E.O. Wilson, Biophilia and First Day Hikes!!

Family Hike on Max Patch, Mariah Grant

Photo: Frans Lanting/ Corbis
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Last week, on December 13, the world renowned biologist and naturalist E.O. Wilson, came to speak at the Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. He was asked, "How is climate change affecting biodiversity and what can we do about it?" His response stands out in my memory for being a realistic solution in today's modernized world. Animals have experienced climate change throughout Earth's history and some were able to adapt while others went extinct. But the difference a million years ago was that habitat laid intact, allowing animals to migrate to more suitable ecosystems where they could survive. In today's world, we have preserved pockets of land thanks to our parks system and conservation organizations, but most of these areas are isolated. So, if we want to reduce the number of extinctions as some areas become drier and warmer while others are inundated with water, we need to create contiguous corridors connecting these isolated habitats. When conditions in an area change too rapidly for adaptation, corridors of undisturbed habitat will allow some organisms to migrate, thus ensuring their survival. And according to E.O. Wilson, this is very much in the realm of possibilities and he is hard at work securing one of the largest corridors in the U.S. across the southeast.

 

Banff Wildlife Corridor Overpass
http://thenewipo.com/2009/12/24/adapt-move-or-go-extinct/

What does all this have to do with First Day Hikes? Well, our friend E.O. Wilson is the one who coined the term "biophilia," an innate capacity to love nature and living organisms. In order to foster biophilia, it is important to provide your child with positive experiences in nature at a young age. This will help them build a relationship with nature and later in life, an appreciation for conserving natural lands. This is as easy as making a commitment to getting outdoors more in the New Year. A quote at the end of E.O. Wilson's talk, attributed to Benjamin Franklin and apparently found in a fortune cookie, summed this up nicely: "“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

 

A great way to share your commitment to get outdoors and lead a healthy, active lifestyle, while supporting preservation of natural lands is to go on a hike on January 1st! All 50 state park systems will be sponsoring guided First Day Hike Programs on New Year's Day. There are currently 638 hikes across the country and you can search for one near you on America's State Parks website.

 

Don't live near a State Park? Find other nature centers and parks where you can take your own hike on the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs' searchable database.

 

 

 

 



Whale Encounters at the End of the Continent

Chris Hill on his paddleboard approaches a humpback whale off Surf City. Photo: Steve Young

Source: North Carolina Coastal Federation http://www.nccoast.org

 

 

This lucky paddle boarder got an up close and personal look at a migrating humpback whale off the coast of North Carolina and one lucky photographer, Steve Young, was in the right place to capture this beautiful photo.

 

Most inlanders don't consider going to the beach during the winter months, and so a whale encounter may come as a surprise. But according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, humpback whales are the most common sighted large whale off our coast. From the months of December to March, they travel near the coast as they migrate down to their calving grounds in the tropics and then back again to their feeding grounds in the North Atlantic. Humpbacks are listed as endangered. Before commercial hunting was outlawed in 1966 it is believed that 95% of the population was decimated.

 

Tell your kids that these amazing creatures are found close to home. For basic information about humpback whales read this publication by N.C. WRC.

 

This Friday December 21 from 11-12, Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is having "Whale Tales" for ages 2-7 to learn more about whales off our coast.

 

 And here is some fun information about pilot whales off of Cape Hatteras.




Audobon Christmas Bird Count

 

Source: http://philadelphiagreen.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/january-events-at-meadowbrook-farm/

 

 

This is one of the longest standing citizen science traditions in the world! From December 14 through January 5 tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists go out on an annual mission - often before dawn.

 

Each of the citizen scientists who annually braves snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.

 

This will be Audobon's 113th annual bird count. Find a Christmas Bird Count near you here. Events are happening all over the state.

