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Event Calendar

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

   

 

 
 

 

May 10th

Saturday

9:00am to 4:00pm

Wertheim NWR

 International Migratory Bird Day

Celebrate the incredible journeys of migratory birds between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central, and South America.  

 

Last years IMBD was a great success with a full day of events.  This years events include a canoe trip, photograph workshop, bird feeder construction and live bird demonstrations.

 
 
 

 

May 31, 2008

10:00 - 12:00

Saturday

Wertheim NWR

Create Your Own Refuge

Children's Program

 

Come and meet the Fire Island National Seashore Ranger and you will be creating your own refuge.  You will be creating your trail guides, special features, and what your visitors will learn at your refuge.  Children ages 8 - 12 but all are welcome.

 

 
 

 

May 31, 2008

9:00 - 3:00

Saturday

  South Haven Presbyterian 

  Church

(South Country Rd and Beaver Dam Rd. in Brookhaven)

FOW Yard Sale

 

Come and support FOW - we will have our FOW pins, hats, shirts and Teddy Roosevelt teddy bears in addition to all of the yard sale items.

  

Please donate items for the sale - You may bring your donation to Anne Meinhold's house (41 Old South Country Rd.) - in front of the garage if she isn't there - or price them and bring them the morning of the sale to the South Haven Church.  If you have any questions please Email Anne at cbmeinhold@optonline.net.

 

 
 

 

June 8, 2008

8:00 am

Sunday

Wertheim NWR

Birding Walk

 

Ernie Lewis leads this interpretive bird walk along the impoundments at Wertheim NWR.  Ernie is a member of The Friends of Wertheim and performed bird surveys at Wertheim NWR for many years. This walk is recommended for teens / adults.

 

 
 

 

June 15, 2008

10:00 - 12:00

Sunday

Wertheim NWR

 

Nature T-Shirt Printing

 

Artist Helen Geraghty leads a workshop on T-Shirt printing using natural elements.  Materials provided. All ages welcome.  Registration is required.  To register email Anne or call her - 286-8496.

 
 

Previous Events

   
 

2008

April 26

10:00 - 12:00

Saturday

Wertheim NWR

Junior Ranger Day

Children's Program

 

Fire Island National Seashore in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is hosting children's orientation program.  Come and work with the Rangers while you are leaning how to read a compass, follow a trail and discover the treasures the Refuge has to offer.  Children ages 8 - 12 but all are welcome.

 

 
 

 

 

May 4th

Sunday

10:00 am

Wertheim NWR

 

Signs of Spring Plant Identification Walk

 

We will look for signs of spring on the White Oak Nature Trail.  Emerging leaves, flowers and buds yet to burst will help us to identify the variety of plants along this three mile loop.  Please bring field guides, notebooks and binoculars as we are sure to see birds as well. 

 

Karen Rowley is a former president of Moriches Bay Audubon Society and Dava Stravinsky is a member of the Long Island Botanical Society.  Both are long time members of Friends of Wertheim and enjoy walking the White Oak Nature Trail at any time of year.

 

This walk is recommended for teens / adults. Participants are limited to 20 so please reserve your place.  To register email Anne or call her - 286-8496.

 

 
 

2007

 

Nov. 18th

Sunday

2:00pm

Post-Morrow Foundation Annex

16 Bay Rd. Brookhaven Hamlet

 

FOW Annual Meeting

 

Members & Families Encouraged to Attend!

 

A representative the Long Island NWR Complex will  make a presentation about the refuge and “what they do there”.

 

The Refuge staff and FOW Board Members will be available to talk to about the refuge and the FOW programs planned for 2008. FOW merchandize will also be sold including hats, shirts, pins, teddy bears and blue goose key rings.  The money from the purchases helps us support the Wertheim NWR. Refreshments will be provided.  Hope to see you there!

 
 

 

Nov. 10th

Saturday

8:00 am

Wertheim NWR

Birding Walk

The Great South Bay Audubon Society (www.gsbas.com) is having a bird walk to the impoundment at the Wertheim NWR.  The leaders from GSBAS are John Gluth (277-9298), Bob Grover (669-4365) & Alice Heller (827-6561). Friends of Wertheim members are invited.

