Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
A member newsletter from The Wilderness CenterConnecting you with nature.
W ilderness Connections
June 2016Director’s Corner: Becoming an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist
Leadership Volunteers: Arlene Nussbaum
Volunteer Bulletin
Club News
Supporters’ Spotlight: Beautiful Tributes Take Root
Let’s Go Outside!
Tree of Life
Follow us!
Welcome Summer with TWC's Ales for Trails
Join us for an evening of beer tasting, music, food and fun in the great outdoors – all to support TWC!
This year’s Ales for Trails will be held on Saturday June 18th from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. and feature beers from JAFB Wooster Brewery, Millersburg Brewing Co. and more. Delicious, locally sourced fare will be available to purchase from Scratch Free Range Foods and a tuneful tribute to Jimmy Buffett will be performed by Tom Watt – The Buffettman & The Fruitcakes. Hike a trail, snap a selfie in the sunset or raise a glass with friends and enjoy the island music. In the event of bad weather, we’ll just move the party indoors.
“Ales for Trails is such a fun event,” said Barb Vitcosky, TWC’s development director. “I can’t think of a more perfect way to get your summer started than with an outdoor beer tasting, and the Jimmy Buffett tribute should really add to the party atmosphere!”
When you support The Wilderness Center, you help provide children with meaningful experiences in nature. Your support will help develop the next generation of nature lovers and protect this beautiful part of the planet for them to inherit. Don’t delay your decision to be
part of this event. Beer, music, food and fun…all that’s missing is YOU!
Admission to Ales for Trails is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Reservations may be made online at www.wildernesscenter.org or by calling (330)359-5235. Must be 21 or older to attend.
Thank you to our Ales for Trails Sponsors! (at print date) Doppelbock SponsorMCTV
Pilsner SponsorDeHoff Development
Trail Blazer SponsorsBrent Buescher & Barb VitcoskyFrantz Brothers Construction Hampton Inn WoosterJohanna & Paul LyonWayne Insurance Group
Director’s Corner
The Wilderness Center June 2016
Dr. Jeffrey R. Corney Executive Director
Becoming an Ohio Certified Volunteer
Naturalist With its roots in other state Master Naturalist programs, the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) program is our state’s coordinated effort to provide quality and consistent training and volunteer opportunities for Ohioans interested in learning about our natural world and sharing that knowledge and passion with others. The OCVN program is overseen by The Ohio State University Extension, supporting nearly twenty chapters administered by various park districts and nature centers that have collectively trained thousands of volunteer naturalists throughout the state. The Wilderness Center established itself as one of those chapters in 2007, and is now considered one of the largest and most successful in the state. TWC has now trained over 250 naturalists, with many returning to clock in an average of 4,000 hours of volunteer service every year.
The mission of the OCVN program is “to promote awareness and citizen stewardship of Ohio’s natural resources through science-based education and community service.” To become a “certified” naturalist, one must complete 40 hours of instruction through a chapter such as TWC’s training program, then provide at least 40 hours of volunteer service to local parks or nature centers (again, hopefully at TWC!), followed by
opportunities for advanced training and continued volunteer service every year. This is really a very modest commitment for what we believe to be an extraordinary educational experience that can expand not only your knowledge base but cultivate a deeper appreciation and understanding of the inner workings of our natural world.
Some assume that this level of training is really only necessary if you’re going to teach K-12 or work as a docent or naturalist at a nature center. Indeed, this program strengthens the breadth and depth of knowledge and field experience for active or aspiring teachers. The curriculum dovetails nicely with state science standards, providing a teacher with excellent field investigations, case studies and local examples to enrich their students’ classroom studies. For those interested in naturalist positions at nature centers or volunteering those services as a docent, then this program certainly provides the essential background knowledge and, perhaps more importantly, direct experience teaching and managing a diverse audience in an outdoor “classroom” setting. Content and hands-on field investigations are the core of this program, but learning about and practicing actual field teaching and guiding techniques is equally emphasized during OCVN training. This helps build experience and confidence
practicing among peers before taking a group of eager young kids out into the wilderness. If teaching is not for you, rest assured there are plenty of other volunteer activities for you to apply your newly refined naturalist skills toward conservation efforts, such as habitat improvements, invasive species control, and wildlife monitoring.
