Summer Camp Brochure Enclosed!

Summer 09 Voice of Asbury Woods Asbury Woods Update Award Winning Staff and Programs Welcome to Asbury Woods, Now Get Out(doors)! By Brian Winslow, Director I borrowed this slogan from a poster prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources a few years ago encouraging visitors to get outdoors. I think it’s a timely slogan with a renewed focus on wellness and environmental awareness highlighted in the book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder” by Richard Louv. By the way, Louv will be a featured speaker at Chautauqua Institute on July 1 and would be well worth the trip. Steve Wasiesky, PAEE Environmental Educator of the Year Award Recipient, Bonnie Barthelmes, Asbury Woods Environmental Educator and Brian Winslow, Nature Center Director accepting awards at the PAEE conference. Asbury Woods and the Millcreek Township School District received two awards at the annual state conference of the Pennsylvania Association for Environmental Educators this past March. Steve Wasiesky Environmental Education Coordinator was presented with the Outstanding Environmental Educator Award. This award is presented annually to “an individual who made a significant teaching contribution to the environmental education field”. Steve has made just such a significant contribution to Environmental Education, having worked and volunteered in the field for over 30 years at Asbury Woods. Congratulations Steve, we are proud of your accomplishment! The Outstanding Environmental Education Program Award was presented to Asbury Woods and the Millcreek Township School District. This award recognizes an exemplary environmental education program which could be used as a model program. The school district and nature center have worked together since the 1960’s to create an continued on page 2... The Erie Times News recognized in an editorial in May that we are fortunate to live in Erie where there are so many opportunities to get out(doors). There’s plenty to do outdoors here at Asbury Woods, whether it’s solitude you seek or a group learning experience. Here’s my top ten list: 1. Send a kid to one of our five nature day camps. They’re sure to get dirty, learn something new, make new friends and come home tired. 2. Sneak out of the house at dawn; find a quiet place and just chill. My favorite spots are the Monahan deck and the pedestrian bridge on the Greenway Trail. 3. If you’re a teacher, attend our Watershed Workshop. It’s essentially a Watershed Camp for Educators exploring our own Walnut Creek Watershed. 4. Pick up a digital camera and capture Nature’s beauty for yourself, try out a photography workshop for kids or adults, or explore on your own. 5. Grab some binoculars, get up early and take a bird hike. Join us for a group hike or venture out on your own. You’ll be surprised by what you see! 6. Put on some old sneakers and head out to Walnut Creek for a cool walk on a hot summer day. Join our Watershed Educator, or make your own discoveries. continued on page 2... Summer Camp Brochure Enclosed! continued on page 2... Fun for ages Pre-school -- 8th grade! Great Summer programs -- see details on Pages 3 - 6 1 Update continued from page 1... Welcome continued from page 1... exemplary environmental education curriculum for students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. Each year the nature center presents programs to over 10,000 students a year. Wetlands Initiatives Wetlands are one of our fastest disappearing habitats in Erie County, Northwest Pennsylvania and nationally. And the plants and animals that depend on wetlands are also threatened including; frogs, salamanders, turtles, dragon flies, ducks, geese and many species of wildflowers. Asbury Woods is working to do something about it! Through three wetlands projects, Asbury Woods Nature Center is working to protect wetlands, educate students about the value of wetlands and improves access through wetland habitats: Asbury Woods Teaching Deck And Boardwalk The existing boardwalk and small deck is rotting and sinking into the swamp and the open water habitat is in need of restoration. A conceptual plan calls for replacing the existing boardwalk and building an enlarged teaching deck featuring a lab station. During construction, the wetland habitat will be restored with improved plantings and some dredging to provide more open water for a more diverse wetland habitat to attract a larger variety of wildlife. Asbury Road Wetland In 2008, Asbury Woods led the effort to protect an important wetland on 4.5 acres located at the southeast corner of West 38th Street and Asbury Road. This biologically diverse wetland is home to many species of frogs, salamanders, ducks and geese. Plans