Interactive Environmental Programs
with April Claus
Life in a Vernal Pond
Sat, Mar 25
|Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Cree
Time & Location
Mar 25, 2023, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Cree, 142 Kerr Road Ford City, PA 16226
About The Event
Join naturalist, April Claus for an in-depth examination of the ecology of Pennsylvania vernal ponds. This class will introduce you to these unique breeding pools and showcase the behaviors of some of our most endearing amphibian species. Participants will learn how to identify amphibian egg masses and meet some live specimens of native salamanders, toads and frogs who utilize these fleeting spring ponds.
The first portion of the workshop will be held indoors at the Outdoor Discovery Center, and after lunch the group will visit a nearby vernal pond to make observations in the field.
Participants should bring their own brown bag lunch/drink and be dressed to go outdoors and tromp through muddy conditions.
Topics covered will include discussions about vernal pond inhabitants, mole salamander genetics, symbiotic relationships and the best management practices for protecting vernal ponds on your own property. This program is geared towards adults or teens with a strong interest in biology/herpetology.