Nature Net News Blast Spring 2011

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Swing into Spring with Nature Net!

The buds are just staring to sprout and children are ready to go outside and explore, and that's why it's the best time of year for nature education!

Check out Tricks of the Trail for tips on taking kids outside. Refresh yourself with our teacher workshops and set up informative outdoor fieldtrips quickly and easily with the resources below. Once you have some ideas, visit the Natural Teacher's Network and pledge to become a Natural Teacher this spring!

Dear Teachers,

Happy Earth Day! The Earth Day season is a great time to find the finest and newest environmental education resources - read on for more ideas and information.

Earth Day (April 22) is this week. Earthday.org has a great curricular resource on the history of the environmental movement. Visit this site for K-12 lesson plans, photos, visuals, vocabulary, books, bios on environmentalists and more!

You can also celebrate Earth Day by taking action! Your class, school and entire community can participate in Earth Day Network's Billion Acts of Green by organizing events and activities and pledging to green acts, large and small.

EARTH: the Operators' Manual also has a great site for educators. View segments of the PBS special everyone is talking about, including activity ideas, a glossary, and correlated standards, all geared specifically for use in your classroom!

National Environmental Education Week just wrapped up and you can still access their resources year-round. Find lessons and resources on a range of topics, from oceans to energy.

Teacher Workshops

Be sure to visit Nature Net's listing of local workshops for educators and others! From invasive species identification and watershed education to storytelling and nature writing, learn about a variety great opportunities in southern Wisconsin this spring and summer - check back often for updates!

Fieldtrip Resources

With the spring fieldtrip season quickly approaching, check out Nature Net's fieldtrip resources. Use Smart Tours to plan your day, and don't forget about Nature Express — a transportation reimbursement program that provides funds for nature fieldtrip buses to qualifying teachers. Bring a fellow teacher to a new Nature Net site, or visit them all with Nature Express!

Nature Net News Flash Spring 2011

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See original newsletter at www.naturenet.com/NatureNetNews/Nature_Net_News_Flash_0411.htm 

Happy Earth Day from Nature Net!

Dear Parents,

Swing into spring with some fun outdoor activities for the whole family!

Earth Day Bouquet is going on now! In celebration of Earth Day, National Environmental Education Week, and the spring season, Nature Net's "Earth Day Bouquet of Events" offers your family a variety of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, get involved in your local and natural community, and become motivated to make a difference in the health and sustainability of the environment. From self-guided hikes to vacation mini-camps to fun family festivals, there is something for everyone. Check the schedule of free and low-cost family events going on now!

Looking for more? Take a scientific look at Earth Day 2011 with the Forest Products Laboratory on April 22 (9am-2pm) and check out the bonus Earth Day event at Bethel Horizons Nature Center on April 30 (9am-5pm). Participate in the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center's Spring Clean-Up Day (Saturday, April 30, 9am-2pm) to join in a variety of fun outdoor tasks and help out a local Nature Net site!

Family Nature Clubs

Coming soon! Nature Net's Family Nature Clubs make it easier for your family to get outdoors and learn together! Through Nature Net's online community, you will meet others and find resources and ideas for nature activities. Sign up to gain access to the tools you need to network with other local families, organize fun natural outings, visit Nature Net sites, and learn about local events throughout South Central Wisconsin.

Celebrate the launch of the Family Nature Clubs at the Earth Day Bouquet Open House at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center Leopold Nature Center on Thursday, April 21 (3-5pm) to participate in free outdoor family activities and to learn about Nature Net’s new Family Nature Clubs. Or, visit http://www.naturenet.com/ in the coming weeks to sign up and explore Nature Net’s expanded online community.

Get Your Kids Outside!

Looking for a great way for your kids to spend the summer outdoors and learn more about nature? Check out Nature Net's Summer Camp webpage with links to local nature-based summer camps. Have fun and stay cool!

Coming soon! Nature Passport is a free, at-your-leisure program geared toward family learning and discovery at nature centers and museums throughout the area. Available in late spring online, at libraries and at participating Nature Net sites, Nature Passport leads young explorers on adventures in the wild. Follow Ringo Raccoon to learn about exciting facts and sights of nature. This year's theme, "Romp with Ringo," includes a Movin' Mission to get your family active outdoors together.