 
 

 

 

Sunday

Sept. 9, 2007

10:00 - 12:00

Wertheim NWR

 

Art Workshop

for Adults

with Helen Geraghty

 

Wings in the Sunlight

 

Helen notes, "Nothing is more melancholy, and more beautiful than birds heading south in the fall.  We will talk about patterns of bird migration and use a combination of colored pencils, water color and pastels to capture the layers of earth and sky." 

 

Participants are limited to 10 adults so please reserve your seat.  To register email Anne or call her - 286-8496

 
 

 

Saturday

May 12, 2007

Wertheim NWR

9:00am to 4:00pm

 

 

 

 

Special Event:  FOW & Long Island NWR

International Migratory Bird Day

 Events, Activities & Displays

  Celebrate the incredible journeys of migratory birds between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central, and South America.

 More Information 

Program Information

http://www.birdday.org

Impoundment Bird Walk with Kathleen OConnor

Canoe Trip with Anthony Graves

Family Nature Walk with Jennifer Clement

Art for Kids Workshop with Chris Matlock

Birds of Prey with Sweetbriar  Nature Center

Nature Photography Workshop with Ed Sambolin

Adult Art Workshop with Helen Geraghty

Bird House Building

Bird Watching Demo

Migration Challenge Game

Bird Tracks

Volunteers for Wildlife

Suffolk County Parks

South Shore Waterfowlers

Great South Bay Audubon

Ducks Unlimited

 
 

 

Nov. 12th

Sunday

2:00pm

Parish Hall at St. James Church on Beaver Dam Rd.

FOW Annual Meeting

Members & Families Encouraged to Attend!

 

 

A representative of the Briar Nature Center will show animals that are native to the Refuge and Long Island. Visit with a red tailed hawk, a screech owl, a box turtle, a painted turtle, and others. 

 

The Refuge staff and FOW Board Members will be available to talk to about the refuge and the FOW programs planned for 2007. FOW merchandize will also be sold including hats, shirts, pins, teddy bears and blue goose key rings.  The money from the purchases helps us support the Wertheim NWR. Refreshments will be provided.  Hope to see you there!

 

 
 

 

 

 

March 4, 2007

Sunday

Time: 10:00 - 12:00

3 Old Barto Road, Brookhaven

 

 

 

 

Helen Geraghty presentied a watercolor workshop in memory of Keith Rowley. Helen states, "Keith Rowley, a beloved regular at our painting workshops died last October 29. At a gathering in his memory his wife Karen showed his paintings projected on a screen so we could see how beautifully and tenderly they were composed. On March 4 we're going to have a watercolor workshop called The Winter Landscape in memory of him. Most landscapes move from dark to light, with the darkness in the distance and light in the foreground. But in winter you may have noticed that the opposite is often true. Dark trees and dark birds are silhouetted against pale grass and snow."  Please bring your own brushes. We'll supply paper and paint. At the end of the workshop we'll put together a memory book for Keith's family.

 

 
 

2006

 

Nov. 11, 2006

Saturday

8:00am

Wertheim NWR

Birding Walk

Kathleen O'Connor

 

 

Kathleen O'Connor leads this interpretive bird walk along the impoundments at Wertheim NWR. Kathleen is the president of the Great South Bay Audubon Society and a board member of The Friends of Wertheim. She has given numerous birding walks for many local organizations and is especially familiar with the birds found at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge.

 

 
   

Family Event:  Guided Nature Walk

with Jennifer Clement

 

 
 

Oct. 15,2006

Sunday

9:00-12:00

Wertheim NWR

 

The Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge are hosting a guided family nature walk.  Renowned naturalist Jennifer Clement will lead the guided walk. Jennifer Clement grew up on the banks of the Carmans River. The Wertheim's gave her family permission to roam their property to their hearts' desire, and they spent much of their childhood doing just that. Jennifer now works as interpretive naturalists on expedition ships touring the less frequented corners of the earth. But she still maintains her deep roots here in the salt marshes and creeks of south shore Long Island.

