On Saturday, March 21, the Audubon Community Nature Center will investigate “Otter and Bramble,” two of The Lost Words in the award-winning book written by Robert Macfarlane and illustrated by Jackie Morris. The river otter pictured with a fish in its mouth was photographed at Audubon by Jeff Tome, senior nature educator.

The otter as well as the bramble will be featured at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Audubon Community Nature Center’s “The Lost Words: Otter and Bramble.”

Naming things has a power all its own, as Robert Macfarlane discovered when certain words went missing from the popular Oxford Junior Dictionary. Many nature words were among those lost from children’s vocabulary. In partnership with illustrator Jackie Morris, Macfarlane wrote the multiple award-winning The Lost Words, a book of spells to conjure back 20 of these words. The program will feature Otter and Bramble.

Based on the book, participants will hear the spell, speak the spell, and through a variety of activities conjure back these two natural elements to take their rightful place in both culture and heart.

Continuing on the third Saturday of the month through 2020, this series uses poetry, music, and art to strengthen participants’ emotional connection to nature.

Space is limited. The cost is $8, $6 for members and children ages 9-15.

Paid reservations are required by Thursday, March 19, by calling 569-2345 during business hours or going to AudubonCNC.org/Programs and clicking through “Current Schedule.”

The Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. The three-story Nature Center contains interactive displays, a collection of live animals, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop; building hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

The 600-acre wetland preserve with its more than five miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, and Liberty, the non-releasable Bald Eagle, can be visited from dawn until dusk daily.