Backyard Game of the Year! Kids 6-12 are encouraged to use their imaginations and reconnect with outdoor playtime - right in their own backyards. Enter your original game at CLIF Kid for a chance to win - and be sure to share your backyard ideas and photos with Nature Net!



Busy Weekend for Earth Day Bouquet!

Nature Net's Earth Day Bouquet is in full swing this weekend! Bring your friends and families to these great events:

Saturday, April 16
International Crane Foundation
Annual Midwest Crane Count 5:30-7:30am
Help ICF monitor the Eastern population of Greater Sandhill Cranes as they return to their breeding grounds in the Midwest. You might even be lucky enough to spot a member of the reintroduced flock of endangered Whooping Cranes!

Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Isthmus Green Day 9am-5pm
Get geared up for a full day of family fun with ALNC at the 4th Annual Isthmus Green Day eco-celebration at the Monona Terrace! Includes eco-expert presentations, entertainment and sustainable children’s activities.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Garden Silks: Making Silk Scarves with Botanical Dyes 9-11am
Create beautifully dyed silk scarves using common garden plants and grocery store finds such as blueberries and tea leaves with Shelley Ryan, host of Public Television’s Wisconsin Gardener. Grades 6+. % $

Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Great Eggspectations 9:30-11:30am; 1:30-3:30pm
Hear the legend of the rabbit and adorn your own spring basket using materials from the land. Hike to search for basket trimmings and dye eggs naturally. % $

Madison Children's Museum
Family Farm Day 11am-3pm
Gather your family and friends to see, taste, and experience what Wisconsin's agriculture has to offer. This hands-on event is sure to make you moo with delight!

Sunday, April 17
Henry Vilas Zoo
Conservation Celebrations 9:30am-5pm
Gear up for Earth Day with the Zoo! Hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, displays and give-aways will teach your family about alternative energy, tree planting and the environment.

UW Geology Museum
Open House 12-4pm
Learn about glaciers and the last Ice Age at the UW Geology Museum. This fun family event includes activities for the kids and special museum hours.

UW Arboretum
Wildflower Walk 1-2:30pm
Join this afternoon walk along the trails of Gallistel Woods to look for early spring wildflowers, such as bloodroot, toothwort and spring beauty.

Earth Day Bouquet - April 10-23

Earth Day Bouquet starts this weekend! Check out these great events - you are sure to find the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day with your family over the coming weeks. Don't forget to tell us how it went on the Nature Net Facebook page - photos welcome!

Earth Day Bouquet Schedule of Events
Events take place at Nature Net sites between April 10-23 - with a bonus event on April 30! Registration, fees and details vary. Click each link for details.

% indicates registration is required. $ indicates a fee.

Sunday, April 10
Dane County Parks
Visit!
Come out and enjoy the trails in the parks and grounds. Visit the Lussier Family Heritage Center from dawn to dusk and see your local ecosystems in action.

UW Arboretum
All About Frogs 12:30-3:30pm
Learn why frogs sing in the spring and other fascinating facts about their lifestyle. Participate in an outdoor family frog walk in addition to indoor family activities.

Monday, April 11
Madison Children's Museum
Rooftop Scientists 11-11:30am
Come up to the Rooftop Ramble for a fun introduction to hands-on sky-high science! Topics include weather, astronomy, botany, biology, and alternative energy.

Tuesday, April 12
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Celebrate Spring with Flowers! 10-11am
Play and learn with your youngster in this fun, hands-on series focused on the seasonal change, focused around spring flowers. Ages 2-4 with adult. % $

Madison Children's Museum
Rooftop Farmers 3-3:30pm
Help with the daily chores of taking care of a rooftop farm in the sky. Feed the animals and water the plants, harvest vegetables, plant a seed, prepare and taste homegrown food, and do nature crafts.

Aldo Leopold Foundation
Self-Guided Tours 10am-3pm
Take a peek at the country's first LEED-platinum facility, tour the Leopold family shack and learn about Aldo Leopold and his environmental work. Wander the grounds to see sprouting wildflowers and spring wildlife.

Wednesday, April 13
MacKenzie Environmental Education Center
Hike and Explore on Your Own
Learn about the environment and be inspired to take care of it! Museum and wildlife exhibits are open 8am-4pm; trails are open dawn until dusk.

