Outdoor adventures on tap at LEC

Join Lyonia Environmental Center (LEC) staff for a variety of indoor programs and outdoor hikes in January.

Registration is required; call 386-789-7207, ext. #21028. Meet at the LEC, 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona.

January’s programs include:

Berries for birds: 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5. Native plants that have berries are important to birds throughout all seasons. Birds flock to these plants for their flavorful fruits and the insects they attract. Steve Kintner, vice president of West Volusia Audubon Society, will discuss types of berry producing plants that do well in Volusia County. Participants will receive a free native plant. Meet in the LEC classroom.

“Winter sunset over Lyonia” hike: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6. Enjoy a panoramic view of the sun setting over the trails during this fun and relaxing stroll in Lyonia Preserve.

“Patterns in nature” hike: 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8. Patterns in nature are a result of how things grow and are organized. LEC staff and volunteers will guide participants on this outdoor exploration to see which patterns can be found in Lyonia Preserve.

Look who’s caching now: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8. LEC staff will explain how scrub jays cache their acorns and store up for the winter. Afterward, participants will use their newfound knowledge to play a game and compete for a prize. Meet in the LEC classroom.

“Get back on track” hike: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 9. Trek your way up and around the ancient dunes of Lyonia Preserve, take in some fresh air, and enjoy the beauty nature has to offer.

Scales and tales: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9. Staff will share interesting facts about reptiles and introduce the center’s resident reptile ambassadors. Participants can join virtually or in the LEC classroom. An online link will be provided to those who choose to participate online.

Telescope Thursday: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13. Explore the wonders of the night sky with Derek Demeter, director of the Emil Buehler Planetarium. Participants will learn how to identify several constellations and scope out the moon and some planets through a powerful telescope.Bring binoculars if you have them. The program will begin in the LEC classroom.

Scrub 101 hike:10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15. Learn the basics of Florida’s unique scrub habitat on this guided hike in Lyonia Preserve. Staff will discuss the flora and fauna that depend on this habitat to survive.

Hats off to the birds: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15. Celebrate National Hat Day in the LEC classroom by learning about the life and influence of John James Audubon. The ornithologist, naturalist and painter is well known for his collection of 435 life-size bird prints titled “The Birds of America.” Staff will teach you how to make your own unique bird feather themed, upcycled hat from newspaper. Decorations will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own to embellish their creation.

“Beat those winter blues” hike: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16. During this 1.5-mile, guided hike along Lyonia Preserve’s blue trail, staff will explain the differences between the Florida scrub jay and the blue jay. If you wear something blue, your name will be entered into a prize drawing.

Banding together: 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16. Bird banding data is useful in management and conservation projects as well as scientific research. Learn about the banding process and what the various types of bands signify on Florida scrub jays in this classroom presentation. Kids can create their own personalized, “banded” bracelet to take home.

Squirrels: 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20. Did you know squirrels use a wide range of calls to communicate? Discover this and more about these acrobatic, smart and adaptable creaturesin the LEC classroom. Staff will also discuss their natural habitats, behaviors and important role they play in the ecosystem. This program is recommended for families and children ages 7-12.

Bobcat hike and learn: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. Bobcats are the most abundant predatory cats found in the United States. Learn about their anatomy, behavior and diet on a guided hike in Lyonia Preserve. Participants my find some bobcat tracks.

Gyotaku art: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese form of art that fisherman used over 100 years ago to keep a record of the fish that they caught. Explore the history behind this process and create your own gyotaku print using a rubber fish replica. Participants can also learn how to sign their name in Japanese to complete their creations!

Winter bird walk: 9 to 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 23. Look for various bird species during this leisurely walk through Lyonia Preserve’s trails.

Amazing acorns hike: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29. The fruits of oak trees, acorns pack a nutritional punch and are a favorite food of many forest creatures. Learn howNative Americans used these edible nuts and how to identify the various oak species in Lyonia Preserve on this guided hike.

Winter beachcombing: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29. Learn about sea beans, shells, sargassum seaweed, migratory sea birds and other interesting finds along Volusia County’s beaches during this in-person and virtual presentation. A link will be sent to online participants.

Geocache adventure: 9:30 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 30. “Cache” in on this no-experience-necessary stroll through Lyonia Preserve. Be on the lookout for birds, butterflies, trees and hidden cache. This program is recommended for beginner hikers ages 10 and up.

Clever corvids: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30. Ravens, crows, jays and magpies are some of the most intelligent animals in the world. They can solve complex puzzles, use tools and even hold “funerals” for each other. LEC staff will share interesting facts and explain how to identify these fascinating birds. One participant will win a drawing of a Florida scrub jay. Participants can join virtually or in the LEC classroom. A link will be sent to online participants.

Scrub strolls: 9 to 10 a.m. every Monday in January except Jan. 17. Volunteers will lead these exploratory hikes through Lyonia Preserve.

Participants are asked to practice social distancing. If you will be walking through Lyonia Preserve, wear closed toe shoes, bring water and be prepared to hike on unpaved sugar sand trails.