 

Complete Details

International Mountain Day

Source: http://www.autocarhire.com/travelblog/featured/december-holiday-destinations-blue-mountains-new-south-wales-australia/

 

In 2002, the United Nations adopted a resolution that designated December 11th International Mountain Day. This designation is to raise awareness about the relevance of mountain forests and the role they play within a green economy, as well as in climate change adaptation measures.

 

Mountains cover 1/4 of the earth's surface and are home to 12% of the population. They are important sources of clean drinking water and it is estimated that snow melt and rainfall from mountains provide water for over half of the world's population. Mountain life can be harsh as residents are exposed to rapidly changing weather and threats such as landslides, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. According to the United Nations, mountain people are some of the world's poorest and most disadvantaged people as they are often marginalized by society and lack access to basic services such as health care and education.

 

Photo: Martin Mejia/AP
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/03/peru-mountain-farmers-winter-cold

This is an interesting contradiction to what we see in this country. Mountains are often sought after by second home buyers and people who can afford access to services despite the challenges presented by topography and mountain climates. In countries with less wealth and infrastructure, mountain areas are not the most desirable places to live due to harsh conditions.

 

Due to the lack of development in many mountainous regions, they can contain some of the richest biological diversity, especially in tropical rainforests. To learn more about mountain environments around the world, their biodiversity, and conservation threats, view a UNESCO report here.

 

For the kids:

1. Show them pictures of mountains around the world and discuss the differences they see to other mountains they have seen. Ask them, what type of animals might live there? Do you think different types of animals live there than live here? Why? What kind of resources do animals need to survive? What kind of weather conditions do you think occur on these mountains?

 

-They might look cold if snow is present. They might notice a lack of trees if the elevation is high enough. What kind of animals might live on a rocky surface? What happens to all that snow when it melts? It is an excellent source of drinking water. Mountains are formed due to the movement of earth's crust at a rate similar to how fast fingernails grow!

 

Source: http://www.farwestchina.com/2010/04/5-fantastic-mountain-scenes-in-xinjiang-china.html

Source: http://wallpaperstock.net/road-over-mountains_wallpapers_27958_2560x1600_1.html

 

 

2. Show them pictures of different mountain communities from around the world. How do these communities differ from ones they see in the United States? How are they similar? Why do you think this is?

 

-You can talk about what people need to survive. What are wants vs. needs? Why is it harder to get these things in the mountains? It is harder to build infrastructure and harder to grow crops on rocky soils.

Source: http://www.farwestchina.com/2010/04/5-fantastic-mountain-scenes-in-xinjiang-china.html

Source: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/7083599.html 

 



Holiday Lights at Cape Fear Botanical Garden

Source: http://www.diapers-n-heels.com/2011/11/holiday-lights.html



December 14th-December29th

"The interior glow of the Entry Pavilion in the Wyatt Visitors Pavilion Complex decorated in traditional holiday splendor welcomes visitors to festivities in the Garden. With thousands of lights, the Garden will be transformed into a sparkling wonderland that will offer visitors of all ages the occasion to embrace the outdoors during the holiday season! Seasonal treats, hot drinks and refreshments will be available."

Viewing time: 5:45-9:00

Complete details and tickets.

 

Also check out Nature Tales for preschool children:

"Our FREE popular preschool story and craft time, presented in partnership with Cumberland County Public Library, is held monthly on each first or third Saturday and the first Tuesday of the month.  The schedule is subject to change due to events or CFBG holidays. Each month we explore a different natural science theme appropriate for our Little Bloomers (ages two to six) but all ages are welcome!"

Schedule

Eco-Smart Book List

 

1. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. Ages 6+.

First published in 1971, The Lorax serves as an ecological warning of the overuse of resources and destruction of habitat in the style of Dr. Seuss with "brilliantly whimsical rhymes, delightfully original creatures, and weirdly undulating illustrations." Quoted from Amazon book review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. The Wartville Wizard by Don Madden. Ages 5+

Beautifully illustrated, this humorous story follows the town curmudgeon on his journey to rid his town of the trash it is being buried under.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. Ages 5+. Winner of the American Book Award

Book description from Amazon:

"Seeking adventure in faraway places, Miss Rumphius fulfills her dream and then sets out to make the world more beautiful."

