Where does wildlife go when it gets sick?

N.C. Wildlife Centers

Rescued Osprey, Photo from Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter

 

We have many centers across the state that rehabilitate injured wildlife. Some of these centers have outreach programs to educate school groups and the public about their mission and North Carolina wildlife. Here are a few below:

 

Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville

Get up close and personal with live raptors such as hawks, falcons, owls, and vultures. The Carolina Raptor Center dedicates their mission to the conservation of birds of prey through education, research and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. They reach over 40,000 school kids per year and have special events geared towards families throughout the year.

 

Upcoming Events: The third Thursday of every month, they will have Coffee Talks from 7pm-8:30pm for families to learn about environmental education topics and participate in art activities.

 





The Piedmont Wildlife Center, Durham

If you ever run across an injured or orphaned wild animal and you live near the Triangle, call the Piedmont Wildlife Center. They have a network of home wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians to get the animal the help it needs. In addition, they also over environmental education programs to school groups and the public. Check out their day camps offered to kids ages 4-14!

  

Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter, Newport

 

Photo from Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter

If you find an injured wild animal and you live near the coast, call the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter, a rehabilitation and education center. The goal is to rehabilitate animals to then be released back into the wild. Unfortunately, some animals are injured in such a way that they would no longer be able to survive in the wild. These animals become "education ambassadors" for the center. The center offers school based meet the animal programs. The facilities include walking trails and a hands-on classroom.

 

Noteworthy: Paul Rudershausen is currently peddling his way on a transcontinental bike ride across America in support of the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter. Follow his journey here.

 



Will spring come early this year???

Groundhog Day, Saturday, February 2nd 2013

From "Groundhog Day"

As the folklore goes, this Saturday, a groundhog will emerge. If it is sunny, he will see his shadow, retreat back to his burrow, and winter weather will continue for another six weeks. Let's hope for cloudy weather! For if he doesn't see his shadow, spring will come early. It's origins as a German Pennsylvania custom, the largest celebration occurs in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where crowds as large as 40,000 have gathered to watch the tradition unfold. 

North Carolina has it's own groundhogs practicing prognastication, the art of prophecy. Local celebrations feature celebrity names such as Sir Walter Wally of Raleigh, Queen Charlotte, and Mortimer of Garner.  

Here are some Groundhog Day events happening in the state:

White Deer Park, Garner

Saturday 10-12:30, shadow ceremony at noon

Hawk release and meet the animals of CLAWS, Inc, DJ and field games, timber sport demonstrations, crafts and amphibians and reptiles of the NC Herp Society and Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation!!! 

Complete Details

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh

Saturday from 9-5, shadow ceremony starting at noon on the plaza

Exhibits and tables for kids to learn more about animals in NC, habitat, adaptations and even meet some of the furry friends.

Complete Details

Charlotte Nature Museum

Saturday from 10-1, with shadow event at 11:30

Crafts, puppet shows and storytelling

Complete Details

Western North Carolina Nature Center, Asheville

Saturday at 2

Folklore, stories, songs and meet the animals!

Complete Details

Chimney Rock State Park, Lake Lure

Saturday 11-1

Programs on groundhogs and other woodland creatures, guided family hikes and crafts

Complete Details

Natural Science Center of Greensboro

Saturday at 10:15

Witness the annual prediction by Woody the Groundhog

Complete Details

Youth Nature Program at Halyburton Park, Wilmington

Saturday from 1:30-3:30

Join park naturalist to learn about groundhogs, take a guided hike and participate in craft

Complete Details

For fun information on other weather related animal folklore, visit the State Climate Office of North Carolina.

Strange Matter at Discovery Place

Source: http://www.discoveryplace.org/museum/exhibit/31/Strange-Matter

How much more fun can you get than this: "Test stuff, break stuff, mix stuff, heat stuff… and discover how strange matter can be!"

Strange Matter is the new materials science exhibit at Discovery Place in Charlotte. This exhibit runs from January 26th-May 5th 2013. 

Materials science is essentially the study of stuff! Exhibits include investigations into everyday materials such as metal, magnets and glass. These hands on exhibits allow visitors to manipulate materials and use all their senses as they discover the science behind the materials and how they might be used in the future. It also includes a nano scale exhibit where visitors can witness how objects that appear smooth on the surface are truly bumpy and full of texture at the microscopic and nano scale.

 Want to start a garden in your community or at your local school?

The Children & Nature Network has posted this fact sheet on the benefits of gardening to children. This research study highlights examples such as positive social and interpersonal skills, healthy eating and nutrition and improved attitudes towards education.

 

Check out this new resource at the N.C. Office of Environmental Science:

Building a Community Garden in Your Park was designed for park and recreation agencies, but contains information that parents will find useful when planning their community gardens or starting a garden at their children's school.  Cause let's face it, teachers don't have time to do this on their own!

