WINTER NEWSLETTER 2013 compressed (2)

UNDER THE OAK TREE
A NEWSLETTER OF THE HENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
WE’VE GOT THE BEST
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
By: John Pullis, Executive Director
Super Bowl XLVII was recently played in New Orleans. The football game
featured the Harbaugh brothers, John and Jim, as opposing coaches. John is the head
coach of the Baltimore Ravens and Jim, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
Much of the media hype leading up to the game focused, of course, on the brothers and
their parents, Jack and Jackie Harbaugh. Jack was a long-time college football coach.
As a youngster, Jack and his cousin had a favorite saying, “Who’s got it
better than us? Nooo-body!” It was an approach to life Jack passed on to his
children. This football season, Jim adopted this phrase as a motto for his 49er’s team.
This story made me think about the volunteers we have at the Conservation
Department.
With a staff of only four, we have come to rely on our volunteers for nearly
everything we do. From our school programs, such as Pioneer Days and the Night
Hike, to hosting the Nature Center on weekends, to nearly any construction project…
Nature Center renovations, building cabins, all we need to do is place a few phone calls
to our volunteers and they’re ready and waiting.
Aside from the physical help our volunteers provide, they’re a huge source of
information, as well as some much appreciated comic relief. Their respective careers
have run the gamut…a retired pharmacist, retired educators, a retired commercial
airline pilot, a retired prison guard, a graphic designer, etc. What more could we ask
for when we have a problem to solve or need a question answered? As proof of their
commitment to the department, our volunteers have logged over 1,000 hours of service
each of the past 8 years.
To our volunteers, we say “Thank you” and “Who’s got it better than we
do? Nooo-body!”
Thank you, cabin rentals,
animal sponsors
2
Calendar of Events
3
ACORN 2013 Schedule
4
Night hike photos and
thanks, David Stokes
program, Country School
film
5
Hunting by Willie Amos
6,7
Programs
8
Kid’s Corner, items
9
MAPLE SYRUP
DEMONSTRATION
Top of the Hill
March 2, 2013
9:00 a.m. to noon
Tapping trees, evaporator,
syrup tasting
HOW TO BUILD A BACKYARD BUTTERFLY HABITAT
When: Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. at Oakland Mills Nature Center
Lots of flowers and not as many butterflies? What do butterflies need to be attracted to your garden? This program
will give you those answers and tell you what you need to do to attract and keep butterflies in your area. Includes
butterfly habitat design, tips, and some "secrets" to a successful butterfly habitat. Provides information to meet
qualification for Backyard Habitat Status from the National Wildlife Federation as well as LIVE butterflies.
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
UNDER THE OAK TREE
WINTER
PAGE 2013
1
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED
A sincere and heartfelt thank you goes to all of the individuals, families, groups,
businesses, and organizations that have donated time, talent, money, or items to the
Henry County Conservation Department or to the Oakland Mills Nature Center.
John & Sherla Arp
Bev Garrels
Mike Prottsman
Big Creek Outdoors, Jim & Shelly
Smith
Clark & Peggy Hays
Dr. Pete & Jan Rankin
Henry County Nature Society
Kenny & Sharon Rhum
Boone Historical Society
Linn Hunsaker
Mandy Riley
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad
Iris Dental, P.C.—Michael Fitzpatrick
River Rock Café, Butch Bittle
Dan & Lois Braun
Bruce Krause
Christina Roelofs, Shelby-Audubon Co.
Sandy Breazeale
Robert Latta
Ralph & Helen See
Todd Brereton & Lori Muntz
Mary Jane Leyden
Seminar Crowds, Barb Miller
Tony Brown
Jim & Erica Macbeth
Carroll Smith
Harold & Sharon Busby
Mahaska County Conservation Dept.,
SOAR, Kay Neumann
Ann Davis, Gary R. David Memorial
Laura DeCook
Don and Gene Stewart
Vern & Carolyn Dorothy
Joan Millard
UNI-CEEE
Ricardo & Joy Dow
Syd Millard
Sarah Virden
Jan R. Feltes
Jake Virden
Scott Flam
Mississippi River Eco-Tourism Center,
Clinton County Conservation
John and Mary Ann Freeland
Tina Myers
Larry & Dee Wagner
Friends of Conservation in Henry
Sandy & Dave Neff
Jane Woodsmall
County Foundation
Deb Vroom
Prairie States Mushroom Club
RECREATIONAL RENTAL CABIN RATES
Henry County Conservation Department has two
rental cabins overlooking the Skunk River.
