July/August - Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Transcription
July/August - Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Center Focus July/August 2013 AmeriCorps at SANC By Matt Smith, Land Manager Last November SANC and the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT) jointly applied for an AmeriCorps grant. We were awarded the grant early this spring, and now have a team of 10 individuals working hard for us 40 hours per week from May through June. We are very excited to introduce to you Team Maple 5. Another part of their AmeriCorps duties is disaster relief, and as a certified burn crew, they might get called off to an emergency at any time. Continued on page 4 AmeriCorps Member during chainsaw training. Schlitz Audubon Nature Center 414-352-2880 • www.sanc.org Summer Hours: Now until Labor Day Sunday-Thursday: 9:00am–8:00pm Friday-Saturday: 9:00am–5:00pm $6 Adults, $4 Children FREE Admission to Members www.SANC.org Something to Crow About By Lindsay Focht, Raptor Trainer and Educator SANC’s Sky Hunters Program is so excited to introduce the newest member of our flock: Loki, our 3 year old American Crow! The name “Loki” (pronounced “Lōkee) comes from Norse mythology. He was a god of mischief and trickery – very fitting for a little crow! Crows and ravens (or Corvids) are some of my all time favorite birds! Some people may claim that they are pests and very unlikeable. On the contrary, my friends! These little goofballs are said to be some of the most intelligent animals that we share this planet with. They can utilize tools to forage for food, recognize individual humans they’ve encountered and even Loki mimic sounds like a parrot! They’re very playful: corvids on the west coast have been seen windsurfing and in other places they’ve been known to sled in the snow! And they are amazing problem solvers: some have learned traffic signals, using cars to run over tough nuts and when the light turns red, they’ll fly into the street to get the opened food! As a great problem solver, Loki is sure to keep us on our toes. His favorite toy is a green rubber ball with a bell inside that he rings from sun up to sun down. He is also the first omnivore to join our program. All of our other birds like Valkyrie and Nala get meat every day but Loki enjoys his meat with a side of fruits and vegetables, as well as dog food! In fact, Fromm Family Foods (a dog and cat food company in Mequon) and Community Bark Dog Wash and Coffee Bar (Bayside) have teamed up to graciously donate Fromm dog food to help feed Loki. Over a year ago, Loki was brought into a wildlife rehab center in California. Instead of accepting the companionship of other crows, he preferred to be with his human caretakers. Because of this, he was unable to be released back into the wild and found a home with us here at SANC. As a social bird, Loki loves the attention that he gets from his human companions. We look forward to having you meet Loki and learn about how amazing corvids are! From The Director Nathan J. Smallwood, Executive Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers Margarete R. Harvey President John S. McGregor Past President Stuart D. Findlay Treasurer Timothy J. Gerend Secretary Jane B. Bell VP-Development Board Flavio Almedia Robert C. Bourgeois Leo D. Freeman Jack Gebhardt John W. Grunau Jill Pedigo Hall Todd M. Herbert Meg Kinney Nick Pabst Cynthia Palmersheim Justin Patrick Cathy Schulze Jeff Thorston Carol Wolcott Past Presidents John H. Kopmeier, Jr. Philip R. Smith Dennis L. Fisher Terrence K. Knudsen Thomas J. McCutcheon Thomas B. Fitzgerald Randolph H. Dean Stephen F. Geimer Thomas J. Drought David K. Hoover Schlitz Audubon Nature Center’s (SANC) staff and board of directors recently completed a strategic planning process. This involved comprehensive review of all our programs and operations, as well as how we serve our community. It has been a time of great dreaming and soul-searching for us. The outcome is a new five year plan we are excited to share with you. Over the next five years we will continue to develop and offer the most innovative and instructionally effective environmental education for preschoolers through adults. The programs we offer will further showcase the unique qualities of SANC: our exceptional wild life, and captive animal educators, including our Birds of Prey program, our extensive water resources of ponds, wetlands, Lake Michigan, and the Wisconsin River, along with our other habitats like ravines, grasslands, and forests; and the extraordinary natural and cultural heritage of our land. As we further develop our educational programs we will strive for continuous improvement and national-caliber excellence and recognition for all our programs. In this plan