APEC's September Events Include Little Neck Bay Festival, Fly Fishing Class

Alley Pond Environmental Center’s September events include everything from a cooking class and a course on fly fishing to an annual event at Little Neck Bay.

The center, located at 228-06 Northern Blvd. in Douglaston, will offer its animal care trainee program for children between the ages of 8 and 12 years on Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The event, which is $21 per child and limited to eight participants, will give attendees a hands-on experience in brushing, feeding and cleaning animals.

Also on Sept. 7, APEC will host a workshop during which participants will learn weather basics to measure humidity and dew points. Visitors will also learn how to read a weather map and create their own portable cloud activity.

The program is aimed at adults, but children above the age of 9 years can attend. It will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and costs $24 per person.

The center will host a reading of Martin Waddell’s “The Happy Hedgehog Band” on Sept. 7 and 21 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Children, ages 3 and 4 years, will learn about animals, make crafts and play in a marching band during the event, which costs $18 per child.

Storytime Safari: Bouncing Bunnies, which is aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 7 years, will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 14.

The event, which is $18 per child, will include a bunny-related story, crafts, snacks, a trail walk and a visit by a rabbit.

APEC’s Young Discovers Club will take place on Sept. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event will teach participants, ages 8 to 12 years, about candy colors. The event, which is $24 per child, will include a snack.

On Sept. 15, APEC will host a class for toddlers between the ages of 18 and 36 months during which they will learn about nature, meet live animals and take part in art projects and trail walks.

The course, which is $16 per child, runs from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

During APEC’s Young Chefs class, participants will make Apple Brown Betty, which combines McIntosh apples, butter, diced bread and brown sugar.

The class is aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 12 years. It will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sept. 21 and costs $24 per child.

On Sept. 21, Mark Freilich will teach an astronomy course that includes an outdoor lecture and views of Saturn, the Plietes Star Cluster and the Orion Nebula.

The program, which costs $16 per adult and $7 per child, is meant for adults and children above the age of 9 years. It will begin at 8 p.m.

APEC’s Fly Fishing 101 class will be held on Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. The class, which costs $21 per adult and $7 for children ages 8 years and above, will include instruction on equipment, casting, knots and rigging. All participants should bring a hat and pair of sunglasses.

A children’s nature photography class will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sept. 22 and 29.

The program, which is $66 per child, will teach the basics of composition with disposable cameras. Attendees will be able to snap shots during a nature walk as well as create frames and develop film.

And APEC’s annual National Estuaries Day Festival will be held on Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Little Neck Bay.