(WNY News Now) – Jamestown, N.Y. – Engineers design and build machines, tools, or structures, and nature is full of animals that build impressive structures to use as homes, nests, or even traps to catch their prey. 

You and your 3 to 8-year-old(s) are invited to learn about these “Animal Engineers” with Audubon Community Nature Center Little Explorers Saturday, March 9, 10–11:30 a.m.

Discover some of the amazing examples of animal engineering found in local habitats, such as beaver lodges, oriole nests, and orb weaver webs.

After an indoor lesson, head outside to search for real examples of animal engineering. Along the way, collect materials to design and build your own structure inspired by some of the animals living in Audubon’s ponds and forests.

A snack is provided after the hike and a craft is offered if there is time.

Little Explorers takes place regardless of the weather, so dress accordingly.

The fee is $12 for adults, $9 for children ages 3–8 and Nature Center members.

Enrollment is limited to 15 children, 30 participants total.

To make your paid reservations required by Thursday, March 7, 2024, call (716) 569-2345 during business hours or go to AudubonCNC.org and click through Programs and Events.

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren, Pa. You can visit the nearly 600-acre nature preserve, check in on the live birds of prey, and hike,  snowshoe or cross country ski over five miles of trails dawn until dusk daily for free.

The three-story Nature Center building houses interactive displays, a collection of live animals including the Hellbender exhibit, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors are welcome Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Sundays, 1 – 4:30 p.m. Nature Center members and SNAP/EBT cardholders have free building admission daily. Building admission is also free every Sunday for non-Nature Center members.

To learn more about Audubon and its many programs, call (716) 569-2345, find Audubon Community Nature Center on Facebook, or visit AudubonCNC.org.

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about and understand the natural world, and knowledge to act in environmentally responsible ways.