Get Ready For Some Leopold Fun!

There are two excellent Aldo Leopold events in Madison going on this week. Make sure you don't miss out on these wonderful opportunities to learn about his work and life while having some fun along the way. 

First, Join us on Saturday, March 5 for Leopold Discovery Day!  

Parents - Be Sure to Bring Your Cameras
for the Dress Like Leopold Station!

The event will take place at the brand new Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery (330 North Orchard St. Madison, WI 53715) Click here for directions. The event is free and open to the public. Bring the whole family to celebrate the life and legacy of Wisconsin’s premier conservationist, Aldo Leopold!

Hands-on activities, games and scavenger hunts throughout the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery will highlight some of Aldo’s favorite pastimes such as, tree identification, fishing, 

phenology and much, more including: 

• Search for birds in the Town Center Atrium trees!
• Go on an animal track identification hunt around the Mesozoic Garden!
• Enjoy author Nancy Nye Hunt's reading of her new children’s book, “Aldo Leopold's Shack: Nina's Story”!
• Dress up and pose for pictures at the "Look Like Leopold" station!
• Watch a screening of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center's "Learning from the Land" documentary and much, much more!

Leopold Discovery Day is sure to be a day your family will cherish, so mark your calendars now! 

Next up, the Green Fire premiere is coming to Madison! 

The first full-length, high-definition documentary film ever made about legendary environmentalist Aldo Leopold, Green Fire highlights Leopold’s extraordinary career, tracing how he shaped and influenced the modern environmental movement. Leopold remains relevant today, inspiring projects all over the country that connect people and land. Watch the trailer here. 

The documentary will Premiere on Friday, March 4th and Sunday, March 6th at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. Due to popular demand, however, the event is already sold out. There is a second chance to see the movie on Sunday March 6th at the Barrymore Theater. Doors open at 6:30. Make sure you purchase tickets ahead of time to make sure you don't miss out!

When we see land as a community to which we belong, 

we may begin to use it with love and respect

Banish the Winter Blahs With Family Fun!

Make a Snowsquirrel!

Spring is on the wing, but here in Wisconsin we're still in the heart of Winter with snow in the forecast for the weekend!

Now is not the time to hole up in front of the TV! Get active and kick the winter blahs with these ideas that will get you and your family off of the couch and onto the trails!

• Build a snow sculpture - try a snowman, snowbear, snowsquirrel or build a fort!  Not only will you and your kids have a blast creating the snow art, but you will all get a great workout as well!

• Make a snow painting! Mix food coloring, water and a spray bottle to make snow paint and use your imagination to paint an outdoor masterpiece, or paint your snowman bright colors!

•  Start a family Weekly Winter Walk! Pick a day each week to hike through the snow together - a great way to enjoy nature and one another!

• Try animal tracking - here are some common tracks to get you started:

Tracking Fun for the Whole Family!

Whoo..Whoo...It's You! Wonder Bugs Wednesday!

Emma Test-driving the Owl Mask!

Whoo..whoo? It’s Miss Tara here to say that we had a hoot yesterday and today! The brief puppet show got some laughs when the silly Blue Jay thought a pine cone was a mouse!  Then, we set up stations for the wonder bugs to explore owl sight, owl feathers & flight, owl pellets, owl talons and prey, and owl books. There was also one area off to the side where wonder bugs could sort the puppets for whether or not they are nocturnal. The biggest fun each day was wearing the Great Horned Owl masks, playing with the wings, trying on the talons and posing for pictures!

The outside hike on Tuesday was a bit longer since the sun was shining and it felt warmer. Plus, there were lots of tracks to find and many mouse tunnels to explore and follow! On Wednesday we found two piles of owl pellets under the big hickory tree. Nobody missed out though because the owl pellets were the ones I made for eating or tearing apart!  We also followed raccoon tracks under and around the pine trees.

“Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” I do, that’s who, and snack was a big hit again this week. With our masks on we got to eat “mice” that ate the fruit. We made a food chain! And the “slices of mices” were yummy; banana bread and apple bread decorated with mouse faces and tails.

By the time the wonder bugs left each day they were brimming with knowledge! Owls hunt at night, cough up owl pellets, have huge eyes that don’t move, fly silently, and are mostly feathers. But that’s not all!  Is there anything you learned that you want to share? Are there any pictures that you would like to share (since I forgot my camera)?  If so, please pass along your facts and pictures to our usual blogger, ALNC's Development & Communications Coordinator, Alanna. You can also check out this site to view some pictures from a dedicated fellow naturalist and super mom who brings her kids to Wonder Bugs.

And finally, wouldn’t it be neat to go owling together some time? With night coming still relatively early in the day, this could be a reality for our wonder bugs. We could read Owl Moon, hike and drink cocoa! If you are interested contact Miss Tara to discuss possible options.

Whoo..whoo..whoo,

Miss Tara
 
Give a hoot about these books:

Night Science for Kids by Terry Krautwurst (ISBN 1-57990-411-4) The owl section will help you continue your owling at home. Plus there are a lot of great ideas for things to do when the sun (but not the fun) goes down. You will need to adapt for younger wonder bugs, but it is worth the effort!

The Book of North American Owls by Helen Roney Sattler (ISBN 0-395-60524-5) This is a neat book for focusing on one small group of birds. The first few chapters discuss all things owls followed by descriptions, drawings and range maps for each North American owl species.


What’s next? Fox Trot! Tuesday/Wednesday March 8/9, 2011

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, but around here it’s the fox you have to look out for. Join us for a fascinating foxy adventure!

FREE Family Event Next Saturday!!

Save the Date for ALNC's FREE Upcoming 

Family Event, Leopold Discovery Day!

Parents - Be Sure to Bring Your Cameras
for the Dress Like Leopold Station!!!!!

Date/Time: Saturday, March 5, 2011, 10 am - Noon
 

Location: Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery (330 North Orchard St. Madison, WI 53715)
Click here for directions.

Registration: No pre-registration required. For more information, click here or call 608-221-0404 x1.

Fee: FREE
   
Bring the whole family to celebrate the life and legacy of Wisconsin’s premier conservationist, Aldo Leopold! Hands-on activities, games and scavenger hunts throughout the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery will highlight some of Aldo’s favorite pastimes such as, tree identification, fishing, phenology and much, much more.

• Search for birds in the Town Center Atrium trees!
• Go on an animal track identification hunt around the Mesozoic Garden!
• Enjoy author Nancy Nye Hunt's reading of her new children’s book, “Aldo Leopold's Shack: Nina's Story”!
• Dress up and pose for pictures at the "Look Like Leopold" station!
• Watch a screening of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center's "Learning from the Land" documentary and much, much more!

Leopold Discovery Day is sure to be a day your family will cherish, so mark your calendars now! 

 

Hope to see you there!

Join Us @ Kid's Expo this Sat & Sun!

Join us this Saturday and Sunday at the Madison Kid's Expo!  

Kid's Expo is a one-stop-shop for the community to learn about family-friendly events, businesses, nonprofit organizations, tourist destinations, programs, products and services in the Madison area. The event will also feature entertainment areas where local groups (dance, martial arts, gymnastics, etc.) will perform.

We'll be there with a fun craft station where kids can make an animal track bookmark and color a "Where's Aldo" poster to take home!!! We'll be at booth #605 -- stop by!

Where: Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center
When: Saturday, February 19 & 20, 10 am - 4 pm Price: $2 per adult; $1 per child (children 2 and under are free)


Plus, click here to get discounted tickets courtesy of Charter!

Hope to see you all there!

Obama Says to Put Down the Remote and Get Outside!

Yesterday, President Barack Obama announced the administration's action plan, under the America's Great Outdoors initiative, to achieve lasting conservation outdoor spaces that power our nation's economy, shape our culture, and build our outdoor traditions.

