I was at the dedication of the Trinity River Audubon Center last year. But I’m afraid I haven’t had a chance to get back since, so I can’t speak about anything other than the fact that they’ve got a pretty cool building out there. But it sounds like there will be some fun this weekend at Nature Fest (sponsored in part by People Newspapers):
The Trinity River Audubon Center, which features 120 acres of urban forest and an ecofriendly education building, is getting set to celebrate its one-year anniversary on October 10 and 11 with its inaugural Nature Fest. Opened in October 2008, the center contains interactive exhibits set at different levels to allow children to experience nature up close. Nature Fest 2009 will include workshops on topics such as Nature Deficit Disorder, introduction to kayaking, composting, water conservation and energy conservation. Children will learn how to make nature arts-and-crafts projects, meet Texas wildlife and enjoy face painting and storytelling. Yoga, Tai Chi, guided trail hikes and architecture tours, picnics and a juried art show and sale are some of the activities on the schedule. There will be presentations on community gardens, native plants, water conservation, sustainable landscaping, wildlife rehabilitation, backyard poultry, urban beekeeping, damselflies and dragonflies of DFW, and snakes and turtles. Entertainment includes live music, Aztec dancers and storytellers. The center is located off South Loop 12, and the event is free for all visitors. Parking is $5.00 but free for members.“We’re thrilled to be celebrating our first anniversary. It’s been a tremendously successful year,” said Chris Culak, center director of the Trinity River Audubon Center. “We’ve had more than 38,000 visitors to date, and more than 8,600 school children participate in our science education programs. Our goal is to continue to connect people with nature, whether they live in urban, suburban or rural areas, and instill a shared appreciation and sense of stewardship for the natural world through hands-on nature education, citizen science and conservation.”
Ongoing highlights at the center include guided hikes, birding classes, yoga, adult workshops on sustainable practices, academic lectures, nature clubs, field-based education programs for students, outdoor skills and family programs.
