Discovery Center

Find us on FACEBOOK

Become a fan today.

Discovery Center Deep Creek Lake State Park

THE DISCOVERY CENTER

AT DEEP CREEK LAKE STATE PARK

Meet the Staff

Caroline Blizzard Director/Naturalist

Jeremy Sidebottom Naturalist

Steven "Frog" Hughes Naturalist

Gus Johnson Astronomer and Grounds

Kathy Brady Reception

Ben Sweitzer Reception

DARE TO COOK

WITH IRON !

Join us as we unlock

The secrets of the

Dutch Oven!

Park Staff will lead this tasty

program on getting the

most from your Dutch Oven

while camping or enjoying in your own backyard.

· Lean how to properly season, store and care for your oven.

· Cook a desert, lunch and dinner from start to finish.

· Each family or group receives a Lodge Dutch Oven, tongs, booklet and above all experiences the afternoon cooking and eating together!

THE DISCOVERY CENTER

Deep Creek Lake State Park

DATES TO BE ANNOUCNED

9:00am – 12:00pm

Cost is $70.00 per group, includes 6qt. 12” Lodge Dutch Oven (a $65.00 value), instruction and meals.

You may bring your own Dutch Oven $25.00 per group.

Space is limited to 5 groups so sign up early.

WINTER 2010 HABICHAT

available online now

In this issue:

Native Plant Profile: Bayberry

Maryland Wildlife: The American Goldfinch

Tracking wildlife with children

Time to maintain those nest boxes

http://www.dnr.md.gov/wildlife/habichat28.asp

Check out the Monarch Emerging

4 Tags Recovered from 2008 Season!

1 Tag from Swan Meadow Elementary

1 Tag from The Discovery Center

1 Tag from Paradise Ridge in Oakland

1 Tag from Finzel Maryland

All 4 tags were recovered in El Rosario Mexico. Estimated travel by each butterfly is 1,886 miles !

See complete list at www.monarchwatch.org/blog

Monarch Maddness

2009 tagging results

650 butterflies tagged

ADOPTIONS:

This year 14 butterflies were adopted.

This translated into providing all tags to schools free of charge and $130.00 donated to the La Cruz Habitat Protection Project to plant 260 trees in the Mexican sancutary towns!

Way to go everyone.

Be sure to keep checking back to this website and our Facebook page for updates on the Monarch rearing and tagging program. It will be spring before you know it! The milkweed will start to grow and the Monarchs will return. We typically start tagging butterflies in mid-August.

Interested in becoming a tagging site? Call or email Caroline at the Discovery Center. cblizzard@dnr.state.md.us 301-387-7067

2009's partners include:

Swan Meadow Elementary (all School)

Cresaptown Elementary (2nd Grade)

Yough Glades Elementary (5th Grade)

Grantsville Elementary (Kindergarden)

Route 40 Elementary (Kindergarden)

Fort Ashby WVA Primary (2nd Grade)

Friendsville Elementary (Kindergarden)

Bishop Walsh (5th Grade)

Accident Elementary (Kindergarden)

and coutless individuals without whom this program would not be what it is.

Check out the Monarch Watch Blog for all the latest information on monarchs.

http://monarchwatch.org/blog

Track their journey North this summer at

http://www.journeynorth.org

DISCOVERY CENTER

Februaru 2010

Come to see our collection of critters, animal mounts, active birdfeeders, and local history displays!

Complete scavenger hunts and write in your Discovery Center Nature Journal!

Do not forget to check our Nature Store with new clothing, toys, and a great selection of field guides and award-winning children’s books!

Sat. Feb. 6 11:00 a.m. Got Cavities? You don’t need a dentist for these cavities! Hike around the Discovery Center in search of bird and animal cavities, nests, and dens! .45 min.

2:30 p.m. Critter Encounter Join a naturalist as they feed the many critters in the Discovery Center such as the fish, turtles, and snakes! Approx. 30 min.

Sun. Feb. 7 Hourly Encounters. 12 pm, 1 pm, and 2 pm Hourly Encounters. Join a naturalist at the top of each hour to meet one of our center critters up close and personal. Meet at the front desk.

Sat. Feb. 13 11:00 a.m. Our Feathered Friends. Join the naturalist inside at the bird feeder window to observe and identify some of our favorite winter birds. Kids make pinecone bird feeders Make one take home and one to hang in our trees for a special treats for the birds.

1:30 p.m. Happy Herps! See, up close and in person, all of the reptiles and amphibians at the Discovery Center. Also learn how to tell the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes. 45 min.

Sun. Feb. 14 11:00 a.m. Valentine Snowshoeing. Join the naturalist for a hike along the Snakeroot Trail wearing snowshoes. Learn what animals are spending time with their sweethearts at this time of year, and enjoy the beautiful winter scenery. Afterwards, have a cup of hot chocolate with your sweetie pie. Must pre-register. Approx. 1 hour.

2:30 p.m. Critter Encounter Join a naturalist as they feed the many critters in the Discovery Center such as the fish, turtles, and snakes! Approx. 30 min.

Sat. Feb. 20 11:00 am Got Cavities? You don’t need a dentist for these cavities! Hike around the Discovery Center in search of bird and animal cavities, nests, and dens! .45 min.

1:30 p.m. Reptile Encounter. Meet several resident reptiles of the Discovery Center and learn about their special lives in nature. 45 min.

Sun. Feb. 21 11:00 a.m. Our Feathered Friends. Join the naturalist inside at the bird feeder window to observe and identify some of our favorite winter birds. Kids make pinecone bird feeders Make one take home and one to hang in our trees for a special treats for the birds.

11:00 a.m. Wild About Mammals. Learn about the mammals of Garrett County and their history as people settled here. See some of the center’s animal skins up close and learn to identify animals using their pelts. 45 min

Sat. Feb. 27 11am Black Bears and YOU! Take a hike along the Snakeroot Trail while learning all about bears! Also get to touch a bear skin and skull. Please wear proper footwear for the trail is rocky! Incase of bad weather the bear portion will be held inside. Aprox. 1 ½ hrs.

1:30p.m. Scales and Tales. Join the naturalist for an up close and personal look at our red tailed hawk, snakes, frogs and salamanders. Approx. 1 hour

Sun. Feb. 28 12 pm, 1 pm, and 2 pm Hourly Encounters. Join a naturalist at the top of each hour to meet one of our center critters up close and personal. Meet at the front

Find us on

FACEBOOK

websites!

http//:discoverycenterdcl.com

www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/deepcreeklake.html

Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center

“Bringing people and resources together”

Open Fri-Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Programs and Center hours are subject to change without notice.

All programs meet or begin at the Discovery Center unless otherwise noted.

For more information, call us at 301-387-7067.

Jr. Rangers
The cost is $15.00 per child for all four weeks. All participants must pre-register by calling The Discovery Center 301-387-7067
Schedule:
Stay tuned for our Summer 2010 Dates.
Generally beginning the third week in June

Winter homeschool sessions begin January 2010 call to register!

All Jr. Rangers are encouraged to dress for the weather. Please bring proper footwear and rain gear if necessary. The above activities are subject to change.

For questions, call the Discovery Center at 301-387-7067.

Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers, Inc.

Dedicated to bringing people and natural resourses together. The WGCSPV, Inc. promotes and encourages conservation, research and educational opportunities.