Call at 319-986-5067 or go on-line at
www.henrycountyconservation.com for more information and to
check reservation availability.
PEAK SEASON
OFF-PEAK SEASON
April 1st—October 31st
November 1st—March 31st
Sunday - Thursday $ 55.00 per night
Sunday - Thursday $ 50.00 per night
Friday - Saturday $ 75.00 per night
Friday - Saturday $ 65.00 per night
One week (7 days) $350.00 per week
One week (7 days) $325.00 per week
Red-tailed Hawk Sponsors
Allie's on Jackson Street; Electronic Engineering Co.; Otto and Collette
Groenewald; David McCoid; Dan Peterson; Q P & P; Paulette Shappell; Wells Fargo
Advisors, LLC, Pat McCabe and Dan McCabe, Financial Advisors
Barred Owl Sponsors
Todd Brereton; John and Mary Ann Freeland; Henry County Nature Society;
Hy-Vee, Inc.; Mt. Pleasant; Duane and Joni Maxwell; Lori Muntz;
Real Estate, by Waters; Alexandria Rowe; Steffensmeier Surveying
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
UNDER THE OAK TREE
PAGE 2
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
2013 Calendar
77111821,28-
February
ACORN Animal Valentines
At the Park Fly-tying
Board Meeting
Offices closed for President’s Day holiday
At the Park Fly-tying
27911-
March
At the Park Maple Syrup demonstration
ACORN Sunshine’s Surprise, live hawk
Hunter Education
Board Meeting
TBA
81123-
April
Camping/Nature Center open for the season
Board Meeting
ACORN trip to Buchanan Co., Fontana Park
At the Park ButterfliZ Iowa, backyard habitat
26131415276,710111315171921242628-
48911121516171920-
July
Offices closed for 4th of July holiday
Board Meeting
Day Camp– fishing
Day Camp– archery and BB guns
Day Camp– canoe river 5th grade+
Night Camp– digital scavenger hunt
ACORN trip to Office of the State Archaeologist
Night Camp – GPS treasure hunt
Family canoe at Geode
At the Park Girls’ Morning Out 12 years+
122025-
August
Board Meeting
ACORN trip to Honey Creek and coal mine museum
At the Park Outdoor Cooking
2May
9ACORN Ice Age program, atlatals
12At the Park David Stokes, Laughing With the Animals
17at Van Allen Elementary
Board Meeting
5th grade Pioneer Days at Oakland Mills
5th grade Pioneer Days at Oakland Mills
TBA
Offices closed for Memorial Day holiday
TBA
June
ACORN overnight trip to Dubuque/Galena
Board Meeting
Day Camp– animal tracks
Day Camp– mythical animals
At the Park Family Canoeing at Oakland Mills
Day Camp– rivers and ponds part 1
Day Camp– rivers and ponds part 2
Day Camp– canoe scavenger hunt at Gibson,
under 3rd grade must have an adult
Day Camp– owls and what they eat
Day Camp– “Head to Toe”
Day Camp– canoe Geode 4th grade+
September
Offices closed for Labor Day holiday
Board Meeting
ACORN trip to Wapello Zoo and pumpkin patch
At the Park Film Country School: One Room, One
Nation, appearance by producers
October
At the Park Night Hike- A Night Out
Camping and Oakland Mills Nature Center closes for
the season
10,11- ACORN overnight trip to Omaha, wildlife refuge
14Board Meeting
1111128,29-
November
ACORN bats and building bat houses
Offices closed for Veteran’s Day holiday
Board Meeting
Offices closed for Thanksgiving holiday
91325-
December
Board Meeting
ACORN annual potluck and movie Green Fire
Offices closed for Christmas holiday
This calendar could be subject to change. Check out our website at www.henrycountyconservation.com for more details
and full listings on all our programs and to download necessary registration forms.
