Family Hayride Night!

The first of our two Fall Family Hayride Nights took place on Friday night with ideal, crisp, clear autumn weather. Pizza and pasta, planetarium shows and live animals, crafts and a haywagon ride through Huntington Reservation were part of the evening's activities for families.

Our Halloween Hayride night on the 29th is nearing capacity. So, if you have your heart set on attending, sign up as soon as you can to avoid disaopointment!

A rare opportunity to experience one of Cleveland’s hidden treasures is coming up next month. “Nature in the Neighborhood" --the annnual "Open House" at the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (at Dike 14)-- will take place Saturday, September 25 during prime fall migration.

The Preserve, located near the Cleveland Lakefront State Park, will be open for self-guided hikes from 7:30 am to 2:00 p.m. Enjoy birds, butterflies and stunning views of Cleveland’s skyline and Lake Erie along a one-mile trail. You're asked to aarrive 15 minutes before you want to begin your walk to sign a waiver and receive additional information.

Need Directions and help parking? Exit #177 from I-90. Parking is available at Gordon State Park. Entrances from North Marginal at E. 72nd Street, from North Marginal between E. 72nd and MLK, and park office entrance from Lakeshore Boulevard east of MLK. Additional space at E. 55th State Park (Exit SR 2).

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is a member of the sponsoring Dike 14 Environmental Education Collaborative. If you can't make it to Nature in the Neighborhood and/or would like to enjoy a guided experience for families, check out our Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve Family Day coming up on October 17. This 2-hour, hands-on experience for families with children ages 5 and up requires pre-registration and a fee. Call 440-871-2900.

The photo above was taken on a past Preserve tour by our Junior Naturalists and families.

Sun Shines On Eggstravaganza

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center's popular Eggstravaganza program has been a big hit the last two days! The weather allowed us to enjoy outdoor family egg hunts under brilliant, warm sunshine. Trent Gordon from Olmsted Falls gets a little help from his Dad in the photo at left.

Our soft, white and black bunny Gizmo has gotten lots of pats and hugs from loving little hands during indoor craft time, too. Education Specialist Maggie Watson and Alexis Tisler from Rocky River posed for picture with Gizmo here.

By the way the fortunate finders of two shiny golden eggs (like Emily Hackwelder of Avon Lake, pictured here) won an eggscellent reward.

We had such a wonderful response to this program, we added additional times this year and still ran out of spaces. Facebook Fans, Twitter followers and Email subscribers got the fastest notice when we added times, so if you're not following us in one of those three ways, sign up today!

We plan to schedule even more times for this event next year to accomodate demand! Have a wonderful weekend!

Two New Eggstravaganza Time Slots!

This just in! Because of the popularity of our Eggstravaganza programs, we are opening up two new times for ages 1 - 5 WITH an adult on Thursday, April 1 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Update: 10 a.m. is now wait-listing. That was fast!

This special spring program includes a low-key egg hunt (with a special "golden egg" among them) and a visit with one of our resident bunnies. If the weather doesn't cooperate we'll simply move our hunt inside!


Stop in or call the front desk at 440-871-2900 to secure a spot. The fee is $7/child; OR for Center Members $5/child. Pre-register as soon as you can, since space is limited and these will likely fill as fast as our Friday programs.

Hayrides, Lasers and Autumn Fun

The chill in the air and the calendar approaching October has us really looking forward to one of the most popular autumn activities at the Center – Fall Family Hayride Nights. There's still time to get in on the fun but you’ll need to pre-register soon!

The first of two Fall Family Hayride Nights takes place on Friday, October 9 and begins with a full pizza dinner. The evening also includes hay wagon rides around Huntington Reservation, kid-friendly seasonal crafts, planetarium star shows and live animals.

Children are encouraged to wear their costumes to the second Family Hayride event on Friday, October 30 when a trick or treat trail through the Center’s backyard Wildlife Gardens provides additional fun. Both of these all-inclusive hayride nights run from 6 – 9 p.m. and require advance registration. Fees are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

By the way, the second Hayride night will also include laser lights because it coincides with a two weekend run of Halloween Laser Light Shows in the planetarium. The animated Skylase laser lights and music take on a Halloween theme during full-dome shows on October 24, 25 and 31 and November 1. Six shows each day begin at 11:30 a.m. with seatings at half past the hour every hour through 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 per person.

Labor Day Weekend Schedule

It will be a busy weekend in Bay Village with soccer players from all over the region in town for a tournament. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center will welcome visitors on our usual schedule, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, but please note that we will be closed Monday, September 7 for the Labor Day holiday.

We have a full day of slate of public star shows in the Walter R. Schuele Planetarium on Saturday, including a new topic for our Monthly Skyquest,"There's a Lot to See in September!" The planetarium staff will answer a ton of questions about the late summer night sky over Northeast Ohio: Why can't we see Saturn anymore? Where are its rings? Is that Jupiter? Can you really see Neptune? What does all of this have to do with a triangle of summer?

