Spring 2010
A word from
Wildwood
The Friends of Wildwood, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110
Ninth Annual Wetlands Festival
Saturday, April 24
Come to Wildwood Park’s Ninth Annual Wetlands Festival
on Saturday, April 24th! This year’s Wetlands Festival will
feature some new speakers and activities as well as favorite
returning programs.
One of the new programs will be a bird banding demonstration
near the nature center. Join staff member, Sandy Lockerman
as she demonstrates the catching and banding of songbirds
as part of her study of the avian population of the wetlands.
Take a photographic tour of the wildlife of Wildwood with a
multi-media program by Dennis Small and learn about the
bats of Pennsylvania with Nicole Beaver.
Returning this year will be the Barnstormers with their
entertaining and uplifting musical program and the ever
popular ZooAmerica program will be presented twice during
the festival. Several discovery walks will feature all the
wonderful plants and animals that can be found at Wildwood
Park.
Also returning will be the Harrisburg Camera Club and their
Photography for Kids program to photograph the festival’s
activities and programs. Of course, a festival would not be
complete without food. Be sure to stop and get something to
eat at the Friends of Wildwood’s food stand.
There are several ways to get the schedule of events.
Check
the Friends’ and Dauphin County’s websites at www.
wildwoodlake.org and www.dauphincounty.org, email
[email protected] or call the nature center at 221-0292
for the listing of programs and their times.
A Word from the President
A word from Wildwood
is published quarterly by
Spring has arrived! Two Great Egrets were spotted on
the lake on March 11th ….a welcome sign of spring. All
the early spring plants are popping out of the ground
after being buried under the snow. Skunk cabbage
was the first. The neo-tropical birds are returning daily
to the feeders. The woods are filled with their singing.
The Friends of Wildwood
100 Wildwood Way
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 221-0292 • (717) 221-0318 fax
www.wildwoodlake.org
Email: [email protected]
Spring is one of the busiest times at Wildwood. Please
check the website for all the spring activities, lectures
and workshops.
Board Officers
Mary Lou McDowell-President
Art Schiavo-Vice President
Marilyn Dowling-Secretary
Lou Starzl-Treasurer
Wetlands Day, Saturday, April 24 will offer many
activities, workshops, walks, a food tent and great
outdoor family fun. We hope to see you there.
Board Members
Robert W. Colman, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Conway
Carl Dickson
Garry Esworthy
George B. Faries, Jr., M.D.
John W. Greenleaf, III
Dee Walter Kruleski
Emily Matlin, D.O.
Wendy McClintock
Shawn Scott
Kathy Silks
Olivia Susskind
Eugene Wingert
The Friends are sponsoring a volunteer picnic on
Thursday, June 3. Please save the date. This includes
all who volunteer in any capacity at Wildwood
including the dedicated trail volunteers who keep
the trails free of fallen branches and invasive plants.
Commissioner Jeff Haste will return as our guest chef.
The family friendly Wildwood Triathlon will be held
on June 19th. More details will be on the website.
Consider shopping at our Nature Shop for the perfect
gift for the nature lover. New this year, are mugs,
tee shirts and a plant and animal guide specific to
Wildwood. Members of the Friends receive a 10%
discount with their membership card.
Wildwood Park and the Benjamin
Olewine III Nature Center are part of the
Dauphin County Parks and Recreation
Department. The Benjamin Olewine III
Nature Center is open Tuesday through
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is
closed Mondays and holidays. Wildwood
Park’s trails are open from dawn until dusk. Programs can
be viewed at www.dauphinc.org and questions can be
directed to [email protected].
Thank you to all who made our 3rd annual books
sale in February a success. We raised over $1975 for
educational projects at Wildwood.
County Commissioners
Jeffrey T. Haste, Chairman
Dominic D. DiFrancesco II, Vice-Chairman
George P. Hartwick III, Secretary
Mary Lou McDowell, President
Friends of Wildwood
The Friends of Wildwood will sponsor a photography
contest in 2010. Please check the website for details at
www.wildwoodlake.org.
Everyday there is something new in nature at
Wildwood. I hope to see you in the Nature Center or
on the trails.
Go Green
Sign up for the
FOWW E-newsletter
Wildwood Park Staff
Carl Dickson, [email protected], Parks and
Recreation Director
Noel Falk, D. Ed., [email protected], Executive
Administrator
A Word from Wildwood can now be sent
electronically to Friends of Wildwood members.
Contact the editor at [email protected]
with a subject header of “Newsletter” to sign up
to receive your next newsletter by email.