Community GroundWorks
Explore Troy Gardens
Wander through the prairie and the woodland, around the organic farm and community gardens. Don't forget to stop at the Kids' Garden before you leave to meet the chickens! Visit from sunrise to sunset.

Thursday, April 14
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Hike and Learn!
Come hike the Leopold Family Trail, learn about Aldo Leopold with a hands-on exhibit, or check out the Family Trailside Backpack for loads of outdoor fun! Visit anytime between 9am-4pm.

UW Arboretum
Wander the Trails
View many distinct ecological communities, several horticultural collections, effigy mounds, historic artifacts, a Visitor Center and more than 20 miles of trail system. Visitor Center is open weekdays from 9:30am–4pm, and trails from dawn to dusk.
Friday, April 15
UW Geology Museum
Take a Self-Guided Tour
Appreciate the Earth by learning what goes on deep inside our planet. Take a peek into Wisconsin’s geological history by touching rocks from long ago, standing in a glowing cave, and looking up into the tusks of mastodon. Museum hours are 8:30am-4:30pm.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Garden Exploration
Visit and view the outdoor gardens just starting to sprout. If sprouts aren't your thing, admission to the tropical Bolz Conservatory is free from 10am-12pm.

Saturday, April 16
International Crane Foundation
Annual Midwest Crane Count 5:30-7:30am
Help ICF monitor the Eastern population of Greater Sandhill Cranes as they return to their breeding grounds in the Midwest. You might even be lucky enough to spot a member of the reintroduced flock of endangered Whooping Cranes!

Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Isthmus Green Day 9am-5pm
Get geared up for a full day of family fun with ALNC at the 4th Annual Isthmus Green Day eco-celebration at the Monona Terrace! Includes eco-expert presentations, entertainment and sustainable children’s activities.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Garden Silks: Making Silk Scarves with Botanical Dyes 9-11am
Create beautifully dyed silk scarves using common garden plants and grocery store finds such as blueberries and tea leaves with Shelley Ryan, host of Public Television’s Wisconsin Gardener. Grades 6+. % $

Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Great Eggspectations 9:30-11:30am; 1:30-3:30pm
Hear the legend of the rabbit and adorn your own spring basket using materials from the land. Hike to search for basket trimmings and dye eggs naturally. % $

Madison Children's Museum
Family Farm Day 11am-3pm
Gather your family and friends to see, taste, and experience what Wisconsin's agriculture has to offer. This hands-on event is sure to make you moo with delight!

Sunday, April 17
Henry Vilas Zoo
Conservation Celebrations 9:30am-5pm
Gear up for Earth Day with the Zoo! Hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, displays and give-aways will teach your family about alternative energy, tree planting and the environment.

UW Geology Museum
Open House 12-4pm
Learn about glaciers and the last Ice Age at the UW Geology Museum. This fun family event includes activities for the kids and special museum hours.

UW Arboretum
Wildflower Walk 1-2:30pm
Join this afternoon walk along the trails of Gallistel Woods to look for early spring wildflowers, such as bloodroot, toothwort and spring beauty.

Monday, April 18
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Slime and Scales Mini-Camp 9am-4pm
Become a herpetologist for the day in this “ribbiting” investigation! Visit the pond and marsh to listen closely for croaks, chirps, trills and whistles and learn how to identify and search for all things slippery or slithery. % $

Cherokee Marsh
Hike the Marsh
Discover spring and hike the marsh at your leisure. Look and listen for wetland wildlife emerging for spring. Open from dawn to dusk.

Tuesday, April 19
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Which Came First? Mini-Camp 9am-4pm
Learn all about eggs and animals that lay them. Make birds’ nests using natural materials and dye an egg to mimic those made by wild critters. Search for returning birds, look at feathers and wings and practice bird calls. % $

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Celebrate Spring with Birds! 10-11am
Play and learn with your youngster in this fun, hands-on series focused on the seasonal change and celebrates spring birds. Ages 2-4 with adult. % $

Wednesday, April 20
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Communities Mini-Camp 9am-4pm
Celebrate Earth Week by exploring all the ecosystems at ALNC! March through the marsh, frolic in the forest, plant seeds in the prairie, splash through the pond, and learn about all the habitats both humans and animals call home. % $

