On Saturday morning, May 11, Audubon Community Nature Center Little Explorers and their adults become “Decomposition Detectives.”

Plants and animals can’t live forever and eventually every living thing breaks down, contributing to the building blocks in the environment.

Adults and their 3 to 8-year-old(s) are invited to be “Decomposition Detectives” along with other Audubon Community Nature Center Little Explorers on Saturday, May 11, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The decomposition process doesn’t happen on its own. Fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates do the dirty work of decomposing living matter and recycling it back into the earth to become something new. After a short indoor lesson learning about different types of decomposers and why their work is so important, the group will head outside to look for evidence of decomposition.

The group will use detective skills to see if they can find the organisms responsible for this incredible process, and along the way hold some worms, find insects crawling under logs, and explore the colors and textures of fungus.

A snack is provided after the hike and a craft is offered if there is time.

Little Explorers takes place rain or shine, so those attending should dress for the weather.

The fee is $12 for adults, $9 for children ages 3-8 and Nature Center members. Enrollment is limited to 15 children, 30 participants total. To make a paid reservations required by Thursday, May 9, call 716-569-2345 during business hours or go to AudubonCNC.org and click through Programs and Events.

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. Visit the nearly 600-acre nature preserve, check in on the live birds of prey, and hike the more than five miles of trails dawn until dusk daily for free.

The three-story Nature Center building houses interactive displays, a collection of live animals including the Hellbender exhibit, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors are welcome Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Nature Center members and SNAP/EBT cardholders have free building admission daily. Building admission is also free every Sunday for non-Nature Center members.

To learn more about Audubon and its programs, call 716-569-2345, find Audubon Community Nature Center on Facebook, or visit AudubonCNC.org.