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In
this issue
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Dear
Friend,
Hi and welcome to the latest edition of Discover-E
News. I hope you find it informative - and a quick read.
Summer is not too far away and we have a full slate of
community programs organized. If you've not already
received it, your Summer/Fall Program Guide should be in
the mail any day now. Open it up and take a quick peak
at the Program Index on page 4 - I'm sure you'll be
impressed at the extent of our offerings - there truly
is something for everybody!
Thanks for reading.
Bruce
Statehouse Salutations
As I write this issue of E-News, volunteers a busily
working outside - raking, sweeping cabins and walkways,
pulling weeds, tending to long-forgotten gardens and
removing the last of the "hung" branches
remaining from last August's windstorm. It is an
exciting time of year as we ready ourselves for the busy
season ahead. The time given so willingly by volunteers
is surely testament to just how highly valued this
little piece of paradise we call the Discovery Center is
to so many people. Without our volunteers, we simply
could not achieve the great things we do. So to each and
every one of you - thanks!
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Double
Your Gift |
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As most of you know, we are currently involved
in the pilot stage of a school-based
Environmental Education (EE) initiative. Our
school EE program offers students innovative,
experiential learning programs designed to
compliment and expand upon classroom curriculum.
As with any new initiative, start up costs are
substantial - identifying and acquiring
resources, adding staff, developing curriculum
and lesson plans, and promoting the availability
of the program to schools - it all takes money.
In this instance though, we've been blessed with
generous support from one of our long-time
supporters, The Bruning Foundation, who have
issued a challenge match - for every dollar we
raise specifically for the EE program, they will
match it dollar for dollar up to a maximum of
$40,000. So far we have raised approximately
$25,000 of our $40,000 goal, but time is running
out. We have until May 15th to meet our target
If you believe in the need for quality
environmental education in schools, and want to
help us grow our EE program, please consider a
gift to our EE fund. Its not everyday an
opportunity to double your gift comes along.
Please, won't you partner with The Center and
the Bruning Foundation by making a gift to the
project. Giving is easy - simply click on the
link below to make use of our new on-line giving
capacity. It is simple; it secure and your
donation will be doubled thanks to the
generosity of the Bruning challenge grant. Help
us touch the lives of the next generation of
environmental stewards.
For more detailed information about the EE
initiative go to our website and click on the
School Programs. To make a secure online
donation (and double your gift) please use
the link below.
Photo: Students at a recent Global Climate
Change class at the Discovery Center working
together to look after the earth.
Click
here to make a secure on-line donation »
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Envirothon
2006 |
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| As
regular readers of this fine publication will
know, for the past couple of years, a team of
Hurley High School students who participate in
the Discovery Center's Woods and Waters program,
have attended Wisconsin's Envirothon. This
year's event took place at Rosholt, WI on Friday
April 21, and we are thrilled to report, our
kids took SECOND PLACE overall!! That is
exciting stuff and we congratulate the students
and their coaches.
An initiative of Madison's Wisconsin Land and
Water Conservation Association, Envirothon is a
multidisciplinary, environmental problem-solving
competition for students in grades 9 through 12.
Teams comprised of five students train and
compete in the areas of aquatic resources,
forestry, soils, and wildlife. It is held
outdoors, and teams rotate between testing
stations where they take an "exam" in
each of the four natural resource areas. A fifth
"station" consists of an oral
presentation by each team addressing a current
environmental issue. This year's theme issue was
"The Effect of Global Climate Change On
Wisconsin's Waterways". Students learn, in
a real- life context, the complexities of
solving environmental problems while working as
a team and having fun.
Our team consisted of one Senior, one Junior
and four Freshmen, so we look forward to placing
well again next year. Maybe the students will
finally achieve their long- stated stated goal -
"we just want to beat Conserve
School"! Congratulations to the students
and to coaches Mary Jo Gingras of the Iron
County Land and Water Conservation Department
and the Discovery Center's Zach Wilson. Kudos to
all!
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2006
BirdFest |
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Hosted by the Discovery Center Bird Club, we're
all a- twitter (sorry!) to announce that this
year's wing-ding (sorry again!) will take place
on Saturday 21 May 2006. Last year's inaugural
event was a huge success - a real feather in the
cap (groan!) of event organizers, Sarah Johnson
and the Bird Club. Hours of the event this year
are 6:00am - 5:00pm.
