Tupper Lake, NY – To kick-off 2011’s Wild Winter Weekends, The Wild Center is hosting a whole day of family fun, including live animal programs, craft projects, story time, face painting and snowshoe treks on Saturday, January 8th, 2011. An added bonus? Kids under 16 are FREE!

There will be a live Adirondack Mammal program in the late morning and a live Raptor program (featuring red tail hawks, owls, and kestrels) in the afternoon. Special showings of BBC ‘Life’ and Ride of the Mergansers will be shown the Flammer Theater. The day will also include two story times with local Storyteller Karen Glass, sharing her tales about Adirondack animals and the wild Adirondack winter. Karen was born about 1,000 years ago and has lived many lives; wizard, activist, teacher, gardener, mother, grandmother, librarian, and quilter. The lives come together now in her storytelling manifestation.

There is something for every member of the family – otter encounters, feature films and the free use of snowshoes for exploring the trails on your own or on a guided naturalist hike.

This will also be the final opportunity to purchase the new Wild Center Winter Season Pass AND it will be available for purchase onsite at the online discounted price of $29.95 for an individual and $55.95 for a family. (Normal onsite purchase price is $38 for an individual and $65 for a family.)

The Wild Center has unveiled a new Winter Season Pass for residents and frequent visitors to the Adirondacks. With something happening every weekend during the winter months, the season pass is valid for unlimited visits from January until Memorial Day weekend. There are over 50 days that you can use the Season Pass. Pass holders can also take advantage of regular special sale discounts at the Center’s store. Please visit www.wildcenter.org/pass to purchase your Winter Season Pass at the online price today.

On Sunday, January 9th, 2011 at 1:00pm join The Wild Center for the first Family Art and Nature Program of the winter – Marvelous Mammals. Learn about life from a mammal’s perspective and discover smells, sights and sounds in a whole new way. Following your up-close observations, take a step in a mammal’s shoes by making your own animal feet, ears and more.

The Wild Center is open throughout the winter on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm and during the entire week of President’s Day. The Wild Center is closed during the month of April.