Bobcat Sponsors
Allie’s on Jackson Street; Sharon Barton; Sam Beatty; Jan Feltes; Bruce and
Bertha King; Q P & P; Eugene and June Schutte; Deborah Fisher Vroom;
Drs. Steve and Mary Wettach
Kestrel Sponsors
Allie’s on Jackson Street; Friends of Conservation in
Henry County; Iris Dental P.C.; Mike Prottsman;
Q P & P; Jared and Cole Smith
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
UNDER THE OAK TREE
“Like Us”
PAGE 3
A.C.O.R.N. Club
Adult Conservation Oriented Responsible Neighbors
Boone Scenic
Railroad
February 7, 2013
10:00 a.m.
“We’re all a bunch of nature nuts!”
Animal Valentines
Free Program; EE classroom; bring Valentine snack to share. Conservation will provide sandwiches.
March 7, 2013
10:00 a.m.
“Sunshine’s Surprise” movie and appearance by a live red-tailed hawk
April 11, 2013
8:00 a.m.
Buchanan County Conservation- Fontana Park
May 2, 2013
10:00 a.m.
Ice Age presentation then atlatal demonstration and participation
June 6-7, 2013
7:00 a.m.
Dubuque/Galena – overnight stay
Free program, but fee for those wanting pizza; EE classroom; movie is one hour long- it’s a tale of a red-tailed hawk who
hatched chicken eggs. Beautiful story about an interspecies relationship. Pizza in EE classroom afterward.
See their nature center and many outdoor live animals; program “Outdoor General Store” with a focus on buffalo by their
naturalist; bring sack lunch; depart from Oakland Mills Nature Center. $$TBA
Free presentation highlights many ice age mammals; DeBrito’s for lunch following presentation; EE classroom.
Itinerary and cost to be confirmed; Plans include Maquoketa Caves program, Crystal Lake Cave, Linmar Gardens (with
luncheon), and evening tours (Civil War Lamplight tour or Ghost Walk). Other possibilities include the Galena Historical
Museum, historical bus tour of the area, President Grant’s home, alpaca farm, and Hurtsville Kilns. Participants will
make their own hotel reservations at Stoney Creek Inn, phone 815-777-2223 and tell them you are part of the Henry
County Conservation block. Trip and hotel deadline is May 3, 2013. Hotel room: $77.00 based on double occupancy. Each
additional person per room is $10. Breakfast included.
July 16, 2013
8:30 a.m.
Office of the State Archaeologist- Iowa City
August 20, 2013
8:00 a.m.
Honey Creek and Coal Mine Museum in Centerville
Sept. 12, 2013
9:00 a.m.
Tour of their facility plus program on “Iowa Prehistory”- what we know about ancient Iowa. The tour will give a little
insight into how artifacts are recovered, processed, and stored. The group will see the equipment used in excavation,
cleaning, and processing material and can see some of the material stored in their repositories. Depart from Oakland
Mills Nature Center. Lunch at Olive Garden. Visit to Devonian fossil gorge after lunch, weather permitting (heat). No
fossil collecting, but worth seeing. $$TBA
Walking tour of Honey Creek resort lodge. Program on their LEED certification by their naturalist and tour of their solar
activities building. Visit museum in afternoon. Bring your lunch. $$TBA
Wapello Zoological Farm and Barnyard Blooms
Visit the area’s newest zoo. After, we will have lunch in Wapello, then head to Grandview to Barnyard Blooms for their
fall activities- including an optional corn maze. $$TBA
Oct. 10-11, 2013
7:00 a.m.
DeSoto Bend and the Omaha area- overnight stay
Nov. 1, 2013
10:00 a.m.
Bats!
Dec. 13, 2013
10:00 a.m.
“Green Fire” movie and annual potluck to follow
View fall migration in full swing- hundreds of snow geese and other waterfowl. Nature Center and refuge tour. Will visit
Omaha’s Henry Dorley Zoo with an aquarium program just for us. Loess Hills information to be given on bus. Evening
program includes Humanities Iowa speaker Darrel Draper as Teddy Roosevelt at our hotel. Stop at Shelby-Audubon
County on the way home for catered lunch and live bald eagle program. Depart from Oakland Mills Nature Center.
$$TBA Participants will make their own hotel reservations at Country Inn and Suites Council Bluffs, phone 712-3228282 and tell them you are part of the Henry County Conservation block. Trip and hotel deadline is September 6, 2013.
Hotel room: $77.00 includes breakfast.
Free program. EE classroom. Bring your lunch and after, those of you that want to stay, will make bat houses. Cost for
bat house materials only.
