Marion Natural History Museum Fall 2021 after school programs include:
September 29 – Seashore netting. We will be walking down to the Marion Harbormaster’s beach to use the large seining net and see what animals are still in the harbor. Water shoes are strongly recommended, and please wear appropriate clothing. We will definitely be getting wet! (Pick-up will be at the Harbormasters Office).
October 6 – Introduction to Forestry with MA State Forester James Rassman. Join Service Forester Jim Rassman as we learn about the trees of Massachusetts. We will learn about different types of local trees, how to tell how old a tree is, and the benefits that trees and forests provide to us all. If the weather is nice, we will get to meet a few trees that grow nearby.
October 20 – Bird Migration! with Justin Barrett, President of the Nasketucket Bird Club. Bird migration is one of the most harrowing feats a bird can accomplish! We’ll be learning about how and why so many birds migrate every year, and some of the dangers that come along with it. We’ll also be exploring the outdoors looking and listening for birds. If you have a pair of binoculars, please bring them.
November 3 – NECWA terrapin and sunfish program with Carol “Krill” Carson, founder and president of the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance. Each late summer and fall, ocean sunfish strand along the shores of Cape Cod. Many are trying to navigate their way south to warmer wintering areas. NECWA is the only organization that attempts to save these animals and get them back into deeper water. If they wash ashore dead, then we conduct a necropsy. We also assist Mass Audubon with its sea turtle stranding season which occurs in late fall through the end of December. Last fall, NECWA expanded its rescue and research to include the Atlantic torpedo, the only electric ray that also strands annually along our NE shores.
November 17 – Shed hunting 101 – Shed hunting is the pursuit of finding antlers that have been naturally shed by any antler-bearing mammal such as moose, caribou, elk, and deer. These dropped antlers are commonly referred to as “sheds” or “shed antlers.” Shed hunting is a great opportunity to get outdoors, work your legs, and spend time with family and friends of any shed-hunting skill level. Let’s see if we can find any evidence of deer in Holmes Woods.
December 15 – Holiday party – Let’s have fun together designing gifts with natural and recycled craft materials. Bring your unique artistic talents and let’s make some gifts for the holidays. Depending on health restrictions at that time, we hope to be offering snacks and drinks to fuel your creative efforts.
Programs are $8 for members, $10 for nonmembers. To register for these programs, please visit www.marionmuseum.org.