The plan released will establish a 21st century Conservation Service Corps to engage young Americans in public lands and water restoration; fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund;  and extend the tax deduction for conservation easement donations on private lands beyond 2011, among other measures.

Here a video of his inspiring speech about the importance of connecting children to nature:

Wonder Bugs Wednesday!

Is spring here already? The weather this week certainly makes it seem that way so why not get outside and enjoy it? A good place to start is with the moon. It will be full on the 18^th- that’s just 2 days away!

Go for a walk and see if you can see the moon in the daylight sky. Can you also find it at night either on a walk (this would be really neat to do under a full moon), from the porch or through your windows? Encourage your child to wonder about the moon by asking “I wonder why” questions.  Here a couple of examples: I wonder why the moon is full some days and not others. I wonder why the moon is out during the day. I wonder what the moon is made of.  Allow your child time to wonder aloud; the important part is the thought process and not the actual thoughts.

Back inside you can talk about waxing and waning of the moon for the older wonder bug(s) in your family.  Make a visual by cutting two circles out of thick paper; one should be white-ish to present the moon and the other should be black like the night sky. Place the dark circle over the white circle and slowly move it from new moon (all dark sky) to full moon (whole white circle). You can also play with flashlights and a couple of different sized balls (tennis and soccer for example) to show how the earth blocks the sun’s rays for part of every month. Have one person hold the flashlight steady to represent the sun. Have another person hold the two balls in different positions in front of the flashlight beam and watch what happens!  Remember to keep the terminology to a minimum and allow your wonder bugs to explore and have fun!

The younger wonder bugs in particular will probably have fun playing with the phases of the moon cut out of fruits (3-D).  If you take two to three small apples or potatoes you can cut crescent moons, half moons, or any phase in-between. Don’t forget to leave one whole to represent the full moon. Allow your wonder bugs time to play (and eat) the moon shapes.  Older children can put the pieces in order to show the progression of the moon phases. 

Click here for a website with all sorts of fun moon information. 

Search your local library for stories about the moon and enjoy reading about the moon! (We enjoy reading Alice in Wonderland because during some parts of the month you can see the Cheshire cat’s grin in the night sky.)

I hope to see you next week at Whoo, Whoo, It’s you!

Enjoy our honey of a moon,

Miss Tara

Wonder Bugs Wed: Love Birds!

Love Birds - Wonder Bugs February 8 & 9, 2011

                

Hello! Did you ever have one of those weeks where nothing seems to go right? This was one of them for me. Despite my floundering*, parents and wonder bugs had a great time learning about birds, gizzards, and Wisconsin’s state bird the American Robin. As gizzard wizards we crushed up some seeds and fruits. We showed our love of robins by making some robin valentines. We enjoyed a brisk walk outside on both days, but Wednesday’s group had the extra added fun of seeing some puppet birds hiding along the trail. Our homemade binoculars were a real hit! Snack was an odd mix of food birds eat (seeds and fruits and worms!) and gizzard contents.  I cooked brown rice with water and some coconut milk and then added dried fruits; the effect was supposed to mimic what food might look like in a gizzard.  We certainly had a blast loving birds this week!

*Note: A huge thank you to the love birds’ attendants for going with the flow and graciously “allowing” me an “off” week. Wonder Bugs, young and younger, truly are an exemplary group of learners!

- Miss Tara

Love Birds at home, too:

Keep bird watching in your own backyard. Visit this site for tips on attracting birds all year round.

If you ever purchase a whole bird for roasting, check the giblets bag for the gizzard and examine it. Don’t be shy! Click here to see the diagram of a bird’s digestive system. 

Order an IdentiFlyer and learn to identify your flying friends by the sounds that they make! We used these on both days and it was amazing how exciting the wonder bugs found it. This website describes the company and numerous IdentiFlyer products as well as hints and tips for attracting birds.  Plus you can use the “Stores Near You” option to find local retailers. Check it out!

