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Youth art contest, spring bird walks and moths, oh my!

Happy Friday, friends of the Center!

We are now accepting entries for the 19th Annual Youth Art Contest! The contest has a new theme this year, "Birds of the World," in conjunction with our Olewine Gallery exhibit, Olivia's Birds.

The contest is open to students in grades 1-12, and all artwork must represent birds of the world in their natural habitat. Visit our website for complete rules and to download an entry form!

And mark your calendars for Tuesday (May 8) for The Hidden World of Moths, at 8 p.m. We are thrilled to host Seabrooke Leckie, co-author of the brand-new Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America as she shares the amazing hidden world of moths. Copies of the field guide will be available for purchase, which Seabrooke will be happy to autograph. The program is FREE to members and children under 12, and only $3 otherwise. Click here to register online!

There was also a plethora of birds (over 50 species!) of birds spotted on our Spring Bird Walk on Saturday - click here to see photos on our Facebook page!

We hope that you have a great weekend, and enjoy this beautiful spring weather. See you soon!

Happy Holidays from the Ned Smith Center!

Season’s Greetings, Friends of the Center!

‘Tis the season for counting blessings, and here at the Ned Smith Center, we feel blessed to have such a loyal and caring network of members, supporters and friends. Your support and friendship makes it possible for us to do what we do: provide exciting and diverse programs that connect people to the arts and to our natural heritage.

If you appreciate our programs, we ask that you consider becoming a member of the Ned Smith Center. Not only does membership give you lots of perks, like free admission to many programs and great discounts on Center merchandise; but your membership makes YOU a stakeholder in our mission, a direct participant in the work that we do.

We hope you’ll join us – we have big plans for 2012, and YOU are a crucial part of those plans. Click here to become a member or renew an existing membership.

Thank you for all of your support, and we look forward to seeing you in 2012.

Sincerely,

The Ned Smith Center Staff

Calling all young artists!

We're proud to continue the 18th Annual Youth Art Contest. This year's theme is "North America's Natural Beauty," and submissions are being accepted until Wednesday, June 1, 2011.

Aspiring artists grades 1 through 12 (or equivalent) are encouraged to enter the contest - all entrants will receive a Ned Smith Center Signature Series patch. All art should feature wildlife or plants that are native to North America - any piece featuring non-native species will be disqualified.

Entries are categorized by the artist's age: grades 1-3, grades 4-6, grades 7-9 and grades 10-12. First, second, and third place winners and an honorable mention winner will be delected from each category. Certificates and ribbons will be awarded at the Ned Smith Center Nature and Arts Festival on July 30, 2011.

All entries must be submitted with an official entry form (available for download HERE) and complete contest rules are available on the Center's website.

Questions? Contact Beth Sanders, Director of Education at 717-692-3699.

Hope to see you at the Center soon!

Geocaching, native plants and hiking, oh my!

Happy spring, friends of the Center!

The weather is lovely, and we're itchin' to get outside! We have two great events this week to help you shake off winter's icy shackles for good.

First up is The Art of Geocaching with special guest Troy Caslow of Bass Pro Shops this Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. in the Center's Seraph Education Room. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. amilies are encouraged to join us for this fun-filled program as we learn how to get started in this family-fun sport while we discover if we have a geocache on the property of the Ned Smith Center. Admission is FREE to members and children under 12, $3 otherwise.

Then on Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. you can get your garden ready at our 13th Annual Native Plant Sale! The Center has teamed up with Meadowood Nursery for this annual tradition. The Plant Sale grown into one of the largest of its kind in central Pennsylvania, with more that 150 species of native wildflowers, ferns, grasses, trees and shrubs, all chosen for their beauty, hardiness and wildlife value. Native gardening experts will be on hand to answer questions and help you select the right plants for your gardens. All plants are nursery propagated.

And while you're here, be sure to check out the amazing progress on the construction of the Bradenbaugh-Hottenstein Arts and Education Collections Wing and take a hike on our trails!

For additional information on these events, visit our website or connect with us on a host of social media outlets, all listed below. Have a great day and we hope to see you soon!

Native Plant Sale - Saturday, May 14

Is your garden looking a little bleak? Brighten it up with native plants! The Center is holding its 13th Annual Native Plant Sale next Saturday, May 14, with a huge selection of beautiful native plants supplied by Meadowood Nursery in Hummelstown! The event is happening from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Center.

The Plant Sale grown into one of the largest of its kind in central Pennsylvania, with more that 150 species of native wildflowers, ferns, grasses, trees and shrubs, all chosen for their beauty, hardiness and wildlife value. Native gardening experts from the Ned Smith Center, Meadowood AND the Dauphin County Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and help you select the right plants for your gardens. All plants are nursery propagated.

Stop by and check out the fabulous selection of native plants and our progress on the Bradenbaugh-Hottenstein Arts and Education Collections Wing! Hope to see you next Saturday!

Construction update, summer camps and more!

Well, spring has sprung, and there's been LOTS of progress on the Bradenbaugh-Hottenstein Arts and Education Collections Wing! Oh, and construction on an ADA-accessible elevator has begun, thanks to a generous grant from Dauphin County.

Check out the photos below to see our progress!

This will be an elevator!

Siding on the back of the building



Entrance from the new Ned Smith Gallery into the Romberger Hallway Gallery



Stone facing!

Stay tuned for more updates on our progress as we near the end of this exciting project.

On a programming note, registration is officially OPEN for our 2011 Summer Camps! They're filling up quickly, so if you're looking for some summer edu-tainment for a budding young conservationist in your life, call the Center at 717-692-3699 or register online!

And there's no better place to enjoy beautiful weather than on our trails... come visit us soon!