are underway to protect and improve the wetland habitat. Asbury Woods Greenway Trail Boardwalk In 1995 the Asbury Woods Greenway was established by connecting existing green spaces with donated property to create a 200 acre park. Nearly all sections of the trail are complete except a new 200 foot section of raised boardwalk needed to give year-round, safe access to these unique habitats while protecting the fragile flood plain and wetlands. Volunteers Make the Difference Nearly every day volunteers donate their time and talents to Asbury Woods in the gift shop, office, workshop, classrooms and trails. We couldn’t operate without them! This past spring several groups helped with spring clean-up, trail work and planting trees. We’d like to say a special thanks to the following volunteer groups; students from Millcreek School District and Cathedral Prep High School, Highmark, and Wolf Scouts from Presque Isle Rotary Cub Scouts. If you’d like to become a volunteer, join us for our Trails Work day on June 6 when volunteers will work to maintain and improve our 4.5 mile trail system. Call 835-5356 to register. 7. Discover the artist in you, find a quiet place in the park and sketch, doodle or paint what you see. Explore the use of color in watercolor painting with artist Brian Payne at Asbury Woods. 8. Breathe fresh air and work up a sweat on a mountain bike or trail run on the Greenway Trail, great for both physical and mental fitness! 9. Set up a lawn chair in the back yard after dark, look up and contemplate our place in the Universe. Want to talk with an astronomy expert? Join us for one of our Astronomy nights. 10. Introduce a child, grandchild, niece or nephew to your favorite outdoor experience. Studies show that adults with an interest in Nature have three important common denominators as a child; a place outdoors to explore, frequent unstructured outdoor play time and an adult to mentor them. It doesn’t matter if it’s fishing, birding or just hiking and exploring. Take a child outdoors, then to top it off, take them for ice cream! For more information about classes mentioned above, check out the programs inside this newsletter. Look for more programming encouraging kids, families and adults to get outdoors in the coming year. But you don’t need to attend a program to get outdoors, to borrow another popular slogan... JUST DO IT!!! About Asbury Woods The mission of Asbury Woods is to provide all members of our community with opportunities to experience, study and enjoy nature. Our purpose is to inspire participants to feel a greater sense of environmental awareness and to act in an environmentally responsible manner. Woods Talk is published quarterly and is mailed to members, recent program participants and those who request to be on our mail list. If you would like to be added to our mail list, contact us at: Asbury Woods Nature Center 4105 Asbury Road • Erie, PA 16506 (814) 835-5356 • www.asburywoods.org September 1 - May 31 June 1 - August 31 Tues. – Sat. 10 am - 4 pm Mon. – Sat. 10 am - 5 pm Sun. Noon - 4 pm Sun. Noon - 5pm CLOSED MONDAYS Trails Open Daylight Hours 2 Hours of Operation: • • • • • Pre-registration and payment required. NO phone registrations. Register in person or mail registration and payment to: Asbury Woods Nature Center, 4105 Asbury Road, Erie, PA 16506. Use registration/waiver form enclosed. Please include: name, address, phone number, the Asbury Woods program and number of adults or children you are registering for the program. A program registration confirmation will be mailed to you. Members receive special program discounts. Membership must be current through program date. See membership form in this newsletter. No refunds to participant for cancellations made within a week of the scheduled program. Registration Guidelines for Programs Asbury Woods Trails Work Day Date: Time: Saturday, June 6 8:30 am – 3:00 pm Hey kids... join the fun this summer at Asbury Woods! Tell your parents to sign you up. If you are in Pre-School through 8th Grade, we have some great Nature and Art Camps planned just for you. Ages: Adults, families, groups Children ages 8 – 15 must be accompanied by an adult Join us for our annual trails work day. Trail work will include adding bark mulch to the trails, repairing boardwalks and bridges, trail and creek clean-up and more. Lunch and beverages will be provided to all volunteers. Meet at the nature center. Groups will travel to Asbury Barn and Brown’s Farm for trail projects. Check out the enclosed brochure for details about all the fun things you will do and learn about. Digital Photography for Kids Dates: Time: Age: Location: Fee: Mondays, June 15 and June 22 9:30 am – 10:45 am 9 – 14 year olds Nature Center $10.00 