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8/12/2019 Pathways Spring 2014
1/15
PATHWAYSOfficial Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Associa
Spring 2014 www.nysoea.org 607.591.6 422 photo by Tim Stan
http://www.nysoea.org/http://www.nysoea.org/http://www.nysoea.org/8/12/2019 Pathways Spring 2014
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2 Pathways Spring 20142
NYSOEA Executive Board
President Tim Stanley
VP Administration Nicki Bogie
VP Communication Eric Powers
VP Human Resources Jessica Kratz
VP Program - Jolene Thompson
Secretary - Meaghan Boice-Green
Treasurer - Elizabeth Van Acker
Office - Darleen Lieber
Regional Directors
Eastern - Amanda Ackers &
Natalie RiderMetro - Sunny Corrao
Northern - Brian DeGroat
Western - Kimberly May &
Caryn Corriere
Central - Josh Teeter
2014 Conference CommitteeLaura Carey
Marsha Guzewich
Fred vonMechow
Pathways
Issue Editors
Jessica Kratz
Sarah Conley
Graphic Designer
Matthew Fraher
Content Editors
Sarah Conley
Darleen Lieber
Jill Eisenstein
Richard Parisio (Poetry Editor)
Benette Whitmore, Ph. D.
Online Content/
Marketing Manager
Jonathan Duda
Contributing Past Editors
Frank Knight
Snapper Petta
A Note from the PresidentNature was First to Invent STEM
As I write this message, its National Environmental
Education Week -- April 13-19, 2014-- an event of the
National Environmental Education Foundation. It is heldeach year the week before Earth Day to showcase and
inspire environmental learning and stewardship among
K-12 students. The 2014 theme, Greening STEM: Engineering a Sustainable World
reminded me of the NYSOEA 2012 Annual Conference theme, Outdoor Education
has always been Greenand an effective way to teach STEM. The outdoors is the
perfect platform to teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Math-- where all
these disciplines come together naturally.
Whether in plants or in the education of our youth, a strong foundation sets
the stage for a fruitful life. As the fragile shoots of spring burst forth, I realize
that nature was the first to combine science, technology, engineering and math
within the grand design of life. The roots anchor the plant. The stem rises upfrom the soil, then sends branches forth to unfurl leaves. Cells in those leaves
contain chlorophyll, enabling every green plant to capture sunlight, mix it with
water and carbon dioxide to create complex sugars. What an engineering marvel
This process of photosynthesis essentially fuels the entire food chain and propels
life on the earth.
The life that bursts forth from a long winter is not only an engineering marvel bu
of such beauty that humans try to capture and interpret it over and over. Spring
inspires art and literature, the emotional realm of music, poems and paintings. It
seems fitting that National Environment Education week and Earth Day are firmly
planted in spring, when the Earth awakens from a long winters nap. It is a time o
renewed energy and strength that reverberates through the fabric of nature.
With this renewed energy of spring I invite the membership to spread the good
word of outdoor education so that NYSOEA will continue to grow and strive in
the coming year. Make a note of the regional events and happenings found at the
NYSOEA website, encourage new members and especially plan attend this years
annual conference, The Heart of Outdoor Education. It will be held October 2-5
at Silver Bay YMCA, set on the shores of beautiful Lake George. Please spread
the word to colleagues, teachers and friends as this spring you plant the seeds of
anticipation for an exciting conference.
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In preparation for winter, we are digging potatoes. Volunteers
are chatting as we work together. Brown velvety soil, when
upheaved, brings flashes of Yukon Gold spuds. Elvis, a tenyear old boy suddenly appears on the scene. Can I help?
he shouts. Certainly, I respond. He follows our moves and
scruffles about the soil with his hands. Thirty seconds later
he calls out, I cant find any. Be patient, Elvis. He runs off. I
devise a plan so hell succeed. I bury a few small potatoes just
under the soil and make it look obvious. Elvis shows up again.