Help save paper! Go Green!
Environmental Educators/Park Naturalists
Sandra J. Lockerman, [email protected]
Sandra K. Nevius, [email protected]
Chris J. Rebert, [email protected]
Jane K. Webster, [email protected]
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Events Calendar
NPR-No pre-registration, no fee * PR-Pre-registration and fee * PwR-Payment with Registration is required
All programs meet at Olewine Nature Center unless otherwise noted
Programs and events are listed at: www.dauphincounty.org and www.wildwoodlake.org
Call the Nature Center at 717-221-0292 for more details
Sat., April 10, Wildwood Clean-up Day and Volunteer Work Day
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., (Raindate: April 11, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.) NPR
Sat., May 29, Digital Photography Workshop (ages 16 and up)
9:00 a.m. – 12 noon, PR
Tues., April 13, Spring Night Walk
7:30 – 9:00 p.m., PR
Fri., June 4, Friday on the Susquehanna Canoe Trip
9:00 a.m. – approx. 4:00 p.m., PR
Sat., April 17, Girl Scouts-Brownies Water
Everywhere Try-It Workshop
10:30 – 2:30 p.m., PwR
Sat., June 5, Let’s Learn About Nature: Observing
the Summer Weather (ages 7-10)
1:00 – 3:00 p.m., PR
Wed., April 21, Educator Workshop: PA Biodiversity
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., PR
Sat., June 12, Volunteer Work Day
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., NPR
Sat., April 24, Wetlands Festival at Wildwood
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., NPR
Sat., June 19, Eighth Annual Wildwood Triathlon
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, PR
Tues., April 27, Dauphin County Streams-A Health
Report Presentation
7:00 – 8:30 p.m., NPR
Sun., June 20, Peaking of Flowers Walk
10:30 a.m. – 12 noon, NPR
Tues., June 29 through Thurs., July 1, Educator
Workshop: Watershed Education
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on June 29 & 30
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on July 1, PR
Sat., May 1 & Sun., May 2, Spring Bird Walks
8:00 – 10:00 a.m., NPR
Fri., May 7, Migration Bird Walk
8:30 – 10:00 a.m., NPR
Upcoming Summer Camps
Mon., June 14 to Fri., June 18 or
Mon., June 21 to Fri., June 25
Wildwood Way Day Camp (ages 7-9)
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., PR
Sat., May 8, Volunteer Work Day
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., NPR
Sat., May 15 or Sun., May 16, Webelos ScoutsNaturalist Badge Workshop
10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., PwR
Mon., July 12 to Fri., July 16
Outdoor Week (ages 12-13)
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., PR
Sun., May 16, Jack in the Pulpit Flower Walk
1:00 – 3:30 p.m., NPR
Mon., July 19 to Fri., July 23
Junior Naturalist Day Camp (ages 10-11)
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., PR
Tues., May 25, The Appalachian Trail-a Footpath for
Those Who Seek Fellowship with the Wilderness
7:00 – 8:30 p.m., NPR
Mon., Aug. 2 to Fri., Aug. 6 & Sat., Aug. 21
Wildwood Digital Photography (ages 10-14)
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., PR
Wed., May 26 or Thurs., May 27, Canoe Wildwood by Moonlight
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., PR
Park Highlights
DCNR Grant Work to Begin
As warm weather returns, visitors to Wildwood Park
will soon be seeing a number of grounds improvements.
Some of the enhancements will be a covered picnic
pavilion near the nature center, permanent rest rooms
and grading at the North Lot, a walking boardwalk
bridge to circumvent the frequently flooded area on
Wildwood Way near the Paxton Creek Bridge and
other various small projects.
Funding for these park improvements comes from a
DCNR grant to Dauphin County Parks and Recreation
with matching funds from the Friends of Wildwood
and Benjamin Olewine III.
3
2009 Photo Contest Awards
A View From the Window
Winners of the 2009 Photo Contest were announced at
the Friends’ Awards Ceremony in January. The theme
was Wildwood and Wetlands, Worth Preserving and
the photos were judged by three expert photography
professionals. From approximately 100 entries, the
judges selected first, second and third place winners
in three categories; beginners, intermediate and advanced.
The arrival of spring can come ever so slowly or
announce itself with a 65° early March day. Everyone
has their favorite sign of spring that brings a smile to
their face or a warm glow to their heart. Below are a
few of the staff and volunteers’ favorite signs. What is
your favorite sign of spring?
