Harvest Festival and Hayrides coming to WWNP!

The event formerly known as Haunted Hayrides will be getting a facelift this year and evolving into a mostly scare-free, family-friendly, educational set of activities that relate to the harvest season. The Harvest Festival will be held from 5 - 9 PM on October 24th and 25th at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve.

We will need about 500 sweet gum "gumballs" and about 500 three- or four-inch pine cones for the kids' crafts area, so if you have either of these available on your property, please consider donating some! If you have gum or fir trees but don't have time to collect gumballs or pinecones, that's okay. We can find someone to come out and collect them.

The outline below is TENTATIVE, but gives a general idea of what we are hoping to put together. If you would like to act as lead organizer / chairperson of planning a specific area of the festival--or if you have contacts in the community who could help us plan or donate supplies -- we'd love to hear from you. If you would like to volunteer at the event, we'd love to hear that, too!

We are also looking for local businesses who would be interested in sponsoring a Halloween inflatable display along the hayride route for $150. Sponsors will be recognized in printed event materials and will be named on a sign at their sponsored inflatable. Sponsors can also underwrite a specific area of the festival (kids' crafts, speakers, a hay wagon, etc). For more details or to sign up for a sponsorship, please contact Susan at shaislip@wesselmannaturesociety.org or (812) 479-0771 ext. 100.


ACTIVITIES

non-scary hayrides in Wesselman Park

concessions -- hot dogs, chili, chips, soda, apple cider, hot chocolate, S'mores kits

painting miniature pumpkins -- we are looking for a source to donate or deeply discount the pumpkins and paints

kids' crafts in the nature center lobby

raptor programs

owl pellet dissection workshops

fall leaves talk presented by Julie McDonald from Audubon State Park

gourd talk presented by Master Gardener Debbie Goedde

bat program - ??

2 half-hour Owl Prowl hikes

S'Mores around the campfire ring

stargazing on the golf course


VOLUNTEER TASKS:

solicit donations of money or supplies

pick up donated supplies from donors

pre-event prep work (cut craft supplies, make S'Mores kits, package concession items, etc.)

help with setup

collect money at the gate

work the concession booth

help with the hayrides (load wagons, manage lines, etc.)

supervise pumpkin painting activity

manage campfire area

help with kids' crafts -- three simple crafts, two people for each craft

lead 1 or 2 Owl Prowl hikes each night

tear down


Please contact me (Gena) directly if you have info, want to chair an area, or would like to volunteer! You can email me at masternaturalists@gmail.com or call (812) 204-8475.

IMN State Gathering

Indiana Master Naturalist Fall Gathering
Friday, October 11 and Saturday, October 12

Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis is hosting the second annual statewide gathering of Master Naturalists in October. This conference is only open to those who have completed their 40 hours of service and received their certification from the state. To view the full sheet of event information, click here and scroll down to page five.

garden rehabilitation

Dennis and Carol Slow will soon begin rehabilitating the garden just outside the nature center doors, and are looking for volunteers to help with the work. If you are interested in helping, have native plants in your yard to donate, or have questions, you can email them at caslow@hughes.net.

Upcoming SIMNA activities:

On Thursday, July 31st, Heidi Doss will present a training on the topic of teaching children in the outdoors. The class will meet from 6 - 8:00 PM at the nature center. The class is limited to 15 people, so please email Gena at masternaturalists@gmail.com if you wish to sign up. If you sign up but later realize you will not be able to attend, please let us know so we can offer your spot to someone else.

The next SIMNA meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 18 at 6:00 PM. We'll meet at the Nature Center and begin with SIMNA member Steve Pitt's presentation on the history of Pigeon Creek.

On Thursday, September 11th, Canoe Evansville will be offering a moonlight paddle exclusively for SIMNA. Please email an RSVP to masternaturalists@gmail.com if you wish to attend, and indicate if you'd prefer to paddle at Hovey Lake or at Bluegrass Fish & Wildlife Area. If you are planning to bring your own canoe or kayak, let us know. The cost of the program is $13.50 per person. Please RSVP at or before the August 18th meeting.