 

 

 

 

4. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. Ages 3+

This book captures an adventurous spirit as a young girl and her father set out past her bedtime to go owling in the moonlight. This is an honest book with a realistic story line. There is no personification of animals, a rare find in the children's book world.  The book won the 1988 Caldecott Medal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Ages 1+

Another timeless classic, this story chronicles a young boy's lifelong relationship with a tree. Though the message is unclear, leaving it open for interpretation, the boy starts out in his innocence enjoying all the glory of the intact tree. As he ages, he visits the tree less often and when he does, he takes something of the tree and this continues until nothing is left but a stump. Though the boy keeps taking, he continues to be unhappy, until he is old and weary and no longer needs anything but a tree to rest upon. 

Looking for more ways to expose your children to nature?

 

Zack at Carolina North Forest, Chapel Hill

Photo: Mariah Grant

 

 

The North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs serves as the state clearinghouse for environmental education centers, programs, and events. It's your one-stop-shop for finding things to do with kids outdoors!

 

Visit our searchable database to find opportunities near yo: http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/ee-centers.html

Here are a few samples from mountains to sea:

Source: http://www.smartdestinations.com/design/images/blueridge/index.html

Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation was established to preserve Grandfather Mountain and to operate nature park, providing educational opportunities to the public. They have a museum, a zoo, and nature trails including a mile high swinging bridge! Visit their website to learn more about their naturalist and wildlife education, the Nature Museum, events, and planning your visit. http://www.grandfather.com/foundation/

Blue Jay Photo Source: http://www.real-estate-cary.com/blog/looking-for-an-outdoor-activity-in-the-raleigh-nc-area-visit-beautiful-blue-jay-point-county-park/
Blue Jay Point County Park, Wake County Parks & Recreation offers numerous opportunities for kids, families, and adults. Along with playgrounds, trails, and gardens, they also have an environmental education center with exhibits and structured learning activities. Not only do they have programs, for the DIY'ers they have Family Discovery Boxes available at no charge that include guided activities such as tree and plant identification and animal behavior observation. To learn more about their programs and events visit: http://www.wakegov.com/parks/bluejay/

Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington offers family programs in their learning center on Saturdays. The whole family can conduct experiments, explore artifacts, and play fun games. They also offer homeschool and summer programs for children. Explore their activities here: http://www.capefearmuseum.com/


These are just a few of the many wonderful places you can find on our website: http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/

Bird Chatter, Bears and Wolves: A Family Nature Outing Perhaps?

Migratory Waterfowl (Tundra Swans, Snow Geese) on Pungo Lake by John Chrystal
Source: http://www.pocosinlakesfriends.org/

 

My husband called it the "Serengeti of Birds", and it happens right here in our own state of North Carolina! Every winter between November and the end of February, North Carolina's natural lakes of the coastal plain serve as the landing pad for hundreds of thousands of migratory waterfowl, including tundra swans and snow geese. Lake Pungo of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Mattamuskeet are both wildlife refuge areas where the public can witness this spectacle of nature. While this is mostly an outing partaken by birders and nature enthusiasts, the area's abundance of wildlife, including black bears and red wolves, make for excellent nature experiences for the whole family. Pocosin Lakes in particular is managed to support an abundance of wildlife. It is like being at the zoo, except the animals aren't in pens! The sandy roads are covered with footprints, scat, and claw marks from various species of mammals and the continuous chatter of the migratory birds comes in stereo sound from the surrounding ponds and fields. The management prevents you from getting too close to the birds so as not to disrupt them, but the shear numbers provide a spectacle not to be missed. Certain areas appear covered in blankets of white birds.

