Wonder – Explore – Discover
The Highlands Center, a Prescott nature center, is a hub for lifelong learning, designed to invite discovery of the wonders of nature.
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Come out to the Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Rd. in Prescott from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays now thru October and learn something new about nature.
Discovery Stations (educational carts) are set up to provide visitors of all ages with a brief look at nature; including the animals, plants, and rocks that make the Arizona Highlands so unique. Each program is only five to ten minutes long.
Free to the public. No reservations necessary, just show up!
For more information, visit highlandscenter.org.
Discovery Stations open at Highlands Center for Natural History July 20
Come out to the Highlands Center for Natural History on Saturday and visit each Discovery Station to learn something new about nature.David Marson, we need get over there😉
Sounds fun
Khristina Saint
Sarah Johnson - when y’all get back
highlandscenter.org/upcoming-event/healing-oceans-tackling-plastic-pollution-in-marine-ecosystems/
Microplastics have pervasive effects both in marine and freshwater ecosystems. This interactive workshop includes demonstrations on ocean studies and how microplastics travel up the food chain in such an efficient manner.
This program will be instructed by Ph.D candidate Charles Rolsky, who conducts research in Rolf Halden’s lab, within Biodesign’s Center for Environmental Health Engineering.
Have you come across plants that were difficult to identify during your area hikes? Here is a link to Yavapai County Native and Naturalized plants with easy ways to narrow down your search criteria: cals.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/index.php
I have been using that site for years, especially for the "forbs" (aka, flowers).
There's an app called picture this I find really useful.
Looking for something to do with the family this weekend? Come out and visit the James Family Discovery Gardens at the Highlands Center for Natural History and explore our Discovery Stations, July 13 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Discovery Stations are educational "carts" that provide visitors with a brief look into the rocks, plants, or animals that make the Arizona Highlands so unique! Young and old alike will leave learning something new in these short, walk-up programs. Each is only five to ten minutes in length.
Come out for a hike, bring the kids out to Forest Play, and learn a little something new this weekend!
"Be a bit more charitable to the caterpillars munching in your gardens and remember what they will become!" Click below to read a Highlands Center Nature News article, contributed by Sandy Stoecker : highlandscenter.org/naturenews_june_2019/
Butterflies - Nature's Gems | The Highlands Center for Natural History
Autumn leaf color change is a phenomenon that affects the green leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs. The colorful mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow is the result of a chemical process wh...
One of our volunteers spent time yesterday observing bees working in Rocky Mountain Bee Plant blossoms. To find out how to grow this lovely wildflower and draw more pollinators to your native garden, see: www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cleome_serrulata.shtml
www.eventbrite.com/e/sing-sing-sing-the-songs-of-pete-seeger-woody-guthrie-and-more-tickets-58868...
One core value of the Highlands Center for Natural History is to give everyone the opportunity to discover and experience the awe and wonder of nature.
www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/why-scientists-say-experiencing-awe-can-help-you-live-your-ncna9...
Why scientists say experiencing awe can help you live your best life
Psychologists say the emotion of awe plays a big role in our health, happiness and wellbeing. And you don't need to witness a supermoon to experience it.What about wonder? 🤣
Heehee David Hall my daily life 😁😯💕
animals.mom.me/difference-between-gopher-snakes-rattlesnakes-4572.html
The Difference Between Gopher Snakes & Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes and gopher snakes can look eerily similar to the untrained eye. With similar square- or diamond-shaped markings and no-nonsense temperaments, these two species are often mistaken for each...One can kill you, and the other can't ?
Monarch Butterflies Reared in Captivity Lack a Crucial Ability
A scientist hoped commercially raised butterflies would be identical to their wild counterparts, but found their navigation abilities varied.Too bad.
This is a must read article for those who value the migratory abilities of these Monarchs. Quite eye-opening
Bring the whole family out to visit the Highlands Center for Natural History. You'll have a blooming good time!
If you're wondering why summer started today (rather than some other day), this graphic from NASA may help. It shows the roughly 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth and how that affects the sunlight we receive over the course of a year. It shows why we have seasons.
The summer solstice (11:54 a.m. ET on June 21 this year) is the point in the Earth's orbit at which the Northern hemisphere is most angled toward the Sun. That brings us the most hours of sunlight. The Sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
It's raining here today—so much for all those hours of sunlight! But happy summer to all!
(If you enjoy our Facebook posts and want to see more, please take a few seconds to "like" and “follow” our page. We're excited that so many of you are interested in nature and science. Thank you—and feel free to share posts and pass the word to others! Our website is thenaturalistsnotebook.com.)
June 21 & 22! www.eventbrite.com/e/shakespeare-in-the-pines-the-winters-tale-june-2019-tickets-52633293598
Laark Productions is bringing another one of Shakespeare’s plays to the Highlands Center for Natural History this weekend and next weekend for the sixth annual Shakespeare in the Pines.
This year is “The Winter’s Tale,” a play about a jealous king condemning his innocent wife and best friend to death while a baby princess is abandoned in a distant shore where she is adopted by a shepherd and a prince disguises himself as a peasant to woo a lovely maiden. It’s an interesting story, said Tom Agostino, marketing and communications coordinator for the Highlands Center.
“That’s the one that has the bear in it,” Agostino said. “One of the stage directions is ‘exit (pursued by a) bear.”...
See Shakespeare at the Highlands Center June 14-15 & 21-22
Laark Productions is bringing another one of Shakespeare’s plays to the Highlands Center for Natural History this weekend and next weekend for the sixth annual Shakespeare in the Pines.
Great infographic showing perceptions around unstructured play from the Canadian Public Health Association #unstructuredplay
www.cpha.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/resources/play/play_10perceptions_vs_fact_infographic_e.pdf
Bug of the Week: Tarantula Hawk Wasps
Would you believe a wasp may be important to the survival of certain butterflies? Tarantula hawks are large, colorful wasps in the genus Pepsis. They are found throughout the southwestern United St…Can you please tell me what kind of bug this is. My youngest son found it in out backyard
Don't get stung by this bugger
Julian De LaHoz
June 17 - 23 is #NationalPollinatorWeek! Learn more about pollinators found on the Prescott National Forest: go.usa.gov/xyqPS (Photo courtesy of Royce Carlson of the Walnut Creek Center for Education and Research)
Fire and the Ponderosa Pine
THE OLDEST FOSSIL OF a ponderosa pine tree (Pinus ponderosa) is over 600,000 years old. Since then, the species has adapted to thrive in lightning-ignited fires that are common in the intermountain west. Today, ponderosa pines have numerous physical...
read moreThe Highlands Center for Natural History
Prescott Nature Center
In our classroom without walls you will discover Ponderosa Pine covered mountains, deeply shaded riparian habitats, chaparral and woodland, remarkable geologic formations, and amazing vistas, in addition to all manner of forest inhabitants. With educational programming, hiking trails, and a botanic garden, our Prescott nature center has activities for all ages.
1375 S. Walker Road, Prescott, AZ 86303
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