The National Recreation and Park Association produced this community gardening handbook to help plan, fund, implement, and sustain community garden programs. The guide contains ideas on creative design and recreational activities for kids. Stay cool in this gourd tunnel from the handbook:

Photo courtesy of Silvis Garden Club

 In addition to a step-by-step guide for building your garden, the handbook also includes several successful case studies and an evaluation tool. There are also many resources for contacts and funding.

 Funding for your project:

Also check out the grants page for the N.C. Office of Environmental Education. We list a beaucoup of opportunities for community gardens!

 

Why playing in the dirt (and even eating it) may be good for your baby!

Panijao from Babies, Source: www.detroitnews.com

In the film, Babies, we see Ponijao in Namibia burying his face in the dirt where he finds a bone to suck on and lapping water up from a stream as he and his brother play in it. In the next frame, Mari is strapped into a decked out stroller as a group of moms take a walk around a city park before going back to her immaculate high rise apartment. In this film that follows four babies from around the world, hygiene practices stand out as the most striking difference as scenes transition from third world countries to the developed nations. You witness the babies having a much more intimate relationship with nature in Namibia and Mongolia, where a Yak laps up water from Bayar's bathwater while he sits in it. And from the movie's portrayal, these babies are just as happy and healthy as any other baby, even though their mothers are not constantly supervising where their hands go and what goes in their mouths. It leads one to ask, is all of this sterilization and obsession with cleanliness really necessary? Actually, some studies suggest it may be harmful.

According to a New York Times article, a group of researchers have developed what is called the hygiene hypothesis. All babies like to explore the world with their mouths. This innate tendency has developed because it holds an evolutionary advantage. Researchers are concluding that the millions of organisms and worms that are consumed with dirt and other items that babies put in their mouths, actually spur the development of a healthy immune system. High rates of autoimmune disorders, asthma, and allergies in the U.S. may be attributed to our germ phobia that has caused a cultural phenomena of hyper cleanliness. 

This in not to suggest that we should let our children loose in a pig sty. There are extremes on either end and neither being too clean nor too dirty is good. Researchers assert that public health measures such as access to clean drinking water and proper sewage disposal have saved millions of lives over the last century. 

So how do we expose our children to a proper amount of germs without going overboard? Dr. Joel Weinstock, a leading researcher in the field and the director of gastroenterology and hepatology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, offers us his suggestions, "Children should be allowed to go barefoot in the dirt, play in the dirt, and not have to wash their hands when they come in to eat."

Source: mnn.com

And for all you pet lovers out there, he goes further to say, "let kids have two dogs and a cat." This will apparently expose them to intestinal worms that will aid in the development of their immune system.

If you are interested in learning more about this subject, read the entire article here, and check out Mary Ruebush's book "Why Dirt Is Good."

To learn more about how to foster a relationship with nature in early childhood and it's associated benefits, check out the Research and Data page on the Office of Environmental Education's website. 

Speaking of which, there is an upcoming workshop on 2/23/13 in Whitsett, NC that parents may be interested in: Nurturing a Sense of Wonder, for early childhood. 

Does Environmental Education Improve Environmental Quality?

With over 200 environmental education centers such as museums, zoos, and nature centers, North Carolina is rich in environmental intellectual capital. But do all of these learning opportunities actually improve environmental quality? A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests yes!

The EPA's study, "Quantifying a Relationship Between Place-based Learning and Environmental Quality," aimed to answer the above question on a national level. Place-based learning is learning that occurs outside of the classroom in the context of the community. The EPA narrowed their focus to air quality programs. The study found that nearly half of the education programs studied reported evidence of improvements in air quality in the surrounding region. The programs that included community involvement and service learning, reported even greater gains in air quality. Read the final report here.

Two such nature centers in N.C. that often proved service learning opportunities for children and adults are the Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs in Cary and the Walnut Creek Wetland Center in Raleigh.

Stevens Nature Center Nature Programs: http://bit.ly/YkOIrO

Walnut Creek Wetland Center Programs: http://bit.ly/143yfYv

Visit the alphabetical listing of other great centers in N.C. on the N.C. Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs webpage.

Winter Wonderland Hikes and more...

Source: Great Smoky Mountain's Association Photos, 1/18/13, Facebook Page

 At least it's a winter wonderland for some of us!

Two of North Carolina's many wonderful environmental education centers and their upcoming events:

 

Annie Louise Wilkerson MD Nature Preserve Park, Raleigh, NC 

In her will, Dr. Annie Louise Wilkerson gifted her property, 157 acres along Falls Lake, to the City of Raleigh. She stipulated that the park shall be maintained as a nature preserve used for the primary purpose of nature and wildlife education. The nature preserve consists of oak-hickory forest and open fields that will be maintained as Piedmont prairie. Three farm ponds and five perennial streams shelter various aquatic species.