conservation will be an area of renewed commitment for us. SANC is currently developing and implementing an ambitious land management plan to position the Center as a regional and national model for habitat restoration, while proactively managing threats of Emerald Ash Borer, invasive species, and other challenges. A Special focus will also be placed on the Center’s key position along an important bird “migratory highway”. We will be developing new and exciting programs for all ages to guide and inspire our community to become responsible stewards of the natural world. Finally, SANC endeavors to deliver the highest quality of service to our members and community. The Center will be developing new signage, exhibits, and some surprises too. Our membership, facilities rentals, and interpretive programs will all be redesigned to bring new benefits, great customer service and high satisfaction to our community. Details of our five year strategic plan will be available on our website. We look forward to a great future with you! Thank you for supporting our efforts. Director Active Emeritus Dorothy K. Vallier Honorary Directors Polly H. Van Dyke Edwin P. Wiley Executive Director Nathan J. Smallwood 2 Center Focus • July/August 2013 Development Updates By Debby Fulton, Development Director Let Nature Be Your Guide 2013 Annual Gala Highlights Carol Wolcott, Gala Committee Chair On Friday June 7th 200 guests enjoyed the sights and sounds of nature as they made their way to this year’s Gala. Board members, Corporate Executives and their associates along with many friends spent the evening bidding on over 80 Silent Auction items. After dinner a LIVE auction was held which included an opportunity for attendees to support our very important student scholarship fund. All the proceeds raised for this event will go directly to environmental education programs here at the Center. I want to extend my sincere thanks to all our guests for attending the gala and to our special donors, who help us to achieve our mission. Jennifer Loduha-Moerke a 2nd grade teacher from Hawley Environmental School spoke at this year’s gala. She is one of the many teachers that bring students to SANC on scholarship dollars which are donated to SANC from our many donors to be used for this reason. Funds were raised at this year’s gala which will go directly towards this program. Gala attendees had the opportunity to bid on over 80 silent auction items. Guests enjoyed great conversation and a wonderful meal, provided by Shully’s Cuisine & Events Several guests came early and took advantage of the nature hike offered by one of SANC’s environmental educators before the festivities began. Center Focus • July/August 2013 3 Notes From Nature July/August 2013 AmeriCorps at SANC... Continued from page 1 So far, they have helped us accomplish many major spring projects and have finished several land management training courses. Of these projects, Team Maple 5 has: 1. Planted the remaining 350 white cedar trees from our tree nursery, with the help of some Johnson Controls employees, on the lake terrace. 2.Created fire breaks and burned three prairie units near the building. 3.Potted 1,100 woody plants to restock our nursery for the next two years These species included yellow birch, red oak, white oak, sugar maple, white pine, shagbark hickory, choke cherry, black cherry, and red osier dogwood. 4.Mentored and worked alongside a group of students from the Milwaukee Jewish Day School while removing invasives. AmeriCorps Team after a prescription burn on SANC grounds. 5.Completed a 10 hour chainsaw safety training course put on by our staff. 6.Cleared 2 acres of buckthorn in the forest south of Boardwalk Pond. We look forward to the rest of the season with this team and updating you on all that we accomplish together. If you see the crew on the grounds in their grey shirts and tan pants please stop by and say “hi.” The team consists of: Garrett Stern, Jamie Bourgeois, Nikolas Harvan-Matosich , Reilly Allen, Kelon Caliste, Julia Freedman, John Warren, Madeline Tome, Christian Martinez, Akari Iburi, and Garret Golder. Green Living Tips By Jackie Keltner, Environmental Educator Fabric Softening Looking for yet another use for that well-known and well-used bottle of white vinegar? It is a great substitute for fabric softener sheets or liquid fabric softener. A quarter cup added to the washer softens clothes and reduces static in the load, especially if you have a mix of cotton and polyester. (The combination of cotton and polyester especially creates static.) According to Scientific American dryer sheets and liquid softener may contain: benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (upper respiratory tract irritant), ethanol (linked to central nervous