From stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us Thu Dec 4 09:41:16 2008 From: stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us (stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:41:16 -0500 Subject: [Stonykillalmanac] winter 2008-09 edition of the Stony Kill Almanac is now available Message-ID: <4937A5B8.94A8.005A.0@gw.dec.state.ny.us> Hello friends: The Winter 2008-2009 issue of the Stony Kill Almanac is now available on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1841.html#stony In addition, a full listing of programs at Stony Kill is at http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/2001.html We're looking forward to seeing you here! Happy Holidays, Staff and Volunteers of Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center From stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us Mon Dec 22 12:22:00 2008 From: stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us (stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:22:00 -0500 Subject: [Stonykillalmanac] NEW AFTER-SCHOOL NATURE PROGRAM Message-ID: <494F8668020000B60003A335@gwsmtp.dec.state.ny.us> STONY KILL FARM ANNOUNCES NEW AFTER-SCHOOL NATURE PROGRAM ?Winter Discovery? Encourages Kids to Get Outside The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced a new weekly after-school program for children 5-12 years old and their families. ?Winter Discovery? will be offered at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Wappingers Falls each Thursday, starting January 8 and continuing until March 19, from 4 to 5 PM. Registration is recommended, but not required, for this free-of-charge program. ?Winter Discovery? will provide stimulating outdoor experiences in Stony Kill?s woods and fields for children and their caregivers, including animal tracking, scavenger hunts, and environmental games. When there is enough snow on the ground, participants will be able to try snowshoeing on the trails. Snowshoes will be provided free of charge for the program. Research has shown that children who regularly spend unstructured time outside have lower stress levels, have more active imaginations, become fitter and leaner and experience fewer symptoms of ADD and ADHD. Parents will be provided with resources from the Green Hour,? a program of the National Wildlife Federation. For more information about this and other environmental education programs at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center, call 845-831-8780, or visit us on the DEC?s website, www.dec.ny.gov From stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us Mon Dec 22 12:23:59 2008 From: stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us (stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:23:59 -0500 Subject: [Stonykillalmanac] Saturday Morning Nature Walks at Stony Kill Message-ID: <494F86DF020000B60003A33C@gwsmtp.dec.state.ny.us> Saturday Morning Guided Nature Walks at Stony Kill Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center will be offering guided nature walks every Saturday at 10:00 AM for the winter season. Join a Stony Kill naturalist as we explore the various trails and habitats. Venturing outside this time of the year brings its own rewards as we discover sights and sounds not normally found during the warmer months. Winter birds, the brush of snow on the landscape and the comings and goings of animals that leave their tracks and traces behind can all contribute to an exciting mornings in the woods. For more information please call 845-831-8780 ext. 300. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is owned and operated by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and is located on Route 9D in Wappingers Falls, about 2 miles north of the Beacon-Newburgh bridge (I-84). From stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us Mon Dec 22 12:27:27 2008 From: stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us (stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:27:27 -0500 Subject: [Stonykillalmanac] HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE for FAMILIES Message-ID: <494F87B0020000B60003A34A@gwsmtp.dec.state.ny.us> HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT STONY KILL Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is hosting their annual holiday open house on Tuesday, December 30 from noon until 4:00 PM. This event is free of charge and designed for all age groups. The Learning Center will be howling with activities for children and adults. Coyotes (Canis latrans) are a member of the dog family and very vocal animals. They bark, growl, yip, whine and howl. Since they are usually nocturnal, coyotes may seem a bit mysterious and sometimes scary if you don?t know much about them. Come learn what environmental scientists have found out about the coyote, their habits, what they eat, sounds they make, learn how to identify their foot prints and take the mystery out of the animal. You can also visit the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9359.html for more information. If it?s a chilly day, make sure you bring your hats and mittens so you can join us on the Nature Tracks Outdoor Walks. Become a nature detective while we search for tracks and clues of other native animals on the Woodland Trail. Other activities include make-your-own animal foot print to take home, make your own rug using recycled cloth and the very young can use hand-held animal tracks to create prints in sand. Visit the Verplanck Manor House for a tour of this historic Hudson Valley home while listening to live music by the Tiger Lily Trio. Environmental storytelling, demonstrations of old-fashioned wool spinning and herbal sachet making. Weather permitting a hayride will be available to take you to the barn to visit the livestock. Decorations, home-made goodies and beverages provided free by the members of the Verplanck Garden Club. Our thanks for their interest and support for the last 20 years! For more information please call 845-831-8780 ext. 300. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is owned and operated by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and is located on Route 9D in Wappingers Falls, about 2 miles north of the Beacon-Newburgh bridge (I-84).