October 7th, 2011
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 7:30 p.m. to midnight
Cost: $10 per adult, and free for children 12 years old and under
Celebrate our dark skies with a star party and an outdoor screening of The City Dark, a new documentary about light pollution, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center.
This joint program of the nature center and the Big Bend Astronomers kicks off with hot chocolate, popcorn and sunset viewing at the visitors center. The City Dark showing begins at 8 p.m., followed by the star party, which wraps up around midnight.
In The City Dark, filmmaker Ian Cheney asks, “Do we need the stars?” To answer this question, he looks at the threat of killer asteroids in Hawaii, hatching turtles along the Florida coast, and injured birds on Chicago streets. The film unravels the myriad implications of a globe glittering with lights—including increased breast cancer rates from exposure to light at night, and a generation of kids without a glimpse of the universe above. Featuring stunning astrophotography and a cast of eclectic scientists, philosophers, historians and lighting designers, The City Dark is the definitive story of light pollution and the disappearing stars.
This is an outdoor event, so please bring a blanket and flashlight. Metal chairs will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their own more comfortable seating.
To register or for more information, please contact the nature center at 432.364.2499 or visit cdri.org.
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October 4th, 2011
Artist Willis LeJeune will be showing several of his wood sculptures from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 8 at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center outside Fort Davis.
Born and raised in Louisiana, LeJeune works within wood’s natural features to sculpt his beautiful art, searching for the most extraordinary expressions of life created by Mother Nature.
“My challenge as an artist is to know instinctively what to leave, what to remove, and what to expose to release the natural beauty locked within,” LeJeune said.
LeJeune will be on hand to answer questions about his work during the exhibition, which will take place in the visitors center foyer.
The nature center is located about four miles south of Fort Davis on Texas Highway 118. For more information, contact 432.364.2499 or visit cdri.org.
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September 22nd, 2011
Date: Friday, October 28, 2011
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 per family
Spooky stories, flickering campfire light, noises in the dark, a make-and-take activity, and a walk into the unknown —how else would you celebrate a hallowed eve? Join Dr. Jennifer Jordan and other volunteers as you and your munchkins experience Halloween with all your senses. (Yes, taste, too!) Wear costumes you can walk in and dress warmly. Open to children up to 10 years old.
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September 15th, 2011
Date: October 11, 2011
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
Earth Rocks!!! is our annual celebration of Earth Science Week, and we need volunteers to help with the 300 students that will be attending. This year’s theme is “Our Ever-Changing Earth,” with activity stations exploring dinosaurs, soils, astronomy, volcanoes, mining, erosion, earthquakes, rain simulation and more. Please contact our education coordinator, Jessica Glasscock, to learn more or volunteer: 432.364.2499.
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September 12th, 2011
Date: September 24, 2011
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
Birds are the proverbial canary in a coal mine when it comes to shifting landscapes. Consistent and ongoing monitoring projects are vital to understanding bird ecology and population dynamics. Help us document what bird species are visiting the Nature Center this fall. Birders of all levels of experience are welcome to participate in this important citizen science project. Learn more about bird monitoring at the Nature Center.
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September 12th, 2011
Date: September 17, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and other sites in Jeff Davis County
This summer has been hard on our fluttering fauna, but we’re finally starting to see some butterfly activity at the Nature Center (including some exciting rare species like another Ursine Giant Skipper!). Join us on Saturday, 8:30 a.m. at the Visitors Center and help us document the butterflies flying this fall. We’ll split into teams, be assigned count areas, and disperse until about 4:30 p.m. when we’ll regather at the Nature Center to compile our count numbers and tell wild butterfly stories. Learn more about butterfly monitoring at the Nature Center and find out what species have been spotted during past counts.
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September 12th, 2011
Date: September 24, 2011
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
In conjunction with Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day, the Nature Center is offering free admission on Saturday, September 24. Besides enjoying our hiking trails, exhibits and botanical gardens, visitors can watch a hummingbird banding demonstration and participate in our Fall Bird Count. Download your free admission ticket for two from the Museum Day website.
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