Legacy Institute for the Environment (LIFE)
CBEC’S ADULT EDUCATION SERIES
CBEC is adapting its LIFE adult education program for 2025 to better accommodate participants’ busy schedules. Previously structured as a six-week series, the program will now feature individual classes periodically throughout the year. Some classes are half-day, others are full-day.
Sign up for the dates that fit your availability. Class size is limited. Unless otherwise indicated, the cost for each class is $25 for CBEC members, $30 for non-members.
2025 Calendar
- SHELL, Yeah! Turtles and Terrapins Are Awesome, Tuesday, July 1, noon to 3 pm
- CBEC’s Aquatic Life, Part 1: Crabs, Fish, SAV and Other Surprises, Wednesday, August 20, 10 am to 2:30 pm
- The Bug: Architect of an Ecosystem, Tuesday, September 9, 10 am to 2 pm
- Nature’s Toolbox: The Hammer and Chisel, Thursday, November 6, 1 to 3 pm
Classes are being added throughout the year, so watch this space. SIGN UP NOW FOR:
SHELL, Yeah! Turtles and Terrapins Are Awesome
July 1, 2025, noon to 3 pm. Bring your own lunch and drink.
If you see a turtle on top of a fence post … you know it needed help (a famous quote by Unknown). We won’t see one atop a fence post, unless we stage it, but we will search for and find some turtles in CBEC’s swale habitats. Join Judy Wink for a humorous take on CBEC’s turtle and terrapin population, and gain a little knowledge of these herps on the side.
Judy will discuss CBEC’s turtles and terrapins and where to find them on the property, then go afield for a “look see.” This adventure will include how to handle a turtle safely—for your sake and the turtle’s. We will start with lunch (please bring it) and a short indoor presentation, then head outdoors for our turtle hunt. (Wear closed-toe shoes—the ground may be a little mushy).
CBEC’s Aquatic Life, Part 1: Crabs, Fish, SAV and Other Surprises
August 20, 2025, 10 am to 2:30 pm. Bring your own lunch and drink.
Come explore CBEC’s aquatic life with fish biologist Rudy Lukacovic. He’ll be joined by additional guest speakers as we learn about all the animals and plants that inhabit CBEC’s brackish waters.
Rudy will talk about his favorite fish, and we’ll learn about crabs and the submerged aquatic vegetation that thrives in a healthy Bay environment. After lunch, we’ll trek down to CBEC’s beach and, using dip nets and seine nets, discover all kinds of aquatic life. Every net brings up different surprises. Be ready to get your feet wet and possibly wade into thigh-deep water with a sandy bottom. Water shoes are recommended.
The Bug: Architect of an Ecosystem
September 9, 2025, 10 am to 2 pm. Bring your own lunch and drink.
Mike Raupp, professional entomologist and engaging speaker, will talk about “everything you ever wanted to know about bugs,” and then take us afield for a bug hunt. You will learn about bug categories: predaceous bugs, stinging and biting bugs, butterflies and more, in his informative and humorous explanation of what’s bugging us. You will master the sweep net technique when you go out to locate bugs—it’s easy!
This will be a fun learning experience that moves you up in knowledge of bug architects. Dress for the weather, including closed-toe shoes.
Nature’s Toolbox: The Hammer and Chisel
November 6, 2025, 1 to 3 pm
Did you know a Pileated Woodpecker’s tongue stretches up to 4 inches, wraps all the way around its brain when not in use and anchors near its right nostril? Wild, right? And here’s the twist—despite that impressive setup, it actually has the shortest tongue in its woodpecker family!
Join naturalist Judy Wink for a lively presentation diving into the fascinating world of our local woodpeckers—their quirky behaviors, how to identify them and surprising facts that’ll leave you wide-eyed. Afterward, we’ll head outdoors for a relaxed half-hour walk to explore woodpecker homes and feeding spots in the field. This is a fun indoor/outdoor event, so dress for the weather and get ready to discover the hidden lives of these incredible birds!
