World Birding Center

956-681-3370

www.quintamazatlan.com

www.facebook.com/McAllenQuintaMazatlan

PROGRAMS

WELLS FARGO HOLIDAY CONCERT IN THE PARK | Thursday, Dec. 7 6:00-7:00pm | Tickets: $5. Pre-purchase recommended.Swing into the holiday season at Quinta Mazatlán. An annual tradition of music and cheer, this outdoor concert under the old oak on the front lawn of Quinta Mazatlán is sure to lift your holiday spirit.

SANTA’S ENCHANTED FOREST | Saturday, December 169am-Noon | Tickets: $5. (Under 2 free.)Bring your camera and get a special photo with Santa. Enjoy holiday arts and crafts, “snow” flurries, face painting, and a special trail walk with creatures of the forest, and special inflatable holiday characters.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY DISCOVERY DAYSThanksgiving Holidays | 11-Noon & 2-3pm | $3 November 24 Tip of Texas Topograhy Friday Learn about the Valley’s “big picture” using Quinta’s new topographical map, where children can help build the scene using hands-on small-scale models. November 25 Survivor Skills Saturday Learn to make rope, build a fire and trap animals using survival techniques and nature materials. December HolidaysDecember 27 Watercolor Wednesday Paint a creature or nature scape using a creative watercolor stencil technique. December 28 Thornforest Thursday A special close-up look at the features on the creatures in our thornforest. Look at skulls, bones, scales, furs, feathers, beaks, feet, and more. December 29 Feathery Fun Foto Friday Bring your camera or borrow one from Quinta, and head out on a guided photography walk to find birds and other amazing photo ops in the forest.December 30 Survivor Skills Saturday Learn to make rope, build a fire and trap animals using survival techniques and nature materials.

THURSDAY EVENING SPEAKER SERIES | 6-7pm | $3 Enjoy a wealth of knowledge from experts around the Valley as they share information about the region’s nature, culture and people.

PRESENTING SPONSOR THURMOND EYE ASSOCIATES

October 5 Landscaping with Native Plants Mike Heep October 12 Birds of the Rio Grande Valley Tony Henehan October 19 Special Event: Planta Nativa! Doug Tallamy October 26 Cooking with Natives Benito Trevino November 2 Mexican Folk Art Rachel Brown November 9 Staying Safe in the African Bee Zone Louis Slayton November 16 Birding Trails Texas – Gulf Coast Jim Foster November 23 Closed for Thanksgiving. November 30 Mozna Chocolatier Denise Gonzalez & Tamara Anderson December 7 Holiday Concert in the Park ($5) Sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank December 14 Valley Butterflies John Yochum CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM | 10-11amFree with park admission.Every Saturday for an hour, citizens become scientists, in this unique program that helps scientific researchers collect data. Quinta Mazatlan’s Urban Ecologist will instruct you how to measure, collect, or survey for the topic of the week. Research varies from surveying trees, butterflies, birds, reptiles, insects and others.

ADULTS AND FAMILIES

(Large groups should call ahead to allow for proper preparations.)

MAKING

SPECIAL

(AGES: 6-18) DISCOVERY DAYS Saturdays | 11-Noon & 2-3pm | $3 Scout groups and families with school age children will discover a world of information about a different nature topic each month at the Discovery Center Museum. Activities vary from nature investigations with microscopes, to plant studies, animal studies, ecosystem models, and a craft. October Saturdays Butterfly Gardens: Monarchs & Milkweed November Saturdays Backyard Bird Habitat December Saturdays Decorate the Holiday Nature Tree

VOLUNTEER PROGRAMWednesdays and Saturdays | 8:30am-Noon Join other caring community members that contribute back to the earth, on any Wednesday or Saturday morning from 8:30 am to noon. Work outside in the gardens, inside with program preps, or assist at a special event. All ages welcome. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

TOTS & PRESCHOOLERS SCHOOL AGE AND FAMILIES(AGES: 1-3) NATURE TOTS | Saturdays | 9:30-10:30am | $3 Follow your child’s imagination as they explore the feelings, shapes, sounds, and movements of nature in a nature playground set up with a different weekly theme. It’s a special program designed specifically with our youngest visitors in mind. Nature Feelings Nov. 4 Dec.2 Nature Kitchen Oct. 14 Nov. 11 Dec.9 Nature Machines Oct. 21 Nov. 18 Dec.16 Nature Sounds Oct. 28 Nov.25 Dec. 23

(AGES: 3-5) BUCKETS OF FUN | Thursdays | 10-11am | $3 Preschool children and their parents will have buckets of fun with hands-on, nature-inspired lessons filled with song, discovery, socializing, movement, exploration and a craft. October 5 Fun with Sticks and Stones October 12 Fun with Water and Dirt October 19 Fun with Critters that Crawl and Fly October 26 Fun with Hollows (and Halloween!) November 2 Fun with Leaves and Trees November 9 Fun with Feathers and Birds November 16 Fun with Nature’s Thanksgiving Feast November 23 No program – Thanksgiving November 30 Fun with Nature’s Sounds and Feelings December 7 Fun with Furs and Mammal Features December 14 Fun with Reptiles & Slithery Creatures December 21 Fun with Nature Decorations

(AGES: 4-11) LIL’ EXPLORERS Tuesdays & Wednesdays (upon reservation) | 10-11:30am | $5 Take a guided child-friendly history tour of Quinta Mazatlan, followed by a walk through the thornforest to learn about its features and creatures. The program starts with a nature story and ends with a craft. A special program for daycares, home schools, or parents with pre-school and school age children.

ADULTS AND FAMILIESONE-HOUR TOURSFREE with admission (Private group tours available | $5 per person; Min. $50).

GARDEN TOUR | 10-11am | WednesdaysWalk with a garden expert and listen to interesting stories about Valley plants with a different theme each month: October: Native Plant Celebration November: Butterfly Gardening December: Bird CafeBRONZE SCULPTURE TOUR | 10-11am | Thursdays Quinta Mazatlán’s one-of-a kind outdoor Forest Sculpture Trail helps visitors develop an appreciation for the vast variety of creatures that call our region home. The guided tours visit over 35 bronze sculptures, created by local artist Douglas Clark.HISTORY TOUR | 10-11am | Fridays Tour one of the largest adobe homes in the state of Texas. Hear the colorful tales of the families that lived at Quinta Mazatlán before the City of McAllen opened it in 2006 as a mansion with a mission.SONGBIRD STROLL | 8:30 - 10am | Saturdays Join an experienced bird guide who will take you through the thorn forest, to Ebony Grove, wildlife ponds, the cactus garden and even around the historic home where a multitude of birds find habitat. Kiskadees, Thrushes, Green Jays, Chachalacas, Thrashers, Hummingbirds, and over 250 other species have been seen at QM.

LOW ROPES CHALLENGE COURSE Bring your business staff, social organization, sports team or even family reunion for a life-long rewarding experience at the Quinta Mazatlan Low Ropes Challenge Course. Certified facilitators will guide your group through various team-building, leadership and problem-solving “elements” designed to use physical challenge activities as metaphors for real-life interpersonal challenges. (For ages 16 and above.) Reservations only. 3-hour event $20/person ($200 minimum) 4-hour event $30/person ($300 minimum) 5-hour event $50/person ($500 minimum) The urban sanctuary works to enrich

people's lives by sharing knowledge aboutbirds, plants and environmental

stewardship in South Texas.