Contact: Paula Valentine, 631-687-4759 Contact: Irene Rosen, 631-687-4765
Fire Island National Seashore is offering several night sky programs this February and March. Each program can help participants learn more about the value and significance of a nighttime environment free of light pollution. The "Junior Ranger: Path to Discovery" Night Sky program for kids ages 8-12 will be held on Saturday, February 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wilderness Visitor Center. Geared for ages 8-12, rangers and volunteers will help children identify key features of the sky at night, and learn to appreciate the value of darkness. A recently published Junior Ranger, Night Explorer activity guide will be distributed during this program on Fire Island. The colorful booklet, created in 2009 by the National Park Service Intermountain Region, includes a variety of activities and exercises. Kids can learn how to find the North Star, write their own creative mythology about the constellations, track phases of the moon, and learn about stars and galaxies. Pairing the booklet with a stargazing program at the park can help sharpen kids' skills of observation. "Star Watch: A Night of Astronomy" is offered on Friday, March 12 at 7 p.m. at the Wilderness Visitor Center. After a captivating slide show by a local astronomer, telescopes will be available to view the night sky from the beach. Dress for the weather, as it can be a bit colder along the shoreline. Through program like these, students of just about any age can learn about the importance of dark night skies and the effects that light pollution has on wildlife. Activities that help recognize good and bad lighting provide valuable lessons to take home. This year's GLOBE at Night citizen science project takes place March 3 - 16, 2010. The GLOBE Program GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program. GLOBE's vision promotes and supports students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system working in close partnership with NASA and NSF Earth System Science Projects (ESSPs) in study and research about the dynamics of Earth's environment. For more information about Fire Island National Seashore programs, contact the Wilderness Visitor Center at 631-281-3010 or the Office of Interpretation at 631-687-4765. |
Last updated: February 26, 2015