Throw the First Pitch Contest Ends in 4 Days!

Is your child a baseball lover and a nature nut? Have them enter ALNC’s “Favorite Place”Art & Poetry Contest Today and they could throw the first pitch at a Mallards Game!!!

ALNC is hosting an art and poetry contest for kids, ages 6 to 12, to show off their talents while entering to win the honor of throwing the first pitch at ALNC’s Night with the Madison Mallards on Thursday August 4th! Click here to find out more about ALNC's Night with the Madison Mallards!

In addition to throwing the first pitch, the contest winner will receive an ALNC t-shirt and an ALNC  Complimentary Family Membership! But hurry, the contest ENDS this coming Monday, July 25th at Noon.

To Enter:

• Draw, paint, or write a poem/prose about your favorite nature spot—your backyard, a park, ALNC, or anywhere else that is special to you!
• Fill out the Contest Entry Form, available here or at ALNC's front desk.
• Submit the Contest Entry Form and artwork or poetry/prose by email, mail or in person before noon on July 25th.

Email Submissions to: devcomm@naturenet.com

OR Mail / Drop off Submissions to:

    ALNC Mallards Contest
    Aldo Leopold Nature Center
    330 Femrite Dr, Monona, WI 53716

Contest Guidelines:

• The contest begins Wednesday July 6th; all entries are due by noon Monday July 25th.
• Pieces will be judged on creativity and relevance to the contest’s theme.
• All written submissions are limited to 300 words.
• Any material submitted becomes property of ALNC and will not be returned.
• The contest winner will be notified by email on July 26th 2011.
  

Don't Forget to Join Us for the Big Game!!
ALNC’s Night with the Madison Mallards
Activities Begin at 5:30; Game Begins at 7:05 pm
Thursday, August 4 at Warner Park

Let’s play ball for ALNC! Take your family out to the ballgame to watch the Madison Mallards square off against the Green Bay Bullfrogs! Come early to make your own duck mask, learn "how ducks make a living," compete in a duck walk race, meet Maynard the Duck and more!

Tickets are just $10! Plus, $2 from every ticket purchased through ALNC's portal will be donated to ALNC! To purchase your ticket, click here or visit http://www.mallardsgroups.com. Use the code “ALDO” to receive the discount.

Discover Puzzling Critters in the Aldo Leopold Nature Center's Pond!

Can you identify a fingernail clam, water strider or tadpole? Bring your family to get up close and personal with some of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center's pond residents at Puzzling Pond Critters, this Saturday, July 23, from 9:30 - 11:30 AM!

In this exciting exploratory program, you'll:  

• Enjoy a naturalist led trek to the pond!
• Catch and study critters that live, breathe and eat underwater!
• Learn to use nets and bug boxes and much more!

Puzzling Pond Critters will be conducted outdoors, rain or shine, so please dress appropriately.
Space is limited, so pre-registration is recommended.

Click here or call 608-221-0404 ext. 1 to register today!

ALNC Members: $6/person or $20/family; Non-Members: $7/person or $25/family

Stop by True Coffee, and Sip for ALNC!

Coffee For a Cause!

 True Coffee to Donate 15% of Sales TODAY
to the Aldo Leopold Nature Center

Indulge in delicious coffee and support local environmental education!  True Coffee Roasters is partnering with the Aldo Leopold Nature Center to donate 15% of sales at both their Fitchburg and Stoughton locations today to ALNC. All proceeds will directly benefit ALNC’s innovative, hands-on programs that "...teach the student to see the land, understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands," in the spirit of famed Wisconsin conservationist, Aldo Leopold.

True Coffee Roasters offers more than 15 varieties of coffee from the world’s finest coffee-producing regions, roasted in small batches in our Fitchburg roastery and priced from $10 – $15 per pound. The cafes in Fitchburg and Stoughton have freshly roasted beans by the pound, a selection of several brews each day, a full espresso bar, teas, smoothies, blenders as well as a variety of breakfast and lunch items including pastries, soups, salads and sandwiches. 

We hope you can join us for this delicious way to support environmental education!

Where:      Fitchburg Location: 6250 Nesbit Road    
                  Stoughton Location: 2300 US Hwy 151

When:   Today

Your Child Could Throw the First Pitch at a Mallards Game!!!

ALNC’s Night with the Madison Mallards

Activities Begin at 5:30; Game Begins at 7:05 pm

Thursday, August 4 at Warner Park

Let’s play ball for ALNC! Take your family out to the ballgame to watch the Madison Mallards square off against the Green Bay Bullfrogs! Come early to make your own duck mask, learn "how ducks make a living," compete in a duck walk race, meet Maynard the Duck and more!

Tickets are just $10! Plus, $2 from every ticket purchased through ALNC's portal will be donated to ALNC! To purchase your ticket, click here or visit http://www.mallardsgroups.com. Use the code “ALDO” to receive the discount.

Your Child Could Throw the First Pitch of the Game!
Enter Them in ALNC’s “Favorite Place”Art & Poetry Contest Today!

Is your youngster a budding artist or poet? Enter their artwork or poetry to win the chance of a lifetime—to stand on the pitcher’s mound with their fellow Mallards and throw the first pitch!

ALNC is hosting an art and poetry contest for kids, ages 6 to 12, to show off their talents while entering to win the honor of throwing the first pitch at ALNC’s Night with the Madison Mallards on Thursday August 4th! Click here to find out more about ALNC's Night with the Madison Mallards!

In addition to throwing the first pitch, the contest winner will receive an ALNC t-shirt and an ALNC  Complimentary Family Membership!

