See Your Art Go Global!

Kids—Your Art Can Be Seen “Around” the Globe at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 21 from 11 am – 3 pm!

Calling all budding artists! Here’s your chance to create a piece of artwork that can be seen around the globe at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s free Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 21 from 11 am – 3 pm! To enter, draw, paint or make a collage of your favorite nature spot using the template on the back side of this entry form.  This could be your backyard, a park, ALNC or anywhere else that is special to you! Get creative—your art can include animals and plants or anything else you can imagine! 

Two entries from each age category (3-6, 7-9, 10-13,  and 14-18 years old) will be selected to be transformed into a 6 foot-wide spinning globe during the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s Grand Opening Celebration onSaturday, April 21 from 11 am - 3 pm which will unveil exciting new interactive exhibits and programs. Winning artists will also receive a free ALNC membership for their family ($50 value).

Click here to find out more or here download anentry form. Entry forms are also available for pick up at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center.

Contest is open for ages 3 to 18 years old. One entry per child.  Winners will be contacted with further instructions. This entry form and artwork must be emailed to devcomm@naturenet.com, mailed, or dropped off at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center (Attn: Globe Contest, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Drive, Monona, WI 53716) by Noon on Wednesday, April 4^th 2012.

Unless...

Do you know where the Grickle-grass grows?

Join naturalists and staff from the Aldo Leopold Nature Center for an exciting and interactive interpretation of Dr. Seuss’ famous thought-provoking children’s story, “The Lorax” at the Overture Center's Youth Sustainability Fair, this Saturday from 10 am - 1 pm.

Audience members will be invited to join in on the fun as they “become” Swomee Swans, Brown Bar-ba-loots and Humming Fish in the land of the Oncler.  This program will introduce your youngster to the concept of the web of life and encourage them to consider how decisions they make may impact the natural world through the story of the Lorax - who “speaks for the trees.” 

For more fun, be sure to stop by the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s table to make a "truffula seed" necklace to take home!

It's Electric!

 It's Electric! We Received a ChargePoint® Electric Car Charging Station fromIt's Electric! We Received a ChargePoint® Electric Car Charging Station from Madison Gas and Electric!

Check out our "electriying" new addition—a ChargePoint® Networked Charging Station for electric vehicles at our Monona Campus!  This new charging station, installed as part of our expansion project which will be unveiled this spring, is the 20th of 26 charging units MG&E is installing in 16 locations throughout Madison, Middleton, Fitchburg and Monona.

The charging station is currently available for the public use and at this time, there is no cost to electric car owners to charge at the stations.

MG&E is conducting a 3-year research study to prepare to serve an emerging electric vehicle market. As a part of this study, data will be analyzed from all stations to learn how drivers use public charging facilities. Thanks MG&E!

Winter Solstice Celebration

Throughout history, cultures around the globe have celebrated the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, as a time to reflect on the past year and look with hope to the coming year.  Join us to rejoice in a celebration of that tradition at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s annual Winter Solstice Celebration on Friday, December 16! Click here to see photos from last year's event!

Bring your whole family to enjoy:

• A  naturalist-led twilight hike on ALNC’s trails;
• Nature crafts for the kids including a fun and functional pinecone birdfeeder;
• Inspirational Winter Solstice stories from around the globe;
• A festive bonfire and ceremonial burning of the Yule log;
• Wassail made over a fire in the Children's Shack; and
• Hot cocoa, yummy seasonal snacks and more!

Don’t miss this special night of joyful festivities as we look forward towards longer and lighter days.

Location:  Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s Monona Campus, 300 Femrite Drive, Monona

Date/Time:   Friday, December 16, 2011         6:30-8 pm

Fee:  ALNC members: $6/person or $20/family     Non-members: $7/person or $25/family

Information/Register: www.naturenet.com/alnc or 608-216-9371

Price: ALNC members: $6/person or $20/family; Non-members: $7/person or $25/family.

Snow Globe Art Contest!

 

Calling all budding artists! Here's your chance to create a piece of artwork that can be seen around the globe at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center! To enter, draw, paint or color a winter scene using the snow globe template found here. Get creative—your art can depict animals, trees, animal tracks and anything else you see outdoors in winter! Click here to see a video of the snow globe in action!

One entry from each age category (3-6, 7-9, 10-13, and 14-18 years old) will be selected to be transformed into a 6 foot-wide spinning snow globe during a special sneak preview of new exhibits and programs at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center on Thursday, December 29th from noon to 7 pm. Winning artists will receive free admission for themselves and their immediate family to the sneak preview.

Click here to find out more and download an entry form. An activity station to complete entry forms will also be available our Winter Solstice Celebration on Friday, December 16, from 6:30-8 pm.

Chew on These Beaver Tidbits!

