From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Jul 13 09:08:13 2011 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:08:13 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] July 13 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4E1D607D.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery July 13, 2011 How's That for a Habitat Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Long Island 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 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) How's That for a Habitat? A habitat is the area in which an animal or plant lives. Within an animal's habitat are the right amounts and kinds of food, water, shelter and space. Both plants and animals need a specific home range. New York State has many habitats, such as: ?forests ?grasslands ?lakes, ponds, streams and oceans ?pine barrens ?mountain summits ?peat bogs ?sand dunes Together, they provide habitat for a large diversity of insects, fish and wildlife. While some plants, insects, fish or animals can only live in one type of habitat, others can easily adapt and survive in a variety of environments. (For example, raccoons can be found in rural areas as well as in the hearts of our largest cities.) It is common to think of wild areas?forest, wetland, ocean or stream?as wildlife habitat, but urban areas offer habitat too. Walk through any public park, and you'll see many kinds of wildlife: insects, birds, squirrels, rabbits and more. Some peregrine falcons and hawks have adapted to living in large cities, taking advantage of the tall buildings for nesting sites and feasting on creatures found in the urban landscape. All habitats have a carrying capacity?a limit to the amount of animals and plants they can support. If the habitat gets too crowded, plants and animals will not be able to get enough food, water, shelter or space to survive and thrive. Each species has different and unique needs, so a single area may hold many of one species but only a few of another. Consider a pond, which has many insects, a good number of small fish but only a few big fish. Habitats can be small too, such as a vernal pool (a temporary pool of water) or hedgerow. The carrying capacity of a habitat can change due to changing natural conditions (seasons, rainfall and temperature), natural disasters (flood, fire or wind) or human activity. The carrying capacity of a single habitat may change from season to season and from year to year. 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 Give Me Some Space! When an area is too crowded, it places stress on the animals that live there. They may have to fight for food, water or shelter, or some animals may just not like other creatures invading their space. Get together with five or more friends and family members in a small space to see what it feels like when your habitat is at capacity. Place a small blanket on the lawn and have everyone take a seat (cross-legged), making sure that they are completely on the blanket. Each person should be close enough to their neighbor so that they are touching. Have someone read a story and ask questions about the book. ?How did you feel when you were listening? ?Did you feel uncomfortable? ?Were you able to concentrate on the questions? Have a few people leave the blanket and try listening to another story. ?Were you more comfortable and relaxed? Just Right Animals must find shelter that is warm or cool enough for them to survive. It may be underground, in a bush, the bark of a tree or under some rocks, depending on their needs and ability to adjust to different temperatures. Try this experiment: get four glass jars and thermometers and various insulating materials such as leaves, dirt (or potting soil if you can't get to the dirt) and dry grass or twigs. Fill the jars with warm water. Record the temperature of the air, and put a thermometer in each jar to record the water temperature. Now pile dry leaves around one jar, twigs or grass around another and dirt or potting soil around the third. Leave one jar uninsulated. Every five minutes, record the temperature in each of the jars until all the jars drop to the same temperature as the air. Which jars had the fastest drop in temperature? Which material would you choose to make a bed or nest in if you were an animal? 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 Lake Ronkonkoma Freshwater Clinic Friday, July 15 from 6:00 PM to sunset Lake Ronkonkoma County Park, Brookhaven Geared to families. Contact I Fish NY at 631-444-0283 to register and get directions. Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) (currently closed due to fiscal constraints, but the Stony Kill Foundation is sponsoring events) Artifacts of the Native Americans for Kids July 20 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Youngsters entering grades 4 through 6 Old-Fashioned Family Sing-a-Long with Chris Ruhe July 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM Fishing Camp for Kids July 25 to 29 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Cost: $40 for youngsters entering grades 3 through 6 Norrie Point Environmental Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/33037.html) Discover Norrie: The Wonder of Wetlands Saturday, July 23 at 10:00 AM Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Watchable Wildlife: Birds of Prey Saturday, July 16 at 10:00 AM Binoculars and bird guides are helpful but not necessary. Watchable Wildlife: Skunks Saturday, July 16 at 2:00 PM Citizen Science: Bat Count Tuesday, July 19 at 7:30 PM Family Fun: Catch a Fish Saturday, July 23 at 10:00 AM Call 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 20 to register or for more information. Walk in the Woods Day Saturday, July 23 at 2:00 PM Call 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 20 to register or for more information. Citizen Science: Firefly Watch Tuesday, July 26 at 8:00 PM Call 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 20 to register or for more information. 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) Discovery Hike Sunday, July 17 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Meet at Blueberry Hill East (trailhead #4). More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.intelliclients.com/events/events.cfm?da=1&mo=7&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. Nighttime Nature Nuts Friday, July 15 at 8:30 PM Stories in the Woods Saturday, July 16 at 10:30 AM For children ages 4 through 6 Plants of the Woods Saturday, July 16 at 2:00 PM Colorful Creatures Wednesday, July 20 at 6:30 PM Please note: This program will take place at the Julia Boyer Reinstein Library at 1030 Losson Road in Cheektowaga. For more information and to register, contact the library at 716-668-4991. Senior Stroll Saturday, July 23 at 9:30 AM Mushrooms and Fungi: A Kingdom of Their Own Saturday, July 23 at 10:00 AM Going Batty! Wednesday, July 27 at 8:00 PM 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... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 57865 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Jul 27 11:15:45 2011 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:15:45 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] July 27 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4E2FF361.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery July 27, 2011 Create Your Own Nature Trail Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Long Island 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 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) Create Your Own Nature Trail Have you ever been for a walk on a nature trail? There are lots of plants and animals to see, but have you ever wondered what they are and what their role in nature might be? Many nature and environmental education centers have interpretive trails with markers or signs explaining features along the trail or offer a brochure to carry with you. Planning an Interpretive Trail in Your Backyard, Woods or Neighborhood Park Suppose you're interested in teaching others about one of your favorite outdoor spaces: a trail or part of a trail you like to visit or a section of your yard or neighborhood park. Create a brochure outlining what they should watch for or do as they explore the area. Here are some things to keep in mind: Who is your audience? Who do you expect to visit your interpretive trail? Keep their interests and abilities in mind as you choose a suitable trail and design a trail brochure to meet their needs. What would you like your audience to experience or learn about? Is there a special reason you'd like this audience to visit a particular place? Is there something new you'd like them to learn, or do you just want to encourage them to explore and enjoy their time outdoors? Visit a nature center in your area to get an idea of what an interpretive trail is like. As you write, consider how much time your audience may be willing to spend reading rather than exploring. Choose a theme for your brochure, and focus on things to see and do along the trail that match the theme. If your audience is young, you can suggest games or activities in your brochure. Remind all visitors that it's important to stay on the marked trail for their own health and safety and to minimize erosion. Here are some theme ideas for trail brochures: Signs of Wildlife: Tell people where to find trees visited by woodpeckers, nests made by squirrels or birds, muddy areas where tracks might be seen and viewing spots for beaver lodges or muskrat pushups. Include information about scat (animal droppings or "poop") and tracks, and list animals commonly seen along or near the trail. Wildflowers: Wildflowers can be found year-round. Though they are most showy in the spring, you can see their dry seed heads poking above the winter snow. Guide visitors to areas where different kinds of wildflowers may be located. Describe how to distinguish different flower species from each other. Include some interesting facts, such as whether the flower is native and how it may have been used by people in the past. Tree ID: Identify the different species of trees found along or near your trail, and describe how to tell one from another. For each species, discuss how wildlife use trees for food or shelter and the signs to look for. 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 Sensory Trail Try creating a nature-themed sensory trail along which visitors will see, feel, hear and touch (but not taste) the features you highlight. Include several species of trees with bark and leaves that feel different to the touch. Learn what kinds of trees they are, and provide some information about them in your brochure. Suggest activities such as bark or leaf rubbings. Find some rocks or other geological formations along your trail. Pick those with different surfaces, such as smooth stones and rough rocks. Research what kind of rock you think it is. Include several different flowers on your trail that people can feel and smell. Designate an area along the trail for visitors to close their eyes for a moment and listen. What might they hear? Do the same for smell, especially if there's a spot along the trail with a distinctive scent, perhaps in a pine grove or near a pond. 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 Saturday, August 6 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Hempstead Lake State Park Cost: $6 parking (free with Empire Passport). Contact I FISH NY at 631-444-0283 to register and for directions. Hudson Valley Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html) (currently closed due to fiscal constraints, but the Stony Kill Foundation is sponsoring events) Barn Day for Kids Wednesday, August 3 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Youngsters entering grades 1 through 3 Old-Fashioned Family Sing-a-Long with Chris Ruhe Friday, August 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM Norrie Point Environmental Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/33037.html) Fishing at Norrie Saturday, August 6 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Family Fun: Five Rivers' Indoor Wildlife Saturday, July 30 at 10:00 AM Family Fun: Hiding in Plain Sight Saturday, July 30 at 2:00 PM Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, July 27. Citizen Science: Firefly Watch Tuesday, August 2 at 8:00 PM Call 518-475-0291 to register by Friday, July 29. Family Fun: Exploring Nature Saturday, August 6 at 10:00 AM Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, August 3. Family Fun: A Stream Runs Through It Saturday, August 6 at 2:00 PM Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, August 3. Shorts and old sneakers fit for dabbling in the water are recommended; no flip-flops please. Citizen Science: Bat Count Tuesday, August 9 at 7:30 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) National Tree Day Celebration Sunday, July 31 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 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=7&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. Wild Wetlands Saturday, July 30 at 10:30 AM Trail Tuesdays Tuesdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM Assist with hour-long projects to help maintain and improve ecosystems and trails throughout the preserve. Knee-High Naturalists Wednesdays, August 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 at 10:00 AM Participants must sign up for the entire series. For children ages 3 through 5. Materials fee: $15.00 per child; $10.00 per child for FORNP members. Call 716-683-5959 to register. Senior Stroll Thursday, August 4 at 9:30 AM Soak Up the Sun Thursday, August 4 at 10:30 AM Alien Invader Investigation Friday, August 5 at 10:00 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... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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