R GERS CENTER Newsletter
Transcription
R GERS CENTER Newsletter
MAY 2015 Vol. 4, Issue 2 R GERS CENTER Newsletter [ EXCITE | INSPIRE | MOTIVATE ] e u l g e t a e r C scratch! from ent im r e p x Fun enside... i « INSIDE THIS ISSUE: • Director’s Message Rogers Memories • Ask Friends of Rogers Balloon Conundrum • Solar Universe • Summer Camp Series Go on an adventure! • Easy Experiment DIY Glue • Calendar of Events www.FriendsofRogers.org 2 www.FriendsofRogers.org ROGERS CENTER NEWSLETTER MAY 2015 Friends of Rogers DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Rogers Memories F inally, SPRING HAS ARRIVED! The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the days are warmer, and Rogers Center is buzzing, quite literally, with spring fever. There is an exhale of excitement that finally, spring is here! The arrival of spring brings the return of Mother Nature in so many ways. The geese found their way home to nest their offspring, our honeybees are shaking off and looking for that first blossom, and our friendly woodchuck has emerged to say hello to our visitors. Just like the animals that appear at Rogers each year, so do the influx of visitors both old and new who arrive and leave with a lasting memory. I imagine that many of you reading this have a memory about Rogers too, one which you might preface by stating “I remember when”.... just like the countless visitors we meet who walk through the Center! Personally, I remember visiting Rogers Center as a child with my family to walk the trails, feed the trout, and navigate around the geese who continue to greet our visitors even now to this day. Having grown up in Sherburne, I completely understand the loss we would all feel if Rogers Center was no more. This is actually something, as Executive Director, I’m compelled to think about day in and day out...what if? However, we have so many ‘Friends of Rogers’ fighting for our cause (hardworking staff, volunteers, board members, nature lovers, and cute animals) we hope the ‘what if?’ will never come. With that in mind, we must never become complacent in our thinking. We are facing real challenges. Fortunately, the past couple of years have been favorable to us - but each year is different. That is why we must continue to focus on our mission and get the word out about who we are and how we now operate. 2014 was an exciting year! We had more than 14,000 people visit the Rogers Center property. Visitors were able to explore our many trails, paddle with us on our annual kayak & canoe trips, dig with us for fossils, birdwatch, participate in our roundtable nature discussions, and spend a day on-property simply picnicking and hiking. Our goal is to continue this trend into 2015 and beyond by expanding our popular community program initiatives such as Family Fishing Day and summer-long Youth Adventure Camp. So come on out of hibernation, shake off, stretch, and get your legs in step for a hike! It’s that time of year to look for a new beginning and a fresh start. Who says your New Year’s resolution cannot begin today, right here at Rogers Center? See you on the trails, Simon M. Solomon Executive Director Approaching Coffee Deadline Orders for Friends of Roger’s quarterly coffee fundraiser are due Friday, May 8. Place your order today! Environmental Education Center, Inc. Board of Directors President: Sharon Pelosi Vice President: Adam Schoonmaker, Ph.D. Secretary: T. J. Moorehead Treasurer: Rose Cole Frank Busce Marsha Guzewich Paula Howard Thurston Packer John Pumilio Chris Rossi Bruce Selleck Carol Smith Laurie Trotta Fred von Mechow Staff Simon Solomon Executive Director Sarah Freedman Environmental Educator Jenni Larchar Children’s Program Coordinator Jessica Moquin Fundraising & Marketing Coordinator Brandon Episcopo Spring Naturalist Intern Valerie Mitchell Spring Naturalist Intern Friends of Rogers, Inc. P.O. Box 932 2721 State Route 80 Sherburne, NY 13460 607-674-4733 www.FriendsofRogers.org Email: info@FriendsofRogers.org Friends of Rogers (F.O.R) is a non-profit organization composed of dedicated supporters of the Rogers Environmental Education Center located in Sherburne, NY. ROGERS CENTER NEWSLETTER MAY 2015 www.FriendsofRogers.org 3 Ask Friends of Rogers Dear Friends of Rogers, I am interested in your opinion on balloon releases. I am surprised that I still see them done in stories in the newspaper or on TV. It’s hard to criticize people doing them because they are usually done in memory of a loved one or for a good cause but I think there are many other ways, such as planting a tree, to commemorate such an occasion. I have left comments when I have seen these done in the paper and some responses were that there are biodegradable balloons that can be used. Not sure if that’s the case. Just curious as to your opinion, and if there is a way, to educate the public about the negative effects of balloons released into the environment? Sincerely, Community Member Concerned About Balloons Dear Concerned, Thank you for your concern about balloon release effects on the environment. Some people argue that balloons are latex and latex is a natural product that eventually degrades. Latex is natural, however many of the