Tundra Swan
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tundra_Swan

 

This eastern portion of our state is fairly remote. There isn't much in the way of amenities and the ranger stations are closed on the weekends. While I think it is a great opportunity to expose kids to nature like they have never seen before, it is definitely a trip that needs to be well planned. I would recommend going with a group. In fact this would be a perfect jaunt for a family nature club. Make sure you have detailed maps of the area and plenty of drinking water and food. Check the weather before going, because if it has rained recently, the refuge roads will be impassable. 

 

The wildlife is not dangerous as long as you exercise common sense. Stay in groups, don't allow children to go off by themselves, don't approach any of the wildlife and especially not baby animals, and definitely don't feed them. The wildlife will be more scared of you than you are of it and we want to keep it this way. Black bears only become a nuisance if they are acclimated to humans. This normally occurs due to feeding them which causes the bears to view us as a source of food rather than a threat. Bears at Pocosin have not been acclimated to humans so it is very important to follow the adages: "Leave no Trace" and "Take only photos, leave only footprints."

 

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife, http://www.nhptv.org/wild/pocosins.asp

There are some guided trips to these areas. Most have an age limit of 12 and up. Though younger children may not have the patience to move at the pace of a traditional "nature walk," these wildlife refuges still hold wonder and excitement that can be harnessed by younger children. Imagine seeing a fresh bear print that tells a story of a 400 lb bear recently passing through. Or better yet, seeing one in person, which is almost guaranteed at Pocosin. 

 

To learn more about Pocosin Lakes or to talk to a ranger, visit the website here.

 

For information on Mattamuskeet, visit the website here.

 

If you care to look into tours, you can check out these links Friends of Pocosin Lakes NWR or Museum of Natural Sciences.

Starry Nights and Meteor Showers

 

Every year around December 13th and 14th, one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year reigns over the night skies. First noted in 1860, the Geminids are named such because they appear to be emanating from the constellation Gemini. Every decade since 1860, when they made their sudden appearance, the intensity of the Geminids has been increasing. Starting as early as December 6th, Geminid meteors can be seen at a rate of about 1 per hour. On the peak nights of the 13th and 14th, they rain in at around 50-80 per hour.

Learn more about the event here. 

 

When looking east in the night sky, meteors will be radiating out from Gemini:

 

Source: http://meteorshowersonline.com/geminids.html



 

The Museum of Natural Science will be taking a trip to see the Geminids. For more information and to sign up, click here.

If you want to go it on your own, check out this guide.

 

In other starry news, Moorehead Planetarium's Holiday Concert Series starts tonight. Check out the series of events in Chapel Hill's Fulldome theater. Starts, constellations, and other celestial objects are projected onto the dome during the musical performances. They also have sky watching events at Jordan Lake and education series on the winter skies. See the holiday concert series here and other events here.

N.C. Receives "A" for Children's Environmental Health:

What Does this Mean?

Source: http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/asthma/child-asthma-pumps-questioned/5007101.article

 

 

Not to downplay improvements and positive news, but before we put any concerns to rest on children's environmental health, it is important to dig a little deeper and understand the full scope of this report.

 

The North Carolina Institute of Medicine and Action for Children released their annual Child Health Report Card on Monday. The report shows improvement in some areas for North Carolina's 2.3  million children and a downward trend in others. It analyzes 15 areas of child health including heath insurance coverage, children in poverty, childhood mortality, tobacco and substance abuse and others. The lowest ratings were in percentage of children in poverty, childhood obesity, and alcohol and substance abuse that all received D's. In better news, North Carolina received an A rating for environmental health of children and the trend is shown to be improving in that area. After seeing this report in the news, it warranted further inspection as to what exactly is environmental health.