 

 
 

 

Sept. 16, 2006

Saturday

9:00 - 3:00

  South Haven Presbyterian 

  Church

(South Country Rd and Beaver Dam Rd. in Brookhaven)

FOW Yard Sale

 

 

Come and support FOW - we will have our FOW pins, hats, shirts and Teddy Roosevelt teddy bears in addition to all of the yard sale items.

  

Please donate items for the sale - You may bring your donation to Anne Meinhold's house (41 Old South Country Rd.) - in front of the garage if she isn't there - or price them and bring them the morning of the sale to the South Haven Church.  If you have any questions please Email Anne at cbmeinhold@optonline.net.

 

 
 

 

Sept. 16, 2006

Saturday

9:00am - 12:00

Glacier Bay Sports

Interpretative Carmans River Canoe Trip

Anthony Graves

 

 

Starting from and returning to Glacier Bay Sports

It is a long trip and there are no bathrooms.  Please feel free to return at any time.

Maximum 20 people

$5 Donation.  Bring your own lunch and drinks.

To register email Anne or call 286-8496

Canoes donated by Glacier Bay Sports

Rain Date:  Sunday, Sept. 17 (Check this web site)

 

 
 

 

 

 

July 9, 2006

Sunday

Time: 10:00 - 12:00

Wertheim NWR

 

 

 

Nature Printing Workshop

Printing on Cloth

 

 

You don’t have to print on a tee shirt. You can print on a tablecloth, a scarf, napkins, or curtains, so long as the material is cotton or silk. (Synthetics are hard to print on.) Wash it the day before to get out the sizing. You’ll be astonished at how good your results are.

 

To register email Anne or call her - 286-8496

 
 

 

 

 

June 18, 2006

Sunday

Time: 10:00 - 12:00

Wertheim NWR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature Printing Workshop

Car Printing

 

 

To print you need pressure and what could exert more pressure than a car? For weeks Kate and Helen have been soaking old paper towels (and their rolls) egg cartons, and other bits of non-waxy, not-oily cardboard to make mush. We’ll take some found treasure, like an abandoned bird’s nest, put it on top of the mush, put absorbent paper on both sides, surround them with two sheets of plywood and start the engine. The results will be a three dimensional artwork that you can paint when it’s dry. Also at this workshop bring some blank stationery to decorate with plant printings. (The found treasures will be from our own backyards, not the Refuge.)

 

To register email Anne or call her - 286-8496

 

 
 

 

 

 

June 4, 2006

Sunday

Time: 10:00 - 12:00

Wertheim NWR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature Printing Workshop

Layers of Landscape

 

 

Join us once again under the tent for a creative vision of the beauties of nature with Helen Geraghty and Kate Madsen!

 

The Program Committee of the Friends of Wertheim would like to welcome Helen Geraghty and Kate Madsen, now FOW Board Members, back to teach four new workshops at the refuge.

 

When you look at your favorite landscape, you can see that it’s a matter of layers with intense colors in the foreground and fainter, fuzzier ones far off. One way to get this effect is to combine watercolors with plant printing. Maybe you’ll want a misty horizon with intense printed flowers in the foreground, or maybe you’ll want to mask part of the foreground, print with leaves, and then paint a brilliant bug up front. We’ll provide things to print with like clam shells, leaves, flowers and bugs. (None of them will be gathered at Wertheim.) We’ll also provide paints and inks and masking fluid. All you need is a couple of brushes.

 

 
 

May 20, 2006

Saturday

9:00-12:00

Wertheim NWR

Celebrate the Carmans River

FOW and NWR Staff

Help cleanup trash from our river.

Bring your canoe and we will supply cleanup tools.

 

 
 

2005

 

Nov. 13, 2005

2:00 pm

 

Annual Meeting

 

There will  be an interesting talk by John Turner from Brookhaven Town, FOW business will be transacted, and refreshments.  Find out what is planned for the coming year.

 Post-Morrow Foundation Annex

16 Bay Road, Brookhaven Hamlet

 

 
   

Birding Walk

with Kathleen O'Connor

 
 

Nov. 12, 2005

Saturday, 8 a.m.