members $14.00 non-members FREE Live Animal Programs Dates: Ages: Time: Location: Fee: Every Saturday All 11:00 am Nature Center Exhibit Hall FREE Photographer Jim Kubaney will introduce students to digital photography. Students will learn how to photograph nature. Bring your digital camera along. Two cameras are available for those who do not have one. The fee covers both days. 3 Bring your family on Saturday mornings for an up close and personal encounter with some of the Center’s live animals. Each week a different group of animals will be featured. ADULT AND FAMILY PROGRAMS Walnut Creek Hike Date: Time: Date: Time: Ages: Fee: Saturday, June 20 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm or Saturday, July 25 10:00 am – 12:00 noon Adults and Children 8 and up $4 Adult, $3 Children members $5 Adult, $4 Children non-members Dulcimer Workshop and Concert Date: Time: Age: Sunday, June 14 Workshop Sessions 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm Adults for the Workshop Families for the Concert Location: Nature Center Fee: Workshop Participants: 1 session $15, both sessions $25, Concert $5 Concert Only: $10 prepaid, $12 at the door 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Session I-A: (Beginner/Intermediate) Mountain Dulcimer repertoire focused on the traditional style of playing with the noter. or Session I-B: (All Levels) Learn skills & etiquette for playing bodhran, bones, limberjack, spoons, etc. Session II-A: (Intermediate/Advanced) Traditional dance tunes with tips on alternating the direction of the flat pick, finger picking, tempo and feel. or Session II-B: (All voices, instruments & levels) Learn gospel songs from the South, with simple chord progressions. Participants can also bring songs to share. Location: Brown’s Farm Hike, splash and play with us along Walnut Creek. We will hike to the creek in the shade of the forest. Along the way, discover the macroinvertebrate inhabitants of the creek and use them to determine water quality. Wear water shoes or old sneakers – we will get wet. Not appropriate for children under 8 years old, creek walk is over one mile of difficult terrain. Introduction to Wind Energy – A Public Information Seminar Date: Time: Ages: Cost: Tuesday, June 16 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Adults FREE 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Location: Nature Center This seminar is an introduction to renewable/ sustainable energy sources focusing on wind energy generation. It includes a discussion of how wind energy works along with the prospects and pros/cons of wind for both large and small scale. Presenters Ms. Lucille Olszewski and Dr. James Sonnenmeier have a combined 35 years of experience in the energy field. This seminar is presented by the Erie County Conservation District and the Penn State Erie Office of Continuing Education. Funding is provided via a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection – Environmental Education Grants Program. 4 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Concert The highly acclaimed husband-wife duo, Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly, present delightful programs of traditional American and Celtic folk songs, a capella pieces, old-time gospel songs, dance tunes, and original works. Elwood and Aubrey blend gorgeous and unusual harmonies and play guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, mandolin, tin whistle, harmonica, banjo and other surprises including Appalachian clog dancing. Their performance is appealing to all ages with humor and audience participation, and a relaxed stage presence. ADULT AND FAMILY PROGRAMS Friday Bird Walks Dates: Fridays, June 19, July 17, August 14 at Brown’s Farm Fridays, July 31, August 21 at Nature Center Time: 7:30 – 9:00 am Age: Adults and Families Fee: FREE Bring your binoculars, field guide and boots and join Nature Center staff as we hike along the trails through Asbury Woods’ diverse habitats to observe and identify birds. Beginner and advanced birders welcome. Some binoculars are available for your use. Summer Astronomy Programs We have teamed-up with the Erie County Mobile Observers Group, ErieAstronomy.com and the Erie Planetarium to bring you this exciting new summer program. This is a great opportunity for families to learn and experience the wonders of the night sky through educational activities and the lens of a telescope. Bring your lawn chair, telescope and binoculars if you have a pair. The presenters will bring telescopes for participants to look through at each of the following programs. Galileo “The Father of Modern Science” Date: Waterfalls in Motion Photography Class Date: Time: Age: Location: Fee: Saturday, June 27 9 am – noon Adults Nature Center and Walnut Creek $12 members $15 non-members Friday, June 26 (Rain date: Saturday, June 27) Time: 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm Age: Families Location: Nature Center Fee: Donation Come and celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first use of the telescope. Through the use of interactive activities and observational astronomy under the night sky, we will explore how Galileo contributed to modern day Physics and Astronomy. Seeing in the Dark Date: If you’d like to learn how to photograph waterfalls, this class is for you. Learn how to capture the beauty of water in motion. Photographer Michael Wilmoth will teach you the techniques, and then you will practice your skills at Walnut Creek. See description of photographer on back page. Recommended for intermediate level photographers with SLR style camera. Silent World of Reptiles Date: Time: Age: Location: Fee: Friday, August 21 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Families Nature Center FREE for members $5.00 adult, $3.00 Children non-members Friday, July 31 (Rain date: Saturday, August 1) Time: 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm Age: Families Location: Nature Center Fee: Donation Start with a video presentation that takes you on a journey through our solar system and beyond. Then we will go outside and take our own journey by observing the night sky through telescopes. Our stargazing will be complemented by live music by musicians from the strings ensemble of the Erie Junior Philharmonic. An Evening Under the Stars Date: See and learn all about local and exotic reptiles including boa constrictors, pythons, rat snakes, turtles and alligators from reptile expert Mike Dohanic. Learn the characteristics of reptiles and what it takes to keep them as pets. 5 Friday, August 21 (Rain date: Saturday, August 29) Time: 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Age: Families Location: Brown’s Farm Fee: Donation Take a hayride through the field to the observation deck for a look at the evening sky through a telescope. Kids can make their own star chart before the hayride. ADULT PROGRAMS Nature Digital Photography Dates: Time: Age: Location: Fee: June 13, July 11 & 25, August 8 & 22 10:30 am – 12:00 noon Adults Nature Center $50.00 members $55.00 non-members Gardening Programs Garden and Floral Center Gerlach’s Sponsored by Create a Stepping Stone Date: Saturday, June 13 Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am Ages: Adults and Children with an adult Location: Nature Center Fee: $17 members per stepping stone $20 non-members per stepping stone Join Fairview Garden Club President, Cheryl McDonald in creating your own stepping stone for your garden or as a gift. Learn the art of creating your own design using natural materials and glass. Make your own stepping stone to take home. All materials are included. If you like to take pictures with your digital camera but would like to learn to take better pictures and get the most out of your digital camera, photographer Dave Nelson will help you reach that goal. Composition, basic camera operation, ISO manipulation, image recording quality, white balance, metering and boosting creativity are just some of the topics available. Recommended for beginners with some experience to intermediate level photographers. Watercolors are HOT! Date: Time: Ages: Location: Cost: Saturday, August 1 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm Adults Nature Center $30 members $35 non-members Organic Pest and Disease Control Date: Saturday, July 11 Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm Ages: Adults Location: Nature Center Fee: $6 members, $8 non-members July and August is an especially stressful time for plants with a proliferation of insect pests and hotter, drier weather. Learn organic methods for controlling pests, and preventing diseases, in your lawn, garden, and flower beds. One hour class includes useful hand-outs and an extra half hour for your own specific questions. This program is taught by Shelly Kupfer of Gerlach’s Garden Center, with 11 years experience helping the community garden organically at Asbury Woods. Ask most people what they like about a watercolor painting and it can be as varied as there are people. The freshness, the spontaneity, the COLOR is what gets them. Being bold in watercolor means using lots of juicy color, and that is what’s HOT! Join watercolor artist Brian Payne for an informative and fun workshop that will release the watercolor artist in you. Call for supply list. Watershed Teacher Workshop Monday, August 10 thru Wednesday, August 12 Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm each day Location: Brown’s Farm