On Monday July 28, 9-11:30 a.m., join Hidden Valley Nature Center naturalist Chuck Dinsmore for a class called “Little Dyer Pond Ecology.” The course is meant to be a general overview of common pond ecology in Maine, but will rely extensively on field observations and site specific findings at HVNC.

Visitors will learn about common plant and animal associates in freshwater ponds and lakes, and will have a chance to observe and collect specimens both in the water and on shore. Abutting the open water at Little Dyer Pond are several other wetland habitat types. The group will visit some of the adjacent wetlands to learn about how they influence lake ecology and vice versa.

This class will lay the ground work for the final two classes in HVNC’s summer naturalist series. On Sunday August 3, 1-3 p.m., visitors are invited to a naturalist session entitled “Freshwater Macroinvertebrates at HVNC” with Dr. Dan Townsend, and Sunday, August 10, 1-3 p.m., join Ted Elliman of the New England Wildflower Society for a session called “Wetland Plants: A Closer Look.” As a capstone to the summer naturalist series at HVNC. Elliman will offer some deeper insight into wetland associated plants and their adaptations.

Join us for one, or all, of this summer’s naturalist sessions. The suggested donation for each event is $10 for HVNC members and $12 for non-members. More information and details are available at www.hvnc.org/registration. HVNC is located at 131 Egypt Road in Jefferson.