Wertheim NWR

Kathleen O'Connor lead this interpretive bird walk along the nature trails at Wertheim. Kathleen is former president of the Great South Bay Audubon Society and a board member of The Friends of Wertheim. She has given numerous birding walks for many local organizations and is especially familiar with the birds found at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge.

 
 
   

FOW Yard Sale

 

 
 

Oct. 1, 2005

Saturday

9:00 - 3:00

  South Haven Presbyterian 

  Church

 

Come and support FOW - we will have our FOW pins, hats, shirts and Teddy Roosevelt teddy bears in addition to all of the yard sale items.

 

Please donate items for the sale - You may bring your donation to Anne Meinhold's house or drop it off before the event starts. Email Anne at cbmeinhold@optonline.net.

 
   

Family Event:  Guided Nature Walk

with Jennifer Clement

 

 
 

Oct. 9, 2005

Sunday

9:00-12:00

Wertheim NWR

 

The Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge are hosting a guided family nature walk.  Renowned naturalist Jennifer Clement will lead the guided walk. Jennifer Clement grew up on the banks of the Carmans River. The Wertheim's gave her family permission to roam their property to their hearts' desire, and they spent much of their childhood doing just that. Jennifer now works as interpretive naturalists on expedition ships touring the less frequented corners of the earth. But she still maintains her deep roots here in the salt marshes and creeks of south shore Long Island.

 

 
   

Watercolor Workshop

Autumn Gold

with Helen Geraghty

 

 
 

Sept 11, 2005

Sunday

10:00 - 12:00

Wertheim NWR

It seems crazy to paint an autumn plant without catching the symphony of reds, yellows, greens and browns behind it.  We'll sketch in a plant, outline it, then cover the area with a masking agent.  Using a variety of techniques, we'll fill in the background and then remove the masking agent and do the flower.  Helen also talked about why leaves run red - a very controversial subject.

 
   

Watercolor Workshop

Paint Like Botticelli

with Helen Geraghty

 
 

 

July 17, 2005

Sunday

10:00 - 12:00

Wertheim NWR

 

 

The development of oil paints swept through Renaissance art studios like a tidal wave.  Only a few diehards like Botticelli kept using egg tempera. "Primavera" is one of the last great painting done in that medium.  But egg tempera is wonderfully suited to botanical drawing because of its ultra-sharp lines and clear colors.  We'll mix our own egg tempera paints using a wide array of pigments (but not red, which is mildly toxic), and we'll use its fantastic precision to do a flower and a cross-section of it.  You may want to continue working on your painting at home because the more layers, the more intense the colors become.

 

Reservations Required - Email Robin

 

 
   

Smith Road Cleanup

 

 
 

June 11 8:00am - 9:00am

Wertheim NWR

 

Please volunteer to help cleanup Smith Road on the eastern boundary of WRT NWR. Gloves, bags and our thanks are provided. Great exercise for you & greatly appreciated by Refuge Visitors & all of us!

 

Additional Reward

Participants are invited to a free guided tour out to the Refuge impoundments, located within a closed area to the public, for special birding observation opportunities and for insight into water management "for the birds."

 
 
 

 

 

June 4, 2005

Glacier Bay Sports

Saturday

9:00am - 12:00

 

                            Interpretative Carmans River Canoe Trip                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

 with Anthony Graves

Indian Island Guided Walk

Canoes donated by Glacier Bay Sports

NWR Carmans River Canoe Trip

Anthony Graves lead an interpretative canoe trip on the Carmans River on June 4th.  We had 11 canoes and 24 people attended.  The day started off with a light drizzle.  In about an hour the sun came out.  It was great weather for paddling.  The trip was from Glacier Bay Sports to Indian Landing.  Anthony and Sara Jennings provided expert commentary about the wildlife and vegetation.  A guided walk on the Indian Landing nature trail gave us a rest from paddling.  Sara was especially knowledgeable about edible plants.  We snacked on quite a few different varieties.  We also observed a box turtle and an American Frog.  There were a wide variety butterflies and birds pointed out to us by Anthony and Sara. 

