Family-friendly, Free Nature Programs at Cape May National Wildlife Refuge

CMWild

Ghost Crabs, Fiddler Crabs & Mole Crabs
Thursday, August 15 at 10 a.m.

This special walk will be led by Dr. Ralph E.J. Boerner, Professor Emeritus of Ecology (Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University), and his wife, botanist and artist Betsy Wrobel-Boerner. The Boerners will focus their beach walk on the amazing and sometimes troublesome ghost crabs and will explore the complexity of their burrows. They will also help participants identify some of the characteristic dune plants found at Two Mile Beach. Free handouts will be provided. This walk is free and perfect for all ages. As always, dress for the weather. Heavy rain cancels the event. After the walk, the public is invited to warm up in the newly-opened Nature Store at Two Mile. Please meet at the Visitors Contact Station at the Two Mile Beach Unit of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge. 

 

Family Nature Walk
Saturday, August 17 at 9 a.m.

Friends of Cape May NWR are continuing their fun, free, family-friendly bird walks all summer long at 2-Mile Beach in Wildwood Crest. Look for the Free Bird walk sign where Pacific Avenue turns into Ocean Drive, on the east side of the street. Meet at the 2-Mile Visitor Center Parking Lot (just north of the gate for the former Coast Guard base).  Explore this hidden gem of undeveloped barrier island ocean beach, and learn about the amazing birds with loaner binoculars and a spotting scope.  Families with children are welcome!     

 

Full Moon Walk (The Green Corn Moon)
Saturday, August 17 at 7:45 p.m.

Once a month, as the full moon glows, it seems safe to venture out into the dark while the moon makes shadows. You can still smell the earth, feel the wind, hear the ocean roar, and sense the wildlife. Friends of Cape May NWR will offer a “Walk by the Light of the Moon” series of interpretive walks during spring and summer. Most walks will last about an hour and a half, and will cover approximately one mile in length. Bring a flashlight or headlamp (although after our eyes become accustomed to the dark, we won’t be needing them), and dress for the weather. Plus, Chris Bakley will be here for this full moon walk! He is a photographer for NASA. He will be on the beach with his fantastic telescope and camera. He is a wealth of information about space and is happy to share that knowledge with others. This program is free and open to the public, and is especially suitable for families with children. After the program, the public is invited to relax and warm up with coffee, tea and hot chocolate at the Nature Store at Two Mile.  

 

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge – Two Mile Beach Unit
12001 Pacific Avenue
Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260
friendsofcapemaynationalwildliferefuge.org