To Enter:

• Draw, paint, or write a poem/prose about your favorite nature spot—your backyard, a park, ALNC, or anywhere else that is special to you!
• Fill out the Contest Entry Form, available here or at ALNC's front desk.
• Submit the Contest Entry Form and artwork or poetry/prose by email, mail or in person before noon on July 25th.

Email Submissions to: devcomm@naturenet.com

OR Mail / Drop off Submissions to:

    ALNC Mallards Contest
    Aldo Leopold Nature Center
    330 Femrite Dr, Monona, WI 53716

Contest Guidelines:

• The contest begins Wednesday July 6th; all entries are due by noon Monday July 25th.
• Pieces will be judged on creativity and relevance to the contest’s theme.
• All written submissions are limited to 300 words.
• Any material submitted becomes property of ALNC and will not be returned.
• The contest winner will be notified by email on July 26th 2011.

Beetle Mania Wonder Bugs Style!

No, the British band of the 1960’s was not the theme of Wonder Bugs this week! Ladybugs and lightning bugs, both a kind of beetle, were the main attraction!

I hope your lightning bug craft is lighting up some dark corner of your house. We have one hanging in my daughter’s room. I suspect she will want him to have some friends soon. Click here to see how to make them if you were not at Wonder Bugs this week.

We had a fun time searching the field by the pond for ladybugs and avoiding being eaten by the giant Miss Tara bird. Why did we crouch down and cover? Because ladybugs play dead if they feel threatened.  Keep the fun going at home and take turns being the predators! The ladybugs could be the ones trying to catch the tiny aphids or the lightning bug larva could track down a slimy slug.

Did you know that firefly numbers are diminishing? There are a host of reasons but you and your wonder bug can help preserve the light of our nights. Click here to find out how!  This website is jam-packed with great firefly pictures, stories, websites, news items and more!

Get lit up with excitement as you search your own yards and neighborhoods this week for our beetle friends- ladybugs and lightning bugs! Sing the Lightning Bug song, too, while you show your wonder bug how to catch lightning bugs. See above link for helpful tips to do this safely!

Lightning Bug song

By Miss Tara Von Dollen

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Lightning bug or firefly

You light up the summer sky

Flash your light to find your mate

Flash your light but don’t be late

Lightning bug or firefly

You light up the summer sky.

See you next week,

Miss Tara

P.S. All of the summer camp Wonder Bug sessions are full, but there is still plenty of room in our NEW Wonder Bugs Family Days!

WONDER BUGS FAMILY DAYS
July 16th, August 13th, 2011
9:30 -10:45 am

Join us for weekend Wonder Bugs family days we will explore, sing, and craft the day away to a different nature topic each month. You won't want to miss out on the opportunity to share the Wonder Bugs experience with your whole family! Appropriate for children 2-5 years accompanied by an adult.

ALNC Members: $6/child; Non-Members: $7/child

Click here to find out more or to register!

Coffee For a Cause!

 True Coffee to Donate 15% of Sales on July 14^th
to the Aldo Leopold Nature Center

Indulge in delicious coffee and support local environmental education!  True Coffee Roasters is partnering with the Aldo Leopold Nature Center to donate 15% of sales at both their Fitchburg and Stoughton locations on Thursday, July 14^th to ALNC. All proceeds will directly benefit ALNC’s innovative, hands-on programs that "...teach the student to see the land, understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands," in the spirit of famed Wisconsin conservationist, Aldo Leopold.

True Coffee Roasters offers more than 15 varieties of coffee from the world’s finest coffee-producing regions, roasted in small batches in our Fitchburg roastery and priced from $10 – $15 per pound. The cafes in Fitchburg and Stoughton have freshly roasted beans by the pound, a selection of several brews each day, a full espresso bar, teas, smoothies, blenders as well as a variety of breakfast and lunch items including pastries, soups, salads and sandwiches. 

We hope you can join us for this delicious way to support environmental education!

Where:      Fitchburg Location: 6250 Nesbit Road    
                  Stoughton Location: 2300 US Hwy 151

When:   Thursday, July 14

Wonder Bugs - Bread and Butterflies!

Bread and Butterflies- What a yummy treat!

Check out this great site for photos of Wisconsin butterflies! You can also learn more about each species to figure out what plants to check for eggs, caterpillars, and nectar-drinking adults.

Did you know that butterfly wings are covered with tiny scales that make them look powdery? Our fingers can damage the scales, making the butterflies unable to fly. So as you are on the lookout for butterflies in your neighborhood, please do not touch them! They will say a silent thank you to you as they flutter away.

Would you like to have a caterpillar to go with the butterfly you made? Older wonder bugs will have fun gluing pom-poms to a Popsicle stick or piece of paper. You can add pipe cleaners for the antennae. Or for the youngest wonder bugs, bring out the finger paints and show them how to use their thumb or fingerprints to make a caterpillar. Draw on antennae when they are done.

If you want to prepare for the next Wonder Bugs Session, stay up late and try to catch lightning bugs AKA fireflies!

Flutter-bye for now,

Miss Tara

P.S. All of the summer camp Wonder Bug sessions are full, but there is still plenty of room in our NEW Wonder Bugs Family Days!

WONDER BUGS FAMILY DAYS
July 16th, August 13th, 2011
9:30 -10:45 am

Join us for weekend Wonder Bugs family days we will explore, sing, and craft the day away to a different nature topic each month. You won't want to miss out on the opportunity to share the Wonder Bugs experience with your whole family! Appropriate for children 2-5 years accompanied by an adult.

ALNC Members: $6/child; Non-Members: $7/child

Click here to find out more or to register!