From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Oct 5 09:48:30 2011 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2011 09:48:30 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] October 5 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4E8C27EE.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery October 5, 2011 Seeds Family Fun Upcoming DEC Events Long Island Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Environmental Education 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) Seeds A seed is a very small container for a tiny living plant. Most seeds contain a primary root, first pair of leaves and first bud, as well as stored food and a coating to protect the seed from drying out or being injured. A seed needs light, warmth, water, air and soil to grow. If there are many seeds in one area, competition for these resources makes it difficult for all the seeds to survive. Plants have developed a variety of methods to disperse their seeds?transport them to another location?so they have a better chance of growing. This prevents over-crowding and depletion of the supply of nutrients. Here are some ways that seeds are dispersed: Parachuters: These seeds are very lightweight and have long fine hairs that catch the wind, which carries them from the parent plant. Dandelion and milkweed are parachuters. Hitchhikers: Animals and people can transport seeds that hook themselves onto fur or clothing. Burdock is an example of a hitchhiker. Gliders: Gliders, like maple and ash, have "winged" seeds that travel considerable distances on the wind. Explosive: Some seeds form in pods, which burst and throw the seeds into the open. Peas, touch-me-not and clematis are examples of an explosive dispersal method. Animal Food: Apples, grapes and strawberries, as well as nut trees, provide food for animals. Animals can't digest the seeds, so the seeds end up in their scat or "poop." Squirrels gather and bury nuts for the winter but sometimes don't return to eat them, leaving new plants to grow. 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 Hang On! Want to help some plants disperse their seeds? Put some old socks on over your shoes (wool works great) and walk through a field or area where there are a lot of plants. After your walk, carefully remove the socks. Using tweezers, pick the seeds off and separate them by size, color or shape. How many different kinds hitched a ride on your clothing? If you walked for a while, think of how far those seeds would grow away from the parent plant. Take That to the Bank Late summer and early fall is a perfect time to start your own seed bank. Remove the seeds from flowers or fruits in your garden. Look around the ground for maple seeds or acorns from oak trees. Search through the woods for some pine cones, pull out the scales, and look for the seeds. Dry out all the seeds indoors, making sure to keep them separate from one another. Put each type of seed in a different container, such as an envelope or clear film canister. Mark each container with the name of the seed, and put them aside to plant next year. Some seeds need to go through a cold dormant period, so store your seeds in the freezer. 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 Fall Family Fishing Festival at Hempstead Lake State Park Saturday, October 15 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Cost: $5 for age 12 and older, plus parking fee 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) Stony Kill: A Historical View Sunday, October 16 from 2:00PM to 4:00 PM Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Nuts About Wildlife Saturday, October 8 at 10:00 AM Hunt for Red October Saturday, October 8 at 2:00 PM Watchable Wildlife: Who's Hoo Friday, October 14 at 7:30 PM Girl Scout Program: The Ways of Water Saturday, October 15 at 10:00 AM Please contact the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York or call 518-489-8110 to register or for information. A nominal materials fee applies. Boring Subject: Forest Pests Saturday, October 15 at 2:00 PM Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#October) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Mushroom Foray Saturday, October 8 from 10:00 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=10&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 Thursday, October 6 and 13 at 4:30 PM For children in grades K-5. No registration required. Technicolor Leaves Saturday, October 8 at 10:30 AM For adults and children over 8 years old. Fall Plant Hike Saturday, October 8 at 2:00 PM Full Moon Walk Wednesday, October 12 at 6:30 PM Secrets of the Old-Growth Forest Saturday, October 15 at 10:30 AM Alien Investigation Hike Tuesday, October 18 at 6:30 PM Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#October) 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: 17871 bytes Desc: not available URL: From decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Oct 19 08:50:23 2011 From: decoutdoordiscovery at lists.dec.state.ny.us (DEC Outdoor Discovery Bi-weekly Newsletter) Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:50:23 -0400 Subject: [Decoutdoordiscovery] October 19 Outdoor Discovery Message-ID: <4E9E8F4F.D567.00BD.