First place in the Beginners Category went to Karen
Carlson and her photo of a great egret on Wildwood’s
Towpath Trail. First place in the Intermediate Category went to Esther Phillips with her early morning
Susquehanna River photo. The Advanced Category’s
first place went to Hannabel Khaing for his photo of a
black-crowned night-heron with prey.
Staff:
Noel Falk-turtles sunning themselves on logs
Sandy Lockerman-watching geese and tundra swans
heading north
Sandy Nevius-emergence of pussy willows
Chris Rebert-the great egrets return!
Jane Webster-hearing early songs of the tufted
titmouse and red-winged blackbirds
The winning entries were on display in Dauphin County’s Commissioners Offices in downtown Harrisburg
and are now displayed in the Nature Center.
Volunteers:
Alice Eckardt-bloodroot growing on the bank of my
street
Tim Grove-sound of children playing on the ballfield
near my home
Allen Marshall-first red-winged blackbird singing
Mary Lou McDowell-sound of the geese as they are
migrating
Joann Sider-daffodils poking through the soil
Dorie Stine-winter aconites blooming in her yard
Phil Walsh-yellow-crowned night-herons return to
his neighborhood
Gene Wingert-first grackles returning
First Place Photo Contest Winners
Birdseed
Sponsorships
Available
You or your organization can now sponsor
our Bird Seed Project.
Seed sponsorships begin at $25.00. You will
be recognized at the
wildlife viewing area in
the Nature Center.
Advanced: Hannabel Khaing
Intermediate: Esther Phillips
Can You Help?
Volunteers are needed for the Wetlands Festival on
April 24. There are a variety of activities where assistance is needed and the annual event is a great way
to welcome in the warm weather. Contact any staff
member for more details.
Beginners: Karen Carlson
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Children’s Corner
A pullout page of nature articles and fun activities for all ages
Spring Days
Wasn’t there a lot of snow this past winter? Maybe
you’ve noticed that the days are longer and the
temperature is getting warmer. Spring has arrived!
So head outside and start exploring nature. Here
are some spring activities for you to do.
April Showers Bring May Flowers-the Mayapple
Take a spring walk in the forest and you may notice a patch of shiny, green plants
growing in different places. This plant is called the Mayapple. As the plant grows
out of the ground, it looks like an unopened umbrella. When it is fully grown, the
mayapple stands about 12-18 inches high and the umbrella leaf has fully opened.
Look at one of the plants and see if it has one or two leaves. If there are two leaves,
a single, white flower will grow from where the two stems meet. As the flower petals
fall off, the center will become a single, lemon-yellow, egg-shaped fruit. This fruit is
eaten by many forest animals such as deer, squirrels and raccoons.
Label the parts of the mayapple
using the three words listed below.
Then color the mayapple plant
green and the flower white.
____________
Leaf
Flower
Stem
___________
_____________
5
Garter Snakes in Spring
Garter snakes are reptiles. They are
very common in our area. They are
recognized by their yellow stripes on
a black or brown background. The
belly can be yellow or pale green.
They hibernate during the winter and
begin to emerge (come out) in March
and April. But they are cold-blooded
and need the weather to be warm to
move around.
Color Me!
Garter snakes are active during the
day as they search for and eat slugs,
earthworms and amphibians.
Common Garter Snake
is my common name.
Thamnophis siratalis
is my scientific name.
Brrr, I’m Cold!
Help this little garter snake
find the sunlight on a cool,
Spring morning.
6
"If March comes in like a lion,
it will go out like a lamb."
This proverb (saying) is about the wind that blows during
the month of March. In the beginning of the month, the
winter winds are still cold and strong but by the end of
March, spring has finally arrived and the spring breezes
are warm and gentle.
This phrase has its origins with the constellations Leo, the Lion and Aries, the ram or
lamb. It has to do with their positions in the night sky at the beginning and the end
of March.
The Beaufort Wind Scale
The Beaufort Scale of Wind was developed by Sir Francis Beaufort in 1805 as a way
for sailors to gauge wind speeds through visual observation. It was adapted later for
wind observations on land. The scale runs from Force 0 (Calm) to Force 12 (Hurricane).
Go outside this spring and use a flag (or the wind sock craft below) and the Beaufort
Scale to find out how fast the wind is really moving.
When do gorillas
fall
from the sky?
During
______
________!
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Wind Sock Craft
What Rhymes with Spring?
See how many words you can find that
rhyme with Spring. We found 16. Can
you find more?
Catch Spring's cool breezes with a
homemade wind sock.