He kneels and starts searching in another spot. Try here I
urge. Hey, look, I found a potato! Off he runs again.
So it goes. I learn that Elvis spends a lot of time indoors. His
grandmother brings him because she is a volunteer and his
caretaker. Elvis finally has some rare free time outdoors andhe intends to use it to the max. We switch to mulching with
straw. Elvis shows up, grabs a flake and starts flinging it about.
I reel him in and show him how to pull off straw and gently
put it down. With his first pull, I praise him. Off he runs. He
catches me preparing garlic stalks. He sees my knife on the
table and grabs it. I see him flailing the blade about and
command him to stop. I give him a short lesson in knife safety.
Off he goes to climb hay bales. Some of the other volunteers
A Day at the FarmWith KIDS!Written by Tom Stock
are less patient with Elvis. A volunteer tells him that I know
about wildflowers, insects and birds. He approaches with a
flower in his hand. Its a daisy. He throws it away and grabs ahose and starts squirting anything and anywhere. I challenge
him to make a rainbow. Adjust the nozzle until you get a
fine spray. Then turn in a circle and see if you can make a
rainbow. Two more children show up. Elvis points the hose
at them. They yell. He runs away. The two children heard my
instructions and they make a rainbow.
This little story illustrates how much freedom a farm offers
and safety for children if there are adults nearby. Many
elements on a farm provide for ideal learning settings
discovery...diversity, freedom, adults, room to run. I admire
Elvis. He reminds me when I was his age 64 years ago. Elvishas learned many things that are not possible in a classroom
If you dont have a farm close to your classroom, make one!
Tom Stock is a retired science teacher, collge artist, poet, avid long
distance hiker, naturalist, and life member of NYSOEA since 1969.
You can reach him at [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]8/12/2019 Pathways Spring 2014
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Affiliate Spotlight: Eastern Region
The Albany Pine Bush PreserveWritten by Jackie Citriniti,[email protected]
Evironmental Educator/School Program Coordinator/CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor
Picture a wide open landscape filled with dense shrubs,
scattered pitch pines, openings of prairie grass and wildflowers
all rooted in sweeping sand dunes. This is the globally rare
Albany Pine Bush, also known as an inland pine barrens
ecosystem; one of the largest, of only 20 other inland pine
barrens worldwide. It was formed toward the end of the last
Ice Age 12,00015,000 years ago. At this time a large glacial
lake stretched from present day Glens Falls, NY to Newburgh,
NY. Over time, the water drained leaving behind the sandy
deposits of the lake floor. These sandy soils now supportthe Albany Pine Bush ecosystem. The Albany Pine Bush is
presently 3,200 acres, only a small portion remaining of its
original 25,000 acres. This ecosystem is important because
of its biological significance. It hosts a variety of rare plant
and animal species such as the federally endangered Karner
blue butterfly, the rare inland barrens buckmoth, the eastern
hognose snake, spadefoot toad and 55 Species of Greatest
Conservation Need in NYS. Even though this ecosystem is
thousands of years old, it has only been protected since 1988
when the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission was formed
to protect and manage this unique and endangered natura
community as well as for recreation and educational uses.
The gateway to the Preserve is the seven-year-old Discovery
Center, which was acquired and reconstructed as a LEED
certified, gold rated building. It houses interactive exhibits
classrooms, solar panels, a Clivus Multrum (biological
composting) restroom, hand-painted roof, native landscape
restoration, accessible Discovery Trail, and a metamorphosismaze just to name a few. Today, over 30,000 people visit the
Discovery Center annually including more than 5,000 schoo
children from urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods. We
offer 10 different school programs that are distinct to this
ecosystem for example Help A Habitat, in which students
plant wild blue lupine to restore Karner blue butterfly
habitat, Future of the Karner Blue, where students learn
about the endangered Karner blue butterfly, Vernal Pools
where students learn through sampling the characteristics
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The Albany Pine Bush Preserve
195 New Karner Rd
Albany NY 11205(518)456-0655
www.albanypinebush.org
of vernal pools, and Forces at
Work, where students learn
how weather and fire shape
the Pine Bush. The school
programming is also supported
by our 115-member Friends of
the Pine Bush Community by
covering transportation costs
to eligible schools. Our Pine
Bush Pups program offersover 20 different topics to
preschoolers while involving
them in hands-on activities,
songs, stories, crafts, and
hikes. In addition to school
programs, we also offer a wide
variety of public programs on
weekends and most holidays,
along with monthly night
programs, scout programs, and
homeschool programming.