For our September 15th meeting, we're planning to take a hike at Howell Wetlands, since many Master Naturalists have not had a chance to visit the property. Don't worry--there are barely any bugs at all!


Lauren Preske has requested that we save empty toilet paper rolls for her, as she frequently uses them for programs. You can bring your collected tubes to the nature center, but please indicate that they are for Lauren when you drop them off so that they can be set aside for her.

SIMNA moonlight paddle

Canoe Evansville has agreed to schedule a special moonlight paddle for SIMNA members, to be held at Bluegrass Fish & Wildlife Area on Thursday, September 11th. The cost is $13.50 per person, and can be paid directly to Canoe Evansville manager Ashley on the evening of the paddle. You MUST RESERVE YOUR SPOT BY THE EVENING OF MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 so that I can tell Ashley how many people to expect. Email masternaturalists@gmail.com or call 812-204-8475.

Participants can choose to meet at the nature center at 6:30 PM on Thursday and take the shuttle out to Bluegrass, or you can meet the group at the second lake (I believe it is Loon Pit) at 7:00 PM. Please dress for the weather and bring water and bug spray. If you have questions about the trip or equipment needs, please call (812) 479-0771 ext. 105 and speak to Ashley or Neal.

"Teaching Children in the Outdoors"

On Thursday, July 31st, Heidi Doss will present a training on the topic of teaching children in the outdoors. The class will meet from 6 - 8:00 PM at the nature center. The class is limited to 15 people, so please email Gena at masternaturalists@gmail.com or call (812) 204-8475 if you wish to sign up. If you sign up but later realize you will not be able to attend, please let us know so we can offer your spot to someone else.

Hikes at Howell Wetlands

July 19, 8:30 AM -- wildflower hike with Debbie Goedde

July 19, 7 PM -- insect nightlife hike with Purdue entomology student Brandon Runyon

July 26, 9 AM -- butterfly hike with Debbie Goedde

Contact: Lauren Preske, lpreske@wesselmannaturesociety.org or 479-0771, extension 139

Moonlight Paddles

Spend the evening on a guided canoe trip under the full moon at the serene Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area just north of Evansville or amidst the cypress forest at Hovey Lake. Pre-registration required.

Ages:  7 and up
Cost:  $15 per person
Average Length:  about 3 hours

Contact:  Ashley Benthall, canoe@wesselmannaturesociety.org or 479-0771


July 19, 7 p.m. at Hovey Lake

Aug 15, 7 p.m. at Bluegrass Fish & Wildlife Area

August 16, 7 p.m. Hovey Lake

WWNP Summer Camps

Half-Day Junior Naturalist Camp
July 28 - August 1, 9 a.m. to Noon (2nd - 5th grade)

Middle School Mini Camp
July 22 - 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Grades 6,7,8

Contact:  Lisa Hoffman, 479-0771, extension 103
or lhoffman@wesselmannaturesociety.org

Eagle Slough Photos

All photos by project chair Eleanor Zitek

Canoe Evansville

Project Chair:  Don Ralph


Pickin’ on the Pigeon Family Music Festival 2008

Family Music Festival to Celebrate National Trails Day
Saturday, June 7, 2008 | Garvin Park | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enjoy live outdoor music, have fun with family and friends, celebrate National Trails Day, and support Canoe Evansville all at the same time at Pickin’ on the Pigeon 2008!

Pickin’ on the Pigeon 2008 offers a unique chance to enjoy live outdoor music, have fun with family and friends, celebrate National Trails Day, and support Wesselman Nature Society’s Canoe Evansville program all at the same time by offering the following activities for people of all ages and interests to enjoy:

Live Music from Top Regional Performers (Newburgh Dam Jazz Band, Electric Larry and the Currents, and others)

Paddling on Garvin Park Pond

Children’s Activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Animal Encounters

Canoe Demonstrations


Contact Susan Haislip to volunteer: 812-479-0771 ext. 100 or shaislip@wesselmannaturesociety.org

Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve

COMING SOON!

Howell Wetlands

COMING SOON!

Eagle Slough

Committee Chair:  Eleanor Zitek


Eagle Slough in the News

Eagle Slough is a birding haven

Eagle Slough op ed

Eagle Slough preservation


Click here to view our Eagle Slough photos!