Materials
Markers, paint and brushes or crayons
Glitter
Construction paper
Glue
• Crepe paper streamers
• Stapler and staples
• String
•
•
•
•
1. _______
9. _______
2. _______
10. _______
3. _______
11. _______
4. _______
12. _______
5. _______
13. _______
6. _______
14. _______
7. _______
15. _______
8. _______
16. _______
Instructions
1. Use markers, paints, or crayons to decorate a 6- by 18-inch strip of construction
paper. Try making stars, flowers, or birthday candles, adding glitter, or giving the
wind sock a face by gluing on paper cutouts of eyes, ears, a nose and a mouth.
2. Next, cut nine 26-inch-long crepe paper streamers and glue them to the back of
the bottom edge of the paper.
3. Finally, knot a 30-inch piece of string at each end and staple the knots to the
tube sides to make a handle.
4. Hang the wind sock on a porch or patio where it will be protected from strong
winds and watch it ride the gentle breeze.
Answers to What Rhymes with Spring:
sing, sling, sting, string, ring, wing, king, bling, ding, bring, cling, ting, thing, fling, ping, zing
Answer to When Do Gorillas Fall from the Sky?:
During Ape-ril showers
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Busy First Three Months for Volunteers
Volunteer News
2010 started out with a call for volunteers for the Farm
Show exhibit booth. In all, 34 volunteers responded
and the booth was manned for the entire 8 days. This
annual event is a great place to get the word out to the
public about Wildwood Park and its programs.
Photography Contest Committee
Wildwood’s annual photography contest’s success is
due in large part to the hard work and enthusiasm of
the Friends of Wildwood Photography Contest Committee. There are many facets of the contest including
establishing themes and rules, publicity, organizing
and hanging of the photos as well as all the in between
details. A big “Well Done” and “Thank You” to this
year’s committee.
Volunteers Jessica Santiago and Matt Lavelle
with young visitors at Farm Show
Photography Contest Committee
(left to right) Dave Stauffer, Helen Colvin,
Bert Fry and Bill Anderson, Chair
The staff’s annual Volunteer Breakfast was attended by
55 volunteers. This is one way that the staff can show
their appreciation for all the work that the volunteers
do. A total of 6,160 hours were logged by volunteers
in 2009. This equals approximately 3 full-time staff
working 40 hours a week. Many thanks to all of the
volunteers who help make Wildwood Park a premier
destination.
Volunteer Picnic
Hosted by the
Friends of Wildwood
Date: Thursday, June 3, 2010
March kicked off the start of the monthly Volunteer
Workdays. Volunteer Leaders John Maxwell, Linda
Hardy and Pat George will again be spearheading the
monthly workdays. Held on the second Saturday of
the month, the Volunteer Workday runs from March
through November.
Time: 5—8 PM (5—6 PM Social hour,
6 PM Meal served)
Location: Olewine Nature Center
Guest Chef: Jeff Haste, Dauphin
County Commissioner
Menu: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Buns,
Edna Burrie 1943-2010
Condiments, and Drinks
We sadly announce the death
of volunteer Edna Burrie.
Edna was a volunteer at
Wildwood since 2003 and
helped with the front desk,
clerical duties and special
events. We send our heartfelt
condolences to her husband
Jack and her family.
Bring your favorite side dish
or dessert to share!
RSVP by May 28, 2010 for an
accurate food count.
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Memorial Bricks For Sale
Help Clean Up Wildwood
Honor someone special by purchasing a Memorial
Brick. The 4 x 8 brick is $100; the 8 x 8 brick is
$175. Lotus engraving is $10. For more detailed
information visit www.wildwoodlake.org/support/ or
pick up a flyer at the Nature Center. Proceeds benefit
educational activities at Wildwood.
As part of the Great
American Cleanup of PA
(March through May),
Wildwood Park will be
conducting their annual
Cleanup Day on April 10 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
(Raindate: April 11 from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m.)
Everyone wants to live and work in a clean and green
community. So here is a great opportunity to join other
Pennsylvanians across the state in cleaning litter and
trash in our stream forests, parks and neighborhoods.
Go local-Clean Up Wildwood!
Here are some staggering 2009 statistics to consider:
171,940 participants in 4,722 cleanup projects removed
3,440 tons of trash and 344,021 bags of litter from the
State. Of the 6,338 acres of park land cleaned, 220
acres were right here at Wildwood. What a difference
it makes when people come together to keep our
environment green and great.
PA Biodiversity Workshop participants taking a brisk February
walk to learn about the wetlands of Wildwood.