system disorder), limonene 4 (known carcinogen) and chloroform (neurotoxin and carcinogen). The chemicals are designed to stay in the fabric for extended periods and can seep out gradually to be absorbed through skin or inhaled. Line drying works very well for synthetics, since they dry quickly. So if you have a mixed load, consider only putting the cottons in the dryer. And be careful not to add bleach to the washer when using vinegar because it can produce harmful fumes. There are other options. Seventh Generation’s Natural Lavender Scent Fabric Center Focus • July/August 2013 Softener and Ecover’s Natural Fabric Softener are both good choices that rely on vegetable products and natural essential oils instead of harsh chemicals. And Maddocks’ Static Eliminator is a non-toxic, hypoallergenic reusable dryer sheet made out of a proprietary, chemical-free polynylon. The Canadian company Maddocks originally developed the material to rid industrial-scale mechanical systems of explosion-inducing static electricity, but soon realized that it could benefit consumers as well, who can now buy the sheets—each one is good for some 500 wash loads—from natural foods retailers as well on line. Early Childhood News By Elise Hansen, Preschool Director If you go down in the woods today... Look very carefully you may spot one out on the trail in the morning or early afternoon. They have a gleam in their eye as they observe the landscape for the most minute details; they tilt their head to pick up the sounds of birdcalls, they breathe in the fresh air as if to reenergize from whatever the weather has brought their way and they seem to enjoy the soaking up the warmth of the sun or the familiar squish of mud beneath their boots. Yes, it’s the teachers at the nature preschool. They have a passion and appreciation for nature that they share in a most enthusiastic way. These teachers have a knack for helping children be comfortable in nature. They understand the emotional aspect of being outdoors which can be uplifting and yet calming at the same time. The teachers guide the groups on hikes with intentional learning opportunities in mind. They encourage the children to observe, investigate and ask questions along the way. Sometimes the children’s interests may change the course of their study but really it is the motivation for learning about Migrating In early June, Preschool teacher Liesl Schultz migrated away from the Audubon to start a new chapter in her life. Liesl will be married in July and she and her husband Emmett will be making their home in Whitewater. Liesl says, “My nine years here have been very rewarding. To know that I have inspired environmental awareness and stewardship in many young lives is a great reward. I thank the Audubon for the opportunity. I know the Audubon will always be here to hike and explore. I will see you on the trails!” nature, and the world around them that they are teaching. Packed inside their teacher backpacks they may have stories or puppets to add to their adventures. Songs and games find their way into the day to enhance the experience. There are so many unique learning opportunities; the chance to experience seasonal changes in the land and lakeshore surrounding the nature preschool and encounters with the pond life, insects, birds and small wildlife in our midst. It is the beauty around us that causes us to pause and breathe with a sigh of contentment. We hope to instill a sense of awe and wonder in the children’s hearts, a way to help teach empathy and compassion for others and our world. We try to take advantage of the spectacular spaces around us and remember that we all have the opportunity to experience this feeling in any outdoor setting under the same sky. Thank you to all the amazing teachers that take time to be a part of the nature preschool. Bon voyage, see you on the trails... Liesl Schultz – 9 years Mary Lahner – 2 years Lorna Hilyard – 7 years Center Focus • July/August 2013 5 News From the Raptors By Diane Visty, Raptor Manager Our Veterinarians – Whoo Are They? SANC’s magnificent raptors never fail to captivate and educate, leaving visitors with a lasting impression of their beauty and athleticism. What visitors don’t see is the hundreds of hours of work that go on behind the scenes to make it all possible. A critical part of that time is health maintenance, because each of our non-releasable birds has some form of injury. Enter Dr. Jennifer Bloss and Dr. Nikki Waliszewski from Brook-Falls Veterinary Hospital & Exotic Care. They are regionally recognized as one of the premier medical and surgical facilities in southeast Wisconsin treating dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and exotics like our birds of prey. Because our birds are out in the community