Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center needs volunteers 14 years and up to help with canoe rentals, the nature store, lead nature programs, and more. If you'd like to connect people to nature, we'll show you how. Contact 883-5100 for more information or e-mail smac@maineaudubon.org

2009 Programs & Events

The Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center will be open on June 13. We will be open from then on through Labor Day, seven days a week from 9:30 to 5:30. We will be open the first two weekends in September.

Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center offers a a variety of guided and self-guided walks and canoe tours in addition to exhibits, a nature store, and canoe rentals.

All guided programs are led by trained naturalists. Walking and canoe tours and specially-designed programs are available for groups at a discounted price.

Maine Audubon requires that all paddlers wear personal floatation devices; these will be provided for anyone who does not bring their own.

Please check back frequently to learn about new programs and other updates. Prices subject to change.

CANOE AND KAYAK RENTALS

Rent a canoe or kayak, and we'll also provide a map and nature guide. You'll be all set to take a self-guided tour of the meandering Dunstan River to explore the unique habitat of the salt marsh.

At least one person in your group must be 18 years or older, and children must be at least 4 years old. Dogs are not permitted in the canoes.

Daily, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
N onmember: $16/hour $23 for

1 1/2 hours, and $30 for 2 hours.

Deduct $1 for each category if you are a Maine Audubon member or if you are a Maine residents on Sundays,

WEEKLY PROGRAMS

Canoe Tours

Registration is not required.

Discover the wildlife and plants of Scarborough Marsh as you paddle the Dunstan River. Gliding through the marsh, you will be exposed to its many inhabitants, from the snowy egret catching fish along the edge of the river to the mummichogs swimming in the water. A trained naturalist will show you the numerous marsh plants and even give you a taste of an edible one. This tour is suitable for both novice and experienced paddlers.

Daily 10-11:30 a.m., additional Sunday tour 1-2:30 p.m.
Members: $10/adult, $8/child (12 and under)
Nonmembers: $11/adult, $9/child

Family Nature Walk: Mummichogs and Marsh Muck

Registration is not required.

Explore the marsh for plants and animals through discovery-oriented, fun-filled activities that use all five senses. Participants will touch the marsh fish, the mummichog, look for the many migrating and resident birds, and look through algae to discover the minute creatures living there. This program is for “children” of all ages.

Wednesdays starting June 24
10:30 a.m.-noon
$5/member, $7/nonmember (family discounts available)

Early Morning Birding

Registration is not required.

The best birding is often early morning when birds are busy feeding. Look and listen for snowy egret, glossy ibis, herons, willet, sparrows and more. We start our tours at the nature center and carpool to birding "hotspots" in the immediate area. Birders of all levels and abilities are welcome to join.

Wednesdays, starting June 24

7-8:30 a.m.
$3/member, $5/nonmember, volunteers free

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Paddlers of all abilities welcome on all tours.

Full Moon Canoe Tours
Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Experience the sights and sounds of marsh creatures under the full moon. Watch for black-crowned night heron along the bank or snowy egret flying back to a nearby island for the evening. We may even see a harbor seal or a muskrat playing in the water.

July 5,6,7; August 3,4,5;
8-9:30 p.m. (arrive no later than 7:30)

September 2,3,4
7-8:30 p.m. (arrive no later than 6:30)
Members: $11/adult, $9/child (12 and under)
Nonmembers: $12/adult, $10/child

Butterfly Survey

Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Visit various spots to look for butterflies and then watch as they’re caught, identified and released.

TBA
Free

Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk
Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Revive the lost art of foraging by learning to recognize common wild plants. Naturalist Gary Roberts will point out these plants and tell participants about their many uses. A list of edible and medicinal plants will be provided.

July 2 and August 2 1-3:00 p.m.
$7/member, $9/nonmember

Sunset Canoe Tour
Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

This sunset paddle provides a unique opportunity toobserve herons, ducks and shorebirds as they return to their roosting spots for the night. As dusk approaches, listen to the creatures of the marsh prepare to settle in for the evening, or set out on their nightly forays.

July 16 and August 20
7-8:30 p.m.
Members: $11/adult, $9/child (12 and under)Nonmembers: $12/adult, $10/child

Summer Wildflower Walk

Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Open your eyes to the colors of summer and explore with naturalist Gary Roberts the many varieties of flowering plants found in the salt marsh.