Movie highlights Aldo Leopold’s career and contributions to conservation. EE classroom for the movie with potluck being
in the basement of the conservation offices. Free. Bring favorite holiday dish to share. Soup will be provided.
*Reminder postcards or emails are sent out each month for those that are interested in the A.C.O.R.N. program.
Costs and itineraries are announced when the reminders are sent. You may also listen to Cari Nicely, Naturalist,
on KILJ Radio on the first Thursday of the month for updates to all programs.
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
UNDER THE OAK TREE
PAGE 4
Funny Bones was the theme of the 2012 fall night hike. It focused on animal groups with and
without backbones. There were activities and door prizes in the Oakland Mills Nature Center.
About 140 people attended this event despite the rain. This annual event is held in October.
Thank you to the following people or businesses who helped make this night happen:
Boy Scout Troop 24
Hy-Vee
Tony Brown
Chris Nicely
Mt. Pleasant News
Wesleyan Seminar Class
Jane Woodsmall
Fairfield Ledger
Kent White
Jim Onorato
Kristin Burnstedt
Chance Nicely
Linn and Julie Hunsaker
Mitchell Burnstedt
KILJ Radio
Susan Farnsworth
Dr. Lori Muntz
Jerry Barker
Salem Newsletter
Like community theater but want minimal time commitments? Interested in acting? Would like to participate in
conservation activities? Contact Cari Nicely, naturalist, at 319-986-5067 if you want to be part of this year’s night
hike! Date not yet set, but will be first part of October. Food chains are revealed in the 2013 theme: “A Night Out.”
DAVID STOKES
Laughing With the Animals
COUNTRY SCHOOL:
ONE ROOM, ONE NATION
Monday, May 6, 2013
With film producers Kelly & Tammy Rundle
9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 a.m. shows
Van Allen Elementary
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013
Film starts at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Q & A session
Wisconsin naturalist David Stokes
uses songs, stories, movement,
riddles, and hands-on materials, to
actively engage students in learning.
Live animals and animal artifacts are
used in his programs. He is being
sponsored by Q P & P; Allie’s on
Jackson Street; and Wells Fargo
Advisors LLC, Pat McCabe and Dan
McCabe, Financial Advisors. Contact
Cari at 319-986-5067 to sign your
class up! Note: Only 9 a.m. show open.
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
Oakland Mills Nature Center
Film synopsis taken from countryschoolmovie.com:
countryschoolmovie.com:
“Country schools took rough-hewn pioneers and multilingual
immigrants and transformed them into a literate and patriotic new
nation. Whether personally, or through a parent or grandparent, the
country school as an American architectural icon, is as imprinted on our
perception of the nation’s early history as the log cabin and the general
store. Stories told by former teachers and students are often nostalgic,
but they are also dramatic, humorous, and heart-wrenching….”
This program is supported by Humanities Iowa and the National
Endowment for the Humanities. The views and opinions expressed by this
program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa or the National
Endowment for the Humanities.
UNDER THE OAK TREE
PAGE 5
HOW MY LIFE HAS CHANGED
By: Willie Amos
On November 6, 2008, my life changed forever. That day, I fell 28 feet from my tree stand while deer hunting. I was
instantly paralyzed from the waist down. With the help of a good friend Steve Witthoft, who was with me that day and the fast
response of the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, the Mt. Pleasant Police, and Henry County EMTs, I was life flighted out of
the timber very quickly. Life as I knew it changed from that day forward.
It’s been four years since that accident and I won’t bore you with the details of rehab and surgeries and all the things
that have come with a life-changing injury or just, in general, the changes I have had to make living with a disability. While it
was and still is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with, some of the things I loved to do in the past still have not
changed. Especially hunting. While it is different now than it used to be, it is still something that I very much have a passion
for. I have had to change the way I do it and while it has been difficult, it hasn’t been impossible.
I have a 4x4 wheel chair that I use to get in and out of the timber. It’s a beast. It gets me wherever I need to go
relatively unscathed although I have tipped it over a few times in the timber and have had the batteries nearly die a few
evenings coming out. Since I do most of my hunting by myself, those days certainly were interesting for sure! I shoot with a
crossbow now and of course don’t hunt from a tree stand. Hunting from the ground has been interesting, to say the least. I have
a pickup truck that picks my 4x4 wheelchair up and safely puts it in the back of my truck and then unloads it right next to my
truck door when I am ready to hunt. I have been fortunate that technology in handicapped vehicles has greatly advanced and
has allowed me to use these tools to continue to hunt.