Love birds in book form:

Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song by Les Beletsky 

Bird Talk Overheard by Ann Jonas (ISBN 0-688-14174-9) This is a super funny book for kids at heart!

The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: a Birder’s Journal by Sallie Wolf  This inspirational book has some beautiful poetry and artwork; I shared one short excerpt in class. 

Unbeatable Beaks by Stephen R. Swinburne (ISBN 0-8050-4802-2) This was our snack-time story.

United Tweets of America by Hudson Talbott This is a humorous book in words and in illustrations, although wonder bugs probably will not understand some of the play on words. It is still a fun introduction into the concept of state birds and the 50 states!

Next Wonder Bugs: Whoo? Whoo? It’s you!  Tuesday OR Wednesday, February 22 or 23, 2011 

Whoo is this lesson all about? Owls! Whoo is coming? You! Discover owl habits, pellets and lore. Join us for a hooting good time filled with songs and games and whoo knows what else.

Have fun birding!

Don't Miss Owl You Need is Love THIS Sunday!

Stop searching for that perfect Valentine's Day gift for you family - we've got the perfect one lined up! This Valentine's Day, treat your family and loved ones to a fun-filled afternoon to celebrate Wisconsin’s true winter romantics--owls at ALNC's Owl You Need is Love program at our Black Earth Campus (just 20 minutes from the West side of Madison), this Sunday, February 13th from 1:00 - 3:00 pm!

Owls court through the cold, dark winter evenings and by Valentine’s Day, they are often sitting on a nest of eggs!  Celebrate these winter romantics at this exciting program for all ages where we'll:

• Hike the snow-covered trails with binoculars to see Wisconsin's other winter bird residents!
• Learn to recognize different owl calls!
• Meet a live owl from the Henry Vilas Zoo!
• Make an owl craft to take home and much more!

The event is $6/person or $20/family for ALNC Members and $7/person or $25/family for Non-Members.

Space is limited, so please pre-register. Click Here or call 608-221-0404 ext. 1 to register today!

Volunteers Needed!

This winter/spring, ALNC will be participating in two exciting events for families and children, the Madison Kid’s Expo and Isthmus Green Day.  At each event, we will have an informational booth and children’s activity. These outreach opportunities are a great way for us to reach new audiences and let area families know about the great programs we offer, but we can’t do it alone. 

Volunteers are needed to:

• Introduce people to ALNC programs
• Hand out ALNC brochures and promotional materials
• Encourage families to sign up for the ALNC mailing list
• Supervise a simple children’s craft activity

When we need your help:

Madison Kid’s Expo
In the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center

Saturday, February 19
9:45 am to 12:45 pm
12:30 pm to 4:15 pm  
           

 Sunday, February 20

9:45 am – 12:45 pm   

Isthmus Green Day
at the Monona Terrace

Saturday, April 16

8:45 am – 12:45 pm          

12:30 pm – 3:30 pm                   

3:15 pm – 5:15 pm           

We will provide you with training ahead of time and materials during the event, as well as instructions on driving, parking, and other logistics. Don’t feel that you have to be an expert on all of our programs to help out any event! Your enthusiasm is the most important thing you can bring to these events!

# of Volunteers Needed: 2 people per shift 

If you are interested in volunteering for any of these opportunities, please email Alanna Medearis, Development & Communications Coordinator at devcomm@naturenet.com or call 608-216-9374.

New Wonder Bugs Wednesdays!!

As many of you know, ALNC runs a Preschool Program called Wonder Bugs.  Starting next week, each Wednesday our blog will have a guest blogger, Miss Tara who teaches the Wonder Bugs programs.  Each Wonder Bugs Wednesday post will be dedicated to that week's programs and feature tips and tricks to keep your youngster learning about nature after the program!

Here is an intro and preview post from Miss Tara summing up this week's Wonder Bugs programs:

Hi Wonder Bugs!

