ENC to hold these exciting May events

The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) is open to those registered for programs. Sign up for a program and take a walk in the fresh May air. The poppies are blooming and the butterflies are flying. The ENC has plenty of fun programs scheduled, with something for everybody. All of their offerings are in alignment with guidelines from our state and local health officials.

Photos courtesy of ENC

Take a Story Walk and listen to “Wump World” on May 7

–Story Walk: Wump World on Friday, May 7. This self-guided Story Walk combines physical activity and literacy. Pages are posted at stations along the route. As you walk through the Center, you are directed to the next page in the story. The Wump World by Bill Peet is a children’s book taking place on an imaginary planet. It is about the near destruction of the only habitat of creatures known as Wumps. Space is limited to keep everyone safe. Children under 2 are free. Sign up for a window here.

Click on photo for a larger image

The pond and forest at ENC

–Virtual Spring Faire on Sunday, May 16 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Join the fun at the 16th Annual Spring Faire, presented virtually this year. Embark on a virtual “Craft Crawl” and “Story Walk.” Play virtual nature games and watch performances around the virtual “Fire Circle Stage.” Eat at participating Virtual Savor OC restaurants. The schedule for the day’s online fun can be found here. Be sure to check out the online auction between May 10-16. Purchase “to go” bags here.

You might spot a hummingbird during a quiet walk throughout the ENC 

–Bird Watching on Monday, May 17 at 7:30 a.m. Join ENC for some quiet bird watching. Registered birders will walk the grounds independently (this is not a naturalist led program). No walk-ins. Space is limited to keep numbers small and safe. Please remain physically distanced. Click here for a list of birds sighted at the Center in the past. To register, go here.

Click on photo for a larger image

Educators share their teaching techniques and lesson ideas during Teachers Night Out

–Teachers Night Out: Share-a-thon on Thursday, May 20 from 4-7 p.m. Teachers, come join other educators on a walk through the Center, after hours, for a fun and educational Share-a-thon! This is a way for all of you to share what you’ve learned from the Teacher’s Night Out series over the past year. Did you utilize some of the teaching techniques or lesson ideas with your students? Please come prepared to share anecdotes and examples of student work with the group. Feedback is encouraged! For more info and to register, go here. Teachers from Title l schools may attend for free. ENC members receive a 10 percent discount. If you can’t attend in person, the Center will send you a link to participate virtually.

–Virtual Wine Tasting on Friday, May 21 from 6-7 p.m. Join Hi-Time Wine Cellars’ North American Wine Buyer & Certified Sommelier, Dan Williams, for an “infotaining” virtual wine tasting of three organic or sustainable wines. Learn about SIP (Sustainability In Practice) Certification, biodynamic and organic wine classifications, and much more. Participants will also be able to submit questions throughout the tasting. Cost of three wines plus the tasting is $100. Purchase your ticket here. All proceeds benefit the ENC Nature Preschool.

Herbalist William Broen shares traditional and modern uses of plants during the Native Plant Uses Walk

–Native Plant Uses Walk on Sunday, May 23 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Herbalist William Broen will discuss traditional and modern uses of plants as well as how a plant’s survival tactics affect how they are used by us, how we can tell a lot about plants through our senses, plant folklore and other related topics. Broen’s walks are informative, interactive, accessible, fun and understandable. He is always happy to share his knowledge of botanical medicine with interested people. Cost: $9 for ENC members; $10 for non-members. To learn more and register, go here.

Bring your camera to capture the beauty of the wildflowers in bloom

–Self-Guided Wildflower Walk on Sunday, May 23 from 12:30-3 p.m. Join ENC for a self-guided Wildflower Walk. Tour the grounds in search of blooming natives. Bring a camera or your nature journal to capture their beauty, but please stay on the trail. Space is limited to keep everyone safe. Masks are required when not physically distanced. Cost is $5. Sign up for a window here.

Click on photo for a larger image

ENC native plant Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) with butterfly

–Butterfly House Docent Training on Sunday, May 23 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Want to spend some time enjoying the butterflies in their Butterfly House, while teaching others about these important animals? Butterfly House Docents help monitor the butterfly house, greet the public, provide casual interpretation, clarify rules and answer questions. Docents commit to volunteer approximately three hours per month or more if desired, during butterfly season (June through September). Register for the virtual training here.

–Story Walk: Andrew Henry’s Meadow on Monday, May 24. This self-guided Story Walk combines physical activity and literacy. Pages are posted at stations along the route. As you walk through the Center, you are directed to the next page in the story. Andrew Henry’s Meadow by Doris Burn is a children’s classic. The creative antics of Andrew Henry Thatcher and his friends will inspire your imagination. Burn wrote and illustrated Andrew Henry’s Meadow in 1965. Children 2 and under are free. Cost is $5. Sign up for a window here.

Environmental Nature Center is located at 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach. For more information, visit www.encenter.org.