(WNY News Now) – Jamestown – Discover the bustling world beneath the surface at Audubon Community Nature Center’s “Pond Life” exploration on Saturday, July 13.

For many different plants and animals, ponds can either be the perfect home or just one important stop in their life cycle. Learn about the plants and turtles on the shore, the fish and tadpoles swimming through the water, the insects in the mud below, and many more.

After a short indoor lesson exploring plants and animals that use ponds, you will head outside to explore some ponds at Audubon, look for evidence of larger animals and learn how to use a net to collect and look closely at macroinvertebrates or maybe even a tadpole.

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

Little Explorers takes place rain or shine, so dress for the weather.

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, July 11, 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, enjoy the native tree arboretum, gardens, picnic area, and hike 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. Check out AudubonCNC.org/about for a quick fly-by visit.