This is a time of transition in the night sky, with a great deal to see with our eyes, binoculars and telescope. If the weather cooperates, we'll have telescopes out in meadow for free, guided viewing after the 7 p.m. Skyquest Show. Please note that this marks the first night that the evening Skyquest shows will return to the 7 p.m. start time after moving to 8 p.m. for the summer.

Stop by and see us and enjoy the long weekend!

Countdown to Family Fun Fest

Hey, did you catch us "Kickin' It With Kenny" on Fox 8 TV this morning? We took our beautiful Barred Owl, rubber duck racers, cool crafts and more this morning to Kenny Crumpton's live broadcast from the Rock Hall. We were only able to share just a little taste of all that we have going on Sunday at Family Fun Fest. You won't want to miss it.

We're setting up tents and finalizing all the details for our big event today! Find Family Fun Fest details here. Buy activity tickets any time from now through the event. Duck sponsorships on sale until 1:30 p.m. of race day or until they sell out!See you Sunday!

Nature In The Neighborhood

As a partner in the Dike 14 Environmental Education Collaborative, Lake Erie Nature & Science Center wants to alert you to a cool opportunity for you and your family to see one of Cleveland's hidden treasures, The Dike 14 Nature Preserve along the shores of Lake Erie. On Saturday, May 16, renowned Northeast Ohio Naturalists will lead walking tours of the Preserve at 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Regional experts will also share information about the animals, plants, history and geography of the Preserve at stops along the trail. You can take a self-guided hike from noon - 3 p.m.

This "open house" event only occurs once every two years, so make plans to take advantage of the chance to see the extraordinary wildlife haven that sprung up in this 88-acre former dredge disposal site. You can download an event flyer with directions here. To find out more about Dike 14, visit http://www.dike14.org/. (The photos we've posted here were taken duiring a special, 2008 guided visit for our Junior Naturalists and their families).

Environmental Extravaganza May 23

We have a late addition to our roster of family-friendly programs coming up later this month. Members of the Lee Burneson Middle School Environmental Club in Westlake will bring their lively “LBMS Environmental Extravaganza” to Lake Erie Nature & Science Center on Saturday, May 23 at 7 p.m.

The public performance will feature students in grades 7 and 8, who have spent the entire school year writing, rehearsing and recording music, choreographing dance and creating short plays – all with a “green theme.” The program also includes a mini fashion show featuring handmade accessories and clothing constructed from pop tabs and other recycled materials.

Students will also screen an inspiring, short video and share readings from creative student authors. The club's award-winning director, Daniel Grigson, will cap off the performances with his own captivating, live music.

You are encouraged to bring the whole family -- or at least those who will enjoy a fun 1-hour and 30-minute performance -- to see what this amazing group of young people has accomplished! The club recently received national recognition for their efforts, winning a 2009 Sea World/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Award. Mr. Grigson and a group of students went to Florida on May 1 to accept the award, which came with a $10,000 grant.

Tickets are $7 and include a reception with refreshments following the performances. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center will accept walk-in or phone registration between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. Call 440-871-2900 for more information or to sign up. Seating is limited so reserve your space early! The Center is located at 28728 Wolf Road in Bay Village.

Smiles Abound At Daddy & Me Day

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center hosted more than 150 guests this afternoon at Daddy & Me Day, a fun, free event for our wonderful members. Crafts, live animals and planetarium star shows made it a special afternoon for dads, daughters and sons.
We don't know what the moms did with their afternoon off, but we have a feeling they value this member perk as much, if not more, than the Dads! If you want to know about Center membership, visit the membership page on our website. Kudos to all the Dads who took time to spend a special afternoon with their kids!

Holiday Hours

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center will be closing our doors early this Christmas Eve at 3 p.m. to spend time with friends and family. We hope you're doing the same! We'll be closed on Christmas Day as well. We'll also observe an early 3 p.m. closing on New Year's Eve with New Year's Day off. The rest of the Winter Break period, we'll be open for our usual hours (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and we even have some extra fun planned in the Walter R. Schuele Planetarium where you and your family can enjoy the twinkling stars and special holiday laser lights and music. May your holidays be filled with joy & natural wonder!

The Night Tree Comes To Life

Looking to give your kids a different twist on the holidays? Want to capture the "giving" spirit of the season and celebrate the natural world? You won’t want to miss The Night Tree, the heartwarming story of one family’s tradition of sharing the true spirit of the holidays with nature.
Hear the telling of The Night Tree in Lake Erie Nature & Science Center's Schuele Planetarium and have a close encounter with some of the animals featured in the story! Prepare yummy treats for the wildlife to eat and enjoy your own afternoon snack of holiday cookies and warm beverages.
This special family program on Tuesday, December 16 from 3 - 4:30 p.m. requires pre-registration with a fee of $10 per child. Ages 3 and up with an adult are welcome!

Green Your Holidays

Get the whole family involved in making some recycled gifts and learn how to "green up" the season during our Make It A Green Holiday family workshop coming up this Saturday, November 15 at noon. You do have to sign up in advance for this event, but the cost is a mere $5 per family. You'll also need to supply your own 2 liter bottle and old Cd's to use in your take home projects.
For a whole list of Green Holiday ideas and more Center news, read the latest issue of Nature Notes, our bi-monthly newsletter for class and program participants.