Dear Wonder Bugs,

Here are some beaver books to devour! 

Beaver Pond Moose Pond by Jim Arnosky (We read this in class!)
Beaver Is Lost by Elisha Cooper (A picture book with only 4 words and exciting yet simple illustrations. You will enjoy this page-turner!)
Old Beaver by Udo Weigelt (A heart-warming young versus old story.)
Busy Beavers
Check out last week’s blog for local places with busy beavers.

As an extra treat, here's a song for your and your wonder bug!

Noble Beaver of the Pond Song
By Miss Tara Von Dollen
(Tune: “Noble Duke of York”)

Oh the beaver chops down trees.
The beaver chews up bark.
He hauls the trees up to the dam,
down by the water dark.

And when you’re up you’re up
and when you’re down you’re down
And when you’re only halfway
up you’re neither up nor down.

*Stand up or crouch down with the words “up” and “down.”

Have fun,
Miss Tara

NEW WINTER WONDER BUG SESSIONS:
Package price for all 6 Winter Wonder Bugs sessions (choose Tuesdays or Wednesdays)ALNC Members: $33/child; Non-Members: $39/child (When registering on-line list "Winter Session" as event/program name and and "Tuesday" or "Wednesday" as the date)Prices for Wonder Bugs for all individual sessions:
ALNC Members: $6/child; Non-members: $7/child
Registration Form 

WINTER WEBS
Tuesday, December 6 & Wednesday, December 7, 2011
9:30-10:45am
Registration deadline: Friday, December 2, 2011
Spiders come and spiders go...even in the winter! Discover a web of fun and take home an egg-sac full of memories! Bet you can’t wait!
Registration Form 

DEER JOHN
Tuesday, December 20 & Wednesday, December 21, 2011
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, December 16, 2011
You are in luck! Deer do not write goodbye letters for the winter. They bed down here and leap over there. Today the songs, games, and fun a-bound!
Registration Form

BEAR-LY BREATHING
Tuesday, January 10 & Wednesday, January 11, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2012

Winter is a good time for napping, especially if you’re a black bear! "Cub" and find out something surprising! No bear bones about it- this day will be den-tastic!
Registration Form 

ME AND MY SHADOW
Tuesday, January 24 & Wednesday, January 25, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 20, 2012

"Wood" you believe that the groundhog is “chuck” full of surprises? "Wood" you come down for songs, crafts, and a chuck-load of fun? I hope to see your shadow while we learn about all things groundhog.
Registration Form

KEEP ON TRACKING…
Tuesday, February 14 & Wednesday, February 15, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 10, 2012
While the snow is stacking! Discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoe (prints). Practice counting the toes- they always knows- and you’ll be able to guess the animal who walked there since.
Registration Form

MICE ON ICE
Tuesday, February 28 & Wednesday, February 29, 2012
9:30-10:45am
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 25, 2012

For birds of prey, this is a delicacy in the winter! Explore the predatory world of raptors in winter. Songs and games are sure to keep you roasty toasty.
Registration Form

Fall Foliage Friends

Here's an easy, fun and creative way to get your youngster "in touch" with the season! Enjoy!

For more fall fun, remember to to stop by our upcoming Fall Fest Members Preview Party on Friday, October 28th for a spooktacular night of entertainment for your whole family + a sneak-peek at our exciting new Climate Education Center! Hope to see you there--click here to find out more!

Fishing with a Green Heron

Did you know that the Green Heron is a natural "fisherman"? 

Green Herons, like the one shown here at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, commonly drops bait onto the surface of the water and grabs small fish that are attracted. 

Like any smart fisherman, it uses a variety of baits and lures to attract different catches and can be seen using insects, twigs, earthworms, or feathers to bait its prey. Now that breeding season is over, Green Herons can be seen "fishing" in our area, but you'll have to look carefully! Although they are common in watery habitats across much of North America, this bird can be difficult to spot because it spends a good deal of time standing motionless amid dense waterfront vegetation.

Here are some more cool facts about Green Herons to share with your young birder:

• Green Herons are part of a complex of small herons that sometimes are considered one species. When lumped, they are called Green-backed Heron. When split, they are the Green Heron, the widespread Striated Heron, and the Galapagos Heron.
•  Green Herons tend to wander after the breeding season is over, seeking favorable foraging areas and do not travel far, but occasionally some travel greater distances, with individuals turning up as far as England and France.
  Green Herons typically lay 2-6 pale, green eggs per season
  Green Herons nests resemble a basket of sticks, placed in small tree or shrub, usually over water. Nests in small, loose colonies.

Find out more about Green Herons and how to get your kids birding at Bird Sleuth.

To see more of ALNC's Green Heron, click here.

Happy birding!

New Auction Items Added!