and in schools each of them must pass a health exam for eyes, ears, nose, throat, heart, lungs, a blood panel and finally a parasite check, during the annual house call at the Mews. Additionally, just like us, the birds can get sick during the year with sinus infections, eye problems, decreasing liver function, arthritis, etc. Sometimes these problems are related to their age but often it is the consequence of the injury that has brought them into our care. The birds then will make the trip out to BrookFalls clinic for any antibiotics, ongoing Dr. Jennifer Bloss with Wind Chill, our Snowy Owl. pain meds, and dietary supplements they require. With our close monitoring, the outstanding veterinarians and technician staff at Brook-Falls it’s no wonder our birds “WOW!” the crowds every time. Thank you to all of our members who sponsor one of our birds! Those precious dollars go directly to their health and wellbeing. If you would like to help please visit the ‘Birds of Prey’ section of our website or call us at 414-352-2880 for sponsorship information. Dr. Nikki Waliszewski with Tucker Bird Spotlight: Tskili – Great Horned Owl by Ellen Schneiderman, Raptor Educator and Trainer Like her wild relatives, SANC’s resident Great Horned Owl Tskili, is the very model of predatory perfection! As any good model should, the Great Horned “dresses” for success: sound-silencing feathers, huge yellow light-seeking eyes, pin-point accurate hearing and amazingly strong feet add up to an unbeatable combination! Deliberate, calculating, camouflaged and efficient; in Wisconsin the Great Horned rules the forest! But this generalist of an owl can live almost anywhere and will eat a huge variety of prey. Tskili has lived at SANC for most of her 15 years. Sporting expressive feather tufts and that ultra flexible neck she’s a super-model ambassador for conservation and education. You can look sharp and be super too when you sponsor Tskili or any of our amazing Birds of Prey! 6 Center Focus • July/August 2013 Planet Volunteer By Laurie Haig, Volunteer Coordinator Summer Volunteer Opportunities Our annual volunteer party was a rousing success, thanks to the help of the SANC staff, including Liesl Schultz, who provided the volunteers with her SANC – related note cards. Elise Hansen, the new preschool director gave an enriching talk. Our volunteers are more than just “Helping Hands” (the theme this year), and we can’t applaud enough for their time and energy they bring every day. In 2012, we had over 20,000 volunteer hours logged in. Both adult and student volunteers learn the many aspects of our nature center, and we are the benefactors of their wide range of experience. During the spring and early summer, we thank the many corporate and student groups who come to volunteer with our land stewards. So far, this year we’ve had Johnson Controls, MSOE, and Milwaukee Jewish Day School (for their Mitzvah Day). We’ll have quite a bit more in the upcoming months. Many of our groups have been coming here for years, and it allows our land stewardship staff to ramp up their projects with returning volunteers. Everyone enjoys a day away from the usual schedule, and we enjoy their enthusiasm while they take out garlic mustard, remove buckthorn and plant natives to take their place. A special thanks to the team of 10 AmeriCorps workers whose presence in May and June made it possible to tackle many of our large scale spring tasks like prescribed burns, plantings, and invasive species removal. We also thank the volunteers who helped with our International Migratory Bird Day on Saturday May 11. The weather barely held out, but they had a great time helping families learn about bird friendly practices and games they can do at home. The volunteer who monitored and taste-tested the coffee was very happy to Volunteers, Fred Ruenzel and Betty Meyer, enjoy conversation at the annual Volunteer be assigned to that task! Our summer camps have just started and we have almost fifty student and adult volunteers scheduled to assist with young campers. We are proud to say that a good handful of the volunteers are alumni of our now ten year old preschool. These students know this property like the back of their hands, and are a very welcome addition to the summer camp program. Many other volunteers have participated in our summer camps over the years, or come back each summer during the time they are visiting area relatives. For a relaxing volunteer opportunity, why not try some time at our admissions booth? We are looking for help through- Center Focus • July/August 2013 out the summer. We have shifts left if you can come a week at a time during the day, or once a week in the evenings until August. The tasks are easy; take in admission fees and inform guests of the happenings of the center that day. We will train you for this important but easy position. You’ll gain better knowledge of the many events occurring, enjoy a little quiet time to observe wildlife, and know that your collecting fees allows us to continue offering quality programming for the community. For all volunteer information, please contact Laurie Haig, the volunteer coordinator at lhaig@sanc.org or 414-352-2880 x144. 