Spring Wildflower Hike at WWNP

(photos by Gena Garrett)

Hiking & Backpacking 101

Sun 5/25/2008
1:00 PM
Intro to Hiking and Backpacking 101

With Jon Dubber, Top Spot Outdoors

Jon will cover the basic equipment needs and planning of day hikes and backpacking trips followed with a short hike into the Nature Preserve.

Contact Scott Kramer for more information: 812-479-0771 ext 102 or skramer@wesselmannaturesociety.org

Flying WILD Training

November 11, 2007

Volunteers needed for WWNP programs

WWNP staff could use IMN help at any of the programs listed below, especially the larger ones! Check your schedules and contact Scott Kramer (812-479-0771 ext 102 or skramer@wesselmannaturesociety.org) if there are any you would like to observe, assist with, or take charge of. Scott is especially interested in finding someone comfortable with toddler aged children to take over the Toddler Tales for the summer. Toddler Tales is a story and craft time on Wed mornings from 10-10:30am.


Tue 5/13/2008 9:30 AM Wild About Animals, #15, Lutheran Redeemer

Tue 5/13/2008 12:00 PM Camoflauged Critters, #22, St Philips 2nd grade

Wed 5/14/2008 9:15 AM Camouflaged Critters, #39, St James K-2

Wed 5/14/2008 10:00 AM Toddler Tales: Public Program, Nature Stories and crafts

Thu 5/15/2008 9:00 AM OFFSITE Program: Fur, Feathers, and Scales, #49, at Vogel Elementary

Thu 5/15/2008 10:00 AM OFFSITE Program: Fur, Feathers, and Scales, #49, at Vogel Elementary

Fri 5/16/2008 9:00 AM Get Growing, #24, USI Pre-K (3, 4, and 5 year olds)

Fri 5/16/2008 11:00 AM Habitats-R-Home, #40, Cedar Hall

Sat 5/17/2008 1:00 PM Nature Detectives! Find out who (or what) left the track in the mud, what a feather or piece of bone can tell you about the animal that it belonged to, and what might be living in a freshly dug hole in the ground.

Sun 5/18/2008 1:00 PM Junior Girl Scouts: "Outdoor Cook" badge workshop, max. 25

Tue 5/20/2008 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM OFFSITE program: Fur, Feathers, and Scales, Evansville Day School, SEVEN PROGRAMS

Wed 5/21/2008 10:00 AM Toddler Tales: Public Program, Nature Stories and crafts

Sun 5/25/2008 1:00 PM Intro to Hiking and backpacking 101: With Jon Dubber, Top Spot Outdoors. Jon will cover the basic equipment needs and planning of day hikes and backpacking trips followed with a short hike into the Nature Preserve.

Wed 5/28/2008 10:00 AM Toddler Tales: Public Program, Nature Stories and crafts

Woodland Wildflowers

Heidi has kindly assembled a list of great wildflower viewing areas. Check out the Spring displays at these fantastic local sites!

John James Audubon State Park
Audubon State Park in Henderson probably has one of the best wildflower displays in the area.

Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve
Susan Haslip reports that the flowers are blooming, so head to WWNP and check it out!

St. Paul Nature Preserve
Take Highway 65 North. Once you pass St. Wendel Road on the left, watch for St. Paul's Church on the right. There is a small gravel parking area just past the church, and the entrance to the nature preserve is just past this parking area.

This is where some of the group went hiking with Sally Roth in March. Email Heidi for more information (fidiot@evansville.net)

Hemmer Woods Nature Preserve
This is up near Buckskin IN. Great little woods – good for all woodland wildflowers including white Trout Lily. Also good for frogs and red headed woodpeckers.

Twin Swamps Nature Preserve
Later in the spring this is a great place to check out a display of Bluebells, unmatched anywhere in the area.

A Guide to the Wildflowers of Twin Swamps

Hemlock Cliffs
This is a great hike anytime of year but right now is especially nice with a good flow of water over the cliffs and in the stream. Nice place to see Hepatica if you get out there very soon.

