|
Hi and welcome to the second edition of Discover-E News, our new
E-newsletter. I hope you find it an easy read and informative. If you do
enjoy reading it, be sure to take advantage of the "forward email" link,
and encourage your friends, family and associates to subscribe.
Statehouse Salutations
Its been a while since our last Discover E News - what with staff
changes, and realignment of responsibilities, somehow the e newsletter
found its way to the bottom of the "TO-DO" list. Now things have settled a
little, we plan to get back onto a more regular publication schedule.
Below, you will find brief updates on what's going on here at The
Center and links to our recently revised and expanded web-site. Please
take a minute to check out those links, then let us know what you think -
about the newsletter, the website, or any aspect of our operation.
You will also see we've added a new article - DiscoverE TrivEa. We hope
it will be a bit of fun each issue and a way to test your knowledge of The
Center, our people, programs and the history of the Statehouse Lake YCC
property. And just to make it interesting, we'll throw in an incentive -
the first person to call or e with the correct answer will win themselves
a Discovery Center prize pack - a T shirt, some stationery, and your very
own Discovery Center pencil. Who could want for anything more?!
I do want to make Discover E News something of value to all of us, so
if you have ideas of how we can improve it, please drop me an email, or
give me call. Bruce
send Bruce an email
|
|
The Prez Says |
 |
Hi Members and Friends,
This past
October, a planning retreat was held to identify new priorities and
objectives for the Discovery Center. At our Board of Directors
meeting on November 11, the wheels were set in motion on a very
ambitious strategic plan. Parts of the plan are already underway and
other parts will unfold during the next several months. The plan
reinforces our commitment to environmental education - this will
remain our top priority. Community programs will also continue to be
an important part of the center's activities. However, both areas
will undergo significant change in the way they are delivered. New
approaches will be used to expand the events in both areas. A
community survey is being conducted to solicit opinions to help us
determine our new direction.
One thing is clear as we move forward. Today's environment is
forcing non-profits to become more entrepreneurial in order to
survive. This is a struggle: When we look at new opportunities, we
must insure they remain closely tied to our mission. The challenge
is to match our core competencies with opportunities. To generate
more income allows us to expand our mission.
As we look ahead to our second decade, we will still provide a
relaxing and invigorating place to visit, we will still bring
interesting programs for both local residents and seasonal visitors.
We encourage you to stay tuned and join us in our effort to provide
exceptional programs and facilities that contribute to our stated
purpose: dedicated to exploring, preserving and enhancing the area's
natural, cultural and historic resources.
We wish you and your family a most joyous holiday season! Enjoy
our cross country ski trails and all the other wonderful
opportunities the Center has to offer.
Cheers, Jerry Rayala,
President, Board of Directors |
|
|
From Denny's Desk |
|
| I wanted to wish you the best during this
holiday season and thank you so much for your annual support. If you
haven't had time yet to send in your pledge I thought I'd let you
know some of the reasons your support is so important to the Center.
Our school based environmental program has grown in attendance
every year. Many students have gone on to study environmental
sciences in college. In fact, next year the first of these will
graduate from college. I am personally proud to be affiliated with
an organization that is making a difference and providing both
holistic experiences and direction for our youth. As Jerry already
mentioned, our board has approved an aggressive plan to expand our
school-based environmental programs both locally and throughout the
state. Through these programs we will be providing hands-on
environmental educational experiences while instilling messages of
environmental stewardship to literally thousands of young people.
This program will be self-sustaining within three years but until
that time we need your support more than ever. Please think of your
gift as a seed planted in the minds and bodies of youth experiencing
the north woods through our Discovery Center's educational program.
The lessons that have been planted will continue to grow as these
youth become adults who will have learned a new appreciation for
nature.
The snow is falling and it looks like we are off to a wonderful
start for our winter season. The trails have been groomed and I
invite you to enjoy the beauty of the Northwood's on our Discovery
Center trails. Take some time and look through our newly updated web
site. You will find the winter schedule, bird club news, volunteer
opportunities, and current trail conditions to list just a few. In
the spring look forward to a new summer schedule, an update on the
bird club, and our new astronomy club.
Your interests remain a primary concern of ours. To ensure we
stay in touch with your wishes we have recruited several volunteers
who are currently conducting a phone survey to hundreds of randomly
selected members. If you don't get a call but would like to
participate please give us a call.