Winter Wonderland Hike

 Saturday, Jan 26, 2013 10:30 AM to 12 PM

Take a walk through the preserve with a park naturalist to find out where animals go in winter and discover the beauty of the winter woods. Will we see any snow? Enjoy some hot chocolate after the hike. Complete Details

Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury, NC

Source: stateparks.com

Hanging Rock State Park has been named the North Carolina 2012 Park of the Year by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. This park was specifically recognized for initiatives in education and interpretation. During 2012, Hanging Rock presented 200 interpretive programs and improved their educational displays. Read the whole story here.

Black Bears
Sun, January 20 & February 17, 2013, 2pm
Join a Ranger and learn about this often feared creature. Black bears can be found throughout a large portion of NC. They often make the news when they pass through a populated area. This program will separate the facts and myths about black bears.   
Skins and Skulls

Sat, February 16, 2013, 2pm 
Join a Ranger at the Visitors Center at 2:00 pm and have a look at some of the unique features Hanging Rock's animals posses inside and out.

Click for complete details and more events at Hanging Rock State Park

For more events and a directory of over 200 environmental education centers in the state, visit here.


More Citizen Science for the Family!

Photo: Marcia A. Sessions

 

Seize the Data: Project Squirrel

Saturday, January 19, 2013
 10 am - 11:30 am
 The North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, NC

Join us at The NC Arboretum for a FREE Citizen Science program on Saturday, January 19, 2013. Join our educators for a winter hike as we learn about the fascinating lives of squirrels and record data about the squirrels we see. All ages welcome - so feel free to bring your families. Meet at the Trellis classroom at 10:00 AM in the Education Center. Featuring Project Squirrel!

Program FREE with parking fee: $8 per car. Parking is always free for Arboretum members.

Email Trudie Henninger at thenninger@ncarboretum.org with questions.



Radon: The Invisible Threat

Blue=Low, Yellow=Moderate, Pink=High

 

National Radon Action Month

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month. The aim of National Radon Month is to increase the public awareness of radon, promote radon testing and mitigation and advance the use of radon-resistant, new construction practices. 

Source: http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/

Radon is a naturally occurring element that forms as an intermediate element during the radioactive decay of uranium into lead. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is dangerous to humans due to it's radioactivity.
Radon occurs in homes after being released from the soil during construction. It is especially common in basements of newer homes, but it is important to test any home to ensure your family is not being exposed to unsafe levels of the gas. Over many years of exposure through inhalation, the substance can lead to lung cancer. It is actually the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the EPA attributes about 20,000 deaths per year in the U.S. to lung cancer caused by radon exposure.

Exposure to radon is a preventable health risk and you can take easy steps in your home to prevent unnecessary exposure to yourself and family.

Visit the EPA's website for more information on testing your home and ensuring your safety against radon exposure. While you are at it, tell your neighbors too!

 

 

What are you doing for MLK, Jr. Day of Service?

Source: http://www.montgomeryserves.org/

For many schools and workplaces, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a day off. MLK, Jr. Day of Service challenges you to make it a "day on" rather than a "day off."

The website devoted to this day has all sorts of ways you can engage to improve your community. There is a search funtion for events already happening in your area and a toolkit to help you plan your own day of service. Environmental stewardship is one of the categories included in the toolkits. Improvements to the health and livelihood of communities can be made through this type of service. Check it out! http://mlkday.gov/plan/actionguides/foundation.php

Also consider starting or working on a community garden. Visit this website for strategies to get you started: http://www.communitygarden.org/learn/starting-a-community-garden.php

Or what about a neighborhood litter clean up? http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=tools_everyone

Another idea: collect electronic waste from your neighbors and take it to the proper facility

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/index.htm

Not enough time to organize an event? That's OK, many of these things can be done with just your family. Be creative!

Family trail maintenance
Source: http://www.tahoeculture.com/events/south-shore-events/happy-trails-begin-at-explore-tahoe-during-national-trails-day-june-5/
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Webinar: Gardening for Nutrition and Wildlife

Wednesday, January 16, 4:00-5:00pm

Source: http://www.douglascounty-ne.gov/gardens/activities-for-kids

 

 

 

Research has shown that gardening can have positive impacts such as reducing anxiety and stress while boosting self-esteem and compassion.

Join National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) New Year Gardening for Nutrition and Wildlife Webinar to learn how you can address physical education, healthy living and science all at once by having a Nutritional Garden for Kids and Wildlife. Space is limited to 200, so sign up now.

This webinar is geared towards educators but you are bound to learn tips for home and it would be great for homeschoolers.

Click here to register for this webinar.

Ideas for Kids and Gardens

The Douglas County, Nebraska Local Foods webpage has some good ideas for engaging kids in gardening activities. Ideas include growing an alphabet garden with a plant for each letter of the alphabet, create a teepee out of bean stalks, grow a pizza garden with all the ingredients for making pizza and more. Visit the site here.