APEC's November Classes Cover Autumn Leaves, Veterinary Care

Alley Pond Environmental Center will offer classes on autumn leaves, veterinary care and astronomy in November.

The Douglaston center, located at 228-06 Northern Blvd., will hold two classes for children that involve the changing colors of the leaves during the fall.

Young Discoverers: As the Leaf Turns will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 2.

The class, which is $24 per participant and aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 12 years, will discuss why trees change color during the autumn and issues pertaining to chromatography. A snack will be included.

Lovely Leaves, which is $21 per child and is meant for ages 3 and 4 years, will be held on Nov. 2 and 16 at 1:30 p.m. This program, which includes a snack, will enable participants to learn how trees prepare for winter.

Youngsters will be able to gather leaves and create a wreath as well as meet leaf-eating animals.

The center will kick off an autumn watercolor workshop series at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 8. The classes, which cost $125, are for artists of all levels and ages.

Teacher Lynda Spielman will instruct attendees on watercolor techniques and show students how to create landscape and floral paintings. A material supply list will be provided during pre-registration.

APEC’s animal care trainee program will begin at noon on Nov. 9. The class, which is $21, is meant for children between the ages of 8 and 12 years.

Participants will have hands-on experience in feeding, brushing, cleaning and learning about the center’s animals.

Storytime Safara: Terrific Turkeys will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. It includes a nature-related story, crafts, a snack, trail walk and meeting an animal.

The class is split into two groups – ages 3 to 4 years and 5 to 7 years – and costs $18.

APEC Adventure Hour: Fall Fun will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 and costs $16.

The class will allow toddlers and their parents to learn about nature and include live animals, art projects, trail walks and music. The program is aimed at children, ages 18 to 36 months.

The center’s Vet Tech 101 class, which is $23 per child, will be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16.

The program will teach attendees about the specialized skills required to keep APEC’s animals healthy, such as eye examinations and checking teeth, gums and ears.

The class is aimed at youths, ages 10 to 13 years.

Star Safari Astronomy Adventure will be held on Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Astronomer Mark Freilich will lead the course, which includes views of the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy, Big Dipper, Jupiter and Sirius as well as an indoor interactive question and answer session.

The program, which costs $16 per adult and $7 per child, is aimed at adults, but children above the age of 9 years can attend with a parent.

APEC’s Young Chefs class, which costs $29, will teach attendees how to make sweet potato soufflé and sautéed broccoli, which will be given to a family in need for Thanksgiving.

All materials are included. The class is for children, ages 7 to 12 years, and begins at 10:30 a.m.

And the center’s Scientifically Speaking: Popcorn Science, which begins at 1 p.m. and costs $24, will teach attendees about what makes a popcorn kernel pop.

The class, which begins at 1 p.m., includes an experiment and a discussion on popcorn. The program is aimed at children, ages 9 years and above.