From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Mon Feb 8 09:45:38 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:45:38 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] DEC Youth Camps Message-ID: <4B6FDD42.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Youth Camps How can you foster a love for the natural world that will last a lifetime? By sending a child to a DEC camp for a week! Campers learn about the environment through hands-on, outdoor activities and build friendships that last forever. Contact with environmental professionals throughout the week enriches the learning and encourages career exploration. Four camps, Colby (Northern Adirondacks), Pack Forest (Southern Adirondacks), DeBruce (Catskills) and Rushford (Western NY), host youth 12 to 14 years old. DEC also offers week-long Ecology Workshops for teens 15 to 17 years old at Pack Forest and Rushford. Complete information about the camps is available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html. We begin accepting applications postmarked no earlier than February 6 for campers sponsored by an organization and February 27 for campers whose parents pay the $325 fee. Application forms are available on the website or by calling DEC Camps at 518-402-8014. Please share this information with family and friends who may be interested in sending their child(ren) to a DEC camp this summer. A week at one of DEC's environmental education camps will create a lifetime of memories! For more information about the DEC environmental education camps: Website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html E-mail: edcamps at gw.dec.state.ny.us Phone: 518-402-8014 Mail: DEC Camps, 625 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4500 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Tue Feb 9 13:40:13 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 13:40:13 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] February 10 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4B7165BD.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery February 10, 2010 Life Under the Ice 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) Life Under the Ice The temperature dips well below freezing during the winter in New York, and many lakes and ponds freeze. As the winter progresses, the ice gets thicker?sometimes thick enough for a car to drive on it. Rivers don't freeze the same way that lakes do because the water is always in motion. The ocean doesn't freeze at all. What happens to animals that live in the water when winter comes? Here are just a few species that have adapted to their frigid environment: Turtles? The painted turtle eats a lot during the fall to build up energy reserves for the winter. When the temperature drops, it may dig down as far as 18 inches into the muddy bottom of a pond, where it will remain until spring. Like other hibernating animals, the turtle slows its breathing, heart rate and metabolism depending on the temperature of the water. Frogs? Certain frogs such as bull frogs and green frogs spend the winter in water bodies. However, they can't actually tolerate freezing temperatures and burrow into the mud beneath the ice. Fish? Because most bodies of water don't freeze all the way, fish actually live in cold water beneath a layer of ice, although they do slow down quite a bit. What matters is how much oxygen is still getting into the water below the ice surface. When a lake or pond is frozen, there may be cracks or holes that allow oxygen in. There is also oxygen trapped in the water under the ice. 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?New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles. Back to top Family Fun Frozen Fish Don't believe that fish aren't frozen in the lakes and ponds found throughout New York State? Try this experiment to prove it to yourself. Take a rubber fish (like a child's bathtub toy) and put it in a container of water. Partially freeze the container. Break through the ice layer on top?is the fish frozen? Bodies of water generally freeze from the top down and rarely freeze more than a foot or two below the surface. That leaves a whole lot of water for fish to spend the winter in. Ice Fishing Now that you know there are fish below the ice, do you want to try to catch some? Safety is the first concern when ice fishing. The ice has to be thick enough to hold your weight?three to four inches of solid ice is the general rule for safety. Most ice fishers don't like to walk on ice that is less than five inches thick. Of course, remember to dress warmly?it gets cold sitting on a huge ice cube! DEC's website provides all the basics and safety tips to get you started ice fishing. Ice fishing involves drilling a hole and dropping a line into it. You can tell that a fish is on your line by using a "tip-up." Create your own using fishing line and a few dowels. First, get two wooden dowels both 18 inches long. One should be ?-inch thick and the other ?-inch thick. Bind the two rods together like a cross, using heavy fishing line. The short rod should be attached only a few inches from one end of the larger rod. Now tie a brightly colored cloth to the long end of the longer rod. On the other end of the long rod, tie your fishing line securely. Drop the line in the hole, and lay your "rod" across so that it is supported by the ice on the sides of the "cross." When a fish bites, it will pull the short end toward the hole, and the flag will pop up, letting you know you have a fish. 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) Great Backyard Bird Count Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 PM Learn about the Great Backyard Bird Count, and enjoy a walk as we discover which birds stay around during the winter. This Forest Isn't Big Enough for the Both of Us! Tuesday, February 16 from 4:00 to 5:00 PM Through fun activities and games, learn how animal populations are regulated by their environments. How successful will you be at survival? Come find out! Owls Are Such a Hoot! Thursday, February 18 from 4:00 to 5:00 PM Learn about the fascinating characteristics of owls and how their adaptations help them catch prey. Discover what these birds like to eat for dinner. The Laws of Attraction Saturday, February 20 at 2:00 PM Love is in the air, and the Stony Kill staff is here to explain the varying and intriguing courtship and mating behaviors of local birds, deer and other animals. 