Posted by clegg - Fri, Feb 25, 2011, 6:35 P

March Schedule

March Schedule of Events

March 1 – 31, 2011

In the Great Hall
Told and Retold: Art Exhibit by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association/Memorial Hall Museum

Saturday, Mar. 5, 2011 (1:00 pm- 3:00 pm): Artist Reception

Come meet the many young artists and collaborators of this month’s artist exhibit! Light refreshments will be served.


Friday, Mar. 11, 2011 (7:00 pm- 9:00 pm): GFDC Friends present Coffeehouse Series

The Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center host local bands, singers, and musicians in the Great Hall on the second Friday of each month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, concert begins at 7 pm. Refreshments available. Museum and museum store open at intermission. Donations ($6–$12 suggested) help the Friends support free programming at the Great Falls Discovery Center.

March's performance will be by veteran musician Ronald Meck, who sings traditional Celtic and folk ballads in a soulful baritone while playing guitar, bouzouki, tenor banjo, and percussion. His son Adrian, an accomplished fiddler and symphonic violinist, joins him for toe-tapping jigs and reels.


Saturday, Mar. 12, 2011 (10:30 am - 2:00 pm): Second Saturday Children’s Series

Join us the second Saturday of every month for a day of children’s activities. Daily activities may include crafts, games, investigations, or outdoor adventures. Drop in at your convenience any time between 10:30 am and 2:00 pm. Call ahead for more details at (413) 863-3221.

Join Refuge staff as we investigate some of the vernal pool creatures that you will be able to find migrating during the first warm rainy nights of March or April. Explore with us, up close, red efts, spotted salamanders, wood frogs, and other vernal pool creatures. Partake in related activities and a craft.


Thursday, Mar. 17, 2011 (7:00 pm - 8:30 pm): Marine Conservation Biology: Keeping the Oceans Shipshape

Oceans dominate our planet, influence our climate, and sustain us in innumerable ways. Although much of humanity lives near a coastline, too often we forget the importance of the oceans to our lives and livelihoods and the impact our activities are having on this irreplaceable life support system. The goals of marine conservation biology are to preserve the ocean’s living resources and simultaneously provide for human needs over the near- and long-term. his talk will examine ways we connect with the oceans; touch on unique aspects of its life forms; discuss current threats to marine ecosystems; and highlight positive actions citizens and policy makers are taking to preserve life in the sea.

Saturday, Mar. 25, 2011(10:30 am – 11:30 am): Young Children’s Story Hour: Dreamweaver

Join us the fourth Friday of every month from 10:30 am to 11:30 am for a story hour especially for children ages 3-6. After the story, you can join us for an age appropriate activity.

In March, we will focus on spiders. First, we will read Dream Weaver, a story about a spider's world written by Jonathan London and illustrated by Rocco Baviera. Then, children can explore different kinds of spider webs through a shape-matching game and a spider web painting activity.


Saturday, Mar. 25, 2011 (7:00 pm – 8:30 pm): Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program and Fish Population Status Update

Ken Sprankle, USFWS Connecticut River Coordinator, will review the history of the modern Atlantic salmon restoration program in the Connecticut River basin. He will also talk about the status and trends for this species, as well as other migratory fishes (e.g., American shad, river herring) of management interest. The development and role of the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission in these efforts will be discussed. A review of evolving fishery management and restoration strategies, new assessment and research findings, recent restoration nitiatives, and related issues will be presented and discussed.


Saturday, Mar. 26, 2011 (10:00 am – 4:00 pm): Come see this month’s investigation station at the front desk!

The fourth Saturday of every month, come into the Discovery Center to learn something new about the environment! An investigation station will be set up at the front desk with interesting items for you to touch and see.

This month, we will have beaver artifacts displayed at the front desk for you to see. People of all ages can investigate beavers with Refuge staff, and learn about adaptations that they have that make them fascinating animals.