Volunteers needed for Howell Wetlands programs

Contact Lauren Preske at (812) 479-0771, extension 139 or
lpreske@wesselmannaturesociety.org to sign up.


5/13, 9-11am, #33, 2nd grade, program hike and water bug fishing. Need 2 to
help.

5/13, 11:30am, 6-8 grade, Water Dance program (macroinvertebrates and hike)

5/14, 12:30-2, #39, k-2 grades, Habitat by Humanity program

5/15, 9:30, 1-2 grade, Water Dance program (macroinvertebrates and hike)

5/20,9am, 3-4 grade, Water Dance program (macroinvertebrates and hike)

5/21, Time TBD, 5th grade, Water Dance program (macroinvertebrates and hike)

5/22, 9-11am, #66, 1st grade, Water Dance program (macroinvertebrates and hike)
Need 4 to help.

6/10, 10am, k-1: Habitat Program

6/12, 9am, k-6: Waters of Wetlands Program

6/17, 9am, ages 5-10, Web of Life Program

6/23, 10am: k-6: Water Dance program (macroinvertebrates and hike)

7/7, 10am: 1-2 grades, Water Dance program (macroinvertebrates and hike)

7/9, 10am-2pm: Butterfly Buzz (TRAVEL WITH ME TO JASPER PUBLIC LIBRARY)

7/11, 10am: 3-5 grade. Waters of Wetlands Program

Help clean up Eagle Slough

Wesselman Nature Society has partnered with the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Four Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Area, and the Indiana Nature Conservancy to purchase 127 acres of wetlands north of Ellis Park and place it into conservation. Known historically as Eagle Slough, the area preserves a stand of bald cypress trees and provides valuable habitat for migratory birds. WNS is looking forward to drawing up a management plan and offering programs at Eagle Slough in the future.

If you're interested in helping clean up the property, a group will be gathering at the North entrance of Ellis Park at 8:00 AM on Saturday, April 26th. Call or email Susan Haislip for directions: (812) 479-0771 ext. 100 or shaislip@wesselmannaturesociety.org

To read the Courier and Press article about the acquisition, visit http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/feb/28/groupsjoin-to-savewetlands/.

Earth Day celebration at Howell Wetlands

April 19   8 AM - 2 PM

Lauren is looking for volunteers to help with the following areas at the 3rd annual Howell Wetlands Earth Day celebrations:

>> 2 people to drive the shuttle for 2 hours each
>> a parking guide near the cul-de-sac
>> someone to dress up as WES the raccoon
>> a few people to help me load the trailer on Friday (April 18) at noon
>> and some to staff several activity stations

To sign up, please contact Lauren at (812) 479-0771, extension 139 or
lpreske@wesselmannaturesociety.org


Master Naturalist Lois Schmidt is recruiting volunteers for the children's activities, and needs people to fill the following spots:

>> 2 people to help with seed balls from 12 - 2 PM
>> 1 person to help with butterfly necklaces from 12 - 2 PM

You can email Lois at lojack@insightbb.com or call her at (812) 867-5253 to sign up.


If you know of places to post or pass out promotional flyers, please email Lauren (lpreske@wesselmannaturesociety.org) or Gena (gena.garrett@gmail.com) and request a pdf or jpg version to print.

Kentucky Bluebird Society at Audubon State Park

Kentucky Bluebird Society/John James Audubon State Park Public Event and Meeting

The Kentucky Bluebird Society (KBS) invites the public and members to join us for our annual spring meeting on Saturday, April 12, 2008. The event will be hosted by John James Audubon State Park (JJASP) located in Henderson, Kentucky.

The meeting is packed with presentations and activities relating to cavity nesting birds.

9:00 am – 12:00 pm   Flying WILD Educator Workshop
Learn how to teach others about bird conservation in this hands-on, engaging session. Register by contacting Julie McDonald juliea.mcdonald@ky.gov or call 270-826-4424. The workshop fee is $12.00 and will include the Flying WILD educator curriculum.

10:00 am – 12:00 pm   Building For Bluebirds
Join us as we build bluebird boxes. Fee: $5 for materials. Location: Museum Discovery Center.