latex and rubber products we use today are not in their raw forms. To make rubber and latex stronger and more resilient it has undergone vulcanization, a treatment with heat and chemicals. These chemicals, dyes and plasticizers are not a natural part of our ecosystem. Some may argue that balloons will burst into tiny fragments once they reach a certain height and fragment into tiny pieces and don’t become an issue. Once released, latex balloons behave differently and may not reach the height of 5 miles necessary which causes them to burst. Also, upon bursting the fragments that reach the Earth, whether large or small can resemble a meal for an animal. There are many documented cases of finding animals such at turtles and birds with fragments of balloons or trash in their stomachs. Additionally, the strings and ribbons that are tied to the balloons which more often than not are made from plastics which are not biodegradable can also cause harm. There are many ways to enjoy balloons without harming wildlife and releasing them into the atmosphere. If outdoors, tie balloons securely to a child’s wrist or backpack and dispose of the balloon properly. There are many activities and games that be enjoyed with balloons inside such as balloon pops and relay races. If you want to do something in memory of someone, think about other alternative options which will not only last longer, but gives a location to go back to in the future. Plant a tree or a bush in their honor. Friends of Rogers sells tree cookies in a variety of sizes that can be customized to say just about anything. For a copy of Friends of Rogers Balloon Brochure or an order form for a Tree Cookie please contact Friends of Rogers at (607)674-4733, e-mail info@FriendsofRogers.org or stop by the Visitors Center Wednesday-Saturday from 10am – 4:30pm and Sunday from 11am – 3pm. Sincerely, Friends of Rogers This “Ask Friends of Rogers” was written by Sarah Freedman, Enivornmental Educator for Friends of Rogers. If you any questions, please direct them to Friends of Rogers. Your inquiry may be answered in next month’s issue! Sources for this article include: Balloons Blow… Don’t Let Them Go! Cain, M. E.; Jumpasut, P.; Watson, P. J. (2001). International Scrap & Recycling Industry Handbook. In 2009, NYS enacted the Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Act. The Act requires grocery stores of a certain size (such as Price Chopper, Target, Walmart, Hannaford, CVS, Wegmans, and others) who distribute single use plastic bags to establish a plastic bag recycling program. Simply stuff your plastic bags inside one bag and drop off in the container at the entrance of the store. The Governor signed an amendment to this Act in December 2014 to include film plastics in addition to plastic bags with a March 1, 2015 implementation deadline. The main change in the Law is the addition of film plastics which are defined as “FILM PLASTIC” MEANS UNCONTAMINATED NON-RIGID FILM PLASTIC PACKAGING PRODUCTS COMPOSED OF PLASTIC RESINS, WHICH INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, NEWSPAPER BAGS, DRY CLEANING BAGS AND SHRINK-WRAP.” Bill Search Site Let others know so we can all do our part to help reduce the amount of plastics in our environment. Of course, using reusable totes is the very best option! ROGERS CENTER NEWSLETTER MAY 2015 Help Rogers Center & local tourism efforts! In an effort to improve the visitor experience, Madison County Tourism is conducting regional marketing research with an independent research firm, Young Strategies, Inc. If you have visited Madison County within the last two years, we would appreciate you taking a brief visitor survey. This travel survey is about your overall experiences planning your visit and your actual stay. Please take a few minutes to respond now as survey collection will end May 4, 2015. Just click HERE to begin the survey. We thank you in advance for your valuable input. In appreciation for your time and effort, upon completion of the survey, you can register to win (1 of 5) $200 VISA gift cards. Your responses will be treated as confidential and will not be used for any other purposes. Must be 18 years of age to participate; only one survey per travel party. If you have any questions related to this Madison County Tourism visitor research study, please direct them to: Scott Flaherty, Director Berkeley Young, President Madison County Tourism Young Strategies, Inc. scottflaherty@ byoung@ madisontourism.comyoungstrategies.com wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Easy Experiment E DIY Glue quipment: Measuring cups and spoons 2 small paper drinking cups Mixing spoon Paper towel to use as a filter Plastic sandwich bag to store the paste I ngredients: ¼ cup skim milk 1 tablespoon white vinegar Pinch baking soda How to make your own glue/paste: 1.) Pour the milk into one of the cups. Add the vinegar and stir for 1 minute. The mixture will form clumps (curds) and clear liquid (whey). 