Winter may be in full swing, but here at the Nature Centre we’re already planning for summer! Do you like bugs? Birds? Trees? Hiking and exploring? Then the High Park Nature Centre Summer Camps are perfect for you!
Join us Monday, January 30 at 8:00am to register. Check out our 2012 summer camp offerings and registration details here.
See you in the tall grass!
Some of our campers found this amazing caterpillar! This is the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar. It is one of the most common butterflies in Eastern North America. Young caterpillars are brown and white; older ones are green with two black, yellow, and blue eyespots on the thorax like this one that our campers found. The caterpillar will turn brown prior to pupating.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies inhabit forest openings, woodlands, gardens, and fields. They are inportant pollinators who have a preference for the nectar of pink, purple and red flowers. Male swallowtails are yellow, with four black stripes on the front margin of their forewings, while females may be yellow or black, with much more blue on their hind wings. The larval host plants for these butterflies are species of Rose and Magnolia. Butterflies use larval host plants on which to lay their eggs, and the plants then provide food for the butterfly larvae, or caterpillars.
To find out more about the way that creatures in the park support each other, why not join us next week for the “A Little Help From My Friends” Family Nature Walk. August 2nd, 1-3 pm. more info
Check out this AWESOME NATURE that the Nature Nuts found last week. This is a Northern Green Frog, who was hanging out in Ridout Pond.
The Northern Green Frog is a native species to the North American Northeast and is right at home here in High Park as it’s habitat is marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, springs, and other aquatic environments. It is active both day and night.
We aren’t! We are still leading snowshoeing field trips, hand-feeding our chickadee friends and exploring the winter world of High Park.
But it doesn’t mean we are not planning ahead!
We start registration for our summer camp programs at 8 am on Tuesday, February 22nd. To ensure that the registration process is fair and accessible, please note the following policies:
Information about our summer camp programs can be found here: www.highparknaturecentre.com/programs/summer-camp/
Don’t forget to bring your completed registration form(s) with you, along with payment by cheque or cash.
Some Indian Pipe (Monotropa Uniflora) flowers in the shady woodlands of High ParkThese leafless white wonders are commonly called “Indian Pipe” due to their pipe-like shape. Other names include “Ghost flower” and “Ice plant”. They almost look like fungi but they are truly plants! They have no leaves. The shoots grow between 10 and 30 cm and each has a flower atop. The flowers start off nodding and do a full rotation. Once fertilized, the flower points straight upward.
Why are these plants white?
Because they have no chlorophyll! Most plants are green because they contain chlorophyll, which turns sunlight into sugar. Indian Pipe is different. It has no chlorophyll or leaves and doesn’t need the sunlight to make food. Because these plants don’t need the sun, they can grow in very dark areas.
How do they get energy?
Indian Pipe roots have a special relationship with a fungus that breaks down the nutrients in the organic matter of the soil. This fungus also takes sugars from the roots of other plants and provides them to the Indian Pipe roots. The Indian Pipe uses the fungus to get sugar from other plant roots. They are kind of parasitic.
Pines and Oaks
Dark woodlands with rich humus are ideal habitats for Indian Pipe. They are often found growing among Pine and Oak trees. Perhaps they have a special relationship with the roots of these trees. Luckily High Park has some great White Pines and Oak trees.
Respect
Since these plants are so awe-inspiring, please enjoy them respectfully and remember to let them live so that they can spread their seeds!
Did you miss out on our spring or summer registration? Well, it’s not too late to register for the following programs, which have limited spaces available:
Knee-High Naturalists
Spring: April 13, 27, May 11, 25, June 8 & 22, morning session
Summer: July 26-30, afternoon session
Saturday Morning Club: 9:30 to noon
Spring: April 10, 24, May 8, 22, June 5 & 19
Ramblers Hiking Club: 9:30 to noon
Spring: April 17, May 1, 15, 29, June 12 & 26
For more information on spring programs, please click here. Summer camp information and registration form can be found here.
If you registered for a summer camp program, please check your e-mail for confirmation of your registration.We will be sending those out starting today and hope to confirmed all registrations by next Tuesday.
Detailed receipts to confirm which child(ren) is/are registered for which program(s) will follow in the coming weeks. These receipts will contain the necessary information to claim the expense for the Child Fitness Tax Credit.
Thanks for your patience!
It was a busy morning here at the Nature Centre. By 8 am, there had to be 50 parents at the door, waiting to register for summer camps.
BUT it’s not too late to register for some of our summer camp programs!
Knee-High Naturalists
July 12 – 16 AM: Full. Room on waitlist.
July 12 – 16 PM: spaces available
July 26 – 30 AM: Full. Room on waitlist.
July 26 – 30 PM: spaces available
August 16 – 20 AM: Full. Room on waitlist.
August 16 – 20 PM: spaces available
Nature Nuts
All sessions are now full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist for any of the Nature Nut sessions, please get in touch.
Young Naturalists
Limited spaces available.
Special thanks goes to John Cleary, High Park Initiatives board secretary, who showed up to give us a hand. Also, thanks to Robin Sorys for bringing us coffee. Much appreciated!