July 23 and August 16

2-3:30 p.m.

$5/member, $7/nonmember

Early Morning Canoe Tour
Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Explore the marsh at this magical time of day when it's coming alive with the sounds and sights of birds and other marsh creatures. See the sun, low over the marsh, reflecting off the dew on the grass as flocks of sandpipers scurry along the bank probing in the mud. Paddlers of all abilities are welcome.

July 25 and August 8

7-8:30 a.m.
Members: $11/adult, $9/child (12 and under)
Nonmembers: $12/adult, $10/child

Photography Exhibit and Opening

Come meet photographer Doug Hitchcox and view his stunning bird photography. He will give a short talk about his work and give tips on how to get that perfect shot of wild birds. Doug's artwork will be for sale throughout the exhibit.

Opening: August 7 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

talk at 6:00 p.m.

Exhibition: August 7 through August 16.

Snowy Egret Day

Experience a day of family fun, including a bird walk, photography exhibit, canoe tours, a used book sale, nature crafts, and more. There will be special programs for children as well as displays and information about our unique ecosystem.

August 8, 2009

7 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Free (fee for some tours)

Shorebird ID Clinic and Field Trip

Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Shorebirds are at once inspiring and maddening. We thrill to the beauty of their wheeling flocks and the drama of their long-distance migrations. But when they settle down on a mudflat... they look like a bunch of brown blobs. It can be hard to know where to even begin the ID process. Fear not! This clinic/trip will give you a solid foundation for identifying shorebirds. We'll take an easy-to-learn approach that focuses on shape and behavior, not just plumage. After a relaxed evening slide show and Q&A, we'll head out the next morning for Scarborough Marsh -- Maine's "shorebird central" -- where we'll have many opportunities to study different shorebird species. From plovers to dowitchers to the bewildering "peeps," join us and take your shorebirding to a new level of skill and enjoyment.

Clinic: Friday, August 14, 6-8 p.m.

Field Trip: Saturday, August 15, 7-11 a.m.

$30/member, $40/nonmember

Led by Scott Cronenweth (www.naturalpathwalks.com)

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

Nature Art

Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Through various art forms we will discover some of the secrets of the marsh. Children ages 7-10 explore the marsh, and then participate in a craft activity. All sessions offer different activities. Register for one, two, three or all four.

July 7, July 21, August 4, August 18
10:30 a.m.-noon
$5/member, $7/nonmember (family discounts available)

Good Night Nature

Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Ages 3-6 with parent/guardian

Visit Scarborough Marsh in the evening to listen to a bedtime story. Snacks and activities will accompany the program. Don't forget to wear your PJs! Adults must accompany children.

July 28 and August 4

6:30-7:30 p.m.

$10/member child, $15/nonmember child

Interpreting the Salt Marsh Through Pottery
Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

This program designed for children ages 8-11 will begin with a treasure hunt of the marsh. We’ll search for natural artifacts such as shells, grass and flowers, and then incorporate the treasures into the pottery we make.

July 16 and August 13
10:30 a.m.-noon
$7/member, $9/nonmember (family discounts available)

Tiny Tot Tour
Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Introduce your wee folk ages 3-5 to the unique marsh habitat through interactive, hands-on activities. They will experience the marsh firsthand, looking through algae for small critters, jumping on the mud and feeling the marsh fish, the mummichog. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

July 8 and August 5
1:30 - 3 p.m
$5/member and one child, $7/nonmember and one child. Each additional child is $3/member, $4/nonmember.

Cat Tales

Registration necessary. Call (207) 883-5100

Bring your preschoolers ages 3-5 for a fun and exciting morning of stories, nature exploration and activities. This program includes story time and a craft activity related to the marsh or nearby ocean.

July 22 and August 19

1:30 - 3 p.m
$5/member and one child, $7/nonmember and one child. Each additional child is $3/member, $4/nonmember.

Group Nature Explorations

Walking and canoe tours and specially designed programs are available for groups at a discounted price. Open to groups of all ages including school classes, community groups, families, and scout troops, all guided programs are led by trained naturalists and introduce participants to the environment around them.

Teachers receive a packet including pre- and post-trip activities, natural history information, and resources. More