From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Jan 14 12:15:20 2009 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:15:20 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] January 14 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <496DD758.D567.00BD.0@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery January 14, 2009 Using Resources Wisely Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center Capital Region - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center Adirondacks - Adirondack Park Agency Visitors Interpretive Centers at Newcomb and Paul Smiths Central New York - Rogers Environmental Education Center Western New York - Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center Subscribe to Outdoor Discovery or change your subscription options (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery) Using Resources Wisely What would you do if there wasn't electricity to turn on the lights when it was dark, keep us warm in the winter or keep food from spoiling in the refrigerator? Most of the energy we use every day comes from coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power, which are all non-renewable sources. Non-renewable sources are those that we can't recreate after we use it all up. Renewable sources are those that can be replaced or renewed naturally, like solar, wind and geothermal energy, biomass and hydropower. Non-renewable energy sources are limited, and using too much of them can cause problems for the environmental health of the planet, causing air pollution, climate change and water pollution. Water is another resource that is not in endless supply. People, plants and animals need water to survive. So how can you do your part to conserve our precious resources? Be a wise resource user! Here are some tips that every member of your family can use: ?Turn off lights when you leave the room. ?Read a book for half an hour instead of watching a television show. And if you do watch tv, turn it off when you leave the room. ?When it is bright in the daytime, use the light from the sun instead of turning on a lamp. ?Don't leave doors open when the heat is on. ?Don't leave water dripping from the faucet. ?Decide what you want from the refrigerator before you open the door! (Try recording how many times a day you open the refrigerator and for how long each time.) ?Have a "sandwich night" every once in a while instead of cooking. ?Plant some deciduous trees and shrubs near your house to block the sun in the summer and allow the sun to warm the house in the winter. ?Schedule a family game night when the television stays off. ?Want more ideas on how to save energy? Check DEC's Green Living - Save Energy and Water web page and visit the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority website. Subscribe to the Conservationist magazine?New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles. Send us an e-mail and tell us what you think about Outdoor Discovery. Let your friends know about Outdoor Discovery - forward this e-mail! Back to top Family Fun Water Waster Are you a water waster? Try this experiment to find out: brush your teeth with the water running. At the same time, have another person fill an empty one-quart milk container with running water while you brush. Record how many quarts are filled up?multiply that by the number of people in the family. Double that number (since you brush your teeth twice a day) and you will find out how many quarts of water you can save by turning off the water when you brush your teeth! For example: 2 quart containers x 4 family members x 2 brushings each = 16 quarts of water a day. When you are finished, don't dump the water down the drain?use it instead to water your houseplants. Where Did All the Water Go? Turning off the water when you brush your teeth is just one way to save this limited resource. On a rainy day when you are looking for something to do, get out a notebook and a pen. Use the following common usage amounts to determine how much water your family uses in a day. ?Using water from a tap (brushing teeth, rinsing dishes, drinking water): 1.5 gallons a minute ?Doing laundry: 30-35 gallons per wash cycle ?Running the dishwasher: 25 gallons per cycle ?Taking a shower: 2.5 gallons a minute ?Flushing the toilet: 3.5 gallons per flush Make a chart for each person in the family and record their water usage for one day. See where there are similarities and where there are differences. What does your household use the most water for? What are some creative ways that you can cut back on your water usage? After you put your water conservation ideas to use for a few months, record the information again. How did your family "measure" up? Things are Heating Up It seems like winter in New York lasts forever?in fact, we use some source of heat in our homes the majority of the year. Try this experiment to see how different materials conduct heat differently: gather a plastic cup, a foam cup and a metal soup can, all around the same size. You will also need sheets of paper, plastic wrap, masking tape, three thermometers and a measuring cup. Wrap six sheets of paper around each of the cups and secure the paper tightly with masking tape. Use a measuring cup to fill all the containers with the same amount of warm water. Place a thermometer in each container. Record the temperature in each container, and then tightly cover each with plastic wrap, keeping the thermometer in place. Leave them side by side, and test the temperature every five minutes for 20 minutes. Which container heated up more quickly? Check out Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Park Cleanup and Conservation Day in Beacon Saturday, January 17 at 2:00 PM In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., take part in a community conservation day in Beacon (location to be announced), followed by a visit to Stony Kill and a family craft inspired by Dr. King's famous "I have a dream ..." speech. Call 