This week's program was Off the Beaten Track. Both groups enjoyed long trips outside where we searched for animal tracks and found some! We sang a couple of songs and made tracks of our own!  Snack time was a hit as usual- tracker cracker snackers- Homemade wheat crackers with cream cheese and various toppings including julienned carrots, carrot rounds, raisins, and pepitas. Students had fun snacking and making 3-D tracks on their crackers!
 

Here are some suggested books to enjoy at home:

Animal Tracks of Minnesota and Wisconsin by Ian Sheldon and Tamara Eder (ISBN-13: 978-1-55105-250-2) This is a great mini-field guide for our area.

Wild Tracks: a Guide to Nature’s Footprints by Jim Arnosky (ISBN-13: 978-1-4027-3985-9) This great book has life-size prints of various groups of animals.

How to Be a Nature Detective by Millicent E. Selsam (ISBN: 0-06-023448-2) This book reads like a picture book but is loaded with great information on tracking!

Next Wonder Bugs: Whoo? Whoo? It’s you!  Tuesday OR Wednesday, February 8 or 9, 2011

Whoo is this lesson all about? Owls! Whoo is coming? You! Discover owl habits, pellets and lore. Join us for a hooting good time filled with songs and games and whoo knows what else. Hope to see you there!

Happy Tracking,

Miss Tara

Owl You Need is Love!!!

“A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke;
The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren't we like that wise old bird?”

This Valentine's Day, treat your family and loved ones to a fun-filled afternoon to celebrate Wisconsin’s true winter romantics--owls at ALNC's Owl You Need is Love program at our Black Earth Campus (just 20 minutes from the West side of Madison), next Sunday, February 13th from 1:00 - 3:00 pm!

Owls court through the cold, dark winter evenings and by Valentine’s Day, they are often sitting on a nest of eggs!  Celebrate these winter romantics at this exciting program for all ages where we'll:

• Hike the snow-covered trails with binoculars to see Wisconsin's other winter bird residents!
• Learn to recognize different owl calls!
• Meet a live owl from the Henry Vilas Zoo!
• Make an owl craft to take home and much more!

The event is $6/person or $20/family for ALNC Members and $7/person or $25/family for Non-Members.

Space is limited, so please pre-register by Thursday, February 10. Click Here or call 608-221-0404 ext. 1 to register today!

Let it Snow!!

We're about to get hit with a huge blizzard, but this isn't the first time for us Wisconsinites! Our state's blustery history includes storms with snow drifts up to 20 feet tall! That's the equivalent of six White-Tailed Deer, our state's official Wildlife Animal, stacked up high! Click here to see photos of some of WI's biggest blizzards!
 

Portage circa 1875

Here are some of Wisconsin’s Top Historic Blizzards (courtesy of the National Weather Service):

1. March 2-4, 1881: Southern/Central – Blizzard – 2 to 4 feet of snow. Drifts to 20 feet.
2. January 15, 1887: Southern/Central – Snowstorm – 2 feet of snow. Huge drifts.
3. December 27-28, 1904: Southern/Central – Heavy snow/ice. 26 inches of snow at Neillsville in Clark County still stands as the 24-hour state record.    
4. January 28-30, 1947 - Southern / Central - Blizzard - 10 to 27 inches. Drifts to 15 feet. Roads blocked.
5. March 4-5, 1976 - South / East - One of the worst natural disasters to hit Wisconsin in history. This incredible ice storm completely snapped hundreds of utility poles, downed thousands of power and telephone lines and totally destroyed many trees. Some ice accumulations ranged up to a phenomenal five inches in diameter on wires and limbs of trees. The excessive ice accumulations were in part caused by thunderstorms that rapidly built up the ice with high winds gusting to 60 mph

Racine circa 1910

 Pretty amazing! Wishing you all a safe and happy (anticipated!) snowday! 


P.S. If anyone has any impressive snow photos to share, post them here or email them to me at devcomm@naturenet.com.