Submitted Photo Audubon Community Nature Center’s annual Christmas with the Critters is Wednesday, December 29. The morning event includes live animals, making a holiday gift for the wild critters, a behind-the-scenes eagle tour, and more. A virtual program is offered in the afternoon. Audubon Nature Educator Chelsea Jandreau is pictured describing animal specimens and artifacts to young visitors.

The Audubon Community Nature Center is having a holiday open house that is all about the animals, celebrating Christmas with the Critters on Wednesday, Dec. 29.

Area residents can come to the nature center for a live experience between 10 and 11:30 a.m. or enjoy the animals virtually from 2 to 3 p.m.

In the morning there will be live animals out and ready to visit, animal specimens and artifacts to explore, a craft station to make a holiday gift for the wild critters, a behind-the-scenes eagle tour and mini-presentations about the live animals every half hour.

Those who can’t make the morning event can visit some animals virtually in the afternoon. Meet a few of Audubon’s critters on-screen, learn about their lives, and ask questions. Animals will include a variety of reptiles and amphibians. A Zoom link will be included in your receipt.

Face coverings are required for all visitors ages 3 and up for indoor events.

Admission for either program is $8 for adults, $6 for Nature Center members and children ages 3 to 15, and free for children two and under.

Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are appreciated for the morning live experience. To register for either program, call the Nature Center at 569-2345 or go to AudubonCNC.org and click through “Upcoming Programs.”

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. Dawn to dusk daily you can hike, snowshoe and cross country ski the six miles of trails, view Liberty, Audubon’s non-releasable Bald Eagle, and enjoy the outdoor Nature Play Area, all for free.

The three-story Nature Center building houses interactive displays, a collection of live animals including the Hellbender exhibit, the 2021 Nature Photography Contest winners, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors are welcome Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Nature Center members enjoy free building admission daily, and building admission is free every Sunday for non-Nature Center members as well.

The building will be closed on Christmas Eve and Day and New Year’s Day.

Audubon takes into consideration regional data from both Chautauqua and Warren counties to make COVID-19 related decisions and to follow CDC recommendations at minimum. To review ACNC’s most up-to-date COVID-19 requirements, which include information on face coverings and gathering limitations, visit AudubonCNC.org and read the COVID-19 Notice at the top of the page.

To learn more about Audubon and its programs, call 569-2345, find Audubon Community Nature Center on Facebook, or visit AudubonCNC.org.