7 Thank You NEW MEMBERS Catherine Austin Stephen Baldwin Cristina Berger Maye Berroya Michele Bickler Jonathan & Abbey Bloom Erin Borgenhagen Ede Elizabeth Braun Shelly Bronecki Patrick Buckley Rodney Cain Angela Carian Virginia Carlson Jonathan Chi Beth Crysdale Gina DacQuisto Jeff Danczyk Jeffrey & Eleanor DeMartino Annie Devine Bob Dohmen & Shannon Buending Jeff Durand Mary Eagan Mel & Bette Ehnert Bill & Karen Elliott Jennifer Evans Jens Feiker Sue Fowell & Kate Loukes Elaine Friedman Travis Gaines Rachel Garry Amy & Jim Gehrke Alyson & Tom Gerdes Karen Giese Mary Ann Gilligan John Glaser Nancy Eden Goldring Cally Gores-Todd Helle Juul Hansen Mike Hansen Xiaoting Hao Danielle Hartke Brad & Wendy Heintz Linda Hentzen Chad & Elizabeth Hickerman Jenny & Bob Hillis Jayne & Matthew Hladio Nicholas Hoffman Drew & Summer Hornbeck Irving Ibarra 8 HONORARIUMS Tito & Delicia Izard Ashley James Cheryl Jatczak Erin Jelenchick Robin Johnson Heidi & Matthew Joynt Joel Jrolf Gary Kapp Mary Kappel Lori Keller Brian & Kim Kemp Paul Kind Mary Kish Lisa Klinter Kyle Knop & Sara Braun Knop Katy & John Koenigs Iryna Levit Alyssa Leystra Richard & Meredith Lincoln Kevin Liner Rico & Jody Lopez Gisela Maass Megan McGrath Gary & Edie McTrusty Anne Medeiros Lynn S. Modrow Robin Muller Trent & Melissa Muller Andrea Mullins Vikram Naik Traci Niss Mary & Michael O’Byrne Dan O’Donnell Jennie M. O’Malley James Paschen Montine & Mike Pauers Miriam Peltz Terry Pickard Mike & Tina Pier Harvey & Diane Pollack Amy & Greg Post John & Mark Pozorski Jessica Quindel & César del Peral Nicole & Kurt Raffensperger Susan & Max Rankt Bruce & Lynn Redlin Richard Reed Jennifer, Adam & Evan Rench Steve Rewolinski John D. Roach Kim & Steve Robinson Mark Rohlfing Mike Scherer Bethany & John Schlueter Kate Schmidt John & Ashley Scholtz Cayla Schweitz Steven Earl Sellars Rebecca Sinnen Richard Slater Peter Sokolow Paul Steinberg Amy Stone Sara Strieter Amy Topel & Stephen Famelos Dan Tranowski Tricia Valentine Stephanie VanAlyea & John Quirk Melissa Vandehouten Brandye VanderPloeg Ruchita Varma Lisa Vedder Michele Vraney Robin Waier & Alex Waier Yulia & Dan Ward Max Welsh Widlansky Family Michael & Katie Wilhelm Jen & Nick Willems Edwin Winters Andrea Wolke Dan & Liz Wolter Ruth Irene Young Kevin Lofy Andrew & Jennifer Stroh WISH LIST AAA Batteries Tents Sleeping cots Fans Desk lamps Isa Criqui Laureanna RaymondDuverne Joseph Carl Hershey Jeff and Melinda Swartz Myra Van Uxem Jean Downie MEMORIALS Cindi Abramson-Andrews Joanne Abeson Terri and Mark Chelmowski Michael Holcomb Suzy and Frank Meyers William A. Romberg, Jr. Marilyin and Jerry Saxe Barbara and Al Simon Don Brazda Caryl Zaar Paul Drewek Kathy Wheatley Belle Garfinkel Michael Tarachow and Mercedes Dostale Milton Koch Bill and Josie Holmes Robert Lieding Katharine and Sanford Mallin Faith Miller Anonymous David and Susan Bednar Faith Miller (cont.) Kenneth Brill Mary Fitzgerald Matthew Ganhs Marilyn Hauer Terry and Carole Knudsen Sandra and Steve Manning Richard Miller Ann Udvare Frank and Diana Vensel Caryl Zaar Don Nelson John and Betty Ames Marilyn Bontly Richard and Kathryn Voelz Jane A. Paquette Jeanne and John Hoff Elizabeth Johnson Raymond Pfarr Nancy Sturino Charlene Vargo Alfred Uihlein Elser Mrs. Elizabeth Markham Nicholson and Mr. Philip T. Nicholson RAPTOR SPONSORSHIPS Barley-Barn Owl Sue Holcomb In honor of Lindsay Focht and Diane Visty Tskili - Great Horned Owl Cheryl Jatczak IN-KIND DONATIONS Bay Valley Foods Pickles for Maple Sugar programming Claudia Hermes & Carol Wood 16 bird plates and cassette tapes of bird sounds Center Focus • July/August 2013 Eagle Victor Larson In honor of Stacy Robinson Orion – Barred Owl Richard Miller In memory of Faith Miller All the birds! Samantha Schnoll Judith Huf 2 Vivitar spotting scopes Terry & Carole Knudsen 3 reams of printer paper Calendar of Events July/August 2013 Hatha Yoga Ongoing Class Mondays from 5:45 –7:00pm Reduce stress, increase your flexibility, and enrich your sense of well-being. This ongoing class is for all levels of yoga practitioners and if the weather allows will be held outside. Bring a yoga mat to class if you have one or borrow one of ours. ***FEE: Please call 414-352-2880 ext. 0 for program fees. LEVEL: Adult Sky Hunters: Word with a Bird** Every Saturday & Sunday from 1:00 – 2:00pm