From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Aug 4 09:48:27 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 09:48:27 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] August 11 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4C59376B.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery August 11, 2010 Compass Basics Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Long Island 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) Compass Basics Reading a compass seems like an intimidating skill to many people. However, once you learn the basics and practice a little, you will find that you can read a compass with ease. This skill is useful for those who like to hike in the wilderness, and is important for sports like orienteering. These directions are based on the commonly used compass in the illustration below. Make sure you know how to use your particular compass before heading out. Parts of a Compass The first step to reading a compass is to understand its parts: ?The base plate is the surface on which the compass is mounted, usually a hard rectangular piece of plastic. ?The housing is the main part of the compass. It is a round plastic container that has the compass needle inside. It can be turned so you can select different bearings (degrees) for your direction of travel. ?The direction-of-travel arrow is marked on the base plate. When traveling, you point this arrow directly away from you and move in the direction it is pointing. ?The orienting arrow is marked in the housing. It rotates when the dial is turned. ?The magnetic needle turns freely within the housing. It has one end painted red to indicate north. ?A compass is divided into 360 degrees for precise locations using latitude and longitude. The cardinal points are marked on the outer ring of the housing. North is at 0 degrees (and 360 degrees), east is 90 degrees, south is 180 degrees, and west is 270 degrees. How to Read a Compass Now it is time to read your compass: ?Decide which direction you'd like to travel and rotate the housing until the bearing number you'd like is lined up with the "read bearing here" mark. For example, to head due north, rotate the housing until the 0 degree mark is lined up. ?Hold your compass flat and still in the palm of your hand (and against your chest) so the base plate is level and the direction-of-travel arrow is pointing straight away from you. The magnetic needle should be able to move freely, without bumping the top or bottom of the housing. ?Look down at the compass and see where the needle points. ?Turn your entire body until the magnetic needle is centered between the red lines, as shown in the figure to the right. This is referred to as "keeping the red in the shed." Make sure to do this; it will keep you heading in the right direction. The compass in our example is pointing due north (also 0 degrees). ?To determine the bearing of an object in the distance, face the object with the compass held flat in your palm as before. This time, rotate the housing until the red end of the magnetic needle is between the red lines, and "in the shed." Read the bearing number at "read bearing here." In the example shown at the right, you are heading 250 degrees west. 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! Subscribe to Conservationist magazine (http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/24071.html)?New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles. Learn the best places to view wildlife at DEC's Watchable Wildlife (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/55423.html) pages. Back to top Family Fun Where Do I Go? You can set up a basic course in your backyard or park to test your compass reading skills. ?Select a landmark that is within a few minutes' walk. To make the game challenging, make sure that your landmark has some obstacles in front of it. ?From the starting location, take a bearing of the landmark by aiming the orienting arrow at the landmark. Then, walk to the landmark counting your paces as you go. ?Give each of the players/teams the bearing of the landmark (for example, 100 paces 230 degrees west) and see which team finds the landmark first. ?You can make your course as long as you want by adding more landmarks. A Modern Treasure Hunt Letter boxing is another popular navigating activity. Letterboxers hide small waterproof boxes with a log book, a rubber stamp and an ink pad in a public place like a park. They post clues to find the letterboxes on one of several websites (you can search the internet for these). When someone finds a letterbox, they mark their journal with the rubber stamp, and if they have a personal rubber stamp, they stamp the log book. You can use a compass or GPS (global positioning system) for this activity as well. Read Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events Long Island Crab Fishing Clinic at Corey Beach, Bayport (tentative) Wednesday, August 25 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Call I FISH NY staff at 631-444-0283. Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Bugs and Butterflies Festival Saturday, August 14 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Summer Photo Shoot Saturday, August 21 at 10:00 AM Family Program: Open Barn Saturdays, July - October from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday Afternoon Guided Nature Walks Saturday, August 21 at 2:00 PM Event Descriptions at Stony Kill (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#August) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Oaks of Five Rivers Saturday, August 14 at 10:00 AM Vines Sunday, August 15 at 2:00 PM The Great Egret Tuesday, August 17 at 7:00 PM Old Field Stroll Thursday, August 19 at 10:00 AM Muskrat Love Saturday, August 21 at 2:00 PM Goldenrod Walk Sunday, August 22 at 2:00 PM Insect Hunt Tuesday, August 24 at 7:00 PM Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#August) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Fade or Shade Saturday, August 14 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM Call 518-456-0655 to register. 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=8&ye=2010&eventTypeID=2) Adirondacks Adirondack Park Agency Newcomb Visitors Center (http://www.apa.state.ny.us/vic/Calendar-N.html) Buggin Out: A Study of Insect Locomotion Friday, August 13 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Call 518-582-2000 to register. Cost: $5 per family, Adirondack Park Institute members/free. Adirondack Park Agency Paul Smiths Visitors Center (http://www.apa.state.ny.us/vic/Calendar-PS.html) Barnum Pond Canoe Paddle Tuesday, August 17 and Thursday, August 19 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM Call 518-327-3000 to register. Cost: $10/adults, $5/Kids 4-13, under 4 free. Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Advance registration is required. Call 607-674-4017. Night Hike to the Farm Tower Saturday, August 14 at 7:30 PM Paddle Unadilla River Saturday, August 21 from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM Cost: $5.00 non refundable fee per paddler at registration. Event Descriptions at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#August) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. Double Dipping with Pollinators Saturday, August 14 at 10:30 AMFor adults and children age 10 and older. Pond Life Tuesday, August 17 at 10:30 AM For children ages 6 to 12. Full "Red" Moon Walk Tuesday, August 24 at 7:30 PM Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#August) Events at other Nature Centers throughout the State (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1826.html) Visit DEC's website for more information and programs (http://www.dec.ny.gov) 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... 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Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 3868 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Aug 25 09:38:47 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:38:47 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] August 25 Outdoor Discovery--Cool-Weather Camping Message-ID: <4C74E4A7.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery August 25, 2010 Cool-Weather Camping 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 Center at 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) Cool-Weather Camping Autumn is a perfect time to go camping in New York State?cooler weather, no crowds and plenty of activities. DEC has 24 campgrounds that are open until at least mid-October. You can have a great time cool-weather camping with just a few adjustments to your regular camping routine. Clothing?In cool weather, your clothing provides insulation to keep you from losing body heat. Sweating can be dangerous when the temperature drops, so you must layer your clothing. The first layer of clothing should be able to "wick" away moisture. Cotton isn't a good choice because it traps the moisture close to your skin and makes you chilly. Polypropylene is a better choice for the first layer. The second layer can be a blend of cotton and synthetic fabric. Finally, a layer of wool provides warmth even when wet. Add a waterproof/windproof jacket if the weather calls for it. Wear two pairs of socks-poly liners covered by wool socks. Keep all your undergarments in a Ziploc? bag to avoid absorbing moisture from the air. Put your clothes for the morning in your sleeping bag, and wear a hat and liner gloves to sleep. Bring more clothing than you expect to use, and never wear wet or damp clothes to bed. Site Selection?Selecting the right site can mean the difference between a wonderful experience and a disaster. Determine which direction storm fronts come from, and use the natural shelter provided by hills and vegetation for your tent site. Choose a site that will get sun in the afternoon, and set up a cooking area that is sheltered from the wind. Equipment Checklist?This checklist outlines nearly everything that you will need to go camping. There are a few modifications to consider for camping in cool weather. Your tent should be a four-season tent with a full-coverage fly and taped seams. Make sure your sleeping bag is rated for the expected temperature, and keep it in a sack so it remains dry. The warmth from a sleeping bag comes from trapped air, so fluff up your sleeping bag at night. If your bedding is properly insulated, you will have a comfortable night despite the temperature outside. Put a layer of plastic ground cloth in your tent. Put a foam sleeping pad and a folded wool blanket on top of the plastic. Lay your sleeping bag on top of that, and cover it with another ground cloth to keep the bedding dry. Get warm before going to bed?chop wood for the morning's fire, or do some jumping jacks. Place a hand warmer in a sock, or put boiling water in a nalgene bottle, and tuck the bottle in the bottom of your sleeping bag before going to bed. Batteries lose power more quickly when it is cold, so keep your cell phone and headlamp close to your body during the night. Nutrition?People need more calories in colder weather. Your cool-weather camping diet should be high in carbohydrates and protein. Drink plenty of warm fluids. Cooking over a campfire is great, but pack a propane stove for quick morning meals. Take the bottle of propane into your tent at night for a faster start on cold mornings. To get detailed information or to make a reservation for any campground, please call Reserve America at 1-800-456-CAMP (1-800-456-2267), or visit their website to make your reservation on-line. 