corduliidae and Libellulidae). Our instructor will combine an evening presentation with a field trip to Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, where we’ll hope to see many of these and other species in action. This is the first of four advanced classes which will cover field ID of all of the dragonfly and damselfly groups in the mid-Atlantic area. Just getting started in dragonflies? Our leader’s introductory class coming up in August is for you. Registration required, please use registration form

Summer Shuffles Along the Canal
Wednesdays (9-11:30 am)
Section A: June 19 - Riley’s Lock
Section B: June 26 - Widewater
Section C: July 3 - Carderock
Section D: July 10 - Swain’s Lock
Leader Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $20; nonmembers $28
Entire series members $72; nonmembers $100
Summer’s here and it may be hot, so we’ll keep our pace to a shuffle as we visit three 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. Registration required, please use registration form

Firefly Fling
Thursday, June 20 (8-9 pm)
Leader Stephanie Mason
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 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. Registration required, please use registration form

Western Montgomery County Butterfly Count
Saturday, June 22
Join us for the 25th annual Western Montgomery County Butterfly Count. Participants in this citizen science project will 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 smason@audubonnaturalist.org for a participant’s information letter.

Butterfly Basics at Black Hill Park
Sunday, June 23 (9-11:30 am)
Leader Stephanie Mason
Members $20; nonmembers $28
On this slow stroll through several habitats at Black Hill Regional Park, near Boyds, MD, we’ll offer an introduction to some of the butterflies of early summer: their habitats, how to identify them, and where to look for their caterpillars and host plants. Our areas of exploration will be open and sunny. Registration required, please use registration form

Six-legged Songsters of Summer
Thursday, June 28 (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 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 second annual Cricket Crawl citizen science activity in late August. Registration required, please use registration form

Summer in the Parks
A: Saturday, June 29 - Governor’s Bridge Natural Area, MD (8-11:30 am)
B: Thursday, July 4 - Dyke Marsh, VA (7:30-11 am)
C: Sunday, July 14 - Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC (7:30 am)
Leaders Stephanie Mason and Cathy Stragar
Each walk members $24; nonmembers $34
Entire series members $64; nonmembers $87
Join two naturalists to explore the summer richness of parks along area waterways. As summer arrives and progresses into its muggy days and nights, wetlands and meadows soak up the sun 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, in search of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, amphibians, and summer plant life. Registration required, please use registration form

A Year at Boundary Bridge
Saturdays (9 am-2 pm)
Section C: June 29
Section D: October 26
Section A: February 16
Section B: April 6
Leader Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk members $30; nonmembers $42
Join the author of City of Trees for our seventh year of hikes in one of Washington, D.C.’s most beautiful wild areas. Starting at Boundary Bridge and following the same 2.5-mile loop trail each season, we’ll explore the large trees, diverse shrubs, and exceptional wildflowers along a scenic stretch of Rock Creek. We’ll also see and hear many species of birds, butterflies, and amphibians. On our winter walk, an ideal time to admire the Park’s topography, we’ll look and listen for winter flocks and identify many species of woody plants. In April, we’ll witness the spring magic of Rock Creek’s myriad wildflowers. As summer arrives in the Park, we’ll hope for a glimpse of a kingfisher as we look for ferns and early seasonal wildflowers such as enchanter’s nightshade. Autumn is glorious in Rock Creek Park, and we’ll conclude our series with a walk through colorful oaks, maples, and ashes, searching for the flowers of an early witch hazel in bloom. Our 2.5-mile circuit hike will be on trails with moderate uphill and downhill walking. An ANS/Rock Creek Conservancy Partnership. Registration required, please use registration form

Sunset Stroll in the Hollow
Sunday, June 30 (7-9 pm)
Leader Stephanie Mason
Members $20; nonmembers $28
Enjoy a slow evening stroll through the field, forest, and wetland habitats of the Hughes Hollow area, south of Poolesville, MD. As the sun sets, we’ll look and listen for owls, frogs, foxes, beavers, bats, and insects, discussing the adaptations of these crepuscular and nocturnal animals. Registration required, please use registration form. Photo by Janet Kegg.

Geology of Huntley Meadows
Sunday, June 30 (9 am-1pm)
Leader Joe Marx
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Huntley Meadows is a large nature preserve located in Fairfax County not far from Mount Vernon. The preserve is situated in Hybla Valley, a wide swath of flat, low-lying land that was carved by an ancient meander of the Potomac. Huntley Meadows is an excellent site for examining the geologic materials and processes that built our Atlantic Coastal Plain. We will start at an overlook with a view across the whole of Hybla Valley and then drive around the preserve to its headquarters. From the main parking area, we will walk a two-mile loop on easy trails that include a lengthy section of boardwalk across open and sunny marshland. Registration required, please use registration form

JULY

Summer on Wheels Along the Patuxent
Saturday, July 6 (8 am-12:30 pm)
Leader Stephanie Mason
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Dust off your bike and join us to explore the woods and wetlands along the Patuxent River in Prince George’s County, MD. We’ll use the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Tour roadway, closed to cars on this day, to visit a variety of habitats in our search for summer activity in the natural world. We’ll dismount often to look for wildflowers, birds, butterflies, and frogs, as we cover the Tour’s reach from Patuxent River Park to Merkle Wildlife Refuge. Our round-trip ride will be between 5-8 miles. Bring your own bike. Registration required, please use registration form. Photo of green tree frog by Janice Browne.