I am also fortunate that the awareness of disabled hunters needing places to hunt has moved forward. That is where
the Henry County Conservation Department, local people, and several outdoor organizations such as the Henry County
Chapters of The National Wild Turkey Federation and Whitetails Unlimited have really stepped in. Hunting ground is very
hard to come by these days in Henry County, especially for a disabled hunter because landowners are somewhat leery of
allowing someone in a wheelchair on their property because of liability issues. I can understand that, but it really should not be
a concern. I have been lucky enough to have a few places to hunt and am very grateful for those opportunities and to the folks
who have opened up their land to me.
The late season has always been a challenge for me. My body doesn’t take the cold like it used to and the snow on the
ground makes it difficult to get to some places even though my chair gets through it pretty good. The biggest issue is the
temperature, so I usually didn’t do much hunting in the late season and missed some good opportunities due to the cold
weather. I heard that Henry County had some accessible hunting blinds that they, several people, and a few organizations
worked together to build.
I made a call and was given the specifics of the blinds. To say I was excited would have been an understatement! I was
also a little skeptical as sometimes things that most people think are accessible really are not that accessible when you actually
try to use them.
I made plans to go out to the conservation office and get permits for a week to hunt using the new blinds. Jim Smith
volunteered to go with me the first time to
be sure everything would work out. Our
schedules didn’t quite mesh the first week
as we planned and we could not make our
schedules meet. The first night, I went to
Heron Marsh where there was an accessible
blind that was not far from my house. I
loaded up my chair and all my hunting gear
and headed out to the blind. I was very
surprised when I got there as there was a
very nice trail leading right up to the blind.
They did a nice job of making the blind
blend in with the surroundings as I went
past it by about 300 yards without ever
seeing it.
Once I figured it out and got to the
blind, I was very impressed. I was able to
open the door with a rope that was attached
to the door and roll right in with my 4x4
chair. The minute I was in, I was amazed at
the room and the way the blind was built
and set up. It was extremely spacious and
had windows on all three sides that slide
open. It had a nice bench that moved and
you can pull that closer to you to put your
bow or muzzleloader on for added stability.
Blind at Heron Marsh
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
UNDER THE OAK TREE
PAGE 6
Although it was raining that evening, you would never know it while inside. It was perfect! Again, I am a little skeptical of
things like this as a lot of times they just don’t work as good as you hope when you’re in a wheelchair. Keep in mind most things
that are accessible are usually made by people who are not in wheelchairs and although their intentions are good, they don’t
always know the things that need to be done to make them truly accessible. That was not the case with this blind. It was a
perfect fit and the folks who built it did their homework. I think I sat the first hour or so and just smiled. It was a good feeling
to know I was going to be able to stay out in the wintry weather and hunt without getting cold and having to go home early.
I didn’t see any deer that evening, but I had a wonderful time. I never have to see deer to have good time hunting. I
actually like the peacefulness and the scenery much more than the hunt itself. At the end of the evening, I loaded up my stuff
and left.
A few weeks later I was able to get the blind at Ketchum Switch and Jim Smith was able to go with me. We decided to
go in the morning and Jim brought his daughter along for the hunt also. We were really hoping she would get a shot at a deer. I
think the temperature was near 9 degrees; it was as cold as it has ever been. We made the trek to this blind with the snow and
the wind blowing right in our faces. I was happy to see that once we arrived, this blind was much the same as the other. We all
fit in very easily and other than nearly freezing to death, we had a great morning. We didn’t see a deer, but we knew they had
been there as we saw plenty of tracks.
That evening I decided I wanted to go back, thinking that evening would be better. Jim and his daughter headed to the
blind at Heron Marsh and I headed back to Ketchum. Again, it was bitter cold; single digits with several inches of snow on the
ground. I made the journey to the blind and had to maneuver through some deep snow and actually got stuck at one point, but
was able to wiggle my way out and get to the blind. It was a different story that evening. I think I saw my first deer at about
2:30 p.m. They were entering the field from all directions- it looked to be a good night. There were several does and small bucks
eating and sparring in the field. As the evening progressed, some deer exited the field and it was pretty quiet.