 

The report measured environmental health on two fronts, lead levels in blood testing and percent of children diagnosed with asthma. While it is worth celebrating that less than 0.4% of children have elevated levels of lead in their blood, this is the national trend given that it has been phased out of gasoline since 1995 and banned in household paint since 1978. On the asthma front, the report shows that 17.5% of children have ever been diagnosed and the number of hospitalizations due to asthma is on the decline. Asthma has been very directly linked to air pollution, especially particulates due to the burning of fossil fuels and household mold due to poor air circulation. This makes asthma a good indicator of environmental health. The report does not describe how the grade marking is determined for each category of health. It is worth noting that 17% is nearly one in every five children and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as well as a study issued by the National Institute of Health state that North Carolina is in the midst of an asthma epidemic.

 

While the North Carolina report used two indicators, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designates four areas for environmental health measures in children. The four areas are asthma, lead, childhood cancer, and developmental disabilities, many of which are linked to environmental health. In the case of cancer, it is hard to measure in children because many of the effects of exposure to hazardous substances don't show up until later in life. The EPA identifies the following environmental hazards to children's health: arsenic, asbestos, asthma triggers, benzine, carbon monoxide, diesel, dioxins, drinking water contaminants, endocrine disruptors, formaldehyde, household chemicals, lead, mercury, molds, nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulate matter, pesticides, plastics, PBDEs, PCBs, radon, second hand smoke, sulfur dioxide, UV radiation and volatile organic compounds. Out of this long list of hazards, only a few of them are linked to the two environmental health indicators that were measured in the N.C. Child Health Report Card. Information on all of these hazards and measures you can take to protect your children can be found here.

 

Developmental disabilities are also hard to directly link to environmental health, but there is a growing body of research. For instance, a report that just came out from researchers at the University of Southern California showed that children living in homes with high levels of air pollution from car exhaust fumes were three times more likely to develop autism. Socioeconomic factors and other variables were taken into account in the analysis of data. This study and others like it suggest the need to develop a fuller understanding of how pollution affects the developing fetus. Source:  http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-autism-traffic-pollution-20121126,0,970458.story

 

The issue of environmental health and developmental disabilities is further highlighted in pregnancy guidelines from the Mayo Clinic, National Institute of Health, and others, that recommend limits on seafood consumption due to mercury exposure and the danger to fetuses.

 

While it is great that we received an A on environmental health for children and improvements are being made, it is important to realize that this doesn't necessarily tell the full story. For more information on children's environmental health and a more comprehensive look at environmental hazards, visit the EPA's web page http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm

 

The full Child Health Report Card can be found here: http://riversdeveloper.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/2012_CHRC-112812.pdf

 

 

Are you stuffed out? EcoSmart Holiday Ideas

 

Source: http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/1688784/

 

It may be hard to resist the latest and greatest toys on the market, especially when it has been advertised for the last couple months and your child is chomping at the bit to get one. Some of these toys have been engineered according to the latest research on childhood development and others have just been cleverly advertised. Not that it is wrong to participate in the market of goods, as this helps drive our economy, but we do have to ask ourselves, are our kids really better off with more stuff? The most fun I have ever seen a group of 5 year olds have was when their teacher gave them a bunch of cardboard boxes and set them loose on the playground. Within a matter of seconds they were organizing themselves into playgroups; one group played house, another morphed their boxes into a train while others declared theirs a car. The second most fun I have ever seen a 5 year old have is playing with shaving cream spread out on a table. Unfortunately I only have anecdotal evidence to back this up at the time, but I have just seen so many toy graveyards in homes with young children.

 

In case you are looking for a change, running out of room in your house, or just don't have the money to spend this holiday, here are some alternative ideas to buying more stuff. They also happen to be more ecofriendly because buying new manufactured goods uses more resources in the making and delivery and chances are, will end up in a landfill. Many of these ideas are adapted from http://voices.yahoo.com/top-eco-friendly-christmas-presents-kids-4832026.html?cat=57.

 

1. Instead of goods, give services. You can sign your kids up for classes or lessons that they would be interested in or make a coupon book of fun activities. For example, you could give them a coupon for a movie they have been begging to see, a trip to the zoo, a stay up late night, a have a sleepover night, chocolate chip pancakes for dinner, etc!