Botanical Gems in Montgomery County: Northwest Branch Park
Sunday, July 7 (9 am-12:30 pm)
Leader Carole Bergmann
Members $24; nonmembers $33
In 1904, after a horseback ride in the stream valley of Northwest Branch, Theodore Roosevelt declared that it was “a beautiful gorge, deep and narrow, with great boulders and even cliffs. Excepting Great Falls, it is the most beautiful place around here.” Much of this area today is preserved as Montgomery County parkland, and it feels surprisingly wild despite the urbanization surrounding it. The county’s forest ecologist will lead this hike of 2.5-3.5 miles, focusing on plant identification and ecology. Our trail will be a natural surface path, with some uphill/downhill and some limited rock scrambling. Registration required, please use registration form

Walk Among the Giants
C: Sunday, July 7 (7:30-11 am)
D: Saturday, October 26 (8-11:30 am)
A: Sunday, January 13 (9 am-12:30 pm)
B: Saturday, April 13 (8-11:30 am)
Leader  Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $24; nonmembers $34
Walk among the giant Sycamores, Oaks, and River Birches on this new seasonal series of explorations along the Potomac River just upstream of Great Falls, MD. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for all manner of wildlife, and watch the winter woods turn green, and then summer sultry before fall colors herald the coming of another winter. Our floodplain trail, connecting with the Towpath, is mostly level, but could be muddy as we walk our loop of roughly 2.5 miles. Registration required, please use registration form

Butterflies and Wildflowers of Harper’s Ferry
Saturday, July 13 (9 am-3 pm)
Leaders Stephanie Mason
Members $30; nonmembers $42
Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park fans out over 2,500 acres of diverse natural habitat. The meadows, riverfront, wetlands, woodlands, and open mountain summits - preserved much as they were when Civil War soldiers fought over them - support a treasury of butterflies and wildflowers. Join ANS Senior Naturalist Stephanie Mason in a search for the saber-tailed Zebra Swallowtail, comical American Snout, regal Tawny Emperor, and other butterfly species. We’ll also stop to identify wildflowers along the way. Expect uphill/downhill walking, but at a leisurely pace. Registration required, please use registration form

Introduction to the Natural History and Identification of Shorebirds
Thursday, July 18 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, July 20 (full-day field trip)
Leaders Cyndie Loeper and John Bjerke
Members $50; nonmembers $70
Lecture only $20/$28
Shorebirds are among the most spectacular migrants in the avian world. Many species breed as far north as the Arctic tundra and winter as far south as Patagonia. By mid July, they’ve already begun their remarkable journeys southward, passing through our coastal areas in the process and presenting an identification puzzle to beginning and even mid-level birders. Our beginners’ level class will focus on the most common shorebirds that occur in our region, using a field trip to Delaware’s Bombay Hook and Little Creek Refuges to reinforce Thursday night’s slide-illustrated lecture. Registration required, please use registration form

Natural History of Beetles
Thursday, July 18 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, July 20 (2-9 pm)
Leader Warren E. Steiner, Jr.
Members $50; nonmembers $70
Lecture only $20/$28
Beetles comprise the most diverse group of insects in the world, and are found in great variety and abundance as far afield as the tropics and as close to home as our backyards. Join Warren E. Steiner, Jr., entomologist with the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, for an introduction to the natural history and classification of beetles. The class combines a Thursday night lecture with Saturday’s field trip to a nearby natural area, where we’ll search for beetles in aquatic, field, and forest habitats, discussing their life histories, feeding strategies, and adaptations. After a dinner break, our field trip will continue after sunset so that we can observe nocturnal beetle activity. Registration required, please use registration form

Introduction to Ferns and Fern Allies
Thursday, July 25 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, July 27 (all day field trip)
Leader Cris Fleming
Members $50; nonmembers $70
Lecture only members $20; nonmembers $28
Many types of ferns, the most advanced of non-flowering plants, occur in eastern deciduous forests. Identification of different species is easiest in summer when most ferns produce spores in unique patterns. Thursday’s evening meeting will include a discussion of the life cycle of ferns, an introduction to the terminology of fern structure, and experience identifying fern species using live specimens and a simple key. Saturday’s field trip will be along the Potomac River at Turkey Run Park in McLean, VA, where 25 species of ferns have been found. Our route along the river includes a fairly steep hill and two rocky stream crossings. Registration required, please use registration form

Window into the World of Fungi
Thursday, July 25 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, July 27 (9 am-noon)
Leader Tovi Lehmann
Free, but registration required.
Rooted, yet not plants, heterotrophs, but not animals (growing in fairy rings, yet not even fairies), fungi are members of another kingdom. Mostly hidden under the surface, fungi have evolved their own solutions to life’s persistent problems. Gaining the recognition for their pivotal role in shaping the living world, they now reshape fundamental perceptions of biologists. In this workshop, we will explore the natural history and ecology of our local fungal neighbors, rather than focus on the edibility of particular species of mushrooms. Our field trip will visit a close-in natural area chosen by the leader, based on his scouting closer to the program. Tovi is a Volunteer Master Naturalist with a particular interest in fungi. Registration required, please use registration form

Paddle on the Patuxent
Sunday, July 28 (8:30 am-12:30 pm)
Leader Jug Bay volunteers
Members $28; nonmembers $39
Enjoy a leisurely paddle through tidal marshes and along the Patuxent River’s edge at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Anne Arundel County, MD. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for turtles, muskrats, eagles, osprey, and other wildlife. Cost includes canoe fee and sanctuary entrance fee. Participants can explore the sanctuary on their own after the canoe trip. Limited to 15 participants who will walk one mile each way to access the canoes. Registration required, please use registration form

to the top