Program and Event Descriptions:

Birding Banshee Reeks ― Saturday, July 10, 8:00 a.m. Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for the monthly bird walk. Because of its rich and varied habitat, this part of the county is a birding hot spot. Please bring binoculars. Questions: contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org

Natural History Day Camp ― July 12 through July 16 Nature lovers entering grades three through seven will not want to miss our Natural History Day Camps (June 28-July 2 and July 12-July 16) taking place at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve again this summer. Campers will explore the woods, fields, and water of the preserve and learn about the plants and animals that live there. The camps will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The cost will be only $130 per week, and space is limited. For a quick look at last year’s camp, here's the link from Nature Camp 2009. For more information contact LWC’s Phil Daley at 540-338-6528 or pedaley@verizon.net.

Butterfly Walk at The Blue Ridge Center For Environmental Stewardship ― Saturday, July 17, 10:00 a.m.  Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on a butterfly walk at this beautiful 900-acre preserve in northwestern Loudoun County.  We should see butterflies using the late summer wildflowers.  The Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Rte 671, a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.  Detailed directions can be found on the website, www.brces.org.  Meet at the Visitor Center at 10:00 a.m.  Questions: contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

Sunday in the Preserve ― Sunday, July 18, 1:00 p.m. Join a naturalist from the Friends of Banshee Reeks and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a free, informal family walk around the preserve. Search for the many natural wonders that make this such a special place. For information call the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve at 703-669-0316.

Birding the Blue Ridge Center ― Saturday, July 24, 8:00 a.m. On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Rt. 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. Meet at the Visitor Center. The Blue Ridge Center is located just north of Neersville, at 11611 Harpers Ferry Road (Rt 671).  Detailed directions can be found on the website, www.brces.org . Questions: contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

Gray Tree Frogs: Enjoying The Chorus ― Saturday, July 24, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Registration Required. PROGRAM FULL Join us at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship for an evening with the gray tree frogs. We’ll begin the program with a discussion of gray tree frogs to learn about their habits, habitats needs and lifecycle. We’ll also discuss the different types of calls they make and look at photographs to further hone skills in identification of these frogs.  Then, we’ll head out into the field to listen to their calls and try to spot a few.  Please bring a flashlight or headlamp as well as a chair to sit on. Meet at the BRCES Visitor Center off of Rte 671. Registration is required as we’re limiting the class size. Detailed directions can be found on the website, www.brces.org.  PROGRAM FULL. Questions, please contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org.  Note: We'll still hold the program if it's raining (frogs love the rain) but if there are thunderstorms we'll call it quits.

Butterflies and Dragonflies at Claude Moore Park ― Sunday, July 25, 10:30 a.m.  Join Nicole Hamilton and Andy Rabin for one of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s free, family butterfly and dragonfly walks.  We will investigate some of the many diverse natural areas that comprise this beautiful park and identify all of the butterflies and dragonflies we can find.  Claude Moore Park is located at 21544 Vestal’s Gap Rd. in Sterling Va.   If you own binoculars, please bring them.  Questions: contact Andy Rabin at stylurus@gmail.com.

Butterfly Safari ― Wednesday, July 28, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Families with children ages 5 and up flutter on over and join the fun as local naturalist, storyteller, and the co-founder of the Washington Area Butterfly Club, Alonso Abugattas, shares some wonderful facts about these winged wonders.  Discover the many clever ways these delicate creatures have of surviving. The Broadlands Community Center is located at 43008 Waxpool Rd, Broadlands. [Note: this is being held at the Community Center, not the Nature Center] Free family program. Questions: contact Laura Weidner at lweidner@loudounwildlife.org