 

Source: http://www.resumebucketblog.com/humor/top-5-gift-ideas-for-the-unemployed/

2. Rummage through your toy graveyard and host a holiday toy exchange. This is a good way to build community with your neighbors, friends, or even your office place. Unless something is broken, chances are it won't make any difference to your child, especially if they are under 5.

 

Source: http://bmeadow4p.wordpress.com/category/rainforest-topic/

3. Give the gift of giving. Find an organization in which you can adopt an animal or part of a rainforest, or provide for a family and set up a pen pal relationship for your child. Search for something that you can actively involve your child in so they can take ownership and get excited about it. Also,consider buying gifts from companies that give proceeds to charities.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Buy goods from eco friendly stores that offer recycled products and less resource intensive products.

 

 5. Wrap your gifts in recycled wrap. Use newspaper, brown paper bags, used computer paper, old pillow cases etc. and spruce it up with magazine photo cut outs or old photos from around the house. It can be just as beautiful and more meaningful! 

 

 

Gift wrap photo sources: http://www.enviromom.com/2008/12/alternative-gift-wrap.html

 

 



Free Winter Preschool Nature Series in Fayetteville

 

Tuesday, December 4 1-2pm "Insects"

Wednesday, January 23 1-2pm "Mammals"

Wednesday, February 6 1-2pm "Plants"

 

Source: http://www.skinnymoose.com/moosedroppings/category/archives/small-game/page/2/

 

If you live in the Fayetteville area, check out these free nature series for preschool aged children. These programs are specially geared for younger audiences and will feature hands-on, kid-friendly activities that teach about wintertime nature. Classes will be held at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center next door to Lake Rim Park. Space is limited. Call to register by day before the program. Ages 3-6 with an adult; 1-2 pm; Free. Event Phone (910) 424-6134 or (910) 433-1018

 

The John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center is the only education center of it's kind in North Carolina. Center instructors teach a variety of aquatic programs to learners of all ages and also offer fishing clinics. 

 

For more events check out our calendar.

For Environmental Education Centers near you, check out our directory.



Craft Smart

 

With your kids out of school, hopefully you find yourself with some extra family time this week. Earlier posts have given some ideas of things to do outside, but in case the weather doesn't cooperate, here are some ideas for indoor fun. I complied some of my favorite ideas for crafting with recycled materials from other parent blogs.  Click on the links below the photos for detailed instructions.

 

1. This is for ages 2-6+ and includes all sorts of learning opportunities such as hand eye coordination, gravity, angles, problem solving, etc. 

http://www.learnwithplayathome.com/2012/09/cardboard-tube-marble-run.html

 

 

 

 

2. Fun with leaves! Ages 2+ What a great way to include a nature walk and a craft experience. The author talks about collecting the leaves and having the child describe what they look like, i.e. an umbrella, a heart, etc., what they feel like, what they smell like, etc. This is a great way to evoke the senses, develop vocabulary, and make connections. 

 

http://www.mylittlebookcase.com.au/activities/activity-fun-with-leaves/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Invitation to paint, using recycled materials! Ages 2-6+ Instead of giving your kids direction on how to paint, give them materials to work with, a surface they can get paint all over, and let them go to town.

 

 

http://www.learnwithplayathome.com/2012/10/invitation-to-paint-with-recycled.html


 

 

 

 

4. Make your own game out of recycled milk bottles. Ages 5+ and you may want to wield the scissors. This will keep the kids entertained for hours while improving hand-eye coordination.

 

 

http://laughingkidslearn.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/milk-bottle-rackets.html

 



 

 

 

5. Get started on those handmade presents! Use recycled glass jars and turn them into beautiful vases with swirled paint! Ages 3+

 

 

http://www.mylittlebookcase.com.au/activities/handmade-gifts-swirled-glass-vases/

 

 6. Recycled shoebox diorama! Have kids talk about their favorite places or a scene that sticks out in their mind; it may even be your own backyard! Challenge them to make a diorama out of recycled materials to represent their world.

http://www.planetpals.com/craft_recycle_shoebox.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Outdoor Happenings over the Holiday

Source: http://niagarastreet.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/bday-1024x532.jpg

Here are some ideas for getting outdoors over the Thanksgiving holiday and working off some of that stuffing!