Again Happy Holidays and
best wishes,
Denny Breitholtz, Executive Director
Contact Denny »
|
|
|
Kick & Glide |
|
 With recent snowfalls at the
Center, and close attention to the trails by our ever reliable
grooming crew, conditions on the trails are wonderful. So wax those
skis, don the winter woollies, and get on over to The Center!
Regular skiers on our River Trail might be interested to know
that we did a little work on that trail through the summer and fall.
As you are probable aware, the narrow twisting trail, though very
picturesque, has presented some problems to those entrusted with
maintaining it. Some of the bends were so narrow and so close to the
drop-off to the river that our grooming sled has, on more than one
occasion slipped of the track and slid towards the water. We made a
couple of minor adjustments that should enable us to track that loop
on a regular basis, without fear of drowning our volunteers!
You can get up-to-the-minute reports on the state of the trails
throughout the season. Our regularly updated trail conditions report
on our website is just a click away.
Trail Conditions
Page »
|
|
|
Nature Notes |
|
| We wish to advise our new readers (and remind
our existing readers) about another feature on our website that is
worth a regular visit: Nature Notes. That's the section of our
website where our very well informed and talented naturalist, Zach
Wilson, keeps us up to date on the phenology of our area. If you are
unfamiliar with that term, phenology simply means "what's currently
happening out there in the woods".
We also invite your involvement in the page - if you see
something of interest happening in your back yard, please let Zach
know and he will add it to his column. You will also find an
archived section - it is interesting to go back and see what was
happening in the woods this time last year.
Check it out towards the bottom of our home page, or click on the
Nature Notes link.
Nature Notes »
|
|
|
Birding at The Center |
|
 A brand new feature on our
website is our birding page. If you make use of the link below to
visit that page, you will find all sorts of wonderful features,
including general information about our various birding activities,
membership and other club information, an archive of bird club
newsletters, and links to other useful birding sites on the 'net.
And thanks to the talents and time of our alluring, articulate,
avian advocate Sarah, you can also read "Words on the Wing". This is
a special section, along the lines of "Nature Notes", where Sarah
and bird club members will regularly post sightings and other up-
to-the-minute information of interest to birders.
Birding Page »
|
|
|
Woods and Waters Project |
|
 Another Successful
Capture
Students involved in the woods and waters project successfully
captured their fisher again this year. Both Mercer and Hurley high
school students are studying the link between forest type, soils,
and wildlife. They are planning to collect data and create a
hypothesis that looks at the use of artificial resting site boxes.
The students will be testing their hypothesis by placing resting
site boxes in the fisher's home-range, to see if they will use them.
The result could be adapted by other states to expand the fisher's
home-range into areas that historically had fishers.
Through hands-on research in the woods and waters project
students broaden their understanding of terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems. Students study the terrestrial "woods" component of the
project focusing on two radio collared fishers and their habitat.
The aquatic "waters" phase of the project examines aquatic systems
and the land/water connection. Constructing Common Loon nesting
platforms, collecting data, monitoring water quality and evaluating
characteristics of the landscape including soils, slopes, vegetative
cover, and development.
Zach, I want to know more
about Woods & Waters »
|
|
|
Happy New Year! |
|
| Come celebrate New Year's Eve with us at Little
Bohemia, and help the Discovery Center at the same time. We'll be
raffling off more than three dozen items (thank you, Marilyn Gabert
and her mom, Kathryn Dumas!) to benefit the Center. Come for dinner,
or just to toast in the New Year. There's no cover charge. Little Bo
will be serving a special limited menu of duck, prime rib, salmon or
fish fry in two seatings at 6 and 8 p.m. Dinner is by reservation
only so be sure to call Little Bo at 715-543-8433.
The fabulous prizes include a wine basket, large wood bowl, tea
set, chafing dish, glass and candlestick set, and of course much
more. Tickets will be sold from 5:30 - 9:30 with the drawing shortly
thereafter. You need not be present to win. See you there!
|
|
|
TrivEa Time |
|
| Put the old thinking cap on - it is time for a
little Discovery Center TrivEa. Be the first to call or e-mail with
the correct answer and that exciting, luxurious, expansive,
Discovery Center gift pack will be yours.
A fortuitous incident resulted in the construction of one of the
Statehouse YCC camp buildings. What was the incident, and which
building resulted from it? The answer and the complete story will be
in the next issue of DiscoverE News
So, that's it. Hope you enjoyed reading. We hope to see you here
at the Center soon. Do have a safe and blessed holiday season.
And finally...check out the Winter program guide at:
Winter
Schedule »
|
|