Nearing the end of shooting light, I noticed a few deer at the end of the field and one of them was a very nice buck that
was heading my way. I had the windows on the blind cracked open and as the deer got closer I stuck the end of the gun out the
window to get ready for a shot. As I did that, I didn’t notice the does right next to the blind– but they noticed me! They blew and
the field cleared. My heart sank. As I looked out to where the buck was, I noticed he was still there. He was on alert but still
standing there. I eased my gun up and set the crosshairs right on behind his leg and squeezed the trigger. The bullet hit its
mark and the deer fell right where it stood. I probably cleared the rest of the deer from the field with my loud celebration but I
didn’t care- I was pretty happy. I went to inspect the deer and get it ready to take back to the truck. It was a nicer deer than I
thought and I was thrilled. I tagged the deer. Next, I pulled a rope out and wrapped it around the deer and began dragging it
back to my truck. My chair did a great job, except for the last 150 yards when the batteries started to die. I decided I would go
ahead and leave the deer lay so I could call my son Dustin to come and help me get it the rest of the way to my truck.
Dustin and his friend, Jake, came and drug the deer the rest of the way to my vehicle, got it loaded, and we headed out.
I am sure they were freezing– I know I was. Dustin was pretty happy for me. It was great evening!
There are so many things that happened in the months leading up to this day. They are things you don’t know until
afterwards, but I know some very serious sweat and hard work went into building those blinds and a lot of planning and a lot of
people cared enough to make it happen– not for them, but for other people. People they may know and people they may not
know– but that doesn’t matter to them. They just want people of all different ages and backgrounds to enjoy the great outdoors
and I am very grateful for that. I am also happy other people just like me
will be able to enjoy the opportunity to get out hunting.
Note: Dennis Prottsman designed and led the construction of
the handicapped-accessible blinds at Heron Marsh and Ketchum
Switch Recreation Area. He was assisted by Jim Smith. The Henry
County Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation and
Whitetails Unlimited funded and constructed both of these blinds.
Willie Amos
and his
Ketchum
Switch
Buck
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
UNDER THE OAK TREE
PAGE 7
DUBUQUE-GALENA TRIP
A.C.O.R.N. Club
WILDLIFE WATCHERS WANTED!
Do you enjoy watching wildlife? If so, the Iowa DNR’s Volunteer
June 6-7, 2013
Wildlife Monitoring Program (VWMP) wants your help! Join them at
Sign-up deadline is May 3, 2013 an upcoming workshop and learn to be an official VWMP monitor.
• Crystal Lake
Cave
• Maquoketa
Caves
• Galena, IL
2013 Bird Nest Monitoring Workshops
February 23, 2013 - O'Brien County Conservation's Prairie
Learning Center; Peterson, IA;
10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
March 16, 2013 - Muscatine County Conservation's Environmental
Learning Center, Discovery Park; Muscatine, IA;
10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
March 23, 2013 - Marshall County Conservation's Grimes Farm
and Conservation Center; Marshalltown, IA;
10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
FAMILY CANOEING
June 15, 2013
9:00 a.m. to noon
Oakland Mills Nature Center
GIRLS MORNING OUT
July 20, 2013
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm.
Oakland Mills Nature Center
Ages 12 years and up
OUTDOOR COOKING
August 25, 2013
1:00- 4:00 p.m.
Oakland Mills Nature Center
2013 Frog and Toad Workshops
April 2, 2013 - Osceola County Conservation's Nature Center at
Willow Creek Park; Ocheyedan, IA;
5:30- 9:00 p.m.
April 9, 2013 - Jefferson County Conservation's Nature Center &
Jefferson County Park; Fairfield, IA;
55:30- 9:00 p.m.
April 11, 2013 - Cerro Gordo County Conservation's Nature Center
& Lime Creek Area; Mason City, IA;
5:30- 9:00 p.m.
For more information or to register, visit
www.iowadnr.gov/volunteerwildlifemonitoring/
or call the VWMP at 515-432-2823 x 102.