845-831-8780 ext. 300 for more information. Winter Wildlife Tracks and Traces Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 PM Join a Stony Kill naturalist and become a "track detective." Find out which animals are active in the winter and hunt for evidence of their presence in the woods at Stony Kill. We'll make our own tracks with snowshoes (available for loan, free of charge, for the program), snow conditions permitting. Call 845-831-8780, ext. 300 to pre-register. Guided Nature Walks 10:00 AM every Saturday Join a Stony Kill naturalist and explore trails and habitats together. Meet at the Manor House for this family-friendly program. Walks generally take one to one-and-one-half hours. Hikes will be on snowshoes if there is enough snow cover. More events at Stony Kill (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#january) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Starry Night Sky Watch Friday, January 16 at 7:00 PM Albany Area Amateur Astronomers will be here with telescopes. Hot chocolate available indoors. Woodpeckers Saturday, January 17 at 9:00 AM Join us for a field study of common "hammerheads" as we discuss woodpecker lifestyles. Exploring Your Watershed Saturday, January 17 at 2:00 PM A fun family program of activities and games that will help you learn about water quality. Groundhog Day Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 AM Discover more about this holiday and the celebrated rodent, and take a walk to look for signs of groundhogs. More events at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#January) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Owl Prowl Friday, January 16 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM The breeding season for barred owls, great-horned owls and screech owls occurs in mid-winter during some of the coldest months of the year. Cost: $2 per person/$5 per family. Please call 518-456-0655 to register. Discover the Pine Bush: Winter Wonderland Sunday, January 18 and Sunday, January 25 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Come join us on a journey to discover the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, the best example of an inland pine barrens. Cost: $2 per person/$5 per family. Please call 518-456-0655 to register. Adirondacks Adirondack Park Agency Newcomb Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_ncal.html) Chilly Ski & Snowshoe Festival Saturday, January 17 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Join us for a festive day of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on our beautiful trails. The festival includes a snowshoe scavenger hunt and a variety of children's activities. Family! Feed the Birds Saturday, January 24 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Give your feathered friends a helping hand this winter. Join us as we put together some tasty delights that you can take home and put out for the birds in your backyard. Call (518) 582-2000 to register. Cost: $5/family, $3/API member family. Adirondack Park Agency Paul Smiths Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_pscal.html) Chilly Ski & Snowshoe Festival Saturday, January 17 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Cross-country skiing, snowshoe walks, free snowshoe rentals, children?s activities, learn-to-ski workshops, ski-waxing clinic, chili-cooking contest, and the 4th Invitational Ben & Jerry?s Ice Cream Eating Contest. Tracking on the Trails Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM The winter woods provide a wonderful canvas for revealing the stories in the snow. Join the fun as we follow tracks on the trails. Call (518) 327-3000 to register. Snowshoes and Smores Saturday, January 24 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM After spending some time snowshoeing on the trails with a naturalist, relax by a campfire and make a smore to enjoy. Call (518) 327-3000 to register. Donations are accepted for smore materials. Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Snowshoe at Brookfield Saturday, January 17 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM Snowshoe with us in Charles Baker State Forest, a diverse area that offers many scenic and historic sights. If there is not enough snow, this will be a hike. Call to register: 607-674-4017. Snowshoe at Adams Farm Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 AM Join us as we snowshoe the trails of Adams Farm, discovering the many tracks and traces of animals in winter. We will provide snowshoes and interesting facts about winter ecology. If there is not enough snow, this will be a hike. Call to register: 607-674-4017. More events at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#January) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. Knee-High Naturalists Thursday, January 15 at 10:00 AM This hour-long indoor session will feature a variety of activities such as stories, games and crafts, and will end with a snack. For children ages three to five and their caregivers. Participants must sign up for the entire series (January 15 and 29 and February 12 and 26). There is a materials fee of $6.00 per child for Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve members or $10 per child for non-members. After-School Escape Thursday, January 15 and January 22 at 4:00 PM Enjoy a fun outdoor experience to encourage children to play and interact with the natural world. For kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and their caregivers. No registration required. Tracks and Traces Saturday, January 17 at 10:30 AM Signs of wildlife are all around, if you just know where to look. Learn how to read the "stories" animals leave behind in winter. We will use snowshoes if there is enough snow. Snowshoe rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members. Winter Wardrobe Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 AM Choosing the right winter clothing will help you enjoy nature in even the coldest winters. For adults and children ages eight and older. Cross-Country Ski Tour Sunday, January 25 at 2:00 PM Get some fresh air and great exercise! Bring your own skis or rent a pair (limited sizes). Ski rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members. More events at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#january) Events at Other Nature Centers Throughout the State Visit DEC's website for more information and programs Back to top This email was sent by: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233 We respect your right to privacy - view our policy (http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/27720.html). Having problems viewing this newsletter? View it on the DEC website (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/43355.html). 