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Nature Printing with Herbs, Fruits, and Flowers 10-11:30am
Create your own unique and beautiful botanical cards, stationary, and wrapping paper with art printing using herbs, fruits, and flowers. Grades 3-5. % $

Thursday, April 21
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Pioneer Days Mini-Camp 9am-4pm
Turn off the TV and join in some old-fashioned fun! Spend the day playing pioneer games and learn how pioneers lived off the land through fun and exciting explorations. % $

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
A Rainforest in Your Living Room 10-11:30am
Make the rainforest come alive by learning about tropical rainforests, and then creating your own rainforest diorama. Bring a shoebox-size box. Grades 3-5. % $

UW Geology Museum
Story Time 10:30am
Museum story time is geared toward preschool-aged children and features a book, museum specimens and a craft to take home.

Nature Net
Earth Day Open House 3-5pm
Visit the Aldo Leopold Nature Center to see a sneak peak of the new building, learn about Nature Net’s new Family Nature Clubs, and explore the grounds and trails. Fun for all ages!

Madison Children's Museum
Green Building Tour 5-6pm
Take a free building tour that points out Madison Children’s Museum’s sustainable features, along with salvaged and repurposed materials. Tour is geared towards adults but welcomes all ages. %

Friday, April 22
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Botanical Dyes 10-11:30am
Instead of coloring your eggs with a kit from the store, why not come to Olbrich and learn how to use natural plant dyes to color eggs? Bring 6 hard-boiled eggs. Grades 3-5. % $

Saturday, April 23
Madison Children's Museum
Earth Day Celebration 10am-12pm
Celebrate the Earth! Hands-on family activities will demonstrate principles of renewable energy, energy conservation, water conservation and recycling. Visit the Art Studio to make an Aztec sun calendar.

Madison Parks
Earth Day Challenge!
Madison Parks are challenging volunteers to make this day a citywide clean-up! Pick a park and get your friends and neighbors together to clean up your community. After a long winter, this is a perfect time to get outside and help your neighborhood park by weeding, mulching, maintenance or litter pick-up. %

BONUS EVENT: Saturday, April 30
Bethel Horizons Nature Center
Earth Day Celebration 9am-5pm
Enjoy beautiful wildflowers, a magnificent view and an abundance of migrating birds through a variety of environmental activities, demonstrations and speakers emphasizing the beauty and importance of nature.

Program fees and registration vary. For information, registration details and more on all these events, click each link.

Let us know what you think! Post comments and photos of your Earth Day Bouquet Experiences on Nature Net's Facebook page. And don’t forget to check out all the Nature Net sites for programs and special events throughout the year at naturenet.com!http://www.naturenet.com/earthweek.html

Visit a Park this Friday!

Did you know April 8 is National Visit a Park Day? We are lucky to have many great parks in the area of which you can take advantage. The City of Madison Parks Division Conservation Section has 14 different and unique conservation parks, which are excellent for hiking, observing native plants and animals, and searching for signs of spring! Dane County Parks Division includes a range of recreational urban and rural areas and facilities for you to use. Because they strive to go above and beyond the requirements mandated by the American Disabilities Act, each of these beautiful parks are accessible to all. Find something for everyone! For example, the Lussier Family Heritage Center includes a beautiful facility surrounded by numerous recreational opportunities including a boat launch, picnic facilities, campgrounds, hiking trails, and playground equipment. So, this week and weekend, gather your family and friends and be sure to visit our great local parks!

April Nature Net News - Clean Green Renewable Energy

Nature Net News
Your source for tips and tricks for exploring nature with your kids
View original newsletter here.

"The sunshine that strikes American roads each year contains more energy than all the fossil fuels used by the entire world."
Denis Hayes, Earth Day Co-Founder

Dear Reader,

As Nature Net members focus on all things green in April, this issue of Nature Net News will highlight clean, green, renewable energy. Learn about energy's past, present and future, and the overlap between energy and nature.

Enjoy!

Kathe, Brenna & Sarah
The Folks at Nature Net

Did You Know.....
Green energy sources, such as solar power, hydropower and wind power are not only renewable, but they are also low- or non-polluting. Their supplies are essentially infinite (at least during the lifespan of Earth and its Sun), and they emit very little carbon or pollution as they harness and produce energy. Along with these benefits, the positive or negative environmental consequences related to their production and structural impacts must also be considered. For example, dams may disrupt fish migration but may also create wildlife habitat. Wind turbines might affect bird migration and flight paths, and solar panels require resource extraction to produce. Yet the overall benefits of these natural energy sources make them options for those concerned with safe, clean and renewable energy.

