BIOBLITZ AT MERCK FOREST & FARMLAND CENTER

Summer is in full swing at Merck Forest & Farmland Center in Rupert with family-friendly events and an expanding roster of classes on a variety of subjects.

One of the biggest events of the season is our BioBlitz, a free, 24-hour community event slated for 12:00 noon July 27 to 12:00 noon on July 28th, rain or shine. A stellar group of experts with expertise across eight disciplines will guide groups of visitors through Merck Forest's varied landscapes. They will lead the search for pollinators/insects, forest communities, reptiles/amphibians, invasive/native herbaceous plants, moths, birds and fungi, in a collective effort to document as much naturally-occurring life as possible in a 24-hour window. Professionals from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, North Branch Nature Center, Battenkill Watershed Invasive Species Management Area, Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation, and the U.S. Forest Service will participate.

Evening festivities on the 27th during the BioBlitz will include a community potluck supper, firefly viewing, owl-call and moth light sessions. MFFC is also offering a convenient area to tent ($5 per person) in the 30-acre field overlooking the farm for this special event; all group activities will begin and end at the Frank Hatch Sap House.

Event details, including a list of workshops and pre-registration for select activities can be found at www.merckforest.org, MFFC's Facebook page and on Eventbrite.com; search "Merck Forest". Pre-registration is not required for all activities but is available (and highly suggested) for others; otherwise participation for group-led activities will be on a first-come-first-served basis. The opportunity to explore and contribute on your own is encouraged.

BioBlitz is a family-friendly event -- there is no need to be an expert naturalist since both guides and MFFC staff will assist with identifying and submitting your discoveries. We will use iNaturalist and eBird software applications to document findings.

Please join us for this happy and safe summertime exploration of the natural world!