Furthermore, the Discovery
Center, education programs,
and Preserve are enhanced
by more than 77 volunteers
including, naturalists, docents, and junior docents. The
Discovery Center is free and open daily with the exception
of Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years
Day. The 10 trailheads and 20 miles of trails are accessible 24
hours a day.
The Education team is just one part of the Albany Pine
Bush Preserve Commission staff. In addition, we have
Stewardship, Conservation which includes Fire Management,
Administrative, and Executive staff for a total of 16 full time
permanent employees. Several seasonal staff are welcomed
to the Commission each year to assist with field research,
fire management, stewardship and invasive species control.
We are all dedicated, committed, and passionate not only to
protect and preserve this rare ecosystem but to ensure it will
be here for all future generations.
http://www.albanypinebush.org/http://www.albanypinebush.org/8/12/2019 Pathways Spring 2014
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We went ahead of our fathers in a row of five, almost (butnot quite) in a run, wanting to be the first kid to find one. Our
flashlights shook from our excitement; the torch glow broke
the darkness, sending beams of light through the trees. We
were young and carefree, and our bare feet squished along
the fairway. The grass, wet with dew, stuck to our feetbut
we didnt care. We were on a mission; we were searching for
nightcrawlers.
Each summer, years ago, my three younger cousins, my older
sister, and I would often search for those elusive nightcrawlers.
Hunting for the slippery, slimy earthworms was a tradition.
We would run across the golf course behind Tutu and Papas(our names for our grandparents) house, with nothing to
keep us from exploring the night world. But it wasnt just an
excuse to stay up and run free; we were gathering bait for the
following day of fishing with Papa.
On warm, sunny mornings, Papa would take us fishing at
Sunset Lake (really a small pond), and we needed bait to catch
pumpkinseeds (or something larger if we were lucky). Buying
worms at a store was simply not an option. And forget about
Night Safari: Searching for Nightcrawlers and Summers PastWritten by Jenna Kerwin
(Reprinted with permission from the New York State Conservationist, August 2013)
fishing lures and fliesthat was not the way Papa learnedand that was not the way our fathers learned. So, naturally
that wasnt how we learned.
Instead, our patriarchs taught us to find our own bait. We
set out on our night safaris like Kipling characters, peering
between blades of grass and around bushes, looking for our
skittish prey. And our prey was everywhere. If you tiptoed and
flashed your light quick enough, you could spot dozens of
them before they disappeared beneath the earth.
Theres one! Get it! we would whisper-shout to each other
No, over there! Quick! and wed pounce onto the grass, ourhands desperately reaching for the slippery, spaghetti-like
creature.
When we managed to grab hold, wed laugh and tug gently
like our dads taught usthen pull the nightcrawler from the
soil and place it in our plastic pails. And when all was said
and done, we had to compare who snagged the most worms
(This almost always resulted in our dads splitting our loot so
that everyone went home with the same amount.)
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Truth be told, we were probably more excited to search for
our bait than to actually use it. We were squeamish kids, after
all. Though there was something honest and elemental about
learning to bait our own hooks with our own earthworms.
With Papa guiding our nervous, little fingers, we learned more
than the proper way to bait a hook; perhaps even more than
how the food chain operated in Sunset Lake. We learned true
life lessons.