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEC Outdoor Discovery October 19, 2011 Animal Stereotypes 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) Animal Stereotypes Certain animals have undeserved bad reputations. People think they are scary or dangerous or just plain creepy. There is a bit of truth to some stereotypes, but many of these animals are more beneficial than harmful. Let's take a look at a few misunderstood animals: Snakes Often feared, snakes are legless reptiles whose long, flexible bodies are covered with scales. These scales can be smooth or contain a ridge that gives the snake a rough appearance. Snakes are found in forests, gardens, rocky areas, deserts, water and islands?everywhere in the world but Antarctica. Snakes move quickly and quietly across both land and water by using their bodies in a special way called lateral undulation, in which the snake's body flexes to the left and to the right. Valued for their ability to kill rodent and insect pests, snakes are also very interesting creatures to watch. Imagine all the mice and rats that would be running around if there were no snakes! Spiders Thought by some to be creepy and crawly, spiders are actually fascinating creatures. All spiders have eight legs and two body segments, making them easy to distinguish from insects, which have six legs and three body segments. Spiders have hollow fangs which inject venom to immobilize or kill their prey. Most spider prey includes small insects or other spiders. Unable to swallow solid food, spiders use their chelicerae (pronounced ki-li-se-re)-pointed appendages?to crush their prey. Spiders eat more prey than all other terrestrial (land) predators combined. An acre of land can contain millions of spiders. Without them, insect populations would explode and eat many of our agricultural crops and trees. Bees Did you know that one-third of all our food?fruits and vegetables?wouldn't exist without bees? Bees pollinate the flowers on these plants, ensuring that they will eventually produce fruits and vegetables. Bumblebees are large, plump and fuzzy, with black and yellow stripes. You can see them drinking nectar from flowers in the summer. Honeybees often get the credit for pollinating flowers, but bumblebees are the chief pollinators of alfalfa, beans, peas, tomatoes and, in some areas, raspberries, apples, plums and strawberries. Bats Bats eat 20 to 50 percent of their weight in insects like mosquitoes every night; that's about ten per minute. Imagine how many bug bites you would have if bats weren't cleaning up the sky for us. And that old wives' tale about bats flying into your hair?don't believe it! Bats are nocturnal mammals that hibernate or migrate during the winter. Groups of bats ranging from only a few to millions roost in caves or trees. Bats hang upside down when they sleep and can tilt their heads so far back they can look behind themselves. There are nine species of bats in New York State. 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 Visit an Environmental Education Center Environmental education centers are great places to learn about these creepy creatures. Check out the Upcoming DEC Events and attend a program about spiders, bats or "animals of Halloween." A Field Guide to Snakes In New York State, there are 17 species of snakes-three are venomous, most snakes are rarely seen. If you want to know more about snakes, you can create your own field guide. Using DEC's brochures "Snakes" (http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/snakes.pdf) and "Lesser-known Snakes" (http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/lessersnakes.pdf) along with books from the library, look up a variety of different snakes. In a notebook, write down as much as possible about each species: its physical characteristics, habitat, range, speed, size, prey, predators and behavior. You can even include a picture, drawing and piece of string that is the same length as the snake. 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. Native American Artifacts for Kids Saturday, October 22 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM For youngsters entering grades 4 to 6 Halloween Party for Kids Saturday, October 29 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM For youngsters in kindergarten through 5th grade Norrie Point Environmental Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/33037.html#Norrie) Discover Norrie: Nuts about Wildlife Saturday, October 22 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Capital Region Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html) Movie: Climbing Giant Redwoods Friday, October 21 at 7:00 PM Complimentary popcorn and cider. Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 19. Family Fun: Make Your Own Solar Cooker Saturday, October 22 at 10:00 AM Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 19. How To Do It: Use a Map and Compass Saturday, October 22 at 1:00 PM Bring a compass if you have one and dress for the outdoors. Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 19. Family Fun: All About Bats Saturday, October 29 at 10:00 AM Parents and children must accompany each other. Call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 26. Family Fun: Halloween Open House Saturday, October 29 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Come in costume if you wish. Youth groups are welcome, but must call 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, October 26. Event Descriptions at Five Rivers (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1980.html#October) Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center (http://albanypinebush.org/discovery_center/directions_hours_admission.htm) Spectacular Spiders Sunday, October 23 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 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=10&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. Animals of Halloween Friday, October 28 at 6:30 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, October 20 and 27 at 4:30 PM For children in grades K-5. No registration required. Owl Prowl Friday, October 21 at 6:30 PM For adults and children age 8 and older. Nature Journaling Saturday, October 22 at 10:00 AM For adults and children age 8 and older. Outdoor Skills Saturday, October 29 at 10:30 AM For adults and children age 8 and older. Event Descriptions at Reinstein (http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1977.html#October) 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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