Halloween Hayride Night 2008

More than 300 little goblins and their families enjoyed an our annual Halloween Hayride Night on Friday. Delicious dinner, a monster craft, live animals and stars shows with a Halloween twist were all included. The trick or treat trail for our costumed guests was moved inside because of rain but the sky cleared up just in time to make way for wagon rides around Huntington Reservation.

Winter Session Registration Reminder

A reminder to all of our members that your early registration for Winter Session classes and programs begins tomorrow, October 11 at 10 a.m. Get in early -- long before the first snowflakes fly -- and guarantee your spot in a great class or program sure to beat winter cabin fever later! The exclusive, early registration period is one of the benefits afforded to all members at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. You can start enjoying those benefits and help to support our non-profit work by signing up to become a member online today!

Fall Family Hayride Fun!

We enjoyed spectacular weather for the first of two Fall Family Hayride Nights at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center on Friday night.

Families enjoyed pizza, pasta, grilled dogs and more for supper, plus two fun crafts for the kids, live animal encounters, planterium shows and the perfect evening for a haywagon ride around Huntington Reservation.

Another Hayride Night is coming up October 24 and it will take on a Halloween theme complete with a costumed, Trick or Treat parade through our Wildlife Gardens. There's still time to pre-register for that event, so check out details on our website!

Star Gazing At NASA Glenn

We hope you've marked your calendar for a special astronomy event coming up in September. The NASA Glenn Visitor Center, in collaboration with the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center and the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association, is hosting the fifth annual Star Gazing event on Saturday, September 20. Learn about the stars and identify the constellations in the StarLab Dome. Look through solar and night telescopes, weather permitting. View pieces of the Moon and meteorites, plus kids' crafts, "Picture Yourself in Space" digital photographs and plenty of handouts -- all free!

Please note that because Lake Erie Nature & Science Center planetarium staff will be helping to lead Star Gazing Day activities at NASA, the regularly scheduled (and previously published) planetarium shows in the Walter R. Schuele Planetarium for September 20 are cancelled for the entire day.

Adopt-a-Beach Huntington Beach

Nothing beats a gorgeous sunset over Lake Erie! If you love our great lake and want to keep our beaches clean and healthy, join our team! Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is enlisting the help of families to clean and monitor the health of Huntington Beach in Bay Village. The Center is leading an official Adopt-a-Beach clean-up on Saturday, September 6. Children ages 8 and up with at least one adult are encouraged to join the cleaning crew from 10 a.m. to noon.

Carla Roth, who’s leading the effort for the Center, says volunteers will spend the morning picking up garbage along the Lake Erie shoreline and counting and tallying the litter. The finished data will be sent to the Chicago-based Adopt-a-Beach program spearheaded by the Alliance for the Great Lakes. "The final tabulations compiled by Adopt-a-Beach will give us insight into how healthy our lakes are, and what else we can do to take action,” said Roth. “During the morning, we’ll also be assessing the quality of the Lake Erie water using both simple and sophisticated tests, including a screen for E coli bacteria.”

The guided volunteer program is free, but you are encouraged to let the Center know you’re planning to be part of the crew in advance. Call 440-871-2900 with questions or to sign up.

"Staycation" in Nearby Nature

We're going to make it easy for you to find a summer "staycation" destination that gets your family out into nature without spending a fortune on admission fees or $4-a-gallon gas. First, there are nearly a dozen Nature Centers in Ohio listed on the Association of Nature Center Administrator's (ANCA) website, with an additional two dozen options in neighboring Pennsylvania and Michigan. Members of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center enjoy free admission to these reciprocal Nature Centers. (Call ahead to confirm.)
ANCA provides another great resource for finding fun nature destinations wherever you may travel this summer with its' Nature Find tool. Plug in a city and state or a zip code and produce a list of cool places for natural adventure from parks and trails to wildlife refuges and zoos. Enjoy your "staycation!"

Fall Program Guide In the Mail

If you're a member, your Fall Program Guide is in the mail and it includes some exciting new programs as well as time-tested favorites. Our early childhood programs will expand this fall as we launch "Little Buds," a nature-based, guided playgroup program for toddlers, ages 12 -2 4 months with one grown-up. You can read more about Little Buds on the Education pages of our website. (To view fall programs from any of our online Education pages, remember to click the orange "View Next Season's Programs" at the bottom of the list.)

Other highlights from the fall guide include a late summer Adopt-A-Beach activity for the whole family (ages 8 and up) as well as unBEARably fun and fascinating programs (in three age groups) to get the kids up and out on the NEOEA School Holiday in October. You'll also want to mark your calendars and register early for our always popular Fall Family Hayride Nights. You can download and print/view a pdf file of the entire 2008 Fall Program Guide at this link. A fall registration form is also available online so you can fill out the necessary forms ahead of registration.

Members taking advantage of 9-month registration discounts on select three-season classes can begin registering Saturday, July 12, with regular member registration the following Saturday, July 19. If you're not a member, you can begin signing up for our fall programs on Tuesday, July 29. Start times for all three registration periods are 10 a.m.