Our fathers werent simply noting the delicate composition ofearthworms when we tugged at them; Dad and Uncles Scott
and Evan werent just keeping the peace when they split our
loot. They were teaching us to be forthright and confident,
but also to be humble and pragmatic. Papa taught us to keep
things in perspective. In his own way, he taught us that the
world is bigger than just five kids along the edge of a small
town pond.
DID YOU KNOW?Suffolk County has more lighthouses than any other county in the United States; and that
lighthouses are often in remote natural settings that attract an array of wildlife, from seals
beaching on rocky shoals to bald eagles soaring overhead in search of fish, to a chorus of frogs
singing in a pond as the summer sunset approaches. In fact, the National Lighthouse Museum,
celebrating all our nations lighthouses, will open `next to the Staten Island Ferry, in August 2014.
So maybe its not just searching for nightcrawlers or (perhaps
secretly for some of us) baiting our own hooks that we all
enjoyed during those summers. Maybe what we really liked
and what I at least, still search for to this day, are our fathers
teachings.
Jenna Kerwin is the staff writer for Conservationist
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It can be challenging to find wheelchair accessible outdoor
experiences, but it is definitely possible.
The Appalachian Trail is very close to Pawling High School
where I teach, and I had looked at an area known as the Great
Swamp immediately off Route 22. Although it has a beautiful
boardwalk I was leery as there are no hand railings. And, I
admit it, I was afraid one of my students would fall in!
So I did a little more research and found a flat entrance to the
Trail off Route 55. In a test run I got the feeling of being out
in the wilderness, away from civilization, after just a shortdistance. Perfect! Distance is important when youre pushing
wheelchairs. (Scroll to the end of this post for more accessible
sites.)
I contacted the keeper of the gate so it would be unlocked
for us. We combined this outing with a trip to Lakeside Parkso
students could make comparisons. The park has a playground
area and beyond it are pathways around the lake. We had
limited time so took a short path closer to the water.
Everyone Can Go Outdoors!Article and photographs by Martha Schultz, Dutchess County BOCES
Reprinted with permission from Teaching the Hudson Valley
At each location students were requested to sit quietly for five
minutes without speaking. During this time they practiced
observation: look, listen, and experience the area. Then they
recorded anything they saw or heard in the sky, on the land
and in the water.
We took water samples at each location. When we returned
to school we looked at the samples under a magnifying glass
to see if there were signs of life. (See THVs lesson plan library
hereand herefor elementary-level water activities. And here
for high school.) I also asked students to compare the parks
Which place had more evidence of humans? Animals?
Finally I explained that nature relaxes me and asked how it
made them feel. There were, of course, mixed results.
This year I think I am ready to take on the Great Swamp. The
Friends of the Great Swamps websiteshows several access
points. Im aiming for the walkway near Route 22 as it brings
you out into the midst of the swamp. I would also like go to
River Road Bridge (see link above). I need to scope it out first
http://www.nps.gov/appa/index.htmhttp://www.pawling.org/Pages/PawlingNY_Recreation/indexhttp://lessons.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/component/option,com_units/Itemid,12/unit_id,111/http://lessons.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/component/option,com_units/id,133/task,view/http://lessons.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/component/option,com_units/Itemid,12/id,473/task,view/http://frogs-ny.org/http://frogs-ny.org/http://lessons.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/component/option,com_units/Itemid,12/id,473/task,view/http://lessons.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/component/option,com_units/id,133/task,view/http://lessons.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/component/option,com_units/Itemid,12/unit_id,111/http://www.pawling.org/Pages/PawlingNY_Recreation/indexhttp://www.nps.gov/appa/index.htm8/12/2019 Pathways Spring 2014
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but apparently there are great views of Swamp River where
Herons, Kingfishers, and Turtlesare often seen.
Martha teaches students ages 15 to 21 with multiple-
disabilities and traumatic brain-injuries. Her class is highly
individualized and provides academics, perceptual motor
training, self-help skills, and vocational activities. Martha
participated in THVs fall online book groupreading Richard
Louvs Last Child In the Woods. THVIP Susannah Renzi
facilitated the group. Photos on this page are courtesy of
Martha.
