Pioneer Days at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve

Tuesday September 28th to Friday October 1st

There are two shifts: 8:30 to 11:30 AM and 11:30 to 2:00 PM. We’re looking for people who can talk about (and when possible, demonstrate) the following:

• how the pioneers made pots and soap
  
• what wildlife they would have encountered
  
• what weapons they might have used
  
• how they tanned hides and spun wool
  
• their cooking methods and the food they ate
  
• what toys children played with
  
• what games children played
  
• edible plants that were available then
  
• how people traveled
  
• what tools they used

We’re also looking for hike leaders and volunteers who can assist the presenters.

There will be several hundred children in small groups (15-20) who will move with their group from station to station every 15 minutes. So the maximum talking time for each subject will be fifteen minutes, repeated every 15 minutes for your entire shift. If you are interested in doing any of these things, please contact Eleanor Savage at (812) 479-0771 ext 141 or VolCoord@WesselmanNatureSociety.org

Pigeon Creek cleanup

Canoe Evansville is planning a Pigeon Creek cleanup on June 13th. To volunteer (or for more info), contact Don Ralph at (812) 473-2480 or dmralph@wowway.com.

Kevin Mills will be offering a water monitoring class focusing on E. Coli sometime soon.

If you wish to be added to the Canoe Evansville volunteers' mailing list, contact Neal or Susan at (812) 479-0771.

Recycle Saturdays

Volunteers are always needed at WNS's Recycle Saturday events. The next two are on February 21st (Evansville Day School) and March 7th (Old Wal-Mart West), from 8:00 am to Noon. Email Susan at shaislip@wesselmannaturesociety.org if you can lend a hand.

Great American Bird Count

The annual Great Backyard Bird Count will be held February 13 through 16. Count in your own yard, at Wesselman Woods or any other location. It takes as little as 15 minutes! Tally sheets are available at the Nature Center, or online at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/.

Maple Sugarbush Festival

March 7 & 8

A breakfast of pancakes with real maple syrup, sausage, and the choice of orange juice, milk, or coffee will be served inside the Nature Center. Ongoing programs throughout each day teach those who attend about the natural processes taking place inside of trees, the history and process of maple syrup production, and why the end result is worth the effort. These programs includes guided walking tours through the Sugarbush, allowing firsthand observation of trees tapped and readily producing sap and further explanation of the evaporation process that condenses sap to the consistency of maple syrup.

The Maple Sugarbush Festival and Pancake Breakfast is a two-day event that is made possible through the participation of Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve staff and over 80 volunteers. Trees in the Preserve have been tapped since the early 70’s, and the Sugarbush festival has been an annual celebration for over thirty years.


Trees are already being tapped for sap, and preparation for the festival has begun! To help with pre-event prep or to volunteer at the festival itself, contact Lauren Preske at (812) 479-0771 ext. 102 or lpreske@wesselmannaturesociety.org

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.

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

Volunteer Opportunities

FALL FLUTTERBY

Date:  Saturday, September 8
Time:  1 - 4 PM
Location:  Howell Wetlands
Contact Lauren Preske at (812) 479-0771, extension 139 or lpreske@wesselmannaturesociety.org


WNIN KIDS' FEST

Date:  Saturday, September 15
Time:  10 AM - 2 PM
Location:  WNIN parking lot behind the station at 405 Carpenter Street

Needed:  two volunteers to present an activity at a table, and one person to dress as the WNS mascot, Wes the Raccoon

Contact Alice Rademacher at (812) 479-0771, extension 101
arademacher@wesselmannaturesociety.org

From WNIN:  To increase attendee satisfaction, WNIN would like to work with you and your organization to develop an engaging activity for your booth. To aid in the development of booth activities, we have paired up with our Ready to Learn department to suggest activity ideas. This is part of the registration process and will be regarded with equal importance as the payment and organization information!

The theme of this Kids' Fest is Health. Please keep that in mind when planning your booth and give-aways.


TopSpot Appreciation Day

Date:  Sunday, September 23
Time:  12 - 3 PM or 3 - 6 PM
Location:  TopSpot Outdoors on Green River Road
Contact Amy Brown at (812) 479-0771 ext. 105 or abrown@wesselmannaturesociety.org

WNS is looking for at least four volunteers to represent the Wesselman Nature Society at TopSpot's Appreciation Day.


WNS FALL FESTIVAL BOOTH

Dates:  October 1 - 6

The Wesselman Nature Society will once again be selling brat burgers, birch beer, banana "canoes" and tree trunks (pretzel rods dipped in chocolate) at the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival.

Many volunteers will be needed throughout the week to keep the booth running. Please call the nature center at (812) 479-0771 and tell the staff when you'd like to volunteer!


TREEmendous Weekend

Dates:  October 20 - 21
Location:  Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve
Contact Scott Kramer at (812) 479-0771, extension 102 or skramer@wesselmannaturesociety.org

Saturday, October 20

10:00 AM  Fall Colors and Champion Tree Hike (1 or 2 hour hike)

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM  Tree Craft Fair

painted leaf banners

tree cookie necklaces

make a leaf press

leaf rubbing collages

Adopt-a-Tree journals

leaf scavenger hunt books

2:00 PM  Fall Colors and Champion Tree Hike (1 or 2 hour hike)

There will also be bus tours from 8 - 11 AM and 11 AM - 2 PM, to see various Champion Trees in Evansville.


Sunday, October 21

1:00 PM  How to nominate a champion tree (learn to measure and nominate a tree!)

2:00 PM  walking stick carving

3:00 PM  Fall Colors and Champion Tree Hike (1 or 2 hour hike)

Throughout the weekend, there will be wood carvers demonstrating their craft, leaf rubbing plates, identification books, and touch boxes with tree artifacts inside for people to feel in the nature center lobby.

There will be a training on Sunday, October 7, from 2:00 - 3:30 PM, where volunteers will learn how to measure a tree, where the Champion Trees are located within the preserve, the history of the Champion Tree program, about fall colors and how to lead a fall colors hike, and how to run the craft tables.


WWNP TRAIL MAINTENANCE

If you're out hiking the trails and have the time to do a little work while you're out, many of the trails needs a little bit of trimming. You can borrow a pair of clippers from the office, and just cut the overhanging vegetation back about 12 inches on either side of the trail. There are also several interpretive signs that need to be wiped down.

Contact:  Scott Kramer
Phone:  (812) 479-0771, extension 102
Email:  skramer@wesselmannaturesociety.org


CANOE EVANSVILLE NEEDS OFFICE HELP

Wesselman Nature Society's Canoe Evansville program is looking for volunteers for the following tasks:

1.  One person with computer knowledge to maintain weekly contact with past canoe program participants. Approximately 4 hours per week

2.  One person to answer phone calls on Thursdays and Fridays and book Canoe program reservations. Approximately 8 hours per week.

3.  One person to prepare flyers and distribute them to grocery stores and other locations.

4.  Someone to answer the phone at the office and answer questions about canoe trips.

5.  Someone to send out email information on trip openings to people who have taken trips before.

If you are interested in any of these jobs please contact Gil Himebaugh at maplemachinery@sbcglobal.net or (812) 499-7998.