Moose Hill Holds Events In September

Mass Audubon's Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary will hold the following events in September:

• Free Star Party for all ages: 8:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday,  Sept. 18.

Join local astronomers and view the night sky through their big telescopes. The event is ongoing, so drop in for the entire time, or just some of the evening. Find the viewing field.

This program is cancelled if sky conditions are cloudy; call 781-784-5691, ext. 8103 after 6 p.m. for a recorded message about the program's status.

• Bug Search for ages 4 to 6: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. 

Explore the fields for hopping grasshoppers, chirping crickets, and fluttering butterflies. Use bug-catching cups and nets to capture insects to examine and observe. A story and craft will complete this program.

There is a fee of $8 to $11.

• Nature’s Basement for ages 4 to 6: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29.

People's basements and nature’s basements are a lot alike: underground, filled with stuff, a few bugs, and possibly gets wet when it rains. Look under rocks and logs for the inhabitants of nature’s basement: salamanders, sow bugs and worms. Finish with a craft.

There is a fee of $8 to $11.

• Art in the Park for ages 6 to 11: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22.

Use nature as a muse while creating art. Each class will feature a variety of art media for budding artists to try based on the topics listed above. Each class may feature outdoor time, so dress for the weather.

There is a fee of $9 to $12.

• Knee-High Naturalists for ages 3 and 4: 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Sept. 19 and Sept. 26. 

Each session includes stories, crafts, indoor circle time, and plenty of outdoor nature play. Discover Moose Hill's "nature playgrounds" while learning about the theme of the week. For more information about this program especially designed for young learners, call or e-mail Patti Austin at 781-784-5691 or paustin@massaudubon.org.
 

• Birding the Farm Fields Adult Program: 7 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 and Sept. 29.

Meet at Moose Hill's CSA Barn at the corner of South Main and Moose Hill streets. Come to one, some, or all of the walks.

• Moose Hill Walker Adult Program: 8 to 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19 and Sept. 26. 

Join Patti Austin for a weekly morning walk. See the arrival of fall while learning the trails for walks later.

Participants must be able to maintain a steady walking pace for the hour.

Walks are held rain or shine. The fee is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. The fee per walk is $5 for members and $8 for non-members.

• Deer, Dear Forest Adult Program: 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29. Admission is free.

Join Sanctuary Director Christine Turnbull for a leisurely walk to explore parts of the Moose Hill forests. The group will look at plants and wildlife and discuss some of the missing elements in the forests.

• Mushroom Foray and Book Signing Adult Program: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. Admission is free.

Join mycologist Dr. Lawrence Millman on for a mushroom foray jointly sponsored by Moose Hill and the Boston Mycological Club. Explore several different mushroom habitats, as well as visit the site where Millman found a species previously unknown in North America.

Following the foray, there will be a book signing party for Dr. Millman’s new book, "Fascinating Fungi of New England." The book is $14.95 and can be purchased directly from the author by check or cash. This is the first book to be exclusively devoted to New England mushrooms.