From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Tue Jan 11 08:32:43 2011 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:32:43 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] DEC Environmental Education Camps Registration Message-ID: <4D2C15AB020000BD000508F7@gwsmtp.dec.state.ny.us> DEC SUMMER ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPS PREPARE FOR 2011 SEASON Several Changes Made For the Upcoming Season The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that registration for the 2011 summer camp programs begins this week. Applications from sponsors must be postmarked no earlier than Jan. 15. Parents may submit applications postmarked no earlier than Jan. 29. The Summer Camp Program offers week?long adventures in conservation education to children ages 12-17. DEC operates four residential camps for children ages 12-14: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake, Franklin County; Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor, Sullivan County; Camp Rushford in Caneadea, Allegany County; and Pack Forest in Warrensburg, Warren County. Pack Forest also features Teenage Ecology Workshop, a three-week environmental studies program for 15-17 year old campers. DEC is also encouraging sporting clubs, civic groups and environmental organizations to sponsor a child for a week at camp. Those groups who sponsor six paid campers will receive one free scholarship. Campers participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities including fishing, bird watching, fly-tying, archery, canoeing, hiking, camping, orienteering and hunter safety education. Campers also learn about fields, forests, streams and ponds through fun, hands-on activities and outdoor exploration. DEC counselors teach youth conservation techniques used by natural resource professionals, such as measuring trees and estimating wildlife populations. Changes for the 2011 camp season include:Camp fee for one week is $350. All four camps will run for seven weeks, beginning July 3. Children who have attended camp in the past may register for any of the seven weeks. Campers may attend for more than one week during the summer. The fee for the total number of weeks must be included with the application. Please note that campers will not be able to stay at camp on Saturday night, so parents should make alternative arrangements if two consecutive weeks are selected. Camp Rushford will no longer offer one week for 15 to 17 year olds. Older campers are encouraged to sign up for the Teenage Ecology Workshop at Pack Forest for one of the first three weeks of camp, beginning July 3. For information and applications visit DEC?s website: www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html or call 518?402?8014. Interested parents may also sign up for DEC?s camps list serve at http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decenvironmentaledcamps or contact DEC in writing at DEC Camps, 2nd Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233?4500. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Tue Jan 11 08:47:11 2011 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:47:11 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] January 12 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4D2C190F.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery January 12, 2011 Household Hunt Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Capital Region - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center Western New York - Reinstein Environmental Education Center Subscribe to Outdoor Discovery or change your subscription options (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery) Household Hunt Pollutants and dangerous chemicals are hiding in your home. You don't have to look far to find them-many are located among your family's cleaning products. Products that are dangerous have warnings that tell you to be careful with them because they can be harmful to your health. Explosive?a substance that may expand suddenly and violently within a container, causing the container to burst and send pieces of metal, plastic or glass flying (water repellant for shoes, spray paint) Corrosive?a product that can burn skin or eyes on contact, or, if swallowed, can burn throat or stomach (toilet bowl cleaner, oven cleaner) Flammable?a substance or its fumes that can catch fire easily if exposed to heat, flame or sparks (solvents, certain glues) Poison?a product that can cause illness or death if licked, consumed or, sometimes, smelled (windshield washer fluid, furniture polish) Products like those above are also bad for the environment, because when we pour them down the drain or dump them in the trash, they find their way to lakes, rivers or oceans and pollute them. Go on a hunt with an adult to look for dangerous chemicals in your household. Many communities hold household hazardous waste collection days so that you can safely dispose of these items. Check with your town or city to see if an event is offered nearby. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an interactive website where you can learn about the chemicals in your home. The next time you go shopping with your family, check the ingredients of the products that you buy. 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 Make your Own Green Cleaners Make-your-own, environmentally friendly cleaners do a great job without harming you or the environment. Besides, they are quick and easy to make. You can even create your own special line of products with essential oils and personalized labels. You will need empty spray bottles, a small jar, vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice and baking soda. Glass cleaner: Fill a spray bottle halfway with vinegar. Add enough water to fill the bottle and shake it. Create a label for the cleaner and include on it, Apply with newspaper. Furniture polish: Mix 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice and 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle. Make a label with the following instructions: For varnished wood. Heat mixture by setting bottle in a pan of hot water. Shake bottle after heating. Apply polish to wood, and rub dry with a soft cloth. Bathroom cleaner: Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of salt in a small jar. Add a little water to make a paste to scrub tubs and sinks. It's In the Air Harmful chemicals and pollutants aren't just found in our cabinets. Pollution is in the air outside, which eventually ends up in our homes. Test how clean the air in your house is with this easy experiment. Have on hand several drinking glasses, tin cans with tops and bottoms removed and some petroleum jelly. Choose a few places within your house to test the air (the kitchen, near a woodstove or fireplace, the garage, etc). Smear the outside of each glass with petroleum jelly, and put one in the first test spot. Cover the glass with a can to keep out regular household dirt and dust. Repeat this procedure at the other test spots. Collect the glasses after one week, and examine them with a magnifying glass. Mark a ?-inch square area on each glass, and count the number of particles that you see. If there are 15 or less, the area is clean. If there are more than 100, it's time to clean up! 