Get a beak-to-beak view of one of SANC’s feathered ambassadors. A raptor handler will be showcasing one of our many birds of prey. SANC’s falcons, hawks, owls, Turkey Vulture & Bald Eagle will appear on a rotating basis. Stop by each weekend to check them out. No program on August 3–4 or August 10–11 because the birds are off to the fair! FEE: Free with Center Admission LEVEL: Families Environmental Voices: Fishing for Science Monday, July 1 from 9:00 – 2:30pm Be a part of Ozaukee County’s new Fish Passage Program which is assisting fish that migrate to overcome barriers that people have created in the Milwaukee River. On this day we will help assess fish populations at a specific location in the Milwaukee River. Participants will have the opportunity to capture and release fish using “electrofishing”, learn about fish identification and ecology, and develop an understanding of the relationship of the river watershed to the health of the fish and people that eat them. Waders will be provided for those interested in helping capture the fish, or you can stay on shore to examine the fish that are caught. Transportation provided. ***FEE: M: Adult $20 NM: Adult $23 LEVEL: Adult 11th Annual Froggin’ Festival Tuesday, July 2 from 6:00 – 8:00pm The frogs are back and so is the party! Join our amigo of the amphibians, Jim Hyatt, as he celebrates with live animals, contests for kids and adults, and critter catching. That’s right. After the indoor stuff, we’ll head out to the ponds to see what we can catch. Jim’s got nets, so bring your muddin’ shoes and a camera. ***FEE: M: Child $5 Adult $7 NM: Child $7 Adult $10 LEVEL: Families Raptor Saturday** Saturday, July 6 from 1:00 – 2:00pm July: The Heat is On: How birds adjust to warm weather. Join us in July to learn how Raptors and other birds adjust to the lazy hazy days of summer. How do birds handle the heat? How can we help them when the mercury climbs and how has climate change affected birds? It promises to be a hot topic! FEE: Free with Center Admission LEVEL: Families August: There’s no Raptor Saturday Program this month as the birds are off to the fair! Please visit us at WE Energies Park at the Wisconsin State Fair August 1-11. Performing in three shows daily as well as a variety of interactive programs, the birds and their handlers love to see the SANC regulars at the fair! Stop by and say, “hello”! Sponsored by: Schlitz Audubon Bird Club Wednesday, July 10 and Wednesday, August 14 from 6:30 – 8:30pm Check out the summer bird activity at SANC. We will be going out on bird hikes with the prospects of increasing our bird lists. Join us for some summertime fun. FEE: Free to Members & Volunteers NM: Free with Center Admission LEVEL: Adults & Teens Center Focus • July/August 2013 Hatha Yoga Saturday Class Saturdays, July 13 – August 31 from 10:00 –11:15am Reduce stress, increase your flexibility, and enrich your sense of well-being. This class is a great starting point for yoga practitioners as well as a wonderful start to the weekend for all yoga students. If the weather allows we will be outside listening to Lake Michigan as we practice. Bring a yoga mat to class if you have one or borrow one of ours. ***FEE: M: $80 NM: $88 LEVEL: Adult Camp Out with the Raptors Saturday, July 13 – Sunday July 14 7pm drop off on Saturday night with an 8:30am pickup time on Sunday morning. An incredible opportunity to experience SANC raptors after dark. Pitch a tent, bring your sleeping bag, then head down to the lake searching for wild things! SANC’s owls and hawks will join us around the campfire as we share stories and smores. Then off to tents and listen to the hooting of owls till the sun wakes us. We’ll breakfast with the birds before heading back to the nature center building for pickup. ***FEE: M: Child: $100 NM: Child $110 LEVEL: 10 years old and up **Indicates Handicapped Accessible Program ***Indicates Pre-Registration is required. Call 414-352-2880 ext. 0 to register M= Members NM= Non-Members Participant cancellation up to 14 days before a program will be refunded, less a $10 fee. After 14 days, no refunds will be given. Upon SANC cancellation, a full refund 9 Calendar of Events July/August 2013 Discovery Nature Hiking Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, August 6 from 9:00 –10:30am Have you often wished you could do your daily walk for exercise in a beautiful wild place and learn about the amazing things that you’re passing by? We will walk along the meadows, woods, and wetlands of the Center on the upper level of the land. Don Quintenz will lead you to the seasonal events that stir our sense of beauty or imagination and helps answer the questions that nature evokes in us. The entire program is taught on the trail. ***FEE: M: Adult $5 NM: Adult $7 LEVEL: Adult Lake Michigan Discovery Hike Thursday, July 25 and Thursday, August 15 from 9:00 – 10:30am Have you often wished you could walk in a beautiful wild place and learn about the amazing things that you’re passing by? We will descend to the lower terrace and lakeshore, always with a focus on Lake Michigan. Don Quintenz will lead you to the seasonal events that stir our sense of beauty or imagination and helps answer the questions that nature evokes in us. ***FEE: M: Adult $5 NM: Adult $7 LEVEL: Adult Monday Night Magic Monday, July 22 and Monday, August 19 from 6:00 – 7:30pm Enjoy a summer evening hike with Director of Education Tom Finley. Just the right time and distance for the little ones, these nights are devoted to exploring popular locations such as the tower, lake and forest. We’ll listen to frogs, observe pond life and maybe watch bats flitter about. You’re sure to delight in the sights and sounds of an early evening stroll at the Audubon Center. Nets are provided. Boomers and Beyond: Water Quality of the Milwaukee River Thursday, August 1 from 9:00 – 11:00am We will sample the Milwaukee River at our Cleaver property three miles west of the Center for aquatic life. Once we have a sample of life in the stream we will calculate the “biotic index” for the river, which simply means that we will have an indication of the quality of the water based on the living organisms present. This is yet another opportunity to get involved in citizen science, or information that laypeople gather that helps the scientific community make determinations on the health and status of areas. ***FEE: M: Child $5 Adult $7 NM: Child $7 Adult $9 LEVEL: Families ***FEE: M: Adult $15 NM: Adult $17 LEVEL: Adult Audubon Babies: Exploring Nature with the Very Young Thursday, July 25 and Thursday, August 22 from 10:00 – 11:15am Children are never too young to enjoy fresh air and the wonders of nature. Come enjoy a hike on the trails and some good fellowship. We will meet inside and venture out when we are ready. Dress for the weather – we will explore outdoors rain or shine. ***FEE: M: $5 per session NM: $6 per session LEVEL: 6 months to 2 years old and their adult. 10 Special Admissions for Veterans We will be honoring our armed service members and their families all summer by providing them with free admission to the center. Center Focus • July/August 2013 Highlights of Upcoming Summer Events: No pre registration required! Non members pay Center Admission Tuesday Tunes** Tuesdays in July & August: July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13, August 20, August 27 from 6:30 – 7:30pm Meet at the Pavilion for an evening of music ranging from folk, country and anything in between. Feel free to bring your own chair. Avian Evenings Wednesdays in July & August: July10, July, 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21, August 28 from 6:30 – 7:30pm Wing on over for your midweek talon and beak treat! Every Wednesday evening from 6:30pm-7:30pm you are invited to experience one of our “talented” flock. Each event will feature different members of our feathered family. Summer Twilight Hikes Thursdays in July & August: July 11, July 18, August 1, August 8, August 15, August 22, Have you ever wanted to stay late and hike around Audubon at twilight? Join us for a guided nature hike through the summer twilight with an Audubon Teacher. Meet at 6:30pm in the Exhibit Hall and we will hike for an hour, explore this enchanted time of evening together, looking and listening for whoooo else is out there. Tales and Trails Hikes Thursday, July 25 and Thursday, August 29 Join an Audubon Naturalist for summer evening fun on the last Thursday of the Month. We will read a nature-themed book together, and then venture out on the Audubon trails to explore the month’s subject through trail games and learning activities. Meet at 6:30pm in the Exhibit Hall July 25- Fireflies ; August 29Fossils. This program is best suited for families. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Calendar of Events July/August 2013 Hangin’ with Hyatt: Breakfast with Emerson and Friends** Saturday, August 10, from 9:00 – 10:00am Doesn’t it seem like Emerson is always hungry? Well, now you can feed him! Jim’s bringing his slippery and scaly friends out for some breakfast. Bring your breakfast to eat and something for Emerson. You’ll touch snakes, marvel at salamanders, hold turtles, and feed the big guy. Emerson likes: waffles, pancakes, grapes, strawberries, muffins, blueberries, blackberries, …….should I keep going? See you there! ***FEE: M: Child $3 Adult $5 NM: Child $4 Adult $6 LEVEL: Families Environmental Voices: Green Roofs and Rooftop Gardens Monday, August 19, from 9:00 – 4:00pm Visit several of the finest of Milwaukee’s