MEDIA PREVIEW FOR LANDMARK PARK JAN, FEB, MARCH 2017

MONDAY-FRIDAY, JANUARY • PLANETARIUM SPECIAL Half price planetarium shows for preregistered school groups only. Call 334-794-3452 to register. 

JANUARY 21 • BLUEBIRD WORKSHOP 10 a.m. Interpretive Center Classroom.  Dr. Gary Manfready will be back to conduct the Bluebird Workshop featuring new and updated information based on the recent findings regarding bluebird populations in recent years. Dr. Manfready is a member of the North American Bluebird Society and has contributed two articles for publication in their quarterly journal. He currently maintains four bluebird trails in Houston and Dale County including the one at Landmark Park and has a total of 75 boxes. His main focus is on population numbers and successful fledgling numbers in diverse environmental habitats. Registration required. Free with paid gate admission. 

JANUARY 28 • HUMMINGBIRD WORKSHOP 10 a.m. Interpretive Center Auditorium. Fred Basset will present the popular program on Hummingbirds. Bassett is a licensed bird bander specializing in the banding of hummingbirds and is the president of Hummingbird Research. This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the study and preservation of hummingbirds and neo-tropical migrants. Fred Bassett is known throughout the southeast for his work with the “jewels of the air.” He will share his extensive knowledge of this little bird along with facts about nesting habits, food and caring for the feeders, as well as its migration pattern. Registration required. Free with paid gate admission. 

JANUARY 28 • SEED SWAP Hosted by Wiregrass Master Gardeners. Gardeners are encouraged to bring samples of their favorite seeds to exchange with others. The park is especially interested in obtaining heirloom seeds. Free with paid gate admission.

JANUARY 30 • ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DINNER 6 p.m. Dinner for Dothan Landmarks Foundation members celebrating 40 years of Landmark Park. Recap of 2016, new board members, and Volunteer of the Year and Heritage Award winners announced. Stokes Activity Barn. Advance tickets required.

FEBRUARY 4 • BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHY 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Taught by the Southeast Alabama Photography and Adventure Club. This workshop will focus on BASIC camera and photographic techniques. Registration will start at 9 a.m. in the Interpretive Center Classroom and the fee to attend is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Registration is limited to participants ages 12 and older, with a maximum of 20 participants. Participants should bring; DSLR Camera (no “Point & Shoot” cameras), extra batteries, the camera’s manual (read your manual before you come), a clean media card, tripod if you have one, umbrella, and a sacked lunch and drink for the day. With the nature of this basic course, participants will have to adjust the Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO settings of their camera. Please call the park office at 334- 794-3452 to register. 

FEBRUARY 11-12 • FOLK ARTS WORKSHOPS Dedicated to introducing participants to a variety of folk crafts and skills. The weekend will include two sessions on Saturday and one session on Sunday. Participants will be able to choose a different topic of interest for each session. Each session will last up to three hours and a hands-on element will be included. Session topics will range in variety, and will include hearth cooking, dulcimer playing, quilting, sacred harp singing, Dutch oven cooking, gourd painting and more, with a final schedule posted on our website by the first of January. Participants will be able to sign up for individual sessions, and there will be an option to include lunch. Registration is required and can be made by calling the park office at 334-794-3452. Session prices will vary depending on supplies needed and will range from $20-$30 each.

FEBRUARY 17 • ASTRONOMY NIGHT Visitors will get a view of several stars and planets as well as the Orion nebula through telescopes and binoculars on the Gazebo lawn. Staff members will help point out winter constellations and visitors will even get the chance to experience a “starry” hayride and campfire. Nightwalks will take place on the boardwalk. Warm up in the Interpretive Center after stargazing and enjoy snacks and a program in the planetarium where you will get the chance to learn more about the night sky. Planetarium programs are not recommended for children under 5. Space for the event is limited. Reservations are required. Admission is $4 for members, $5 for scouts and their leaders in uniform and $7 for nonmembers and free for children 5 and under. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are welcome. Astronomy Night meets several requirements for the Astronomy Badge. Reservations are required. 334-794-3452.

FEBRUARY 24-25 • QUILT RETREAT Snowball blocks use straight lines to make things appear round. At the Landmark Park Quilt Retreat we will learn how to make several kinds of snowball blocks and use them in many ways to make quilts. Several choices will be available. Accuquilt cutter will also be available to make your cutting a breeze. Call 334-794-3452 with your name and phone number to register for the retreat. Cost TBA. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. and 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

MARCH 4 • INTERMEDIATE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Taught by the Southeast Alabama Photography and Adventure Club. This workshop will focus on intermediate camera and photographic techniques. Registration will start at 9 a.m. in the Interpretive Center Classroom and the fee to attend is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Registration is limited to participants ages 12 and older, with a maximum of 20 participants. Participants should bring; DSLR Camera (no “Point & Shoot” cameras), extra batteries, the camera’s manual (read your manual before you come), a clean media card, tripod if you have one, umbrella, and a sacked lunch and drink for the day. Please call the park office at 334- 794-3452 to register.

MARCH 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23 • LIVING HISTORY *Costumed Program!!* Give your students the experience of living and working on a Wiregrass Farmstead in the early 1900s.  Students will get the opportunity to cook on the hearth, make butter, care for the farm animals, help in the garden and more!  Costumed in period dress, students will be divided into small groups in order to participate at the different workstations.  This half-day program will conclude with lunch (prepared by the students) at the Waddell House, traditional games, a hay ride, and an ice cream cone served from the Martin Drugstore. **Due to the hands on nature of this program, classes are limited to a maximum of 30 students and a minimum of 20 students. Cost: $15/student (includes lunch) Program Length: 4 hours (9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) Recommended age group: 3rd-6th. Preregistered school groups only. 

MARCH 17 • RURAL HERTIAGE DAY On this day, this Wiregrass Farmstead will come to life with craftsmen and demonstrators.  Students will get a glimpse into the day-to-day life of a turn-of-the-century Wiregrass family.  Students will witness and participate in sheep shearing, wool washing, planting with mules and much more! Cost: $8/student Program Length: 4 hours (9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) Recommended age group: 3P-5th grade. Preregistered school groups only. 

MARCH 18 • SPRING FARM DAY Turn back the clock 100 years and experience living history demonstrations of sheep shearing, blacksmithing, plowing with mules, basket weaving, quilting and other traditional springtime farm activities. Entertainment will include an “Old Time Fiddlers Convention” and traditional music. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and active military, $4 for kids, free for members and children 2 and under. 

MARCH 18 • PHOTO EXHIBIT OPENING Special photography exhibit by Larry and Patti Puckett featuring photos of Landmark Park. On display in the Interpretive Center. Free with paid gate admission. 

MARCH 27-31 • SPRING FAMILY DAYS Variety of 2-hour programs offered at 9 a.m., featuring activities such as building bluebird houses, making a sundae at the soda fountain, and more.  Planetarium shows at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Nature walks at 2 p.m.; Farm animal feeding at 4 p.m. each day. Check www.landmarkparkdothan.com for detailed schedule. 

FIRST SATURDAYS • WIREGRASS WOODTURNERS 9:30 a.m. Open to the public. Free with paid gate admission. Ag Building. 

FIRST SATURDAYS • LANDMARK DULCIMER CLUB 1 p.m. Must have a dulcimer. Classroom. Free with paid gate admission. 

SECOND SUNDAYS • REPTILE FEEDING 4 p.m. Classroom. Free with paid gate admission. 

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