Our senior naturalist, Carrie Elvey, has been instrumental in building TWC’s OCVN program to its current level of success and stature as one of the best chapters in the state. During my years in Minnesota I was involved with that state’s Master Naturalist program, so came to TWC knowing full well the value this adds to a nature center and the service it provides for our visitors and volunteers. From the get-go I was impressed with the quality of TWC’s program, and immediately persuaded Carrie to let me get involved in some small way. Carrie graciously invites me to present some of my more “academic” ecology and earth science material to each year’s OCVN class. What we’ve discovered is this combination of more fundamental ecological science blended with Carrie’s extraordinary approach to natural history and field investigations makes TWC’s OCVN program all the more rigorous and unique. Further, with our recent addition of a whole new series of OAKS programs devoted to more natural history and environmental science topics, TWC now provides an array of advanced classes for OCVN graduates to enrich and expand their naturalist repertoire.
Consider joining this remarkable and rewarding program here at TWC. We typically offer our OCVN program every summer. This year’s class runs June 20th through July 1st. Check out our Program Guide for details.
“Going through TWC's
OCVN program...I made a deposit into my future and
may have influenced or ignited a passion for nature
in others by helping others to connect, learn and grow.”
– Pam Gum, TWC OCVN graduate (2013)
and volunteer docent
The Wilderness Center June 2016
I’ve been involved with TWC since 1984. My husband, John Hamel (now deceased) and I grew up in the Cleveland area and regularly visited the Metropolitan Parks. Moving to Stark County, we couldn’t find anything to compare to those natural areas, until we stumbled on The Wilderness Center, as they were just moving into the “new” Interpretive Building. We were so impressed with the organization, the friendly staff and volunteers, that we became activevolunteers immediately and were there almost every weekend.
Our son, David, was brought to the Center as a youngster and grew up volunteering with us and continues to
appreciate the natural world. TWC was truly a family affair. Being an elementary teacher, I was also impressed with the docents who led theeducational hikes for my class, as we visited each spring. I thought, THAT would be the perfect job for me when I retire. So in 2001, I started docent training and soon was leading schoolgroups in activities at TWC. I enjoy sharing my love of nature with children.
Since then, I have remarried. Dale & I continue to walk the trails, birdwatch and support the wonderful mission of The Wilderness Center.
Leadership Volunteers
Volunteer BulletinHere at TWC, volunteers are truly at the heart of all we do. Each year our volunteers log in more than 17,000 hours and have a hand in every aspect of the Center’s operation. Volunteers provide the leadership that keeps TWC true to its mission and purpose. Volunteers provide the organization and support that keeps daily activities running smoothly and volunteers provide the care and dedication to teach and inspire TWC’s young visitors. From a board member carrying out his or her fiduciary duties to a docent sharing the joy of discovery with a child, TWC’s volunteers deserve recognition for all they do. Beginning in July, The Wilderness Center will be making an even greater effort to recognize ALL volunteers — those who immediately greet us at the front desk, as well as those who work quietly behind the scenes. Beginning in July we will be recognizing volunteers for their hours of service and giving tokens of appreciation for special milestones. Please stay tuned for more details about this new effort…and in the mean time please accept our sincerest thanks!
Education Offerings Expand to Include Nature Night
Arlene Nussbaum TWC Board Member
The Wilderness Center’s Education Department is proud to announce the addition of Family Nature Nights to its selection of school and youth group offerings. This exciting new program is designed for elementary school students and their adults and transforms their school gym or cafeteria into a virtual hike through the habitats of forest, prairie and wetland. Children and adults explore these habitats to discover the plants and animals that make Ohio their home. Participants touch mammal pelts and skulls, use microscopes to look at insects, meet a live box turtle and more. TWC’s Family Nature Night program was developed and successfully launched thanks to a grant from The John B. Nolan Fund to Promote Education in Sciences. This spring our staff had a great time helping families from Orrville, Dalton, Malvern and Chestnut Ridge elementaries discover the natural world around us.
If your school or PTA is interested in holding a Nature Night program for the families in your community next year, contact Lynda at 330.359.5235 or by emailing [email protected].
