From stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us Fri Jul 23 10:03:31 2010 From: stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us (stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:03:31 -0400 Subject: [Stonykillalmanac] Stony Kill Farm Hosts Butterfly Festival Message-ID: <4C4968F3.1E62.00B6.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEAR FRIENDS: Stony Kill Farm Hosts Butterfly Festival Saturday, August 14 will be an exciting day as Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center celebrates their annual Butterfly Festival from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Butterflies, caterpillars and chrysalises will be the focal point at this free public event, during which a screen tent will temporarily house live butterflies for the day. Families can take turns entering the tent to get close to monarchs, eastern tiger swallowtails, spicebush swallowtails and great spangled fritillaries. Maybe a butterfly will walk on your finger! The butterflies will be released during a ceremony at the closing of the event. Other activities throughout the day include butterfly crafts, nature games and learning about insects, thanks to AmeriCorps members of the Student Conservation Association. Visitors are invited to explore the paths of Stony Kill?s perennial garden to view more butterflies. Volunteers who maintain the gardens will be on hand to share information about gardening for butterflies and other wildlife. Volunteers from the Stony Kill Foundation and the Verplanck Garden Club will have refreshments for sale. For more information, please call 845-831-8780, ext 300. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and is located on Route 9D in Wappingers Falls, about 2 miles north of the Beacon-Newburgh bridge (I-84). Visit www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html for a listing of scheduled programs and activities at Stony Kill. From the website, you can also join a listserve and be among the first to know about special programs and events at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is a designated New York State Watchable Wildlife site, where wildlife viewing opportunities abound. Visit www.dec.ny.gov to learn more about Watchable Wildlife. From stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us Wed Jul 28 15:14:02 2010 From: stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us (stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:14:02 -0400 Subject: [Stonykillalmanac] August Programs Slated at Stony Kill Farm Message-ID: <4C504939.1E62.00B6.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> DEAR FRIENDS: School is out and summer fun is calling! Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center has an assortment of nature programs that will keep you and your family entertained, educated and interested about our natural world. Join us for easy walks to learning about native plants and animals or hiking safely through the woods. Consider us as an extension of your backyard and come on over! Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Dress for the weather; programs include indoor activities and outdoor exploring. All programs are approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long, unless otherwise stated. We recommend bringing water and applying sunscreen and/or bug repellant at home. Camping and Hiking Safety Saturday, August 7 10:00 AM Come learn about ten essentials of safe hiking, environmentally conscience camping practices, and some simple tricks and tools that will keep you safe and sound in the woods. Please wear sturdy shoes with socks, no flip flops or sandals. Open Barn Saturdays, July - October 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM We?ll meet the livestock that live at Stony Kill Farm and learn interesting facts about them. Learn where your food comes from and the importance of open space. Saturday Afternoon Guided Nature Walks Saturdays, August 7, 21, and 28 2:00 PM Summertime is here! Stony Kill Farm staff will lead a nature walk every Saturday at 2:00 PM through August. Venturing outside brings personal rewards as we discover the sights, sounds and smells of summer. Chirping birds, scenic landscapes and the comings and goings of animals that leave their tracks and traces behind all contribute to an exciting walk in the woods. Bring a container of water and meet at the Manor House Visitor Center. Bring along a camera or binoculars, if you wish. (If you choose to use insect repellant, please apply it at home.) Bugs and Butterflies Festival Saturday, August 14 10:00 AM -- 2:00 PM Walk among the butterflies inside an enclosed screen tent and along the paths of our perennial garden. Marvel at the variety of sizes, shapes and colors. View monarch caterpillars and be amazed at their exciting life cycle. Enjoy crafts, games and other activities in celebration of these beautiful insects. Summer Photo Shoot Saturday, August 21 10:00 AM Be like a National Geographic? photographer for a day! Bring a digital camera on our stealthy hike along Stony Kill's Sierra Trail. Explore and learn about our native flora and fauna during the afternoon while you try to get the "shot of the day." Photos will be shared at the end of the program. A vote will be taken, and a winner will be announced and awarded a certificate of achievement. Poison Ivy Saturday, August 28 10:00 AM Could there possibly be anything good about poison ivy? Yes! It?s a native plant with berries that are fantastic food for songbirds. During this program, you will learn how to identify and avoid poison ivy, how to eradicate it from your yard and how to prevent getting the rash. For more information, please call 845-831-8780, ext 300. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and is located on Route 9D in Wappingers Falls, about 2 miles north of the Beacon-Newburgh bridge (I-84). Visit www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html for a listing of scheduled programs and activities at Stony Kill. From the website, you can also join a listserve and be among the first to know about special programs and events at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is a designated New York State Watchable Wildlife site, where wildlife viewing opportunities abound. Visit www.dec.ny.gov to learn more about Watchable Wildlife. From stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us Fri Jul 30 10:08:51 2010 From: stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us (stonykillalmanac at lists.dec.state.ny.us) Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:08:51 -0400 Subject: [Stonykillalmanac] Public Listening Session: America's Great Outdoors Message-ID: <4C52A4B3.94A8.005A.1@gw.dec.state.ny.us> This past April at the White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors, President Obama signed a memorandum establishing the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation agenda worthy of the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. Plans have recently been finalized for a public listening session to be held on Friday, August 6, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon at the Student Center at Marist College in Poughkeepsie. You are invited to join senior representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other federal agencies to share your thoughts on conservation, recreation and reconnecting people to the outdoors. Go to http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/Poughkeepsie-Information-Session-information.cfm# for complete information about the August 6 listening session, including how to register and how to provide input if you are unable to attend in person. Go to http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/ for general information about America's Great Outdoors and other scheduled listening sessions.