Learn moreMaking Outdoor Programs Accessible by Kathy
Ambrosini with illustrations by Maria Jansdotterfarr,
explains how to accommodate a variety of disabilities
in outdoor programs. $11.95, paperback, 62 pages.Contact Kathy, director of education, Mohonk Preserve,
845-255-0919, ext. 233, or order by mail using this form.
The Preserve, near New Paltz in Ulster County, leads the
region in providing accessible field experiences. Read
moreabout their programming.
Among the accessible state parks in the Hudson Valley
are: Moreau Lakein Saratoga County; Rockefellerin
Westchester County; and Schodack Islandin Rensselaer
County.
Accessible environmental education centers operated by
the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation include
Five Riversin Delmar, Albany County and Stony Kill
Farmin Wappingers, Dutchess County.
At least two of Westchesters county parks are accessible
Trailside Nature Museumin Pound Ridge and Croton
Gorgein Cortlandt.
Scenic Hudsons new West Point Foundry Preservein
Cold Spring (Putnam) has accessible trails, parking, and
restrooms. Nearby on the Hudson, Foundry Dock Park,is also accessible. Other accessible Scenic Hudson sites
are Harrier Hill, Stockport (Columbia); Madam Brett Park
and Long Dock, Beacon (Dutchess); and in Westchester:
Habirshaw Park, Yonkers; Kathryn W. Davis River Walk
Center, Sleepy Hollow; and Park at Irvington.
And check out Forsyth Nature Center, Kingston (Ulster);
Greenburgh Nature Center, Scarsdale (Westchester);
Greenport (Columbia) Conservation Area; and Hudson
Highlands Nature Museum, Cornwall (Orange).
To find more accessible outdoor sites near you, check out
New York States Inclusive Recreation Resource Center
based at SUNY Cortland.
Editors note: This article originally appeared as a
blog post in December 2013 on Teaching the Hudson
Valleys website and can be accessed at: http://www.
teachingthehudsonvalley.org/everyone-can-go-outdoors/
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/61491.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/education/51833.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/277.htmlhttp://www.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/professional-development/on-line-book-group-last-child-in-the-woods/http://mohonkpreserve.org/sites/default/files/files/PDF/NatureAccessTrainingManualOrderForm2013.pdfhttp://www.mohonkpreserve.org/accessibility-services-visitorshttp://www.mohonkpreserve.org/accessibility-services-visitorshttp://nysparks.com/parks/150/details.aspxhttp://nysparks.com/parks/59/details.aspxhttp://www.nysparks.com/parks/146/details.aspxhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.htmlhttp://parks.westchestergov.com/trailside-nature-museumhttp://parks.westchestergov.com/croton-gorge-parkhttp://parks.westchestergov.com/croton-gorge-parkhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/westpointfoundrypreservehttp://scenichudson.org/parks/foundrydockparkhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/harrierhillhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/madambrettparkhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/longdockparkhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/habirshawhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/davisriverwalkcenterhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/davisriverwalkcenterhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/shparkirvingtonhttp://ci.kingston.ny.us/content/120/122/1380/default.aspxhttp://www.greenburghnaturecenter.org/http://clctrust.org/public-conservation-areas/greenport/http://hhnaturemuseum.org/http://hhnaturemuseum.org/http://colfax.cortland.edu/nysirrc/index.htmlhttp://www.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/everyone-can-go-outdoors/http://www.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/everyone-can-go-outdoors/http://www.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/everyone-can-go-outdoors/http://www.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/everyone-can-go-outdoors/http://colfax.cortland.edu/nysirrc/index.htmlhttp://hhnaturemuseum.org/http://hhnaturemuseum.org/http://clctrust.org/public-conservation-areas/greenport/http://www.greenburghnaturecenter.org/http://ci.kingston.ny.us/content/120/122/1380/default.aspxhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/shparkirvingtonhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/davisriverwalkcenterhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/davisriverwalkcenterhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/habirshawhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/longdockparkhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/madambrettparkhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/harrierhillhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/foundrydockparkhttp://scenichudson.org/parks/westpointfoundrypreservehttp://parks.westchestergov.com/croton-gorge-parkhttp://parks.westchestergov.com/croton-gorge-parkhttp://parks.westchestergov.com/trailside-nature-museumhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.htmlhttp://www.nysparks.com/parks/146/details.aspxhttp://nysparks.com/parks/59/details.aspxhttp://nysparks.com/parks/150/details.aspxhttp://www.mohonkpreserve.org/accessibility-services-visitorshttp://www.mohonkpreserve.org/accessibility-services-visitorshttp://mohonkpreserve.org/sites/default/files/files/PDF/NatureAccessTrainingManualOrderForm2013.pdfhttp://www.teachingthehudsonvalley.org/professional-development/on-line-book-group-last-child-in-the-woods/http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/277.