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) Great Backyard Bird Count Saturday, February 13 at 9:00 AM This weekend, birders all across North America will count birds in their yards or local parks as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Join other birders as we count birds at our feeders from the comfort of the viewing window. The Ecology of Snow Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 PM For winter wildlife, a rich blanket of snow can be either a blessing or a curse. While winter's snow cover may impede mobility and hide food sources, it can also provide protection for many species of flora and fauna. Join center naturalists on an outdoor study of winter's ecological impact. Nature Reading and Doing - A Family Program Thursday, February 18 at 10:00 AM Join us for a winter adventure! After sharing a book with a winter theme, the weather will determine whether our outdoor walk is by foot or on snowshoes, with popcorn and hot chocolate afterwards. Call by February 16 to register. Nightwalk: Coyotes Friday, February 19 at 7:00 PM Nocturnal animals are uniquely adapted to the realm of night. Join us for an indoor presentation and outdoor walk to look and listen for these fascinating animals and to explore their habitat. Feed the Birds Saturday, February 20 at 2:00 PM We'll make some feeders for our winged friends and then take a walk to look for birds and bird habitat. $1 materials fee per person. More events at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#January) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Hoot Like an Owl Pre-K Program Wednesday, February 10 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM "Hoo-hoo hoooooo hoo-hoo" Have you ever heard an owl call? Come join us as we learn the calls of owls that live in the Pine Bush, explore their habitat, and discover how they survive. We will finish with making an owl finger puppet. Call 518-456-0655 to register. More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=12&ye=2009&eventTypeID=2) Adirondacks Adirondack Park Agency Newcomb Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_ncal.html) Chilly Snowshoe and Cross-Country Ski Festival Saturday, February 13 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 snowshoe use, workshops and hot beverages. Family and kids' activities will include making a balsam sachet, snow goggles, snowman pin, winter art and more. Family activities on snowshoes include our famous search for the "Gold" Medallion, or try our scavenger hunts on each of the trails. Skiers must bring their own equipment, and people may either bring their own snowshoes or borrow ours. Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Holey Dwellers Saturday, February 13 at 11:00 AM Who lives in a hole under the ground? Many animals use holes in the ground for year-round shelter or maternity dens. Walk the trails with us as we search for some holes and signs of the creatures that use them. Maple Sugaring Saturday, February 20 from 10:00 AM to Noon What's a waffle without maple syrup? Ever wonder how that awesome sweet stuff is made? Join our staff for a maple sugaring demonstration. Meet in the Rogers Center main parking lot to carpool. Please call to register, and dress to be outside. 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. Frosty Feathers Saturday, February 13 at 10:30 AM Join us as we search for winter resident birds. You can be part of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Cross-Country Ski Tour Saturday, February 13 at 1:00 PM Bring your own skis, or rent a pair (limited sizes), and glide through The Woods on a guided tour. Ski rental $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members. Snowshoe Walk Tuesday, February, 16 at 10:30 AM Got cabin fever? Join us for an energetic walk on snowshoes. Snowshoe rental $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members. Frozen Forest Saturday, February 20 at 10:30 AM Discover how to identify local trees after the leaves have fallen, by looking at their bark and buds instead. 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). 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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Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 50448 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Tue Feb 23 13:14:48 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:14:48 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] February 24 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4B83D4C8.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery February 24, 2010 Winter Tracks 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 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) Winter Tracks Have you ever been on a walk in the winter, come across animal tracks and wondered what kind of animal made them and what they were doing? Mammal tracks show various gaits and patterns because different animals have different ways of traveling. Walk?Mammals that walk leave behind alternating, evenly spaced prints in parallel rows. They often put their hind foot in the same spot where their front foot stepped. Walking is a slow way to move, but it's very energy efficient. Trot - Some mammals trot, which is a faster way to get around but still energy efficient. During trotting, two diagonal feet move at the same time--for example, the left front and the rear right. Gallop?Galloping is the fastest way for a mammal to travel, but it requires a lot of energy and can be done for only short periods. When an animal gallops, all four feet leave the ground at the same time during one stage of the activity. Jump?Jumping requires the most energy. Although it's slower than galloping, it also includes one stage when all four feet leave the ground at the same time. Rabbits, squirrels, mice and rats are all jumpers. Take the following posters on your next hike to help you do your own animal tracking: Tracks poster - Part 1 Tracks poster - Part 2 This popular topic is reprinted from the December 31, 2008 issue of Outdoor Discovery. 