 

1. Visit a state park. North Carolina State Parks are open all week, including Thursday!  Lake James State Park, near Morganton, has family events on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday at 10am, join ranger Nora Coffey for crafts and story time all about the Wild Turkey.  On Thursday, at 9am join ranger Jaime Cameron for a nature hike on the Fox Den Loop Trail.  Take a look at plants, animals, and other natural features along the hike. Complete Details and Registration

 

For more state park events and to find a state park near you, visit: http://ncparks.gov/Education/events.php

 

2. Nature photography.  On Saturday, the 24th, the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is having a nature photography course for kids from 3pm-4pm.  Complete Details and Registration.

 

Source: http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/PhotoZone/

If you don't live near the Outer Banks, you can still explore the outdoors with your kids through the lens of a camera.  Early morning and late afternoon before sunset, are the best times to capture good outdoor photos.  When the sun is low on the horizon, your pictures will pop! But if it is a cloudy day, these are the best days for taking photos and you can go out anytime. National Geographic has some nature photo tips for kids here.

 

3. Create a backyard habitat. As the temperature drops and many plants go dormant, wildlife has less options for food, especially in areas where much of the natural habitat has been replaced by houses and manicured lawns. Reduce your home's footprint by providing acceptable habitat for wildlife in your own yard! On Sunday the 25th, from 3pm-4pm, Lake James State Park is having a class on Landscaping for Wildlife. Emphasis will be on planting native vegetation that provides habitat for wildlife to rest, refuel, and raise their young.

 

If you can't make it to the class or want to start earlier in the week, the National Wildlife Federation has great tips on their website for how to create a wildlife friendly garden here.

 

4. Visit an EE Center near you. The North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs, keeps a directory of Environmental Education Centers across the state.  They are searchable by map, zip code, and alphabetically.  Find a center near you and then visit their website to learn about their hours and what they have to offer. Visit the directory here.

 

Eco-Smart Thanksgiving: It's not gobbledygook!

 

The Thanksgiving Skinny!
This is not going to be a history lesson.  In short, Thanksgiving emerged out of a celebration of fall harvest.  It nicely lends itself to a more eco-friendly meal because the common foods associated with it, also happen to be appropriately seasonal.  Meaning many of them can be bought locally, especially in North Carolina.  Here are some tips for a more eco-friendly Thanksgiving:

Source: http://www.thedailygreen.com/

1. Try and buy as many of your ingredients at a local farmer's market.  Common this time of year are, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie pumpkins, garlic, green beans, collards, chicken or turkey, homemade jams and relishes, etc.

2. Don't use disposable dinnerware.  I know it's tempting, but instead think about delegating the clean up work.  Make a game out of it with your kids.  You could have a chain of duites, with one person clearing, another washing, one drying, and a fourth putting them up.

3. Don't overeat, and don't throw away your leftovers!  It's a common trait among mothers in my family to try and push leftovers.  "Someone's got to finish this last bite of mashed potatoes so it doesn't go to waste!" Eating more food than your body needs is just as wasteful as throwing it away, and it's unhealthy!  Save your leftovers and compost the scraps.



Source: http://www.treehugger.com/
 

4. Use your leftover turkey or chicken bones to make a delicious soup stock for a winter's day or nourishment if one of your children gets a cold.

5.  Spend the extra time with your kids taking a nature walk or going to visit a local nature center.  Collect interesting things along the way and then have a show and tell when you return home. What did your children find?  Why was it interesting to them? What did they notice about it? What is its place in the ecosystem?  Is it habitat, food, nutrients for soil, etc.? 