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/1980.html) The World of Weasels Saturday, January 22 at 10:00 AM Girl Scout Outing: Learn to Snowshoe Saturday, January 22 at 2:00 PM Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 to register your troop by Wednesday, January 19. Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#January) Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Discovery Hike Sunday, January 16 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Kaikout Kill Barrens (trailhead #6) Call 518-456-0655 to register and for directions to the trailhead. 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=1&ye=2011&eventTypeID=2) Western New York Reinstein Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html) Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959. After-School Escape Thursday, January 13 and 20 at 4:30 PM For children in grades K-5. No registration required. Snowshoeing 101 Thursday, January 13 and 20 at 6:00 PM Snowshoe rental: $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members Climate Change Caf? Saturday, January 15 at 1:00 PM Full Wolf Moon Snowshoe Walk Wednesday, January 19 at 6:00 PM Snowshoe rental: $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members Full Moon Cross-Country Ski Tour Wednesday, January 19 at 6:30 PM Bring your own skis, or rent a pair. Ski rental: $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members Winter Wildlife Snowshoe Walk Saturday, January 22 at 10:30 AM Snowshoe rental: $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members Learn to Cross-Country Ski Saturday, January 22 at 1:00 PM Ski rental: $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#January) 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). Subscription options (http://lists.dec.state.ny.us/mailman/listinfo/decoutdoordiscovery). Having problems viewing this newsletter? 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Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 10588 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Jan 26 09:09:04 2011 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:09:04 -0500 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] January 26 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4D3FE4B0.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery January 26, 2011 issue Winter Wonders Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Capital Region - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery 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 Wonders Taking a walk in the winter can be a real eye-opener?not only because of the invigorating temperatures, but also the amount of wildlife that is still active. Go on a winter excursion into two different habitats to see what animals are active there. Open Terrain Non-woody vegetation such as grasses, hedges and broad-leafed plants grow well in open terrain. Scattered scrubs and trees may be found in fields and meadows. Look at how the snow piles up and gathers into drifts. Nearby roads may be covered even when the snow isn't very deep. This happens because the wind blows freely across the open terrain with few trees to block it. Both people and animals have to deal with the effects of wind chill in open areas. Red foxes and cottontail rabbits prefer meadows, while deer, coyote and skunks live among the shrubs and saplings. The Woods In wooded habitats, animals and people are protected from the 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 the 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. It's a great place to look for tracks, signs for nibbling, and scat (animal poop). Kids can check for blue spots in the snow, which are really rabbit 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. 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 A Season's History As you are on your excursion, look for signs of the land underneath the snow. Snow will settle into lines along plowed farmland, but will be fluffy and uneven on grass. It will be compact on concrete and drift away from areas exposed to strong winds. If you have a snow bank along your driveway or yard, you can read the history of the winter. Using a small shovel, cut away a section of the snow bank. Look at the change in texture from top to bottom. Each new snowfall compacts and compresses and leaves a line in the snow bank. You can count how many times it has snowed this season and even tell which storms produced the most snowfall. A Warm Blanket of Snow Have you ever noticed animals curled up in the snow? Snow acts as insulation?it can actually keep the animals warm. In the snow bank that you cut in the previous activity, mark each layer with a popsicle stick. Take a thermometer and measure the temperature in the middle of each of the layers. Also record the air temperature when you are finished. The warmest temperature should be near the bottom and the coldest near the top. The snow temperature should also be warmer than the air temperature unless it is a very warm day. Using what you learned, if you were an animal, would you make a cozy bed underneath the snow? 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) Misunderstood Animals Saturday, January 29 at 10:00 AM Learn to Snowshoe Saturday, January 29 at 2:00 PM Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, January 26 to reserve snowshoes and/or to register. Watchable Wildlife: Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow Saturday, February 5 at 2:00 PM Event Descriptions 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) Owl Prowl Friday, January 28 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 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=1&ye=2011&eventTypeID=2) 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 Thursdays, January 27 and February 3 at 4:30 PM For children in grades K-5. No registration required. Snowshoeing 101 Thursday, January 27 and February 3 at 6:00 PM Snowshoe rental: $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members. Cross-Country Ski Tour Saturday, January 29 at 1:00 PM Ski rental: $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members. Alien Invaders Saturday, January 29 at 2:00 PM We will use snowshoes if there is enough snow. Snowshoe rental: $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members. Knee-High Naturalists Wednesdays, February 2, 9, 16 and 23 at 10:00 AM Participants must sign up for the entire series. For children ages 3 to 5. Materials fee: $10.00 per child; $6.00 per child for FORNP members. Stories in the Woods at the Julia B. Reinstein Library Thursdays, February 3, 10, 17 and 24 at 10:30 AM For more information and to sign up for the Story Hour, contact the library at 716-668-4991. New Moon Walk Thursday, February 3 at 6:00 PM Bring binoculars and flashlights if you have them. Winter Wildflowers Saturday, February 5 at 10:00 AM Learn to Cross-Country Ski Seminar Saturday, February 5 at 11:00 AM Ski rental: $2.00/pair; free for FORNP members. Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#January) 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... 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