Fall Children's Series programs just around the corner!

Bring your little ones to Briar Bush for fun, friends and the outdoors!

Remember that if you are an Abington Township resident, you receive 10% off listed prices and if you are a Friends of Briar Bush member, you receive 20% off the listed price.

Nature Sign Language
all ages, with adult
Sundays, 3:30-4:15 p.m.
$10 per family

People everywhere are discovering the benefits of using AMerican Sign Language to communicate with infants. Join guest educator Katy Abbott to learn signs for words and concepts in nature as you explore the museum and trails at Briar Bush. This relaxed and informal program is a great bonding experience for parents and infants.

September 13
October 18
November 8
December 6

Magic Mornings
2-3 year olds with adult
Wed/Thurs/Fri, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
$10/class; $5 per additional child enrolled

Toddlers and adults discover nature together through stories, crafts, games, trail hikes and live animal encounters. Snacks provided. Adjacent classes duplicate curriculum.

September 9, 10 or 11
September 23, 24 or 25
October 7, 8 or 9
October 21, 22, or 23
November 5 or 6
November 19 or 20
December 3 or 4
December 17 or 18

Preschool Pioneers
4-5 year olds
Tuesdays, 1-2 p.m.
$32/4-day series; $24/3-day series

Preschoolers are invited to join us for a month-long series of "back to nature" fun. Programs may include nature hikes, hands-on activities, crafts and animal encounters.

September 8, 15, 22 and 29
October 6, 13, 20 and 27
November 10, 17 and 24
December 1, 8, 15 and 22

Junior Birders Club
All Grades
Thursdays, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
*field trip 3:45-5:15 p.m.
$8/class; $12/field trip

Do you enjoy watching our feathered friends? Join us for a hike through BBNC trails or another local birding site to search for birds and their habitats. Bring binoculars and a field guide if possible, though we can provide them if needed. This program is best suited for children who can read.

September 17*
October 15
November 19*
December 17

No School? Cool!
2009-2010 school year
9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

A program designed to help parents on days when school is closed but work is not! Pack a lunch; snack will be provided. Individual trips described below.

Animal Keeper for a Day
Monday, September 28
$45
Children will work together with our Animal Care Supervisor to provide daily care for all of Briar Bush's resident animals. In the afternoon, we will visit a local zoo to learn about exotic animal care.

That's Creepy!
Tuesday, November 3
$65
A kitchen full of cockroaches! A wall covered in human skulls! We will visit two of the creepiest places in Philadelphia - The Insectarium and the Mutter Museum.

Winter in the Woods
Monday, December 28-Thursday, December 31
$45/day or $150/4 days
Children will have a (snow)ball spending thier winter break at Briar Bush. Each day will include the best of camp activities including indoor and outdoor activities, animal encounters, games and crafts. Parents, you can register for each day individually to fit your schedule.

Additional No School? Cool! Trips:
Monday, March 1
Monday, April 5
Tuesday, May 18

Don't miss out on these benefits!

Are you a Friends of Briar Bush member yet? If not, join today, for as little as $25.

With this membership you will receive:

• 20% discount on all public program fees (i.e. Great Escapes, Summer Camp, etc.)
  
• 10% discount on all nature shop purchases
• 10% discount at Wild Bird Center of Willow Grove
• Free admission and discounts at other ANCA nature centers
• Subscription to our quarterly newsletter
• Invitations to all special events

Visit our website at www.briarbush.org to sign up today!

Are you a fan of The Grid?

Good news! Starting in September, Briar Bush will be carrying FREE copies of Philly's The Grid.

From The Grid's website: The Grid inspires the people of Philadelphia to create a more just, livable and sustainable city.

Inside The Grid, you will find articles with an environmental and sustainable focus, ways to get involved, fun activities and much more.

We can't wait to be able to share it with you!

If you haven't seen The Grid yet, check out the August issue online!

Earth Trekking

The 4th-6th grade Earth Trekkers had a blast this summer exploring the greater Philadelphia area and Bucks County hide-aways.

Creepy Crawlers

Late in the summer, there is still a lot of new life emerging at Briar Bush. Take a look at these recent photos of life at the pond and in our butterfly house. Click on the photos in the slide show to view them full size and read the captions.

It's almost back-to-school time!

Only a few more weeks and kids will be out of camp and into the classroom. What are you doing to prepare your kids to go back to school? There are many eco-friendly choices you can make, so take note!

• Lunch - Instead of picking up a package of brown paper bags, buy your child a reusable lunch box. To go inside that lunch box, pick up an ice pack to keep food cold; inexpensive plastic cuttlery (try a discount store) that can be washed and reused; some small plastic containers to store food; a plastic sandwich container; and a thermos or reusable water bottle.
• What does this reduce? - By using plastic containers, you do not have to use foil, wax paper or plastic bags. The heavier weight, reusable plastic cutlery eliminates the need to buy boxes and boxes of one-use plastic cutlery that ends up in trashcans. With a reusable lunch bag, you can pack a lunch that will stay cold and can spare a few trees.
  
• Food - Foods like applesauce, yogurt, Goldfish crackers, pretzels and pudding are common in children's lunches. Buy the large jar of applesauce or large container of yogurt. Make the pudding yourself from a box of powdered pudding mix and milk you already have at home. Choose the bulk size box of crackers or pretzels instead of the small bags. Pick up the large bottles of juice and use that reusable water bottle or thermos everyday.
  
• What does this reduce? - When you buy a larger container, you're eliminating the waste of those single-use plastic containers which often can't be recycled. In Abington, only #1 and #2 plastics are recycled. Many pudding, applesauce and yogurt containers are #5 plastic. The large yogurt containers can be used for storage at home once empty. One large box of crackers or pretzels eliminates the waste of many small bags, and one large bottle of juice reduces the juice box/pouch and straw waste that is created every single day.
  
• Supplies - Choose recycled options when possible - looseleaf paper, notebooks and binders. Pick up a package of mechanical pencils and refillable lead, or regular pencils that are made from reycled wood. If your child still has school supplies left over from last year, use them! A new school year doesn't mean you have to purchase a new box of crayons. If it's time for a new backpack, purchase one from a company that offers a lifetime warranty. That way, when the bottom starts to wear out, a zipper breaks or the straps start to detach, all you have to do is mail it back to the company and wait for your repaired bag to be returned to you. Kids also like to pick out products with their favorite TV or movie characters, but the love of that character only lasts so long. Instead, direct your child toward something that has a fun, colored pattern on it that will appeal to him or her for more than one season or school year.
  
• What does this reduce? - Where do all those old school supplies eventually end up? Sometimes the trashcan, sometimes in a massive collection in your home. Teach your child the importance of using something until it is gone - only then is it necessary to replace it with something new. When a backpack wears out, it probably ends up in the trash. But if you purchase a brand such as L.L. Bean or Eastpack, you've just bought that bag for life and almost all of the regular wear-and-tear problems will be fixed for free - all you pay is the postage to send it back to the company! Not only will you be reducing waste by not purchasing excess supplies, you'll also be saving money, which makes everyone happy. Set aside the money that would have been used to purchase a new backpack or lunchbox and use it toward a fun day with the family.
  

Teaching your child the value of reducing waste, reusing what you already have and recycling what you can will last forever. Habits begin early - good or bad. If you teach your child the good habits, there will be less room for the bad.