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Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 5051 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Tue Jan 27 09:23:48 2009 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:23:48 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] January 28 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <497ED2A4.D567.00BD.0@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery January 28, 2009 Mapping Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center Capital Region - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center Adirondacks - Adirondack Park Agency Visitors Interpretive Centers at Newcomb and Paul Smiths Western New York - Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center Subscribe to Outdoor Discovery or change your subscription options (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery) Map Making There are many different kinds of maps that are used to show information: road maps show where roads go; weather maps show weather patterns across a specific area; political maps that show the borders of countries, towns, counties and state; geological maps that show the types and ages of rocks in an area; and topographic maps that show the contour lines or elevation of the landscape. Natural parts of the environment include mountains, lakes and forests. Human-built parts of environment include buildings, utilities and roads. Maps take both types of information and show it in a two-dimensional and even a three-dimensional way, as if you were looking down onto the earth. In order for a map to be useful to others, it needs several key things: North Arrow - which orients the map for us to compass directions north, south, east and west. Scale - How does the map translate from inches into feet, meters or miles so that people know how big or far something really is (1 inch = 1 mile)? Legend - How will people understand the symbols that the map uses to represent various things? Labels - How will people know what a map shows (title of the map)? Metadata - A relatively new term that explains where the portrayed map data came from or how it was gathered. DEC's website features maps and interactive mapping applications currently available online. Send us an e-mail and tell us what you think about Outdoor Discovery. Let your friends know about Outdoor Discovery - forward this e-mail! Back to top Family Fun Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make me a Map Creating a map of your backyard or neighborhood is a great way to learn about how the natural and human-built parts of the environment are connected. You can include houses, supermarkets, the school and library, streets, bridges, traffic lights and fire hydrants. The natural parts could include trees, parks, water, people and animals. An easy way to try mapmaking is to create a simple map of your backyard. ?If you have a compass, find north (or have an adult help you) and mark an "N" with an arrow pointing upward on a large piece of paper. ?Select a point near the middle of your yard as your starting point. If you live in an urban area, you can do the same thing in your neighborhood. If there is too much snow to get around your yard, try making a map from your home to your school instead. ?Select the features that you want to include: your house, a tree, the garden, your swing set, etc. ?Measure in steps how far each feature is from the starting point. Depending on how big your paper is, choose a measurement to equal one step (for example, 1/4 inch = one step). This is your scale measurement. If you are making a map of your neighborhood or to your school, the scale would be in blocks or miles instead of steps. ?Using your scale measurement, draw the feature in the correct location on the map. If the treehouse is 26 steps from the center, and your scale is 1/4 inch, draw the treehouse 6 inches from the center. ?Continue with all the features on your map. ?Create a legend identifying all the features and give your map a title. Show Me the Way You can mark a trail for others to follow using any natural material - sticks, bunches of pine cones, rocks or colored water in a spray bottle to mark an "X" on the snow. Gather a few friends or family members on a sunny winter day to play this trail marker game. Have one person lay out the trail (it can even be in your backyard) for the others to follow. Don't make it too difficult, and make sure that markers can be seen easily. The group walks along the trail using the markers instead of a map. Make sure that you stay in an area that you are familiar with, and bring an adult along. DEC Summer Education Camp Are you looking for a summer camp where your child can have a fun-packed, educational experience in the great outdoors? Then check out DEC's Environmental Education Camps! Applications for campers sponsored by organizations must be postmarked no earlier than February 7, 2009. Parent-sponsored campers must be postmarked no earlier than February 28, 2009. All four camps (Colby, Pack Forest, DeBruce and Rushford) educate youth who are 12 to 14 years old. Pack Forest in the southern Adirondacks is also open to campers 15 to 17 years old