2.) Place the folded paper towel over the second cup and push the middle down a bit. 3.) Hold the paper towel in place and slowly pour the curds and whey into the paper towel. Most of the whey will flow through the towel into the cup. Gently squeeze the rest of the whey into the cup, then throw the liquid whey away 4.) Scrape the curds into the sandwich bag and add the baking soda. Mix the baking soda with the curds by squeezing the curds in the plastic bag. The paste will take longer to dry than paste you buy in a store because there are no additional chemicals added to help it dry faster. If you make a collage, you should let the paste dry overnight before hanging it on a wall. Thanks to TJ Moorehead for sharing this experiment! www.FriendsofRogers.org 4 BECOME A MEMBER TODAY! MEMBER BENEFITS Member benefits vary by level, but all members will: Pay a special member rate for program fees Receive a 10% discount on all purchases at the bookstore Attend special member-only events Receive Rogers’ monthly e-newsletter Students and Seniors (65+)... $15 All of the above benefits Individual... $25 All of the above benefits Family... $35 All of the above, plus two free snowshoe rentals Affiliate... $50 All of the above, plus a FOR t-shirt Contributor... $100 All of the above, plus a FOR 18 oz. BPA-free water bottle Organizations... $100 One free guided walk for organization members Name Address Phone Email Additional Donation Total Amount Enclosed Send to: Friends of Rogers, Inc. PO Box 932 Sherburne, NY 13460 Check made payable to Friends of Rogers, Inc. Cash Credit Card # Card Type Signature Amount Credit Card Expiration 5 www.FriendsofRogers.org ROGERS CENTER NEWSLETTER MAY 2015 Rogers Environmental Education Center 2721 State Highway 80, Sherburne, NY 13460 Buzz Buzz Bugs Growing Green Bugs are buzzing all around us! Join fellow campers in the quest for insect identification and discovery! Roll logs, search streams, and uncover the amazing abundance of insects all around. Living in harmony with Mother Earth is both easy and fun! Throughout this adventure, we will learn about the gifts our planet has to give us and discover creative ways we can give back in return. All About Animals Wilderness Explorer Join us in a search for the animals that make our backyards special. From painted turtles to pumpkin seeds to garter snakes, there is a lot to be discovered. Every naturalist knows that all organisms are important, no matter how small! Join us as we analyze, interact, and explore the different ecosystems in our backyards. Junior Adventures Enjoy exploring, creating, singing, storytelling, playing games and learning about how we fit into the natural world around us. Ages June 29-July 3 July 6-10 5-7 July 13-17 Junior Adventures 7-9 8-12 All About Animals Hours Camp 9 am - 4 pm Early Care* 8-9 am After Care* 4-5:30 pm Growing Green July 20-24 July 27-31 Buzz Buzz Bugs Growing Green Wilderness Explorer Weekly Rates Member: $120 Not-Yet-Member: $145 *Additional fee for extra care Aug. 3-7 Junior Adventures Aug. 10-14 Aug. 17-21 All About Animals Wilderness Explorer Buzz Buzz Bugs Daily Rates Member: $30 Not-Yet-Member: $35 *Additional fee for extra care Discounts Multi-Child Register by June 15, save $5/session To register, download forms at www.FriendsofRogers.org, call (607) 674-4733, or e-mail env.educator@FriendsofRogers.org T here are many items and services that will allow us to continue fulfilling our mission. If you have access to any of the following items and are willing to donate, we would be extremely grateful! Batteries, large 6 Volt and D for flashlights Gently-used board games HP Ink cartridges - 56 & 57 Large paint brushes for big projects Postage Stamps Printer paper, both white and other colors Spade shovel In Kind Services Saws & hedge clipper sharpening Any of these items can be dropped off during regular Visitor Center hours. To make special arrangements, please contact Friends of Rogers via email at info@ FriendsofRogers.org 6 www.FriendsofRogers.org ROGERS CENTER NEWSLETTER MAY 2015 7 www.FriendsofRogers.org ROGERS CENTER NEWSLETTER MAY 2015 CALENDAR OF EVENTS SATURDAY, May 2 • 10:30 am Family Fun Program: Upcycle T-Shirts Bring your old t-shirt and turn it into a reusable bag. This simple DIY project repurposes clothing, reducing plastic disposable bag use. SUNDAY May 3 • noon Earth Fest Celebrate the wonders of nature at Rogers! THURSDAY, May 7 • 6:30 pm Music of the Birds WEDNESDAY, May 6, 13, 20, 27 • 10 am Storytime & Hike Every Wednesday, Jenni Larchar leads young children & caregivers in songs, stories & a walk on the trails. Storytime & Hike takes place rain or shine; participants should wear appropriate clothing & footwear. Awaken your appreciation of bird songs and learn the tunes of our most common songsters. SATURDAY, May 16 • 10:30 am Family Fun Program: Kitchen Science How do you get a raisin dancing? What makes glow sticks shine? Why do bakers sprinkle lemon juice on apples when preparing pies? Find the answer to these questions and more through simple experiments with materials found around the home. SATURDAY, May 23 • 8 am For more information about upcoming events, visit www.FriendsofRogers.org or call (607) 674-4733. 9 Mile Swamp Canoe/Kayak Trip Not-Yet-Members: $13 (bring your own boat) & $20 (boat provided); Members: $10 (bring your own boat) & $17 (boat provided) Rain date is May 30; pre-registration required.