June Activities at Hagerman NWR

YOUTH FIRST—Saturday, June 4, 2016—“Ants in Your Pants”

           

Ants!  Who invited them to the picnic?  Ants can communicate and cooperate by using chemicals that can alert others to danger or lead them to a promising food source.  “Ants in Your Pants” will be presented at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, June 4, 2016, from 10: 00-11:30 am. Children will learn about one of our hardest working insects!

Youth First programs are free and open to children from ages 4-12.  Children ages 4-7 will meet with Martha Coppedge and Holly Neal in the  Visitor Center Meeting Room and are to be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult.  Children  who are ages 8-12 should be brought to the Friends of Hagerman building where their program will be led by Linda Vandergriff Thoms and Cindy Steele. They will be walked back to the Visitor Center at the end of the session.

            Please  register children to ensure that enough materials are on hand for each child. Registration is still open and you may register online  as a Friends member, or as a guest.  (If you choose to become a member, please do so before starting the registration process.)  Children may also be registered by simply calling the refuge at 903-786-2826.  Registration deadline is Thursday, June 2, 2016, at 4:00pm.

BLUESTEM CHAPTER NATURE O’LOGY CAMP—Tuesday, June 7, 2016

The Bluestem Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists are providing a free one-day Nature O’logy Camp on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, from 8am to 4:30 pm.  Participants are invited to come explore the wild side of nature with certified Texas Master Naturalists learning about Birds, Butterflies, Fossils, Hiking and the principal of Leaving No Trace Behind, Nature Art, Ponds, Fish, Prairies and Water Cycles. 

The Nature O’logy Camp is open only to children ages 10-11 and registration is limited to 50 students.  Registration forms can be obtained by email.   The camp is being sponsored by Bluestem Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of Hagerman, and Twin Oaks Nursery.

GUIDED BIRD WALK--Saturday, June 11, 2016

Join Dr. Wayne Meyer on Saturday, June 11, 2016, from 8:00-9:30 am for a guided bird walk on one of the trails at Hagerman NWR.  Meet at the Visitor Center at 8:00 am.  Bring your binoculars or borrow ours.  Field guides and cameras are welcome.  You will return in time for the Second Saturday presentation.

SECOND SATURDAY—Saturday, June 11, 2016—“Taming the Raging Red - Building the Denison Dam”

In the past year, the Texoma area has focused on Denison Dam and lake flooding.  Have you ever wondered about when/how/why this dam was built?  On Saturday, June 11, 2016, from 10-11:30am Hagerman NWR will present the program “Building the Denison Dam.”  The speaker will be Gene Lenore who will present his documentary film “Denison Dam-Taming the Raging Red.” 

Premiering in October 2014 at the Rialto Theater in Denison, the documentary details the amazing history behind the construction of Denison Dam and the creation of Lake Texoma.  Following the film, Gene will explain how he was able to pull together archival footage for the production fo the film.

Gene Lenore, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster, holds a journalism degree from East Texas State University, now Texas A and M Commerce.   He worked as a reporter and editor on Texas newspapers. before joining WFAA-TV in Dallas as a writer/photographer.

            Gene entered the television news field as a writer/photographer at WFAA-TV in Dallas. Over the course of his broadcast career, he has served in the capacities of news director, news anchor, reporter, producer, assignments editor and public affairs producer and host.  Gene has also been a news writer for Voice of America and National Public Radio in Washington, DC.

Gene worked for a number of media outlets in the Sherman/Denison area including KIKM Radio, the Denison Herald, KTEN –TV and KXII – TV where he served as news director and anchor. In the late 1980s, he established a publishing company in Sherman that produced several local, regional and national publications.

Gene created a video production company, now operating as Gene Lenore Productions.  The company has produced several award winning videos. The company won a prestigious Telly Award for a DVD produced for Sherman High School.

            Working as a freelance television scriptwriter with Fiveson Entertainment he wrote or co-wrote a number of television documentaries for the Smithsonian Channel.

  

BUTTERFLY GARDEN WALK—Saturday, June 18, 2016

            Cross paths with the caterpillars and butterflies at Hagerman’s Butterfly Garden on Saturday, June 18, 2016, from 10:00-11:30 am.   Stroll through our garden.  Our garden docents will be on hand to help you identify native Texas plants and the butterflies they attract.  Bring your cameras to record your sightings.

FRIENDS OF HAGERMAN FUNDRAISER—Saturday, June 18 & Sunday, June 19, 2016

           

           CHILI'S (Sherman, Texas location only) is holding a “Give Back” event for the Friends of Hagerman to help them in their ongoing educational programs and facilities upgrades at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge.  The restaurant will donate 15% of the event day sales to Friends of Hagerman.  The event will be held on Saturday, June 18 from 10:45 am to 11 pm and Sunday from 10:45 am to 10 pm.  Diners will need to mention or present the flyer for this event.  For more information on this event, go to friendsofHagerman.com/activities.

TRAM TOURS—Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm - If the lake level permits!! Tram tours have been off an on all this year due to repeated flooding of Wildlife Drive and pad roads at the Refuge.  Call to inquire about registering for an open air guided tram tour aboard our all-electric Carlos and Eulalia Cardinal Express.  The 60-90 minute tours along Wildlife Drive at Hagerman NWR will be guided by one of our knowledgeable tour guides.   Tours are offered at 2:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting.  The tours are free but donations will be accepted. 

Seating is limited.  Standbys may be accepted on weekends if space is available. To register for the tours, call 903-786-2826.  To make your reservation or to cancel, please speak to a volunteer from 9 am to 4 pm on Monday to Saturday or from 1-5 pm on Sunday.  No dogs other than service animals are allowed aboard the tram.

            Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, Texas.  The Refuge Office is open Monday thru Friday from 7:30 am – 4 pm and Senior and Access passes are available during those hours.   The Visitor Center hours are 9am-4pm Monday through Saturday and from 1-5 pm on Sundays.  The Office and Visitor Center is closed on all Federal Holidays.  The Refuge lands are open daily from sunrise to sunset.  Areas may be temporarily closed for specific uses.  Please respect the signs.