Clu
b N
ews
The Wilderness Center June 2016
Backpackers'/Dayhikers’ Club Have questions about backpack equipment? Here’s an opportunity to get some answers. A backpack equipment demo will be the program at our June 17 meeting. Everyone welcome. A fairly easy, good beginners’ trip is planned for late June to a section of the Laurel Highlands Trail, PA. An overnight canoe/camp trip is planned for early June. Dayhikes are also planned. Always check our website for details and/or changes. www.hikersoftwc.weebly.com. Take a look at our photos and trip reports, too. Contact Larry at [email protected] and 330.345.1727 with any questions. Astronomy Club Meet our Solar System's heavyweight planet, Jupiter, during our monthly Public Star Watch on June 3 at 8 PM. A club member will present a planetarium show about the night sky. If the skies are clear, other interesting targets such as star clusters and galaxies will also be visible through our telescopes of various types. This program is open to all visitors. Phil Creed will present "Out of a Clear (?) Blue Sky" during the meet-up on June 24 at 7:30 PM in the Astronomy Education Building. This program will deal with a common problem for sky enthusiasts--we have forecasts for when skies will be clear, but HOW clear? Will the skies be crystal clear, or murky? And what are the best available tools for forecasting transparency? All visitors are welcome to attend and ask questions. Cavers' & Climbers' Club The OCC is super busy this summer with events and activities almost every weekend. We have opportunities to visit wild caves in Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Cost is simply gas money and maybe camping over weekends. We go to remote wild caves that the public doesn't know about. No carved and lit pathways for us! If you'd like to explore a natural landscape that few get to see, come see us for more information! Our June meeting is the 18th at 10:00 at TWC. There is also a beginner day trip to a cave in PA May 29th and July 2nd. We also like to rappel and climb. With enough participants at our meeting on the 18th we will go to nearby Dundee for some rope work practice. OCC is also proud to announce that we now have four additional members who have completed an Orientation to Cave Rescue course, just this April. As always, OCC is committed to safe and fun caving. If you'd like to come adventuring with us, contact the Chair, Kara, 330-327-1160 or e-mail, [email protected], or visit us on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/ohiocaversandclimbers.
TWC Readers’ Group The Readers’ Group will not meet during the summer. Watch this space for updates about our selections for next season. A list of books we have read in the past 5 years can be found on GoodReads. We also are on FaceBook. If you have a book to suggest for next season, email Cheryl: [email protected] Geocache Club April was a busy month for the Geocache Club! We hosted our annual members dinner and offered a well-attended presentation on solving puzzle caches. On April 23 our cachers picked up two truck loads of trash along the roads of three of the TWC satellite properties and 6 bags of garlic mustard from the trails of TWC. A big "Thank You" to all who helped! Congratulations to The Kamphs! They have hit their 1k milestone of caches found and we will celebrate with them on June 1! Check geocaching.com for details. For information on the geocaching club or geocaching in general, please contact Rita at [email protected]
Needle Crafters The Needle Crafters meet on Tuesday, June 21, at 10:00. Bring your project to the next meeting and join us! Woodcarvers' Club We have a group competition coming up where we carve an object to see how many variations we can make from it. We'll ask the staff to judge the best. We are also planning our annual Carvers' picnic on August 13th. Please drop by; we'd like to meet you. Botanizers’ Club The Botanizers have enjoyed the Spring wildflowers. Now it is time to see what summer has to offer. Our club invites you to join us Saturday August 13 at 1:00PM for a prairie wildflower walk at The Wilderness Center's Foxfield Prairie. Leaders for the walk will be Tim and Paula Lavey. This walk is open to all TWC members as well as Botanizer Club members. Mark your calendar now for this free event.A reminder if you are interested in joining Marvin and Sandy Smith on July 16th 1:00 at Blackfork bottoms hunting area in Ashland County check out the Ashland County Parks web site for directions or e-mail us at [email protected] for more information. Get outdoors and look around, there is so much beauty to enjoy.
Visit wildernesscenter.org for more club information.
Thanks to your support, TWC is now a greener place. This spring, Wilderness Center volunteers planted 4,000 hardwood seedlings to commemorate Tree of Life donations. The types of trees planted included four oak species, sugar maple, American beech, American basswood, black cherry, shagbark hickory and common hackberry.
TWC’s Tree of Life program is a way to create a vital, living memorial that grows stronger and more beautiful with each passing year. People donate a Tree of Life for a variety of life events – births, deaths, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other occasions of personal importance.
When you make a donation to the Tree of Life program, The Wilderness Center:
• Acknowledges the gift by sending you a letter and receipt (gifts are tax-deductible)
• Notifies the designee with a special
letter explaining that a tree has been planted and the occasion for the planting
• Plants a tree. Forestry experts plant trees in the spring when conditions are best.
• Records each gift in the permanent Tree of Life registry on display in the lobby of The Wilderness Center’s Hart Interpretive Building. Although trees
are not individually marked, their general location is indicated on an aerial photograph by the Tree of Life registry
• Recognizes each gift in the following month's newsletter
To participate in the Tree of Life program, please call (330) 359-5235 or visit www.wildernesscenter.org. Typical Tree of Life donations are between $25 and $50, although donations of any amount will be gratefully accepted.
The Wilderness Center June 2016
Supporters’ SpotlightBeautiful Tributes Take Root
New Members April 2016 Brandi AdamsChristina ArrasmithLinda ChenBethann Fravel SeiboldTiffany GnagyDenise & Quinn KiedrowiczMary KookerHeidi MallettJason & Lesley MastMyra McCoyCheryl D. Mc QueenJoyce PorterLisa RainsongLynette S. RobertsNicole SpainLee Ann Waltz
Welcome & Thank You!
