Program and Event Descriptions:

Hop to It! Frogs, Toads and their Relatives ― Wednesday, June 2, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Ashburn Library. Hop on over and join the fun.  Learn all you ever wanted to about frogs, toads, and other amphibians.  Get a chance to meet some of these creatures up close as you discover some of their secrets and play some froggy games. Join us as local naturalist and storyteller, Alonso Abugattas, presents a fun and exciting children’s program. Questions contact Laura Weidner at lweidner@loudounwildlife.org.

Bird Walk at Banshee Reeks and the Dulles Wetlands ― Wednesday, June 9, 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Registration Required.  Join Joe Coleman and Mary Ann Good on one of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s mid-week birding trips and explore Banshee Reeks and the Dulles Wetlands.  We will meet at the Dulles Wetlands at 7:00 a.m.  For those who can’t make it at that time, we will meet at the visitor’s center at Banshee Reeks at 9:00 a.m.  Hiking footgear (waterproof if you are coming to the Wetlands), long pants and insect repellent advised.  This walk is co-sponsored by the Audubon Naturalist Society. To register Sign Up Online or contact Joe Coleman at jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org or 540-554-2542.

Birding Banshee ― Saturday, June 12, 8:00 a.m.  Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for our monthly bird walk.  Because of its rich and varied habitat, this part of the county is a birding hot spot.   Please bring binoculars.  Questions: contact Joe Coleman at jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org or 540-554-2542.

Magic of Monarchs ― Sunday, June 13, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Broadlands Community Center. Registration Required. Join us for a wonderful discussion of Monarch butterflies, their lifecycle and their amazing migration! In February 2009, Nicole Hamilton traveled to the mountains of Mexico to visit the Monarch butterfly overwintering sites. What she saw in these mountain respites was phenomenal. Through video, sound and photos, she will share this experience with you, talk about the great Monarch migration, their lifecycles and their habitats, both here and in Mexico, and provide information on how you can create a Monarch Waystation in your backyard and be part of this amazing phenomena. Handouts will be available and there will be door prizes. The Broadlands Community Center is located at 43008 Waxpool Rd, Broadlands. Free family program but please Sign Up Online. Questions: contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org.

National Pollinator Week at Banshee Reeks ― Saturday, June 19, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.Stop by Banshee Reeks for some great opportunities to learn about our local pollinators. Take guided Butterfly, Wildflower, and Family Nature Hikes. See Loudoun Beekeeper Association information about Apiaries and Local Honey. Learn about Pollinator Gardens, Virginia Native Plants, and attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds to your backyard. Find out about the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Annual Butterfly Count and learn about Monarch Butterflies and how you can help their population survive. See a demonstration of the Banshee Reeks Pollinator Survey and find out how we are contributing to an international project in cooperation with the USGS. Drinks and Snacks will be available for purchase, and feel free to bring lunch to eat at the picnic area. For more information call 703-669-0316.

Butterflies at Banshee Reeks ― Saturday, June 19, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Join Jon Little for one of our free, family butterfly walks. Investigate some of the many diverse natural areas at Banshee Reeks and identify all of the butterflies we can find.  If you own binoculars, please bring them.  Questions: contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org or 540-882-9638.

Sunday in the Preserve ― Sunday, June 20, 1:00 p.m. Join a naturalist from the Friends of Banshee Reeks and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a free, informal family walk around the preserve. Search for the many natural wonders that make this such a special place. For information call the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve at 703-669-0316.

Birding the Blue Ridge Center ― Saturday, June 26, 8:00 a.m. On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Rt. 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. Meet at the Visitor Center. The Blue Ridge Center is located just north of Neersville, at 11611 Harpers Ferry Road (Rt 671).  Detailed directions can be found on the website, www.brces.org . Questions: contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

Dragonfly Walk at Bles Park ― Sunday, June 27, 10:30 a.m.  Join Andy Rabin on a free, fun, and informative dragonfly walk as he visits some of the best dragonfly habitat in the county.  We will learn how to catch, handle, identify, and release these insects, so bring an insect net if you have one (some extra nets will be provided).   Adults and interested children are welcome.  Meet at Bles Park in Ashburn (for directions http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=924)  Questions:  please e-mail Andy Rabin at stylurus@gmail.com.

Natural History Day Camp ― June 28 through July 2 Nature lovers entering grades three through seven will not want to miss our Natural History Day Camps (June 28-July 2 and July 12-July 16) taking place at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve again this summer. Campers will explore the woods, fields, and water of the preserve and learn about the plants and animals that live there. The camps will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The cost will be only $130 per week, and space is limited. For a quick look at last year’s camp, here's the link from Nature Camp 2009. For more information contact LWC’s Phil Daley at 540-338-6528 or pedaley@verizon.net.