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! Subscribe to Conservationist magazine (http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/65514.html)?New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles. Learn the best places to view wildlife at DEC's Watchable Wildlife (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/55423.html) pages. Back to top Family Fun Staying Dry Different materials provide different levels of protection from the weather. To find out which clothes would be best in a storm, assemble five cotton balls and five scraps of the following fabrics: cotton, polypropylene, synthetic blend, wool and windbreaker material. Next time it is supposed to rain, put the cotton balls on a piece of wood, cover each with a square of cloth, and staple the cloth to the wood so it doesn't blow away. After leaving everything out in the rain for about five minutes, bring the wood with the cotton balls and fabrics inside. Which cotton balls got soaked, and which stayed dry? Dressing for the Weather Put your clothing knowledge to the test with this team relay. Put a variety of seasonal clothing into two large boxes. Divide players into 2 teams, and form 2 lines about 20 feet away from the boxes. The leader will call out some weather conditions (sunny and 90 degrees or snowing and below freezing). The first player in each line races to the box, selects the appropriate clothing, puts it on and races back to the line of players. Then those first players remove that clothing, and the second players in line put it on and run back to the box. They remove the clothing and put it back in the box. As soon as the first team reaches the box, the leader calls out a second weather condition and play continues as before. The leader calls out as many weather conditions as there are players, and the first team whose players have all had a turn is the winner. Read 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) Poison Ivy Saturday, August 28 at 10:00 AM Saturday Afternoon Guided Nature Walk Saturday, August 28 at 2:00 PM Nature's Flying Machines Saturday, September 4 at 2:00 PM Saturday Morning Guided Nature Walk Saturday, September 4 at 10:00 AM Family Program: Open Barn Saturday, September 4 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Event Descriptions at Stony Kill (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#September) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Roger Tory Peterson's Birds Saturday, August 28 at 9:00 AM Berried Treasure Saturday, August 28 at 2:00 PM Bug-Eaters Tuesday, August 31 at 7:00 PM Watchable Wildlife: Squirrels Saturday, September 4 at 10:00 AM Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#September) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Discover the Pine Bush Sunday, August 29 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Call 518-456-0655 to register. More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=9&ye=2010&eventTypeID=2) Adirondacks Adirondack Park Agency Paul Smiths Visitors Center (http://www.apa.state.ny.us/vic/Calendar-PS.html) Wild Wednesdays Wednesday, August 25 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM Call 518-359-7800 to register. Barnum Pond Canoe Paddle Thursday, August 26 and Tuesday, August 31 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM Call 518-327-3000 to register. Cost: $10/adults, $5/Kids 4-13, under 4 free. Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Advance registration is required. Call 607-674-4017. Rogers on the Road: NYS Fair at the Log Cabin Thursday, August 26; Saturday August 28 and Sunday, August 29; Saturday, Sunday and Monday, September 4, 5 and 6 from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Children's Series: Slippery Salamanders Friday, August 27 from 10:30 AM to Noon Watchable Wildlife: Gray Fox Saturday, August 28 at 1:30 PM Watchable Wildlife: Twilight Tour Saturday, August 28 at 7:00 PM Call 607-674-4017 to register. Watchable Wildlife: Seeking Squirrels Sunday, August 29 at 1:30 PM Rogers on the Road: Paddle Beaver Creek Saturday, September 4 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM Watchable Wildlife: Autumn Insects Saturday, September 4 at 1:30 PM Event Descriptions at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#September) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. Fairy Houses Saturday, August 28 at 10:30 AM After-School Escape Thursday, September 2 at 4:30 PM For children in grades K-5. Flowers and Fruits Saturday, September 4 at 10:30 AM Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#September) Events at other Nature Centers throughout the State (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1826.html) Visit DEC's website for more information and programs (http://www.dec.ny.gov) 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... 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