Audubon Summer Day Camp Open House Is Saturday

South Britain — The Audubon Center at Bent of the River has scheduled an open house from 2 to 3:30 pm on Sunday, March 13, to acquaint parents and children entering grades 4 to 8 with this year’s Summer Day Camp programs.

For children who love to explore the outdoors, are curious about the creatures that reside under the rocks or in the rivers, or simply want to know the age of the backyard sycamore tree, Audubon’s Day Camp programs will be an exciting way for them to spend one week of their summer learning about the wonders of nature.

Day Camp Director Ellen Turner will be on hand at the open house to provide a sampling of some of the interesting and fun hands-on activities planned for camp. Children will be able to observe mayflies, leeches, and other creatures under a microscope, use field guides to identify a variety of different specimens, and decorate an Audubon bookmark with animal tracks. A slide presentation of last year’s campers exploring the center’s diverse habitats will also be shown.

There are three day camp programs being offered at the center this year. Each camp session is five days, Monday through Friday. During the weeks of July 5, 11, 18, and 25, two different camps are available. The Audubon Naturalist Day Camp is for children entering grades 4 and 5 and the EcoDiscoverer Day Camp is for children entering grades 6 through 8.

During the weeks of August 1 and 8, children entering grades 5 and 6 can attend the Watershed Wizard Day Camp.

Camp registrations are currently underway and will be accepted during the open house. Registrations are taken on a first-come, first served basis.

Audubon’s 660 acres of fields, forests, meadows, and rivers are home to a richly diverse population of plants and animals where young outdoor enthusiasts can truly experience the wonders of nature. Through hands-on science activities, hikes, games, art, stories, daily journals, discussions and use of scientific tools and techniques, children have a unique opportunity to have fun while learning and discovering how to appreciate and protect the environment.

Last year more than 100 children attended the day camp programs at the Audubon Center at Bent of the River, one of many National Audubon Society centers throughout the country that are encouraging children to become stewards of the environment.

The Audubon Center at Bent of the River is at 185 East Flat Hill Road (off I-84, Exit 14) about a half mile from Connecticut Route 172. Visitors can hike or stroll through the center’s 15 miles of trails seven days a week from dawn to dusk. Call 203-264-5098 for more information or to register for one of the Day Camp programs.