Explore the wonders of birding in Wisconsin's
North woods during peak spring migration. Great
Lakes area birding experts will again lead field
trips and offer presentations and workshops
aimed at improving general birding knowledge,
bird identification skills, and habitat
conservation and improvement. For a complete
outline of the day, including details of keynote
and guest speakers, please go to our website and
click on the Special Events button, or make use
of the link below. And I promise there will be
no more "cheep" puns after this one.
Photo: Participants enjoy some great
birding during a guided hike to the LittleTurtle
Flowage
Click
here for more details about BirdFest 2006 »
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Member
Social |
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| Mark
your calendar now - our annual Member Social and
Silent Auction will be again held on the Sunday
of the Memorial Day weekend - May 28 - from
4:00pm to 6:30pm. With gourmet hors d'oeuvres by
Skyview Lodge and wine tastings by Dennis Kohl
of Trig's, the event promises to live up to its
growing reputation as the foremost event of the
local spring social calendar. So come along -
meet your friends and neighbors, and support a
worthy cause. Tickets will be in the mail by
early May.
If you have a question for event organizer,
Marilyn Gabert, drop her an email using the link
below.
Marilyn,
I have a question about the auction... »
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Decade
of Discovery Derby |
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Did you know that the summer of 2006 marks the
tenth year of program offerings by the Discovery
Center? To mark this auspicious occasion, the
Center will be celebrating "A Decade of
Discovery" throughout the summer and fall
with a number of programs and events suitable
for all members of the family.
Of particular note is the Decade of Discovery
Dinner and Derby to be held at The Center on
Saturday July15, from 4:00pm to 8:00 pm. View
the Wall of History,contribute a story to our
Memory Reservoir, enjoy wines from Trig's Cellar
70, and hors d'oeuvres and an elegant sit-down
dinner by Pine Baron's Custom Catering. All
followed by the fun of the Gallop for Glory.
Ticket sales will be limited to the first 80
reservations, so please mark you calendar now.
Everybody who attends the dinner can place
bets on their favorite horse. There will also be
an "owners race" with special prizes.
Stay tuned for more details on how you can
become a member of this select group of
thoroughbred owners.
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Resort
Naturalist Program |
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| Do
you run a resort, or have a friend who does?
Would the guests at that resort enjoy an
informative educational program delivered
on-site by one of the Discovery Center's
talented naturalist educators? If your answer is
yes and yes, please help us spread the word
about a new program offering - our Resort
Naturalist Program (RNP). Recognizing that you
can't always get Mohammed to the mountain, we've
decided to take our mountain to Mohammed. Our
new RNP is perfect for resorts, libraries, lake
associations, and church and other community
social clubs. We offer a choice of programs
appropriate for the whole family and perfectly
suited to delivery around a camp-fire.
Subjects include:
* Bats: Mysteries of the Night;
* Loons: The Bird Behind the Symbol;
* Wild Edibles: Natures and Treats and
Treasures;
* Raptors: Eyes on the Skies; and
* Furbearers: Wisconsin's Wild Wonderland.
For a complete program listing and detailed
descriptions call Sarah at The Center or
click on the link below:
Click
here for more information on our Resort
Naturalist Program »
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TrivEa
Time |
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| Let's
see if you can match it with the students on our
Envirothon team. Answer the following questions
correctly and who knows - maybe Zach and Mary Jo
will talk you off to Rosholt this time next
year! By the way our kids aced this section,
answering ten similar questions correctly - lets
see how well you fare with just three.
1. Which of the following species is best
adapted to wet, lowland sites?
a. Black Walnut b. Black Spruce c. Basswood d.
Bur Oak
2. Which species (as a seedling in the
understory) is the most tolerant of shade?
a. Red Oak b. Hemlock c. Red Maple d. Red Pine
3. Which of these species is best adapted to
withstand frequent fires?
a. Butternut b. Jack Pine c. Yellow Birch d.
Sugar Maple
Be the first to email all three correct
answers and a Discovery Center gift pack will be
yours.
Hey
Bruce, I think I know the answer... »
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| Discover
More - use these links to find lots more
information |
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