during the first five sessions of camp. These older campers will participate in the DEC Teen Ecology Workshop. The cost of attending the one-week session is $325. If you would like to download an application for camp or would like more information, visit the DEC website. Check out Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) The Truth About Groundhogs Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 PM What are groundhogs really doing on February 2? Can bears survive all winter without food? Who are the true hibernators? Join us for family-friendly fun as we learn about the myths and realities of hibernation. Guided Nature Walks 10:00 AM every Saturday Join a Stony Kill naturalist and explore trails and habitats together. Meet at the Manor House for this family-friendly program. Walks generally take one to one-and-one-half hours. Hikes will be on snowshoes if there is enough snow cover. More events at Stony Kill (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#february) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Birding by Snowshoe Saturday, January 31 at 8:30 AM Join reps from Capital Region Audubon and the Hudson Mohawk Bird Club for birding on snowshoes. Afterwards, compile sightings while enjoying hot chocolate. Call 518-475-0291 by January 24 to preregister. Snowshoe Walk Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 PM Learn snowshoeing basics, then join us on a snowshoe walk. Adult and children's snowshoes are available. Call 518-475-0291 to preregister and reserve snowshoes. Winter Camping Saturday, February 7 at 10:00 AM Learn more about winter camping skills and how to enjoy the outdoors in the off-season. Useful Plants Saturday, February 7 at 2:00 PM Learn traditional uses of plants, from shoe repair to medicine to tea to making rope. Snowshoe Walk Sunday, February 8 at 2:00 PM Learn snowshoeing basics, then join us on a snowshoe walk. Adult and children's snowshoes are available. Call 518-475-0291 to preregister and reserve snowshoes. More events at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#February) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Snowshoe Adventure Sunday, February 8 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to try this sport out! Snowshoes are provided. Call 518-456-0655 to preregister. Cost: $2.00/person, $5.00/family, children under 5 free. More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=2&ye=2009&eventTypeID=2) Adirondacks Adirondack Park Agency Newcomb Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_ncal.html) A Beginner?s Snowshoe How-to Saturday, January 31 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM We start off with an overview of the history of snowshoeing and a look at different styles of snowshoes. Then we head out on the trails with each person equipped with a pair of snowshoes learning how to walk, turn and run in the snow. Call (518) 582-2000 to register. Out and About: Tracks Do Tell Tales Saturday, February 7 at 1:30 PM Guest naturalist Peter O?Shea will lead a snowshoe walk on one of our trails and share information about the world of animal tracks and the winter landscape. Snowshoes will be available. Call (518) 582-2000 to register. Adirondack Park Agency Paul Smiths Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_pscal.html) Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides Saturday, January 31 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Take a sleigh ride and view the winter woods along the way. Reservations are encouraged. Call (518) 327-3000 to register. Cost: $5/adult, $3/child ($3 for API members). Animal Adaptations Saturday, January 31 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM After discussing how animals adapt to the changing seasons, participants will then test various types on insulators in a science experiment. Call (518) 327-3000 to register. Saranac Lake Winter Carnival February 6-15 Enjoy the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, and annual celebration of winter that includes an Ice Palace on Lake Flower, a Gala Parade and tons of events. Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. After School Escape Thursday, February 5 at 4:00 PM Enjoy a fun outdoor experience to encourage children to play and interact with the natural world. For kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and their caregivers. No registration required. Snowshoes and Solutions Thursday, February 5 at 6:30 PM Enjoy a free evening snowshoe walk followed by dessert and information on how to fight climate change while saving money. Cross-Country Ski Tour Saturday, February 7 at 10:00 AM Bring your own skis or rent a pair (limited sizes) and glide through The Woods on a guided tour. Ski rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members. Full Snow-Moon Snowshoe Walk Monday, February 9 at 6:30 PM Learn about our winter constellations on a moonlit walk. For adults and children age 8 and older only. Snowshoe rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members. Moonlight Cross-Country Ski Tour Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30 PM Ski by the light of the moon! Bring your own skis or rent a pair (limited sizes). Ski rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members. More events at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#february) Events at other Nature Centers throughout the State Visit DEC's website for more information and programs Back to top This email was sent by: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233 We respect your right to privacy - view our policy (http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/27720.html). Having problems viewing this newsletter? View it on the DEC website (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/43355.html). To unsubscribe (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 61277 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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