Barbara Vitcosky Development Director
Annual Campaign April 2016Anthony & Maryanna BiggioDennis & Beth DavisEdward K. EberhartBob & Lori EverettVirginia M. HallRoy A. JonesEric J. Myers & Carla J. Viles-MyersLarry & Janet NeeleyWilliam & Donna PennellNancy SchoryVictor F. SchraderRobert Warren
A special thanks to the Geocachers' Club for their hard work and dedication to TWC. Earth Day found them picking up trash along the roads at several of our preserves, trash pick along trails and pulling garlic mustard in our woodlands.
Special Recognition
Tree of Life
The Wilderness Center June 2016
April Tree of Life
In memory of Sammy Adams Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Procopios "Bill" C. Bacopoulos The Colley Family – Cathy, Shawn, Smantha & AlanIn memory of Geno Bartolai Barbara VitcoskyIn memory of John W. Bennett Robert & Patricia RegenhardtIn memory of Michael Blake George & Karen Snyder Don & Mary Ann SpuhlerIn memory of Donald J. Blaz 1938 – 2016 Don & Sharon PappIn memory of Evan Bonistalli Uncle Tim & Margaret CottonIn memory of Bradley F. Bowyer Gary & Chris ThompsonIn memory of Nancy Burdge Cheryl (Miller) Haswell, Ann Weston Eagon, Barb Kenney, Karen Kenney SprankleIn memory of Frances Burger Shirley, Lois & Joanne The Dave Plahuta Family Judy SaboIn memory of Judith Caldwell Kim CaldwellIn memory of Rita & Jack Camp John & Nancy ShemoIn memory of John Capone Elmer GatesIn memory of Marjorie Collier-RupinskiMay God rest her precious soul Erin Lynn CusackIn memory of Lisa Crall Gina & James KicosIn memory of Jan Crawfis Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Jerome Eckroate Marian McCarthyIn memory of John Ertl William & Evelyn HewettIn honor of William Exum, your father Matt & Jill KohlerIn memory of Ted Fahey The Davis Family
In memory of Randy Farber Annette Davis & Christina Ricketts Judy & Frank Ganz Leahy Kids Vance & Tonya VanVoorhis & Boys Sherri, Bob & Brittany WilsonIn memory of Carol Ann Fox Buster & Birdie MetcalfIn memory of Marysue Fredricks The Provo FamilyIn memory of Russ Furney Bonnie L. EdwardsIn memory of Neil Gabay Karen & Rick KnightIn memory of Richard Gauze Bonnie L. EdwardsIn memory of Glen Gentry Kelli JohnstonIn memory of Joan "Jody" George Jack & Jo WucinickIn memory of Janice B. Gerber Don & Fran GerberIn memory of Laverne "Vern" Gilmore Buster & Birdie MetcalfIn memory of Xenophon Griveas Nancy HareIn memory of Sharon Guarnera Elmer Gates & Sandy CaponeIn memory of Dorothy Gustafsonwho died April 20, 2016 Marilyn TannerIn memory of Alex Haas Chris BetzIn memory of Brian Hall, Jr. Ken GloverIn memory of Robert "Red" Harriman John & Jacci HarrimanIn memory of Daryl Harris Larry & Carol GerzinaIn memory of Therese Helbling Bust er & Birdie MetcalfIn memory of Garnet Henline Earl, Pat & Patti HarenIn memory of Richard Hindenlang Shari Shiepis & Angie Smith AlderIn memory of Shirley Humrichouser Steve & Jeanette Troyer
In memory of Raymond K. Janson Albert & Jonne Gilbert Gretchen Halter Donna & Fred Seebinger Tom & Angela Schervish Mr. & Mrs. C. Frank Shew Barb & Tom StahlIn memory of Anna Christine Jenkins Kim CaldwellIn memory of Clara Jenkins Jim & Judy Sabo & Mary SaboIn memory of Shirley Kelly Kelli JohnstonIn memory of Kathleen Kerr Barb, Gay, Linda & Karen In memory of Thomas W. Kimmins, Sr. Rachel Berkey Bob Dawson Patty & Wayne YinglingIn memory of Doris Kirby Jennifer Grogan & Dru PachmayerIn memory of Evelyn Kuenstler Jennifer Grogan & Dru Pachmayer Brenda MyersIn memory of William Lemakos Kathy Kellogg & Colleen KempfIn memory of Jean Lemasters The Lavin Family – Audrey, Maud & Bruce, Carl & Lauren, Franklin & Ann, Douglas & LisaIn memory of Jack Lewis The Carpe Diem Gang – Marlene, Tina, Colleen, Celeste & Kathy In memory of Tom Madden Tom & Joanne HancockIn memory of Barbara Meinhart John & Jacci HarrimanIn loving memory of Mejid - a beautiful soul Patsy & Chuck SlowikowskiIn honor of Dan Villamagna - your beloved husband Ginny CutterIn loving memory of "Mischief," beloved cat of Tim & Tari Riley George & Barbara Bellassai
