From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Dec 14 09:13:59 2011 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:13:59 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] December 14 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4EE868D7.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery December 14, 2011 Winter Outings Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events 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 Outings Winter in New York offers a lot of opportunities to get outside and explore your area in a new way. Knowing where you are going and how to get there is an important part of heading out into an unknown area. But you also have to be prepared to deal with health issues that can occur when enjoying the outdoors, especially in winter. Sporting goods stores carry reference guides to first aid that will fit easily in your backpack. Dehydration?Dehydration occurs when you don't replace the fluid that your body loses through participating in outdoor activities or exercise. Make sure to drink water before you start an activity and continue to drink it at intervals while active. Hypothermia?Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Hypothermia isn't just a concern in the winter. A cool, breezy spring or summer day can be more dangerous than a calm, dry winter day because wind and moisture draw heat away from the body quickly. Dress in layers, and wear a hat to avoid this life-threatening condition. Layered 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. 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 Pack a Winter Survival Guide You need more than just hiking boots and some energy bars when you head out into the woods on a hike, even if you are just planning a short trip. Start by choosing a backpack. There are two types of backpacks: internal frame and external frame. Internal frame packs have flexible, reinforced supports and foam padding to conform to your body. These packs are best suited for activities such as rock climbing or cross-country skiing because you won't be thrown off balance if the weight shifts. External packs have a frame with a nylon pack, padded shoulder straps and hip belt. The center of gravity is high and designed to support a heavy load, but the pack is easy to carry. Most people can carry up to 20 percent of their weight. On a snowy afternoon, get together with your family, pack a backpack with some essentials, and keep it handy for your next hike. Talk about why you need the following items: ?Map and compass ?Signal device, such as a whistle or mirror ?Matches and lighter in a waterproof container ?Fire starters ?Water-purifying system ?High-energy, lightweight food like granola bars and nuts ?Flashlight with extra batteries and bulb ?Pocket knife ?Multi-tool (comes with different options, including a screwdriver, file, tweezers, scissors, etc.) ?Basic first-aid kit ?Emergency blanket ?Nylon parachute cord (about 50 feet) ?Extra, lightweight, windproof/waterproof jacket and pants ?Brightly colored bandanna Go on a Winter Hike In wooded habitats, animals and people are protected from strong winter winds and wind chill. It's sometimes easier to travel in wooded areas, as the snow doesn't drift, nor does it pile up as it does in open areas. Instead, a lot of snow sits on tree branches, especially in an evergreen forest. You can expect to see a wider variety of wildlife and plants in the woods. Animals can find more places to get out of the cold and hide from predators. Snow-covered evergreen shrubs (like junipers) create sheltered places for small mammals like rabbits, mice and voles. The woods are a great place to look for tracks, signs of nibbling, and scat (animal poop). Kids can check for blue spots in the snow, which are really urine from rabbits that have eaten buckthorn. Moose, deer, red squirrels and snowshoe hares are among the creatures that live in coniferous forests. (Conifers are trees that produce cones, such as pine cones.) Long-tailed weasels, deer mice and ruffed grouse prefer hardwoods such as birch. Gray foxes, gray squirrels and blue jays live in sugar maple forests, while wild turkey and Cooper's hawks prefer oak and hickory forests. Read Conservationist for Kids (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/40248.html) for more information and activities! Back to top Upcoming DEC Events Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Family Fun: Not a Creature was Stirring Saturday, December 24 at 10:00 AM Parents and children must accompany each other. Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, December 21. Family Fun: Birding for Kids Tuesday, December 27 at 10:00 AM Parents and children must accompany each other. Call 518-475-0291 to register by Friday, December 23. Family Fun: River Otters Wednesday, December 28 at 2:00 PM Parents and children must accompany each other. Call 518-475-0291 to register by Friday, December 23. Teacher Workshop: Project Wild Thursday, December 29 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Call 518-475-0291 to register by Friday, December 23. Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#December) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/) Winter Solstice Wednesday, December 21 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Call 518-456-0655 or go the Albany Pine Bush website to register. Cost: $3.00/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=12&ye=2011&eventTypeID=2) Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Programs at Rogers are now offered by the Friends of Rogers(http://friendsofrogers.org/); there are no DEC education staff at the site due to fiscal constraints. Leave No Trace: Kids Drop In Program Saturday, December 17 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Parents and children must accompany each other. 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, December 15 at 4:30 PM For children in grades K-5. No registration required. Footprints in the Snow Saturday, December 17 at 10:00 AM Winter Solstice Walk Wednesday, December 21 at 5:30 PM Snowshoe rental: $4/person; FORNP members/$2. Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#December) 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? 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Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 30313 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Dec 28 09:33:34 2011 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:33:34 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] December 28 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4EFAE26E.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery December 28, 2011 Insects in Winter Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Environmental Education Center and Norrie Point Environmental 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) Insects in Winter What happens to insects in winter? Some, like monarch butterflies, are able to migrate and escape our cold winters, but not all insects can do that. For a species to survive winter in the Northeast, where temperatures can drop well below freezing, they must adapt to the cold and find accessible water and sufficient food. Some insects remain active, such as aquatic insects that continue to survive and grow under the ice with minimal change to their daily lives. Insects that are inactive through winter enter a dormant period called diapause, during which normal growth stops. To protect their bodies from freezing, many insects lose a high proportion of water. They also develop a very sugary alcohol called glycerol, which acts like antifreeze. It keeps them from freezing and thawing as temperatures fluctuate. Insects also remain dormant in one of four stages: eggs, larvae, pupa or adults. Tent caterpillars spend winter in the egg stage. Shiny, hard egg masses can be found around the twigs of apple and cherry trees. During fall, grasshoppers lay their eggs in the ground to survive winter. New generations of tent caterpillars and grasshoppers emerge in spring. The wooly bear caterpillar overwinters as larvae. At the end of summer, it finds a sheltered spot under leaves or a log, where it stays until spring. The cecropia moth spends winter in the pupa stage, inside a pod-shaped cocoon attached to a plant. It emerges as an adult in the spring. Ants and mourning cloak butterflies both overwinter as adults. These insects find protection under the bark of a tree or inside a log. Honeybees eat stored honey and beat their wings to create warmth in the hive. 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 Study a Rotting Log Many different insects like to make their homes inside or under the bark of rotting logs. Head outside with a magnifying glass, and wear gloves. Look underneath bark for insects like ladybugs or wooly bear caterpillars. Roll over logs to see whether any insects are in the leaves underneath. Break off pieces of rotten wood to see whether anything is living inside, but be sure to leave the wood where you found it. If you find something you can't identify, draw a picture of it, and look it up later while you warm up indoors. Go on a Snow Flea Safari Snow fleas are not really fleas; they're springtails. These tiny insects overwinter in the leaf litter at the bases of trees. On warm winter days, springtails emerge to eat and look like black specs in the snow. Springtails are named for their ability to quickly thrust out their "tails" and jump 3 to 4 inches, even though they are only about 1 to 2 millimeters long(about 1/16 of an inch)! Go outside on a warm winter day, and look around the base of a tree. If you see black specs, use a magnifying glass for a closer look. Put your hand down next to the springtails, and watch them leap away. 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) Programs at Stony Kill are now offered by the Stony Kill Foundation; there are no DEC education staff at the site due to fiscal constraints. Farming and Your Future Friday, December 30 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM For children in grades 2 to 4. All participants will make their own bat house to take home. Call 845-831-1617 or email to register. Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Watchable Wildlife: Weasels Saturday, December 31 at 10:00 AM Endangered Species Saturday, December 31 at 2:00 PM Annual New Year's Day Bird Count Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 9:00 AM If severe weather is forecast, call 518-475-0291 by Saturday, December 31 to confirm. The Seasons of Five Rivers?Photo Exhibit/Talk Saturday, January 7 at 2:00 PM Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#December) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Kids New Year Bird Count Saturday, January 7 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Call 518-456-0655 or go the Albany Pine Bush website to register. Cost: $3.00/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=12&ye=2011&eventTypeID=2) Central New York Rogers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1831.html) Programs at Rogers are now offered by the Friends of Rogers(http://friendsofrogers.org/); there are no DEC education staff at the site due to fiscal constraints. Annual Winter Living Celebration Saturday, January 7 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM 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, January 5 at 4:30 PM For children in grades K-5. No registration required. Climate Change Caf? Saturday, January 7 at 1:00 PM Make a New Year's resolution to put your home on an energy diet. Full Moon Family Snowshoe Walk Monday, January 9 at 6:00 PM Snowshoe rental = $4.00/person; Friends of Reinstein members = $2.00. Advanced Skiing Tuesday, January 10 at 6:30 PM Experienced cross-country skiers are invited to join us on this guided ski tour. Ski rental = $4.00/person; Friends of Reinstein members = $2.00. Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#December) 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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