What to Do This Month:
Many Nature Net sites harness green energy on-site, such as the solar panels on the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, the alternative energy demonstrations on the Madison Children's Museum's Rooftop Ramble, and solar panels at the Henry Vilas Zoo. Also be sure to check out Nature Net's Earth Day Bouquet for a listing of events and programs going on this month in celebration of spring, Earth Day and National Environmental Education Week. Visit these sites and others, and keep an eye out for signs of green energy in use around the community.

Tricks of the Trail for Parents:
Energy in the Air
Seasonal changes are a great time to observe the energy flowing in nature. Be sure to head outside and take note on the sunny or windy days of spring! Wind is produced when warmer air displaces cooler air, bringing with it energy from the Sun. You can also feel this energy when you sit outside on a sunny day - the warmth on your skin is thermal energy from the Sun. Modern wind and solar power technologies capture the Sun's energy and use it to produce electricity.

Instant Outdoor Expert:
Green Power in the Past
You probably hear of green energy technology advances just about everyday. What will the brilliant scientists of this generation think of next?

Yet capturing the energy found in nature isn't exactly a new idea. Humans have been using energy from sunlight for millennia, to warm their homes, grow their food, heat their water, and light their days. From sailing, to clothes drying, to natural air conditioners, humans have also been using wind power for thousands of years. Windmills have been used for pumping water and milling grain since the 7th Century C.E. And the first electricity-producing windmill was actually created in the 1890s! Hydropower has also been used for transportation and milling, and humans have nearly always found ways to keep warm with the heat from inside the Earth (geothermal energy). Green energy holds a lot of potential for our future, but its fundamentals have been around forever - something to think about while you appreciate the warm sunlight and cool breezes this season!

Featured Nature Net Site

The Aldo Leopold Nature Center is currently finishing up an extensive green building expansion project, with the goal of enhancing its environmental education facility and programming to combine the best of 'high-touch' nature education with 'high-tech' media. The renovations include upgrades and additions to the facility's green features, such as photovoltaic solar panels, solar thermal radiant heating and high-efficiency systems and equipment. In addition, renewable energy and green technology will be highlighted through interactive computer games and hands-on energy education exhibits. With support from community partners such as Madison Gas and Electric, the facility and program offerings represent a new approach for guiding understanding of the complex interactions behind energy, climate and life on Earth. Stay tuned for special events and its Grand Opening this fall!

Learn About Other Nature Net sites

Nature Craft
Celebrate the Sun and the Wind!
What you need: sheet of yellow foam (or sturdy paper), stapler, glitter glue, yarn, hole punch, paper streamers.

1. Draw a Sun shape on the foam and cut it out.

2. Decorate your Sun with glitter glue, markers or anything else you prefer.

3. When glue is dry, staple streamers to the bottom half of your Sun.

4. Punch a hole in the top of the Sun and put your yarn through it as a hanger.

5. Hang your art so it can sparkle in the sunlight and will be certain to catch a good breeze!

(Nature Craft from The Idea Box)
Nature Craft Archives

Join Nature Net Online!

Stay up-to-date with Nature Net's blog and Facebook page for regular tips and updates from Nature Net and our members. And coming soon - family nature clubs online! As always, visit naturenet.com to access the same great resources you love.

Suggested Reading:
"New Energy Sources (Saving Our World)" by Nigel Hawkes (4-8)
"Why Should I Save Energy?" by Jen Green (4-8)
"Saving Energy (Help Our Environment)" by Charlotte Guillain (4-8)
"Our Earth: Saving Energy" by Peggy Hock (4-8)
"Catch the Wind" by Anne Johnson, Ashley Reichow, Robyn Johnson, Tom Wacker (4-8)
"What in the World is Green Energy?" by Oona Gaarder-Juntti (4-8)
"A HOT Planet Needs Cool Kids" by Julie Hall (4-8)
"How to Harness Solar Power for Your Home" by Stephanie Bearce (9-12)
"Rads, Ergs, and Cheeseburgers" by Bill Yanda (9-12)
"Using Alternative Energies" by Courtney Farrell (9-12)