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?New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles. Back to top Family Fun Tracks: Only Part of the Story You can tell by animal tracks whether they were made by a deer foraging for food or a bobcat chasing prey. Did an animal stop for a drink? Are there many tracks in one spot, meaning an animal was looking for something to eat? What are some other signs of animal life that tell a story? Scat?Scat (a fancy name for animal poop) tells us what an animal has been eating. Some animals use scat to mark their territory. Fur and Feathers?Animals may lose their fur or feathers when they rub against something (to leave scent or scratch an itch) or when attacked by another animal. Look for fur stuck to lower branches or along the ground to tell you where animals have been. Chew Marks?Animals such as deer, rabbit or beaver leave chew marks on the vegetation they eat. Chew marks are different for different animals because of their tooth structure and their eating habits. Food Caches?Some animals such as squirrels collect and store food to eat during the winter. Homes?Animals live in holes high in trees or near the ground, in leaf or twig nests in branches and in thick brambles. Some live in caves, burrows or dens. Deer and coyote leave well-worn paths from traveling the same trail over and over again from their homes to their feeding areas. Track Station How can you track animal prints if there's no snow? Make your own track station. Get a 3' x 3' piece of plywood and some sand, flour or cornmeal. Find a level spot that's in the open but near trees or shrubs where animals might find food. Put the board flat on the ground and sprinkle flour, cornmeal or sand over the entire surface. Come back the next morning to check for footprints on your track station. How many different kinds are there? Use the posters offered above to help you identify your nighttime visitors. 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) Seeing Winter from a Different Angle Saturday, February 27 at 2:00 PM By literally changing the way we look at and think about this cold and dormant time of the year, we will discover new things about the winter woods and fields. For families with children ages seven and older. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Muddy March Saturday, March 6 at 2:00 PM March can be a chilly, sloppy month, but don't let that stop you from getting outdoors. Apply a waterproof substance to your hiking boots and join us for a walk on the Sierra Trail. Meet at the Sierra Trail parking lot. 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) Who's Under the Snow? Saturday, February 27 at 10:00 AM Even in winter, life in the natural world surrounds us. Join us for a walk to learn about the hidden life under the snow. Tracking for Kids Saturday, February 27 at 2:00 PM Winter is a great season to learn about animal tracks and trails. Kids will learn to read the signs and identify who has been in their own backyards and what they were doing. Bluebirds are Us Saturday, March 6 at 9:00 AM March is a great time to get ready for bluebirds, and Five Rivers is a great place to learn how. Join us for an indoor/outdoor clinic on bluebird conservation. Free bluebird box plans. Dr. Seuss' Birthday Read-A-Thon Saturday, March 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM Join our "Read Across America Day" mirth to mark the date of Dr. Seuss' birth. We'll read the Seuss books that have classical stature, with those animal names of unnatural nature. Whether sister or brother, or father or mother, parent and child must accompany each other. On top of all that, meet the Cat in the Hat and win nifty prizes for the Seuss-iest noses, shoeses and eyeses. 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) Discover the Pine Bush Sunday, February 28 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Our experts will guide you through this one-mile hike over rolling sand dunes where you will discover Pine Bush natural history, seasonal surprises and transformations. Please remember to wear sturdy walking shoes, long pants and bring drinking water. Cost: $2.00/person, $5.00/family, children under 5 free. Call 518-456-0655 to register. More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=2&ye=2010&eventTypeID=2) Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Full Moon Rising Saturday, February 27 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM David Terrazas, Central New York Astronomy Club, will take you for a telescopic walk on the moon, covering the craters, wrinkles, bumps and markings of this amazing rock. Dress warmly for both indoors AND outdoors. Adams Farm Mud Walk Saturday, March 6 at 10:00 AM Walk along the muddy trails of Adams Farm and look at all of the farm animals. Call 607-674-4017 for details. More events at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#February) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. Snow Topiaries and Bouquets Saturday, February 27 at 10:30 AM Snow is not just for building snowmen. Come learn how to build a snow turtle, deer, turkey and a vase for bouquets with snow. Dress for the weather. Moonlight Cross-Country Ski Tour Sunday, February 28 at 6:30 PM Ski by the light of the moon. Bring your own skis or rent a pair (limited sizes). Ski rental $2.00/pair; free for Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve members. After School Escape Thursday, March 4 at 4:30 PM Enjoy a one-hour program for kids featuring a different, fun outdoor activity each week. For children in grades K-5. Registration is not required. Snowshoe Walk Saturday, March 6 at 10:30 AM Join us for the final snowshoe walk of the season. Snowshoe rental $2.00/pair; free for Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve 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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