From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Jul 14 09:22:56 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:22:56 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] July 14 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4C3D81F0.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery July 14, 2010 Outdoor Cooking Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Long Island 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) Outdoor Cooking Cooking s'mores over a campfire is a wonderful summer pastime for kids and a great memory for adults. But your entire outdoor menu doesn't have to be limited to chocolate and marshmallows. You can cook a complete and healthy meal using a campfire that you build yourself. Fire needs three things: fuel (wood), flame and air. The first step to building a fire can be done at home by making your own fire starters. Here are two different types you can make: Egg fire starters? Create your own fire starters by filling cardboard egg cartons halfway with dryer lint or sawdust. Pour enough melted candle wax into each compartment to fill it up. You will use one of these "eggs" for each fire. Trench candles?Roll several sheets of newspaper into a long candle shape. Cut several 8-inch lengths of string, and tie each around the roll at 3-inch intervals, leaving enough string on the end to hold and dip the "candle." Cut the roll between the strings. Dip each trench candle into melted candle wax, and hang by the string to dry. Now you are ready to head outside into your backyard or on a camping trip. When building a fire, it is best to use established fire circles or fire pits. If none are available, clear the area of leaves and debris. Make sure there are no roots nearby because fire can travel into the roots and underground, only to pop back up farther away. Dig a circle until you hit mineral soil. Always have a bucket of water ready to put the fire out. Remember, a new law requires that all outdoor campfires must be small. If you didn't bring fire starters, you will need another kind of tinder?any material that catches fire when lit with a match, such as wood shavings or dry pine needles. You also will need kindling?pencil-thin sticks or branches that you find on the ground, and fuel wood?three- or four-inch-diameter sticks of wood. To build your fire, place a wad of tinder or a fire starter in the center of your fire circle, and place kindling around the circle by building a log cabin. Lay the fuel wood on top of the kindling, leaving lots of space for air to circulate, and have an adult light the tinder. For cooking, be sure to wait until the coals are glowing. You may need to add more fuel wood to get the fire hot enough. When you are done cooking, make sure that your fire is completely extinguished. Burn the remaining wood and charcoals until they become ash. Stir the ashes with a long branch, sprinkle with water, and stir again. You may need to repeat this several times. When you can no longer feel heat from several inches above the ashes, the fire is extinguished. If there are any remaining hot spots, sprinkle them with water. 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 Crazy Cookers You can create your own outdoor cooking tools with a large coffee can, some wire, wire screen and charcoal briquettes. To make a tin can charcoal stove, you will need a large tin can with the top removed, two pieces of sturdy wire screen, a punch can opener, a foot-long piece of wire for a handle and charcoal briquettes. ?Using the can opener, punch air holes around the top and bottom edges of the can. Six holes for each should be sufficient. Push the ends of the wire through two holes at the top opposite each other to make a handle, and twist the ends so that the wire can't slip out of the holes. ?Cut a piece of wire screen about equal to the circumference of the inside of the can, and push it halfway into the can. To use your tin can cooker, set it on a cleared area of the ground. ?Place a fire starter on the screen inside the can, and pile the briquettes around it. Make sure you leave enough space for airflow. Have an adult light the fire starter. ?Cut a square piece of wire screen larger than the opening of the can, and set it on top of the can. Your cooker will be ready to use in about 30 minutes. Place a pan on top of the screen and start cooking. ? You also can use the sun to make certain foods. To create a solar cooker, you need a pizza box and some aluminum foil. Check out this previous issue of Outdoor Discovery (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public45100.html) for instructions on how to make a solar cooker. Foiled Again Now that you know how to build a fire, it is time to start cooking. Here are some recipes for a delicious and healthy meal: Chicken and rice ?Place two raw chicken breasts on a large piece of foil. Mix two-thirds of a cup of uncooked rice with one can of condensed cheddar cheese or mushroom soup, and pour on top of the chicken. Wrap tightly in the foil. Place on the coals, and cook 20 minutes per side. Corn on the cob?Husk several ears of corn, spread them with butter, and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Wrap each of the ears in foil, and place them on the coals for 10 minutes. Baked apple?Cut the core from an apple, leaving the bottom of the apple intact. Fill the hole with brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins (or chocolate). Wrap the apple in foil, and place it in the coals for about 30 minutes. Orange cake?Cut off the top of an orange, and scoop out the fruit. Mix some cake batter according to the directions, put it in the hollowed-out orange, and replace the top. Wrap the batter-filled skin in foil, and place it in the coals for about 15 minutes. 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 Lakeside Freshwater Clinic Wednesday, July 14 at 6:00 PM (tentative) Lake Ronkonkoma Park Call I FISH NY at 631-444-0283 to register. Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Summer Fruits Saturday, July 17 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, July 17 at 2:00 PM Plants that Animals Eat and Use Saturday, July 24 at 10:00 AM Event Descriptions at Stony Kill (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html#July) Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Beaver Tree Trail Ramble Thursday, July 15 at 10:00 AM Meadow Walk Saturday, July 17 at 10:00 AM Meadow Life Saturday, July 17 at 2:00 PM Wild Turkey Trail Walk Sunday, July 18 at 2:00 PM Firefly Watch Tuesday, July 20 at 7:30 PM Botany for Kids Saturday, July 24 at 10:00 AM Plants and People Saturday, July 24 at 2:00 PM Summer Flowers Sunday, July 25 at 2:00 PM Wildlife of the Evening Tuesday, July 27 at 7:00 PM Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#July) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Meet the Odonates! Dragonflies and Damselflies Sunday, July 18 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=7&ye=2010&eventTypeID=2) Adirondacks Adirondack Park Agency Newcomb Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_n.html) Join the Click: A Look at Social Insects Tuesday, July 20 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Adirondack Park Agency Paul Smiths Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_ps.html) Wild Wednesdays Wednesdays during July and August from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Summit Trail Hike Saturday, July 17 from 10:00 AM to Noon Paddle Ninemile Swamp Saturday, July 24 at 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM Event descriptions at Rogers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2006.html#July) Western New York Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. Ribbit, Slither, Croaks! Saturday, July 17 at 10:30 AM Worms in the Woods Tuesday, July 20 at 10:30 AM Pond Life Thursday, July 22 at 10:00 AM Summer Wildflowers Saturday, July 24 at 10:30 AM Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#July) 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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Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 10935 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 6645 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 10496 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Jul 14 10:08:04 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:08:04 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] Additional Upcoming Event Message-ID: <4C3D8C84.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> The following event was omitted from the Rogers Environmental Education Center Schedule: Chipmunk Chambers Friday, July 23 from 10:30 AM to Noon Many small woodland creatures hide under rocks and woodpiles. By collecting sticks, leaves, bark and other things on the ground, you can crate a perfect shelter for a small animal. Please call 607-674-4017 to register by Monday, July 19. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Tue Jul 20 09:08:49 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:08:49 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] July 28 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4C4567A1.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery July 28, 2010 Hunting 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) Hunting Hunting is one of the most popular forms of wildlife recreation in New York State. Nearly 700,000 New Yorkers and more than 50,000 nonresidents hunt in the Empire State. Hunting is often a family tradition that is passed down from one generation to the next. Many Outdoor Discovery readers expressed an interest in learning more about hunting. New York offers numerous opportunities to hunt a large variety of wildlife, including big game, small game, game birds and furbearers. Sportsman Education Classes Hunters must complete a mandatory hunter education course to obtain a hunting license. Those who follow the safety rules taught in this course have made hunting one of the safest types of recreation. Some hunter education classes are offered for home study. When you complete the classroom or internet lessons and the field portion of the course and successfully complete the written and field tests, you receive a certificate. Youth must present this certificate as proof of Sportsman Education training when purchasing a junior hunting license. Adults may present a Sportsman Education certificate or previous hunting license as proof. The Junior Hunting license allows 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt small game and 14- and 15-year-olds to hunt small and big game when accompanied by an experienced, licensed adult hunter. In addition, there are special youth hunting weekends for wild turkey (late April), pheasants (late September/October) and waterfowl (late September/October). Youth who attend DEC's Environmental Education camps (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html) are also given the opportunity to learn about hunting. Campers 12 to 14 years old can participate in Hunter Safety classes, while campers 15 to 17 years old and returning campers can take the Bow Hunter safety class. Each year, hundreds of sportsmen's groups sponsor kids who wish to attend a DEC camp. Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/68.html) are available to women 18 years old and up and include hunting classes. Online Introduction to Hunter Education The Internet Introduction to Hunter Education (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9187.html) is a series of online lessons about hunting and outdoor skills. It is not a complete, official hunter education course, but it does provide valuable information about hunting and enjoying the outdoors. 