As you probably know, our Pipers in the Prairie Online Silent Auction is now open for bidding! We have tons of exciting, one of a kind packages to choose from, featuring art, tickets, collectibles, sporting goods, gardening tools, gift certificates and more from over 100 local businesses and artists! 

The auction is open now until noon on Sunday, September 18.  We still have dozens of packages that haven't been bid on and we're adding new packages weekly, so bid today to get great deals on exclusive packages and support our children's educational programs here at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center.

Bidding is easy too! Just click here and you'll be directed to the auction site.  If you have questions, feel free to contact me at devcomm@naturenet.com or 608-216-9374.

Here are a few of the NEW packages we have just added:

Oh Baby!

Treat a new or expecting mother in your life with this wonderful package! She’ll enjoy an hour long massage from Belly, a massage therapy company based that specializes in pregnancy and postpartum massage to relieve stress and muscle tension, improve blood and lymph circulation, improve sleep and reduce anxiety. Then, she’ll celebrate the joy of the new addition to the family with "Baby's First Journal" by Clare Beaton, a colorful, scrapbook and journal to record all those memorable firsts! Also included in this package is a copy of "Welcome to the World: A Celebration of Birth and Babies From Many Cultures" by Nikki Siegen-Smith, a collection of poems and photographs to cuddle up and read with baby.

Last Light, Cherokee Marsh

This original oil painting by Peter Lundberg, entitled "Last Light, Cherokee Marsh", is a magnificent portrayal of our Wisconsin terrain. The juxtaposition of a cool gray-blue sky, against the fiery yellow sunset contrasts with a simple and somber horizon line. Measuring 13"x15" in a beautiful ebony carved framed, it is a stunning, colorful testament to the beauty of Cherokee Marsh.

P.S. With such great deals, this is a terrific way to get an early start on your holiday shopping AND support ALNC! Bid today!

Hide and Seek Wonder Bugs!

Today I got to hide with some fake fur wrapped around myself while the wonder bugs tried to find me. They did a great job following the clues! I blended into the Hickory tree just like a moth would.
Then we had a lot of fun trying to find worms and other animals that are camouflaged in their homes. The puppet owl up in the tree was the hardest to find. You can do this at home with your own stuffed animals. Take turns hiding them in places where they are camouflaged and see how fast you can find them!

Sing this song at home to keep the topic of camouflage tuned in!
Camouflage (from Growing up WILD)
Tune: Jingle Bells
 
Camouflage, camouflage,
Colors spots or stripes
Helps protect the animals
All different types.
 
Camouflage, camouflage
Helps them night or day
Hide away from predators
so they won’t be prey. Hey!
 
Camouflage, camouflage
Better watch your back
Predators will use it too
Then they can attack!

I hope to see you this school year. Wonder Bugs keeps going all year long with lots of great topics and plenty of fun!

See you later,
Miss Tara

The new Wonder Bugs sessions have been announced and are up on ALNC's website! Hope you can join us for one of them or for one of our Wonder Bugs Family Days!

WONDER BUGS FAMILY DAYS
Saturday September 24, October 22 & November 19
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!

Antsy Pantsy Wonder Bugs!

Dear Wonder Buggers,

This week was full of all kinds of antics!  Our imaginations were on overdrive as we explored the underground world of ants. Being the queen and laying eggs was almost as much fun as being the nurse ants who kept the eggs safe!

Ants are amazing! They are insects with three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen), six legs and antennae.  It turns out that ants love sweet things! Our plates with honey had the most ants on it by the end of class.  Ants “talk” to each other using their antennae. They let each other know where the food can be found. 

Remember to talk about the book Hey Little Ant with your Wonder Bug. We know that most kids squish bugs at some point; this book will give you another way to look at the concept and talk about it with your child.  You also might want to check out the books we looked at in class for more astounding ant facts: The Life and Times of the Ant by Charles Micucci and Army Ants by Sandra Markle.

How many different species of ants are found in Wisconsin? Click here to find out the astonishing answer! Can you find these ants in your yard, neighborhood, or on a nature hike?

Come find me next week,

Miss Tara

The new Wonder Bugs sessions have been announced and are up on ALNC's website! Hope you can join us for one of them or for one of our Wonder Bugs Family Days!

WONDER BUGS FAMILY DAYS
Saturday September 24, October 22 & November 19
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!

 

Wonder Bugs: Dragonfly By!

Summer sure is flying by! Last week's Wonder Bugs session was Dragon-fly By and dagonflies flew by all day long every day!There were plenty of nymphs (baby dragonflies) to observe and catch in the pond too!  I hope you had fun flying by your friends and family at home with your dragonfly wings. I think the deck might still be glittery and sparkly!