OMAHA TRIP
ANNUAL NIGHT HIKE
A.C.O.R.N. Club
October TBA, 2013
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Oakland Mills Nature Center
Theme: food chains
October 10-11, 2013
Sign-up deadline is Sept. 6, 2013
•
•
•
•
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
Henry Doorly Zoo with aquarium tour
Speaker Darrel Draper as Teddy
Roosevelt, sponsored by Humanities Iowa
Live bald eagle program
De Soto Bend fall migration
UNDER THE OAK TREE
PAGE 8
Kid’s Corner
MAKING
MAPLE SYRUP
MAPLE SYRUP FACTS
◊
Maple sap is a slightly sweet, colorless liquid. Grade A comes in three
shades: light amber, medium amber, and dark amber.
◊
Maple syrup is classified as one of nature’s most healthful foods.
◊
It takes approximately forty gallons of maple sap to make
one gallon of maple syrup.
◊
A gallon of standard maple syrup weighs 11 pounds and has a sugar
content of 66%.
◊
Maple sap is boiled to remove the water and concentrate the sugars in a
process called evaporation.
◊
A maple tree needs to be about 40 years old and have a diameter of 10
inches before tapping is recommended.
◊
One tap yields 10 to 12 gallons of sap per season (about a quart of syrup).
◊
Warm sunny days above freezing and temperatures below freezing at
Pictured above is the Dorothy Family
Maple Syrup Camp. These structures
were donated by Vern and Carolyn
Dorothy. They are located along the trail
in the Oakland Mills Top of the Hill
area.
In late winter or early spring, a public
program on maple syrup is held. Many
classrooms visit this area for programs
held by Henry County Conservation staff
and volunteers.
This program date varies from year to
year, depending on the temperatures.
Check our web site at
www.henrycountyconservation.com or
listen to KILJ for the date and time to be
announced. This year’s event is March 2,
2013, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
night determine the length of the maple
COLOR ME!
season.
◊
Freezing and thawing temperatures create
pressure and force the sap out of the tree.
◊
The budding of trees makes the syrup taste
bitter and production ceases.
ITEMS NEEDED
Pioneer Days is an event held each May
for all Henry County School District 5th
grade classes. Any small pioneer tools or
gadgets would be appreciated for this
activity. Also, the book “the Garbage
Monster” by Joni Sensel is needed.
Contact Cari at 319-986-5067 to make
arrangements for these donations.
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
UNDER THE OAK TREE
PAGE 9
A NEWSLETTER OF THE HENRY COUNTY
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
PAID
Henry County Conservation Department
PERMIT # 410
MT. PLEASANT, IA 52641
2593 Nature Center Drive
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
Henry County Conservation
Board of Directors
Phone: 319-986-5067
Fax: 319-986-5469
E-mail: [email protected]
Sarah Borders, President
John Pullis, Executive Director
Lori Muntz, Vice-president
Tony Millard, Operations Supervisor
John Klopfenstein, Member
Marcie Givans, Office Manager
George Jaques, Member
Cari Nicely, Naturalist
WE ARE ON THE WEB
www.henrycountyconservation.com
HCCD Staff
James Onorato, Member
This newsletter is printed
on recycled paper.
Tune to KILJ 105.5 FM on your radio on the first and third
Thursday of each month at 8:20 a.m. to hear updates from
the Henry County Conservation Department!
Open weekdays by appointment only.
Call 319-986-5067. Live animal display is open year-round.
If you would like to receive this newsletter via e-mail, we
can make that happen! You may submit your e-mail
address by calling our office at (319) 986-5067; e-mailing
our office at [email protected]; or by
postal mail to:
Henry County Conservation Department
2593 Nature Center Drive
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641-8250
If you would like to make a monetary donation to the
Henry County Conservation Department, please fill out the
form below and mail it along with your donation to:
Henry County Conservation Department
2593 Nature Center Drive
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641-8250
Name: ______________________________________
Name: _________________________________________
E-mail:________________________________________
Please give us your mailing address so we can remove you
from our newsletter mailing list. Thank you!
Address: _______________________________________
City:________________________ State:_____________
Zip Code: __________________-____________
VOLUME IX, ISSUE IV
Please give us your name so that we may thank you in our
newsletter, or you may leave this blank if you wish to remain
anonymous. Thank you for your generosity!
I would like my donation to be used for:
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
The Oakland Mills Nature Center
Environmental Education
Wildlife Habitat
Park Improvements/Facilities
Wherever is needed the most
UNDER THE OAK TREE
PAGE 10