state of the art facilities. Our personal guide, Chris Schultz, Water Quality Senior Project Manager of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, will begin the program with a short presentation at MMSD. We will then tour Rockwell Automation’s garden, the largest green roof in Wisconsin, the award-winning Clock Shadow Building, the Milwaukee Public Library and other sites. Transportation provided. ***FEE: M: Adult $26 NM: Adult $30 LEVEL: Adult Ponding Fever: The Final Fling Tuesday, August 27, from 10:00 to 12:00pm or 1:00 – 3:00pm Time for one last chance to get outside and explore the awesome wetlands of the Audubon Center for this summer. We’ll take nets and scoopers to see what kind of critters dwell in these vital habitats. We’ll go to Boardwalk Pond, Mystery Lake and Teal Pond. We’re sure to find lots of cool bugs and maybe some reptiles & amphibians. ***FEE: M: Child $6 Adult $8 NM: Child $10 Adult $12 LEVEL: Families The Spiritual World of Nature** Our monthly series helps us all connect more intimately to nature by getting in touch with the powerful spiritual side of the natural world. Pre-registration is required and all programs are geared for adults. Light refreshments and food provided. ***FEE: M: Adults $10 NM: Adults $12 (per program) Nature Harmonizes with Lee Ann Fagan Dzelzkalns Tuesday, July 9 from 7:00 – 8:30pm Join Lee Ann in this experiential and meditative discourse to uncover new awareness and insights. Relax with sounds and symbols in nature, sacred instruments, and imagery in a guided meditative journey. Let’s go beyond the physical and journey in the nature of divine proportion together. Let’s walk the inner path of the practical mystic, together, grounded in the rhythm of life. Buffalo Stones and the Spirituality of a Baloney Sandwich with Jim Uhrinak Wednesday, July 17 from 1:30 – 3:00pm Everyone benefits from a healthy world. How can the grounded voices of advocates be effective? The trees, water, soil, mountains and climate need us to speak. From life experience and an orthodox Christian perspective Jim will talk about land restoration as well as protection of high quality natural areas and cultural landscape destinations. In addition, we will see the images of stone mammoth effigies that Jim recently presented at the University of New Mexico. These sculptural stone effigies are firsts for North America and can add a strong dimension to land restoration efforts. Catching the Poetic Spirit of Mary Oliver Tuesday, August 13 from 7:00 – 8:30pm Come for an evening of poetic wondering and wandering. Discover for the first time - or once again - the beauty, the insights, the questions, and the joy gently swirling within the poetry of Mary Oliver, as she invites us to appreciate Nature’s many gifts. Oliver summed up her desire for amazement in her poem “When Death Comes” from New and Selected Poems: “When it’s over, I want to say: all my life / I was a bride married to amazement. / I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.” Bring a friend, bring a favorite Oliver poem – Let’s recite, listen, reflect, and learn…“to love the questions” together. Apache Ceremonial Dancing with Ron Preston Friday, August 16 from 1:30 – 3:00pm Delight in Ron Preston, an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache tribe, as he performs his Native American song, dance and artwork in the beautiful setting of Schlitz Audubon’s natural environment. He will participate and express himself in everyday life, both spiritually and culturally. Ron will describe in depth each of the dances and his regalia, and what they mean to his culture, answering any questions you might have. Center Focus • July/August 2013 11 U.S. Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 4168 1111 E. Brown Deer Road Milwaukee, WI 53217 Nature Store The Kids’ Outdoor Adventure Book is a jam-packed, fun-filled delight. This book is for anyone who ever wanted to tap a maple tree, conquer a corn maze, make an ice sculpture, or go owl hunting- or better yet, do all those things and hundreds more with their families. This is clearly a child-friendly year-round activity guide to help shape the next generation of nature lovers. Owls In this deeply informed, lavishly illustrated, and wonderfully engaging book, Marianne Taylor and a team of award-winning nature photographers bring together spectacular images with the most current scientific knowledge to reveal in remarkable detail the fascinating and mysterious world of owls. A great insight into the previously hidden lives of owls. Find it Games Great for summer family vacations. Find it Starry Night and Find it On a Hunt. This is award-winning, self contained treasure hunt games. So simple, yet it provides endless play. Play alone or with a crowd.