As promised, here is the book title that we read or talked about in class: About Insects by Cathryn Sill. Check it out!

Would you like to brush up on those dragonfly facts we talked about? Check out this site with your wonder bug!

You can also act out part of the life cycle of a dragonfly by singing the Little Nymph song from class!

Little Nymph by Miss Tara Von Dollen (Tune: London Bridge)

Our pond has a little nymph, little nymph, little nymph. Our pond has a little nymph swimming ‘round.
Little nymph eats lots of bugs, lots of bugs, lots of bugs. Little nymph eats lots of bugs in our pond.
Little nymph will molt his skin, molt his skin, molt his skin. Little nymph will molt his skin in our pond.
Out of the pond our nymph will crawl, nymph will crawl, nymph will crawl. Out of our pond the nymph will crawl, to grow wings.
Little nymph will grow some wings, grow some wings, grow some wings. Little nymph will grow some wings by our pond. (Say: Then he’ll be a dragonfly.)
Little nymph is all grown up, all grown, all grown up. Little nymph is all grown up, flying ‘round.

Fly by you soon!
 
Miss Tara

The new Wonder Bugs sessions have been announced and are up on ALNC's website! Hope you can join us for one of them or for one of our Wonder Bugs Family Days!

WONDER BUGS FAMILY DAYS
Saturday August 13th, September 24, October 22 & November 19
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!

Flower Power!

Dear Wonderbuggers, 

Flowers are everywhere this time of year. We can see them going to work every day…to make seeds and fruits! We saw many different kinds of flowers out in the prairie and had a blast painting with flowers, too! 

What other things can you do to keep learning about flowers? Here’s one idea -- find a few different kinds of flowering plants in your yard and watch them every day or so. You could even make a notebook to record your observations. Have your wonder bug draw a picture of what it looks like, paying close attention to the flowery part. When the plant goes to seed, plant  a few seeds in a small pot or mark where the seeds land on the ground. Check on the seeds over time and into next spring and see what happens!

Here’s another idea -- draw a simple flower with petals, stem, leaves and roots; trace this three more times but leave out one plant part each time. For example, one drawing will have the whole plant without the roots and another will have the same plant without the leaves. Show the pictures to your wonder bugs and have him/her tell you what part is missing.  Do you have any felt or fabric scraps lying around? If so, cut them into flower parts and have your wonder bug assemble the flower correctly and in silly ways, too. Create extra parts to make flowers with different colored petals and differently shaped leaves.

Need some snuggle time with your flower experts?  Here are some favorite books staring our flowery friends:

What Does Bunny See? by Linda Sue Park (Read in class)

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert 

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds by Jean Richards

Take care,

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
Saturday August 13th, September 24, October 22 & November 19
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!

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

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!

Happy Summer Solstice!

With our summer camps in full swing, we have been in summer mode at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center for a few weeks, but today is actually the first true day of summer! 

Happy Summer Solstice!!!

Here are some fun facts about the Summer Solstice and an activity to help you and your youngster celebrate the longest day of the year!

Wild, Wild, Sunflower Child!

Put those blooming summer flowers (or weeds!) to good use with this fun craft.  Popular in Russian (called venki, the Russian word for wreath), these flower headdresses can be made with daisies, Queen Anne's lace, dandelions or whatever long-stemmed flowers are in bloom! 

Materials

• Long-stemmed blooming wildflowers

Instructions

1. To start, hold your longest stem in your left hand. With your right hand, bend a second stem around the first as shown.
   
2. Loop the end of the second stem up and around itself, as shown, so it ends up parallel to the first stem.
   
3. Pinching these two stems together with your left hand, repeat the process with a third stem. This will anchor the second stem to the first. Continue adding stems in this manner until the venok is long enough to fit around your child's head, then weave or tie the two ends together.
   

 * If your youngster enjoys this activity, have them check out our camp, Wild, Wild Sunflower Child for ages 7-10. There is still plenty of room available!

All About Summer Solstice:

• Solstice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.
  
• As a major celestial event, the Summer Solstice results in the longest day and the shortest night of the year.
  
• The Northern Hemisphere celebrates in June, but the people on the Southern half of the earth have their longest summer day in December.
  
• Pagans called the Midsummer moon the "Honey Moon" for the mead made from fermented honey that was part of wedding ceremonies performed at the Summer Solstice.
  
  
• Ancient Pagans celebrated Midsummer with bonfires, when couples would leap through the flames, believing their crops would grow as high as the couples were able to jump.
  
  
• Midsummer was thought to be a time of magic, when evil spirits were said to appear. To thwart them, Pagans often wore protective garlands of herbs and flowers. One of the most powerful of them was a plant called 'chase-devil', which is known today as St. John's Wort and still used by modern herbalists as a mood stabilizer.