Barn Fee: None Date: Pruning Workshop Date: Wednesday, August 19 Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Ages: Adults Location: Nature Center Fee: $10 members, $12 non-members Learn the proper techniques for pruning. Mark Spitulski will lead this program. The workshop will include an information session followed by an outdoor demonstration. Mark will answer your questions and give you tips on proper pruning. Mark is a Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture. 6 COST IS $100 Are you a 4th - 8th grade science teacher in need of Act 48 hours? Come join us for a workshop that explores everything water. During this three day workshop, we will provide you with everything you need to know to implement watershed-related activities into your classroom. VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Betty Jo Bergquist Betty Jo started volunteering at Asbury Woods in 2006 after attending our annual Maple Festival. She had such a good time, she decided this is where she wanted to be. Betty Jo believes in giving to her community. She volunteers at the Salvation Army and the VA Hospital, also. Betty Jo volunteers every Tuesday in the Squeaky Frog Gift Shop. She greets each visitor with a smile and helps the staff. Betty Jo sets a great example by being environmentally aware, and recycled and composted long before the “green” movement came along. Betty Jo brings a wealth of experience, having traveled and lived all over the United States and abroad. She decided to move to Erie four years ago to be closer to her family. She has three children, 7 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. She is very proud of all of them. We are fortunate to have her here at Asbury Woods. Thank you for all your help, Betty Jo! Thank You Maple Festival Sponsors and Volunteers Asbury Woods is very fortunate to have community support for our special programs and festivals at the nature center. The annual Maple Festival was our most successful to date. We would like to thank our sponsors: Dahlkemper Landscape Architects & Contractors Eriez Manufacturing Company Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett P.C. Urban Engineers PNC Bank Buzz n’ B’s Aquarium and Pet Shop WICU TV 12 Asbury Woods volunteers and Explorer Post 808 members are so dedicated. We could not provide all the activities at the Maple Festival without the many people that assist us including the employees of PNC Bank and Wal-Mart. A thousand thanks to each and every one of you! Asbury Woods Nature Center Memberships Asbury Woods members receive: 10% discount in the gift shop, free admission and/or discounts at over 140 nature centers across the United States, program discounts, including camps, advanced program registration, free programs (see program page), quarterly newsletters and more. Become a member today! Name Street Address Yes! I want to become a member. A check for $______ is enclosed. State E-mail Zip Code City Phone Please return to: Asbury Woods Nature Center · 4105 Asbury Road · Erie, PA · 16506 7 Senior Individual Family Grandparent Contributing Sustaining $ 20.00 $ 25.00 $ 40.00 $ 40.00 $100.00 $250.00 NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID ERIE PA PERMIT NO. 199 Millcreek Township School District Asbury Woods Nature Center 4105 Asbury Road • Erie, PA 16506 (814) 835-5356 www.asburywoods.org In The Squeaky Frog Gift Shop • • • • • Children’s books & gifts Maple syrup, pancake mix T-shirts, hats & mugs Bird houses & hummingbird feeders Birds, Trees, Flowers, Pond & Insect guide books In the Cottage Gallery Michael Wilmoth Mike Wilmoth began “waterfalling” two years ago with a focus on local streams and waterfalls. “I have a real passion for the outdoors, especially for the beauty and transcending power of water. Whether it is a meandering brook or a powerful river, I enjoy capturing the beauty in ways not obvious to most people.” Mike’s photographs show the natural beauty of the water, and the little surprises one might find around these wild places. “I have tried to capture the energy and movement in my photographs as a person may find or feel while standing in the same place.” Visit the Cottage Gallery at the Nature Center this summer to go “waterfalling” with Mike. Asbury Woods is owned and operated by the Millcreek Township School District with additional support from the Asbury Woods Partnership, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit charity. Additional funding for community programs, exhibits and trails is provided from the Erie County Regional Assets Funding Committee, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and the generosity of our members and donors. Printed on 30% post consumer waste paper 509AsWdsNewsTLPM6500