6. And finally...

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks, right? Thank you microbes!
It is easy to get wrapped up in our lives going from home to car to work to grocery store and back to home again, and forget that we are all so intimately tied to the earth. In my family, before we dive in to our feast on Thanksgiving day, we go around the table and each name one thing that we are thankful for. This year I might say "microbes!" Without beneficial microbes in soil, and this includes fungi, protazoa, and yes, the ever feared bacteria, we literally would not be enjoying a Thanksgiving meal, or any meal for that matter. In one teaspoon of healthy soil, there are more microbes than there are people on earth! Simply put, without microorganisms in soil, plants would not have sufficient nutrients to grow. Microbes take decaying organic matter and recycle it into nutrients that can be used by new plants. Specialized microbes fix nitrogen gas from the atmosphere, a form that is useless to plants, and convert it into a form that can be absorbed by root tissues of plants. And this all feeds into the web of life. Most of us will have a form of meat on our table, one that says "gobble, gobble" perhaps. Being omnivores, not only do fowl rely on plants for their nutrients, but they also eat critters that reside in the soil. Have you ever seen a chicken on the hunt and peck? Chickens and wild turkeys will eat insects such as fire ants, ticks, grasshoppers, fleas, and more, making them great for pest control. Another reason to be thankful! So consider taking some time this Thanksgiving to discuss the web of life with your family and appreciate all the creatures that have made it possible for your meal.



Source: http://enviroinnovators.com/html/soil_microbes.html

Speaking of America Recycles Day...

Check out this event in Wake County on Saturday, November 17th:



Box used to cover up a methane well at the Durham County landfill, which extracts methane from the decomposing rubbish. South Wake Landfill has future plans for this process.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/02/21/1871558/
south-wake-landfill-waste-to-be.html

We still have room available for our Wake County Solid Waste Landfill Tours this Saturday, November 17. Come get a behind-the-scenes look at where your household trash goes and see the recycling collection areas the county offers to its citizens. Tours are free and last 1-hour. County transportation is provided and all are welcome! (Children age 5 and up only please).  
The tours will be held at the South Wake Landfill at 6300 Old Smithfield Rd in Apex near Hwy-55 and US-1. Kids will play a landfill BINGO game and get prizes. (Adults will get some goodies too!)

Tour times available:
11:30am - 12:30pm
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Please email or call ahead of time to reserve your seat (vans have a 14-passenger maximum).
Contact Becky Dunstan at the number below or sign up online at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LFToursFY12

Becky Dunstan
Feed the Bin Program Coordinator
N.C. Certified Environmental Educator
Wake County Environmental Services
Office: (919)856-2602
Fax:     (919)856-7407
http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/schools

Gather up the kids and your recyclables and check out America Recycles Day!

 

Thursday, November 15th

 

Recycled computer motherboards and monitors make up this

installation by Susan Stockwell

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/16/world/environmental-green-art/index.html

 

Recycling not only reduces waste going to the landfill, but also reduces the pressure on our natural resources.  November 15th has been deemed America Recycles Day to raise awareness and encourage events in the name of recycling.  This is a very organized movement with multiple events happening all across the state and country.  Not only are these events educational, but many of them are practical and helpful and involve recycling your less than common household items.

 

On the main page, you can enter in your zip code and find all the events near you.  A search near Raleigh, showed a dozen events from paper shredding to electronics disposal.  Some people are holding creative events such as swap shops.  Reuse is even more environmentally friendly than recycling!  Visit the site and find an event near you: http://americarecyclesday.org/ 

 

For many, we already have the knack for recycling glass, plastic, and everyday household items.  But what do we do with old paint, electronics, and other hazardous waste?  There are regulations against throwing these things in the landfill.  The website for America Recycles Day has an excellent search tool in which you can enter your zip code and choose your household item that you need to dispose of, and it will send you links to places where you can take these items near your home!  Visit that site here: http://americarecyclesday.org/find-recycling