Educator Workshops at Wildwood
In spite of all the snowfall and nature center closings,
the educator workshop Pennsylvania’s Biodiversity was
held in February. The workshop was conducted by
the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Wildwood
Park. The workshop was funded by a grant from the
Department of Environmental Protection.
Through the cooperative efforts of the Wildwood
Park staff with the Pennsylvania Game Commission
(PGC), the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources (DCNR) and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission (PF&BC), spring and summer educator
workshops are scheduled and ready for sign-ups.
Volunteering From Home
Some of our volunteers work from their homes such
as Margaret Schneider, the mother of volunteer Betty
Bishoff. Betty coordinates and rotates the displays in
the Discovery Room. Each season’s templates such
as a raccoon head, a turtle body and other theme
worksheets need to be cut out for children to color
and display. Margaret volunteers by cutting out these
templates while watching her television programs.
Margaret will be 98 years old this April. Thank you,
Margaret for your efforts.
In March will be the PF&BC’s Pennsylvania Amphibians
and Reptiles workshop. April will bring the second
offering of Pennsylvania’s Biodiversity by the PGC.
Upcoming summer educator workshops will include
DCNR’s Watershed Education and the PGC’s Forestry
for Educators.
Check the Events Calendar on page 3 or go to www.
wildwoodlake.org for details.
10
New Intern at
Wildwood
Friends of Wildwood
Membership Application
Most internship inquiries
come from students who
are considering the fields
of science, ecology or
environmental education
as their career choice. But
Wildwood’s newest intern,
Dan McNally is not in
any of these fields. Dan is enrolled in Shippensburg
University’s master’s program in Organizational
Development and Leadership.
… New Membership
… Renewal Membership
Name__________________________________________
Address________________________________________
City___________________________________________
State and Zip Code _______________
Telephone ______________________________________
Email Address ___________________________________
The goal of his internship is to explore the organizational
aspects of a business external to the one in which he is
employed. Through the combination of his internship
experience and his graduate studies he wants to
enhance his understanding of how organizations
operate and change over time as well as the role of
leadership in formal and informal settings. Wildwood
Park and the Parks and Recreation Department are
educational and historical institutions, in which Dan
is eager to gain experience in. This combination will
give Dan a well-rounded experience in the many
partnerships that work toward creating the great park
system that Dauphin County offers.
Make checks payable to:
Friends of Wildwood
100 Wildwood Way
Harrisburg, PA 17110
or
Sign up to use PayPal at www.wildwoodlake.org
Questions about the Friends of Wildwood or Wildwood
Park can be directed to [email protected]
Membership Category
(please check one)
Dan has already had his orientation and is well
entrenched in the volunteer ranks at Wildwood Park.
From the front desk to trail maintenance and event
planning, he will be participating in many of the
different jobs that the volunteers and staff do here.
… $15.00 Student Membership
Student Membership: School _____________Grade ____
… $35.00 Individual Membership
Membership Benefits
… $50.00 Family Membership
Your membership supports the ongoing environmental
education programs and conservation efforts of Wildwood
Park and the Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center.
Family Membership: Please list the family members’
names and dependent children’s ages.
Membership includes the following:
______________________________________________
•
•
•
•
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
10% discount off Nature Shop purchases
Subscription to A Word from Wildwood
quarterly newsletter
Invitations to special programs or activities
“For Members Only”
Reciprocal membership in more than 125
nature centers throughout the country that
participate in the Association of Nature Center
Administrators program
… $100.00 Supporting Membership
… $500.00
Business Membership
… I would like to contribute additional funding in the
amount of $ _______________ to help support Wildwood.
The Friends of Wildwood Lake Nature Center, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization listed with the PA Bureau of Charitable
Organizations, and incorporated within the Commonwealth of PA. It is an advocate for Wildwood Park through preservation,
education and financial support. A copy of the official registration and financial information of The Friends of Wildwood Lake
Nature Center, Inc. may be obtained from the PA Dept. of State by calling toll free, within PA, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does
not imply endorsement.
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Friends of Wildwood
100 Wildwood Way
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 221-0292
www.wildwoodlake.org
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG PA
PERMIT NO. 533
Join us for these upcoming Wildwood programs!
Wetlands Festival
Triathlon
Saturday, April 24
Saturday, June 19
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Participate in and enjoy nature programs,
Teams of two participate in three events
speakers, and walks as well as exhibits and
of canoeing, biking and running within the
children’s activities. Food stand provided
Park boundaries. Prizes to top finishers
by the Friends of Wildwood.
donated by local businesses.
30% Recycled post-consumer fiber