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 A Little of This, A Little of That Hunting helps manage some wildlife populations to prevent crop and environmental damage. One of the most popular game species, white-tailed deer, must eat a great deal of green forage per day, particularly during the colder months. To regulate its body temperature during winter, a deer must eat around five pounds of vegetation per day, depending on the nutritional quality of the food. Deer don't have front teeth in their upper jaw, so they shred plant material, including leaves, shrubs, trees, fruits, nuts, ornamental plants and agricultural crops. They can reach up to six feet from the ground to get food and prefer to feed along the edge between forests and fields. For this activity, imagine that you are a deer trying to find food in a particular area, such as your yard or a park. You can make this a game by seeing who can "collect" the most food in 15 minutes. Look around your area, focusing from the ground to as high as you can reach. Write down the names of each plant/vegetation that you think a deer would eat. To make the game a little more difficult, imagine that you are a deer in winter trying to find food in the snow. Include on your list only those plants and other vegetation that are a foot or two above ground to as high as you can reach. Whoever has the most items on their list at the end of 15 minutes 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 Long Island Family Freshwater Fishing Clinic at Hempstead Lake State Park (tentative) Saturday, August 7 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Call I FISH NY staff at 631-444-0283 to register. Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) Discovery Table Saturday July 31 from 10:00 AM to Noon Family Program: Open Barn Saturdays, July - October from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday Afternoon Guided Nature Walks Saturdays, July 31 and August 7 at 2:00 PM Camping and Hiking Safety Saturday, August 7 at 10:00 AM 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) Pine Needle Basket Making Saturday, July 31 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Bats Tuesday, August 3 at 7:30 PM Happy Birthday, Smokey Bear! Saturday, August 7 at 10:00 AM Ladybug Picnic Saturday, August 7 at 2:00 PM Firefly Watch Tuesday, August 10 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) Wild, Wet and Wacky World of Pond Life Saturday, July 31 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 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.adkvic.org/calendar_n.html) Mushroom Walk Saturday, July 31 at 1:00 PM Call 518-582-2000 to register. Adirondack Park Agency Paul Smiths Visitors Center (http://www.adkvic.org/calendar_ps.html) Wild Wednesdays Wednesday, July 28 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM Call 518-359-7800 x116 to register. Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Kid Huts Friday, July 30 from 10:30 AM to Noon Call 607-674-4017 to register by Monday, July 26. Nature Art a la Andrew Goldsworthy Saturday, July 31 from 10:00 AM to Noon Brookfield State Forest Hike Saturday, August 7 from 9:00 AM to Noon Call 607-674-4017 to register. 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. Knee-High Naturalists Series for ages 3 to 5 July 28 and August 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 10:00 AM Register for the entire series; fee for materials. Going Batty! Wednesday, July 28 at 8:00 PM Toad Houses Saturday, July 31 at 10:30 AM Big, Bad Bear Adventure Monday, August 9 at 10:00 AM Insects of the Night Wednesday, August 11 at 8:00 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... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 61277 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 4255 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 3779 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 8638 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 60735 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 10316 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 6645 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 45127 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Fri Jul 30 12:19:44 2010 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:19:44 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] Outdoor Discovery Special Announcement Message-ID: <4C52C360.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> As a subscriber to NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's Outdoor Discovery listserve, you may have a special interest in the upcoming America's Great Outdoors Listening Session. What President Obama is seeking your input on a conservation agenda for our country. Don't miss this opportunity to share your thoughts on conservation, recreation and reconnecting people to the outdoors! This event is free and open to the public, but you must pre-register by August 3. Why This past April at the White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors, President Obama signed a memorandum establishing the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation agenda worthy of the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. Input from the public is sought! Where and When Plans have recently been finalized for a public listening session to be held on Friday, August 6, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon at the Student Center at Marist College in Poughkeepsie. You are invited to join senior representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other federal agencies to share your thoughts on conservation, recreation and reconnecting people to the outdoors. To Register Go to http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/Poughkeepsie-Information-Session-information.cfm# for complete information about the August 6 listening session, including how to register and how to provide input if you are unable to attend in person. General Information Go to http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/ for general information about America's Great Outdoors and other scheduled listening sessions. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Header Type: application/octet-stream Size: 709 bytes Desc: not available URL: