Bird walk for families, 1 p.m., Nov. 8, Black Hill Regional Park, 20925 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds. All ages. Free. 301-916-0220.

Owens Creek Campground open for family camping through Nov. 15, Catoctin Mountain Park, Thurmont . 301-663-9388.

Hikes

Soldiers Delight NEA hike, Wednesday, with the Mountain Club of Md. 410-484-0275.

Fall colors hike, 1 p.m., Nov. 8, ages 10 and older, Bear Branch Nature Center, 300 John Owings Road, Westminster. $5 person. 410-848-2517.

Appalachian Trail hike, Nov. 14, with the Frederick Ski Club. Six-mile point-to-point hike begins at U.S. 40 with stops at scenic vistas. Details: traildave@hotmail.com or 240-777-7741.

Nature walks for adults and older children, 1 p.m., first Sunday of the month, naturalist-led hikes, with the Audubon Naturalist Society, Rust Sanctuary, 802 Children's Center Road, Leesburg, Va. Free. 703-737-0021.

Birds and butterflies

Bird walk, 8 a.m. Wednesday, ages 12 and older, National Wildlife Visitor Center, Powder Mill Road between the B/W Pkwy. and Md. 197, Laurel. Free. 301-497-5887.

Raptor photo shoot, 9 a.m. adults only, 10 a.m. all ages, Saturday, Bear Branch Nature Center, 300 John Owings Road, Westminster. $10 person. 410-848-2517.

Owl prowl, 4:30 p.m., ages 10 and older, Nov. 13, Bear Branch Nature Center, 300 John Owings Road, Westminster. $5 person. 410-848-2517.

Van trip to Hawk Mountain, Pa., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Nov. 14, sponsored by Frederick County Parks and Rec. Trip departs from and returns to Fountain Rock Park, 8516 Fountain Rock Court, Walkersville . Ages 12 and older. BYO lunch, water and money for dinner on return trip. $25. Register at 301-60-2936.

Frederick Bird Club meets first Thursday of the month, 7 p.m., C. Burr Artz Library, East Patrick Street, Frederick . At the Nov. 5 meeting, Wil Hershberger will present "The Songs of Insects." 301-831-6315.

Carroll County bird club meets 7:30 p.m., first Wednesday of the month. At the Wednesday meeting, Marcia Balestri will talk about birding in Cuba. Meet at Carroll Senior Center, 125 Stoner Ave., Westminster. 410-795-3117.

Other activities

Orienteering (map and compass reading), 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 21 and 22, Catoctin Mountain Park visitor center, Md. 77, Thurmont . Class room and on-hands instruction. Free. Register at 301-663-9388.

Trail work trips, 10 a.m., Nov. 8 and 22, Cunningham Falls State Park, Thurmont , with the West Chapter of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Nov. 8, meet at the Cliff Trail parking lot. Entrance fee waived for workers; free waterproof map to first-time volunteers. westpatc@hotmail.com

Strawberry Hill's annual auction dinner, Nov. 14. Auction to include stained glass art, photos, paintings, woodwork, B&B getaways, more. 1537 Mount Hope Road, Fairfield, Pa. Tickets $40. info@strawberryhill.org or 717-642-5840.

Cresap Rifle Club, open to the public 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Located on Plant Road. Pistol range; rifle and black powder range 50 and 100 yards; shotguns slug only. Donation of $2 per shooter and $1 for each target you shoot (provided by the club). 301-662-0443 or 301-662-6669.

Tuscarora Gun Club, Md. 28 near Point of Rocks , open to the public 6 to 9 p.m. on Mondays for skeet shooting, 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays for skeet and trap shooting, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays for skeet and trap shooting. 301-874-2620.

Hunter education classes

These classes require registration. Students under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Nov. 9, Mount Airy , IWLA, 6642 Woodville Road, Mount Airy . 301-698-5277.

Thursday to Saturday, Frederick IWLA, 4719 Reels Mill Road, Frederick . 301-473-7210.

Send items for Compass to: Compass/Travel & Outdoors section, The News-Post, 351 Ballenger Center Drive, Frederick MD 21703; fax 301-662-8299; or e-mail to sguynn@newspost.com. Items submitted for publication must be received at least 10 days prior to publication.

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