1:30 - 4:30 pm   "Audubon's Travels And Audubon's Bluebirds"
The day's primary program features a presentation entitled "Audubon's Travels And Audubon's Bluebirds" as well as other special presentations. Location: Friends of Audubon Meeting Room, Audubon Museum.

The award winning KBS Outdoor Classroom Enrichment Program for Kentucky schools will also be featured. Door prizes will be available following the program session. Participants are invited to bring special bluebird items to donate to KBS for the drawing.

The public is invited to join KBS and JJASP to celebrate our Kentucky bluebirds and discover how to help and enjoy an outstanding wildlife species. There is no charge for attending the April 12 Bluebird Special Event. For more information, including a detailed agenda, please visit the KBS web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kbs/, e-mail KBS at kbsnews@yahoo.com, or write KBS at PO Box 3425, Paducah, Kentucky 42002.

Ed Ray, KBS President/Education Director
Julie McDonald, JJASP Naturalist

Volunteers Needed for Kids' Pioneer Days

Pioneer Days at WWNP
(April 22-23-24-25)

Scott and Lisa are seeking volunteers to help with Pioneer Days, an annual event for schoolchildren. Volunteers are needed from 8:30 - 12:00 each day of the festival.

Volunteers will be given a quick training of their activity each morning. School groups attending will split into small groups (12-15 students) with an adult and rotate around to as many of our activities as possible in their field trip time.

Volunteers are also needed to act as greeters each day, and to help with setup on Monday, April 21 from 10 AM to 2 PM and Tuesday through Friday from 7 - 9 AM.

To sign up, please contact Scott Kramer at (812)479-0771 ext 102 or skramer@wesselmannaturesociety.org

For the children's activities, please choose a date and time, and indicate which of the following activies you'd prefer to help out with:

Archery
candle dipping
whisk broom making
clay pottery
spear throwing/corn cob toss
sack races/Tug o' war
Bean Soup in the kettle
Paper backpack craft
Paper and yarn "Pioneer Pouch" craft
Stick-n-hoop game craft
Leather and bead necklace craft
Magic Wallet craft
Pioneer Toy Table (supervise)
Bear Racer game craft

Raptor Ambassador Program Docents Wanted

The new Raptor Ambassador Program (RAP) will be unveiled soon! In the June WNS newsletter, you’ll be able to read about the goals for the program, and be introduced to our 5 new birds (for a total of 7 in the program), including their names, species, and circumstance. In the meantime, there is a lot of behind the scenes activity going on, including cage renovations, bird training, and docent training.

WNS is currently seeking applicants who wish to train as raptor docents. There is no experience necessary to apply. However, certain criteria must be met. Docents must complete a 12 week docent class, and commit at least 4 hours a week to the program. Docents must have time in their schedules to care for the birds, and to use them in education programs. A total of five new docents will be accepted into the program this year, joining the five docents we currently have.

Since these docents will need to be highly specialized in their ability to care for and handle our raptors and use them in education programs, the chosen applicants will be required to take a 12 week class of intensive training on raptor care and handling. The class will be taught at WWNP by Lauren Preske, RAP Manager. The docent class will meet approximately once per week (day and time to be determined based on the schedules of the chosen applicants), then additional time will need to be spent by each docent intern to practice the skills taught in class.

The training will initially involve observation, learning techniques of care and handling, feeding, and cleaning cages. Once interns show competent skills, training will progress to include handling of the birds, then to giving educational programs with them. Docent interns should expect to invest 3-6 months before giving education programs with the birds.

The docent class will begin in June (date to be determined), and applications will be taken in May. If you are interested, please contact Lauren Preske at lpreske@wesselmannaturesociety.org and she will put you on a list of people to contact when the application process begins mid-May.

Groundbreaking at Howell Wetlands

Watch for exciting changes at Howell Wetlands! The construction on the Howell Wetlands building will finally begin this month. It has been a long journey to this point, with securing partners and funding, final design details for the structure, and all necessary approvals and permits. We are finally ready to break ground. The ceremony will be held on April 11 at 3 PM. There will be speakers, refreshments, and of course, the turning of soil. Please join us!

St. Paul's Nature Preserve