February

Tuesday & Wednesday, February 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 23–24; Project FeederWatch
Nixon Park, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Join Project FeederWatch volunteers as they collect data to assist the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the study and conservation of birds. NF, NPR.

Saturday, February 6; End of Small Game Season
Spring Valley Park
This marks the end of hunting for the season. Permit required. NF.

Saturday, February 6; Cabin Fever Hike III: Winter Scavenger Hike
Rocky Ridge Park, Hidden Laurel Parking Area, Pheasant Pavilion, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Got the winter doldrums? Get out for a fun search through the winter woods. Park volunteer and science teacher Katie Green and friends will guide you to finding clues and tracks of who and what is happening in the winter woods. Prizes will be awarded while you enjoy a fire and hot chocolate in an enclosed pavilion. NF, please call 428-1961 to pre-register.

Friday–Sunday, February 12–14; Great Backyard Bird Count Weekend
Nixon Park, during regular hours
 Badges: Cadette, Senior, & Ambassador: All about Birds (SP 3)
Staff and volunteers at the Nature Center will join people across the nation in this scientific count. Events are planned throughout the weekend for the novice to experienced birder, or a family looking for an outing in mid-winter. NF, NPR.

Friday, February 12; Owl Walk
Rail Trail Park, Hanover Junction Parking Area, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
 Badges: Cadette, Senior, & Ambassador: All about Birds (Partial)
Go on a quiet hike while calling for owls. Dress for the weather; program is all outdoors. All children under 16 years must be accompanied by a parent. Only deep red-tinted flashlights allowed. Appropriate for ages 10 and up. NF, please call 428-1961 to pre-register.

Saturday, February 13; Birding with Bagels
Nixon Park, 8:30–10 a.m.
 Badges: Cadette, Senior, & Ambassador: All about Birds (Partial)
Enjoy a walk along the trails of Nixon Park to search for winter birds with Park volunteers Robin Smith and Anne Muren. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars and field guides. Participants can enjoy coffee and bagels at the Nature Center after the walk. Recommended for ages 12 and up. NF, please call 428-1961 to pre-register.

Saturday, February 13; Greenway Hike & Bird Bingo
Nixon Park & Hollow Creek Greenway, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Explore, learn and compete on this 3.5 – 4.0 mile hike on Hollow Creek Trail, York County’s newest greenway. Park naturalist Patti Chamberlin will lead this winter hike looking and listening for wildlife active during the winter. Great for the whole family, best for ages 8 and up. NF, please call 428-1961 to pre-register.

Saturday, February 13; Bluebird Box Workshop
Nixon Park, 1–2:30 p.m.
 Badges: Brownies: Eco-explorer (6); Juniors: “Doing” Hobbies (1,3,8,9,10); Cadette, Senior, & Ambassadors: Wildlife (S5); Webelos: Craftsman (2)
Participants will be introduced to the interesting behavior of the Eastern Bluebird and can participate in constructing a bluebird-nesting box to take home. Park volunteer Rose-Anna Behr will also be introducing other cavity nesters and the importance of nesting cavities to your local habitat. This is a great activity and program for kids and parents to do together. $8 fee, please call 428-1961 to pre-register.

Saturday, February 13; Sweetheart Hike
Rocky Ridge Park, Oak Timbers Area, 7–9 p.m.
Jeri Jones, York County Parks Program Coordinator, will lead a 2-mile stroll on this special day to observe creatures of the night. We will attempt to see deer, call in owls, and do some fun nighttime activities. NF, pre-register by calling 428-1961.

Sunday, February 14; On the Wing
Nixon Park, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
The Maryland Zoo presents an educational, entertaining and interactive program about the earth’s amazing bird diversity featuring live birds such as raptors, penguins, kookaburras, ducks, etc. Amazing adaptive behavior of these fascinating birds from all over the world will be demonstrated. Don’t miss this program! NF, please call 428-1961 to pre-register.

Monday, February 15; Presidents Day
Parks office and Nature Center closed.
Park grounds open.

Saturday, February 20; Public Star Watch and New Telescope Clinic
Rudy Park, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
 Badges: Brownies: Space Explorer (Partial) Juniors: Sky Search (Partial), “Doing” Hobbies (Partial); Cadettes, Seniors, & Ambassadors: Space Exploration (Partial)
Come to the observatory and see planets, the Moon, galaxies and nebulae and learn some interesting facts about each object. Please bring a blanket or chair if you desire. If you need help with your telescope, bring it along and our experts will help you out. Also, members of the York County Astronomical Society can advise you what type of telescope to purchase. Event held if skies are partly cloudy to clear. Groups with ten or more people should call to 578-9109. Also call for a program update at 5 pm. NF, NPR.

Sunday, February 21; Susquehanna Waterfowl
Shank’s Mare Outfitters (near Long Level), 1–3 p.m.
Join naturalist Randy Phillips for a look at migrating waterfowl that follow the Susquehanna River. We will be looking for large flocks of Tundra Swans and Snow Geese and, if lucky, a Bald Eagle. Program will include a riverside walk and information on the history of this stretch of the Susquehanna. Dress for the weather, and bring binoculars, spotting scope and field guides. NF, please call 428-1961 to pre-register.

Saturday & Sunday, February 27–28; Maple Sugaring Weekend
Nixon Park, Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sunday 12:30–4 p.m.

Saturday, February 27; Tours of the Sugar Bush
Nixon Park, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Join park staff and volunteers for ongoing tours through various stations to learn the history and how-to of maple sugaring and the natural history of the sugar bush, and enjoy sampling various maple products. Tours will include hands-on demonstrations and will begin about every 30 minutes beginning at 10 a.m. Maple products from Patterson Farms will be on sale. Visitors can partake in other activities and crafts set up throughout the Nature Center. $1 fee, NPR (Groups of 10 or more, please pre-register by calling 428-1961).

Saturday, February 27; Sugarbush Storytime
Nixon Park, 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Children can join us to hear a story about maple sugaring in the sugar bush. NF, NPR.

Saturday, February 27; Sweet Adventures of a Sugaring Family
Nixon Park, 10:30 a.m, 1 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Join the Hammer Hollow Maplers from Juniata County as they share stories from their 35 years of experience in the sugar bush. Topics will include marauding squirrels chewing lines, sap-cicles on the sugar shack, snow shoeing across the landscape and late nights at the stove. They will share how their maple sugaring has evolved over the years. This is no hobby for the lazy. NF, NPR.

Sunday, February 28; Tours of the Sugar Bush
Nixon Park, 12:30–3 p.m.
Join park staff and volunteers for ongoing tours through various stations to learn the history and how-to of maple sugaring and the natural history of the sugar bush, and enjoy sampling various maple products. Tours will include hands-on demonstrations and will begin about every 30 minutes beginning at 10 a.m. Maple products from Patterson Farms will be on sale. Visitors can partake in other activities and crafts set up throughout the Nature Center. $1 fee, NPR (Groups of 10 or more, please pre-register by calling 428-1961)

Sunday, February 28; Sweet Adventures of a Sugaring Family
Nixon Park, 2 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Join the Hammer Hollow Maplers from Juniata County as they share stories from their 35 years of experience in the sugar bush. Topics will include marauding squirrels chewing lines, sap-cicles on the sugar shack, snow shoeing across the landscape and late nights at the stove. They will share how their maple sugaring has evolved over the years. This is no hobby for the lazy. NF, NPR.