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/education/51833.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/61491.html8/12/2019 Pathways Spring 2014
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RAMBLINGS
FROM
REDH
ILL
bySnapperPetta
You can learn a lot about the quality of
a towns road crew based on how well
the hills are plowed, sanded, and cleared
during the snowy months. Wed been
eyeing an old farm since mid-winter and
occasionally rode up that way to see how
we might fare with a daily commute. Not
owning four wheel drive vehicles, wewanted to assure ourselves that getting to
work and home again wouldnt prove to be
too formidable a task. Regardless of the
roads condition, every time we crested the
hill the first thing that drew my attention to
the property was the barn situated behind
the house. Typical of many upstate farms,
the hey-day of the structure had come and
gone but you could sense its importance
in the life of the place. It hadnt housed
cows in over six years but you could feel
their presence. The warmth theyd giveoff, steam rising from their flanks on a
cold winters morning was easy enough
to imagine as my own breath vapored off
into the air. Although the house was nice,
it was the barn that sold me on Red Hill.
We purchased the farm, signing the papers
on St. Patricks Day of 1987. No keys were
exchanged because there were no locks on
the doors; my kind of place. Our family
moved in that summer.
It was clear from the outset our home was the proverbial
handy mans special but we were young, dumb and ful
of sweat equity. While the house had to be our first priority
(after all, we were going to be living there), I knew the barn
needed attention as well. Clear evidence the roof needed
replacement came with the first rainstorm. Id been told
by people we trusted that a new roof would stabilize the
building from further decay. Essentially it would give us timeand breathing room before the major work would have to be
undertaken. Since time is cheap and major rehabilitation
not, we replaced the roof and put our faith in the future.
Over the years the barn has increasingly shared signs that
further work was required. First it was the lower levels sliding
doors that hung up on the ground; a clear signal the building
was shifting off its foundation. Next the adjoining milk house
door went from a snug fit in its frame to not closing at all
Walking on the second level became an obstacle course unto
itself as youd try to maneuver around the deck, hoping not
to break through the floor. The one time that did happen found myself in a rather precarious position with my lower
half hanging into the milking parlor below. Little by little the
handwriting was on the wall; our barn would need a tota
restoration or be allowed to fall into ruin. Not wanting the
latter option to occur on our watch, and not being sure we
could afford the former, we called in the experts.
Throughout the process of getting estimates, time frames
etc., Ive learned a tremendous amount about our barns
history. The folks who came through willingly took the time
What Price Preservation?
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to share its secrets with me. Construction technology, evident
in the hand hewn post & beam framework, indicates the barn
was built after 1795 but prior to 1820. Notches on the wooden
decks support beams show how the building was originally
built on ground level as a threshing barn. By allowing wagons
to drive through the structure early farmers could unload
their wheat, taking advantage of the prevailing winds coming
off the upper hill to separate it from the chaff. When the
business of agriculture shifted in the 19 th century the barn
transitioned as well. Dairy herds sprung up and barns neededto adapt with the changing times. Like many in the region
ours was raised to create a milking area down below with the
new upper level used for hay storage. A lean-to addition,
constructed in the 1970s, altered the barn once again from
its original plan. The more I learned about this amazing
structure the more I knew we had to do everything in our
power to save it. But could we?