On the return leg Marty VanLith guided the group on Yaphank Creek for a short excursion.  Yaphank Creek is very beautiful.  Marty discussed the unique qualities of the Creek including the purity of the water and special vegetation along the creek.

Everyone enjoyed the trip and a few people suggested we make this a yearly event.  See the Pictures menu selection (on the left side of this page) for pictures of the trip.

Special thanks for an outstanding event go to Chris of Glacier Bay Sports for generously providing the canoes, Anthony and Sara for their expect commentary, Marty for his knowledge of the history along the river and his expertise about Yaphank Creek, John Pokorny for arranging for the canoes and inviting Anthony to be our guide, and Robin for publicity and taking the reservations.  (Hope I included everyone).

 
   

 

May 21, 2005

Wertheim NWR

Saturday

10:00am - 12:00

 

Owl Pond Children's Program

 

with Jeremy Feinberg

Wertheim Reptiles & Amphibians

Recommended for children from 8 and adults

Bring binoculars

 Reservations Required - Email Robin

Rain date: check FOW website for cancellation notice/rain date.

Priority to FOW Members - Join now.

 

This exciting program will be led by noted herpetologist Jeremy Feinberg who will discuss the reptiles and amphibians that reside at the Refuge. Jeremy Feinberg is a full-time USFWS biologist and herpetologist and works for BNL and the Upton Reserve. He has worked with a wide range of herpetofauna (diamondback terrapins, gopher tortoises, American alligators and sea turtles). He has designed vernal pool mitigation projects, and has worked on a number of non-herpetological projects involving vegetation, wetland restoration, fisheries sampling, and federally-endangered butterfly monitoring. Bring binoculars. Refreshments provided.

 
   

April 9, 2005 Saturday

8 a.m.

Wertheim NWR

 

 

Birding Walk with Kathleen O'Connor

 

Kathleen O'Connor lead this interpretive bird walk along the nature trails at Wertheim. Kathleen is former president of the Great South Bay Audubon Society and a board member of The Friends of Wertheim. She has given numerous birding walks for many local organizations and is especially familiar with the birds found at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge.

 

 
 

2004

 

Nov. 14, 2004 Sunday

2 p.m.

 

 

FOW Annual Members Meeting

 

There will  be an interesting program, FOW business will be transacted, and refreshments.  Find out what is planned for the coming year.

 

Post-Morrow Foundation Annex

16 Bay Road, Brookhaven Hamlet

 

 
   

Sept. 25, 2004 Saturday

9:00 - 3:00

  South Haven Presbyterian 

  Church

 

FOW Yard Sale

 

Come and support FOW - we will have our new FOW pins, hats, shirts and Teddy Roosevelt teddy bears in addition to all of the yard sale items.

 

Please donate items for the sale - contact    Anne Meinhold at    cbmeinhold@optonline.net.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 8, 2004

Sunday

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 am

Wertheim NWR

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 29, 2004

Sunday

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 am

Wertheim NWR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watercolor Workshops

 

Back by Popular Demand!

Two New Workshops in August!

 

The Program Committee of the Friends of Wertheim would like to welcome Helen Geraghty back to teach two new workshops in August at the refuge.  The first wildflower watercolor workshop given by Helen in June was such a success, we are happy to have her back again.

 

The first workshop will be held on Sunday, August 8th, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon.  Helen describes the class as a Landscape Watercolor Workshop and says, “We’ll draw the Carmans River using watercolors, starting with a light pencil sketch and then washing in sky, water, grass and tree tones, moving from the general to the specific. In other words, we’ll reverse the order of perception, starting with the vague and ending with the particular. We’ll talk about why foliage is yellow-green along a river and deep green in the center of the forest. We’ll find out what the shades of water have to say about currents and fish life.” This workshop is free and is limited to 15 adults. Please bring a size 3 or 4 brush.

 

The second workshop will be held on Sunday, August 29th, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon. In this workshop Helen will lead the participants in an unusual class. She calls it “Dog Day Cicadas” and describes the workshop in this way, “One of the most charming features of fall