Programs

Tuesday Walks at Prairie Ridge

Tuesdays, 8:30—10:30 a.m.
April 22, May 6 & 20

Minimum Age: 8
Fee: $4 per walk ($2 Friends of the Museum)
Come out with us and see what time it is in nature!  What’s happening in the prairie? Are there tadpoles in the pond?  Which trees in the lowland arboretum are flowering?  Find the answers as you take a leisurely 1 mile walk with a Museum naturalist through our 38-acre Prairie Ridge Ecostation.  All trails are natural with some uneven surfaces and small hills. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Prairie Ridge. For more information and to register, please contact Cathy Fergen 919.733.7450 ext. 671, or e-mail Prairie.Ridge@ncmail.net.

Nest Quest!

Saturday, March 29
8 – 12:00 p.m.

Have you ever wanted to be a scientist?  Come out to Prairie Ridge and help us study nesting birds. This Nest Quest workshop introduces local birds and their nesting behavior. It prepares you to observe nesting birds and report your observations to Cornell Lab of Ornithology citizen-science project.  Please dress for the weather. All work will be done outdoors.  Each participant or family receives a deluxe bluebird nest box and other materials to take home.  Register by contacting Charles Yelton 919-733-7450 ext. 672, or charles.yelton@ncmail.net.

Earth Day Bird Walk

Saturday, April 19
8 – 9:30 a.m.

Celebrate earth day with a morning bird walk at Prairie Ridge. For information contact Mary Ann Brittain, Mary.Ann.Brittain@ncmail.net, 919.733.7450 ext 675.

Earth Day Celebration

Saturday, April 19 
9 – 12:00 p.m.

Volunteers will be given the opportunity to improve the environment at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation by working with staff to remove invasive plants.  Participants will learn more about invasive species and how to reduce their impact on our native vegetation.  There will also be an opportunity to tour Prairie Ridge and learn more about its efforts to restore native prairie, create wetland habitat, use sustainable building materials, save water and use renewable energy. 
This Earth Day Celebration will be carried out in cooperation with the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.  For information contact: Brian Hahn, Brian.Hahn@ncmail.net, 919.733.7450 ext. 674.

Take a Child Outside at Prairie Ridge

Thursday, April 24
3–6:30 p.m.

Interested in getting outside more with your family?  Join a naturalist to explore a variety of habitats including a piedmont prairie, woodlands, a lowland forest and water features including a stream and ponds, all right here within the city limits of Raleigh.  All ages welcome.  Guided walks will begin every 30 - minutes, with the last walk beginning at 6 p.m. No registration required. For information contact: Kim Smart at kimberly.smart@ncmail.net or 919.733.7450 ext. 673.

International Migratory Bird Day Festival

Saturday, May 17
9 – 12:00 p.m.

Join us at Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Wildlife and Learning to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. Visit our investigation stations that will introduce you and your family to the marvels of birds, the needs of nesting birds, and the importance of bird conservation.  Prairie Ridge is the ecological fieldstation for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and is located off Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh.  Pre-registration is required.  For information or to register for this free event please contact: Brian Hahn, Brian.Hahn@ncmail.net, 919.733.7450 ext. 674.

Student Programs at Prairie Ridge

Curiosity Classes at Prairie Ridge

Discovery Fun at Prairie Ridge

CSI – Citizen Science Investigators

Thursdays, March 27 – May 15 *Full*
10 – 12:00 p.m.

Minimum Age: Homeschool students, ages 10+
This 8-week club is designed to expose potential scientists to a variety of science careers in natural history.  A major Citizen Science focus will be birds-identification, nesting, & banding, and more.  All activities are outdoors-participants must dress for the weather. Glaxo Smith Kline is helping to fund this program.  Register by contacting Kim Smart at kimberly.smart@ncmail.net or 919.733.7450 ext. 673.