The Wilderness Center June 2016
In memory of Gary Miskimen Mary C. Laughlin, Don Kelley, Cheryl LamitinaIn memory of Brian Morris Kelly WintersIn memory of Ruth Neal Jim & Barb GreenIn memory of John Nicewander Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Jen Wierwille Norton Herb & Janet BrodaIn memory of Dominic Paglialunga Diana Belden & Marshall Belden, Jr. Theresa Burwell Harry & Sue Morgan Charlene Sablo Patricia WilliamsIn memory of Billy Palumbo Elmer Gates & Sandy CaponeIn loving memory William Paul Pedicord William & Dorothy BowenIn memory of Vera Rathbone who died 3-31-16 Marilyn Tanner & Ed KollerIn memory of Sean Rees, my brother Jacob HashmanIn memory of Mike A. Rocheck Bernice RocheckIn memory of Susan Samsa Don & Fran GerberIn memory of Evelyn Sell Beulah LautenslegerIn memory of Dr. David M. Short Vicki HathewayIn memory of Peter Smith Jennifer Grogan & Dru PachmayerIn memory of Jeffery L. Smith Loyd Smith, Ken Rohr & Becky WhiteIn memory of Pius Soehnlen, a great father and grandfather Pat SoehnlenIn memory of Price "Dave" Thompson, Jr. Cheryl (Miller) Haswell, Barb Kenney, Karen Kenney Sprankle
Thank you for sharing your
love of nature!
In memory of Dolores Tuckey Marlene & Greg BrayIn memory of Maryann Wakefield Chip HareIn memory of Don White. I will miss his welcoming hug. Kathy SmithIn memory of Don Yates Pam Goudy
Let’s Go Outside!
The 17 year cicadas are in Ohio! Here are five top questions that people are asking.
Will cicadas hurt me?Cicadas don’t sting or bite. They make a loud buzzing sound, but they fly away if approached, unless they mistake your arm for a tree limb!
Will they hurt my plants?According to magicicada.org, “Periodical cicadas may cause physical damage to small trees or shrubs if too many feed from the plant or lay eggs in its twigs”. Mature trees and shrubs survive just fine, but may look a little tough right after the invasion!
What do they eat?They actually drink, rather than eat, sucking sap from the xylem of trees.
Do cicadas have predators?Yep-- birds, squirrels, bats and wasps. When huge numbers emerge (some estimate one billion per square mile!), fish, reptiles, mammals and amphibians may take advantage of the buffet!
Are these the 17 year locusts?No, true locusts are a type of grasshopper.
Don’t miss sharing this incredible bit of nature with the family –make time for a cicada walk! Check the TWC Facebook page or call the Center to see if they have emerged.
Remember… you will be 17 years older the next time this happens!
Dr. Herb Broda OCVN, Professor Emeritus,
Ashland University
Choose a beautiful resting place. Choose to save money and natural resources. Choose to rejoin the
earth naturally.
Choose Foxfield Preserve.
FOXFIELDPRESERVE.ORG
PO Box 202Wilmot, OH 44689-0202
Connecting you with nature.
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID DATABASE
MARKETING INC
Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.
wildernesscenter.org
we're coming to your neighborhood!
Nature Study SerieS: LiveS of BirdS
June 6, 8 & 10
Canal Fulton, Jackson Twp.,
Millersburg, Orrville and Wooster
(See website for details)
Preschool: Exploring Nature July 19 & 20, 10:00 - 1:30 Kindergarten: All About Animals July 21 & 22, 10:00 - 2:30
First Grade: Animal Families July 26 & 27, 10:00 - 2:30 Second Grade: Adaptations All Around July 28 & 29, 10:00 - 2:30
Third-Fourth Grade: Finding Niches August 2 & 3, 10:00 - 2:30
Fifth-Eight Grade: Nature at Night August 5-6, 6:00 pm - 11:00 am
$24 per adult/child member pair, $34 per adult/child non-member pair. Pre-registration required.
NOW TAKING REGISTRATIONS!
Create memories. Explore together.Share a love of nature with your child!