In the end we received three estimates for the work.
Deliberations between my wife and I were short. We knew
we wanted to do this so it was only a matter of settling on a
contractor. Luckily for us, we were already familiar with one
of the groups bidding on the job. We knew their work to be
superior in all facets that mattered for a project such as this
one. They were also eager to take on the restoration and even
encouraged us to dicker with them on the price. While the
entire cost was going to be one and a half times the yearly
average family income for our county, amortized over the
years to come, the price seemed like a bargain. With little
hesitation we quickly signed the contract and work began;
continuing throughout the most bitterly cold and snowy
month in recent memory.
The major work is now concluded. Small finishing touches
still need to be completed; the foundations backfill, currently
frozen, awaits the warmth of spring but for all intents and
purposes, the barn is back in our possession. We spent
part of a recent Sunday reacquainting ourselves with the
building. Climbing the ladder to the second floor, soft shafts
of sunlight emanated between the siding; illuminating the
interior. Exploring the many nooks and crannies formally off
limits, were quite impressed with the space. To my eyes the
work is everything Id hoped it would be. Confident now that
this barn will last another two hundred years, I know future
residents of Red Hill will be thankful for our stewardship of
this great treasure.
Until next time, may all your rambles lead you to new and
exciting places.
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Time to Esteem Our Native Pollen Beeswriting and photographs by Tim Stanley
In any conversation about bees, inevitably the honeybee
takes center stage. Why is that? Are honeybees really moreimportant than other bees? Would our entire food supply be
threatened if honeybees were to vanish? Our native bees,
sometimes described as pollen bees, are not only more efficient
pollinators but have also developed techniques for pollinating
flowers that honeybees are incapable of pollinating.
Honeybees may be the proverbial canaries in the coalmine
in certain ways; whatever fate befalls them may also befall
our pollen bees, as all bees are likely vulnerable to chemical
poisons, viruses, and environmental stressors. It makes sense
that protecting one kind of bee will benefit other kinds of
bees. However, the greatest overall benefit will occur fromgiving our native pollen bees more priority.
Consider our native pollen bees for a moment. They range
in size from the very small sweat bees to the very large
carpenter bees, and over time, they have coevolved with our
native plants in a colorful and interdependent parade of
diversity. It stands to reason the native bees have the know
how and design necessary to be efficient pollinators of those
plants. For example, many native flowers hold their pollen
tightly and it literally must be shaken out in a process called
buzz pollination, a skill perfected by bumblebees. Tomatoes
of the nightshade family, fall into this category. Thereforeevery ripe red tomato eaten is the product of bumblebee
ingenuity! The beautiful orchard bees emergence coincides
with the early spring bloom of members of the rose family
such as apple blossoms, and 250 of these industrious bees
can do the equivalent work of two hives of honeybees in an
apple orchard. In a squash flower, you will find the squash
bee! These honeybee-sized specialists only pollinate flowers
in the squash family; literally sleeping in the flowers, they
begin pollinating long before other bees are awake and active
With such an eclectic and diverse group of pollen bees
wonder how the status of the non-native honeybee has beenso elevated? The answer is simple: because of the monetary
value honeybees provide in the form of commodities and
services. Due to their perennial nature (unlike native bees
they overwinter in their hives), they produce a surplus of honey
and their hives wax makes superior candles-- both valuable
commodities. Additionally, their hives are easily transported
around the country to exploit their pollination services on
monoculture (one-crop) farms. We have been told that our
food system would collapse upon their demise. This is in
fact true, based on todays mainstream agricultural practices
Native bumblebee
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and techniques. Unsustainable monocultures such as
almonds in California, blueberries in Maine and apples
in Washington are dependent on honeybee pollination.
In effect, the crops bloom for a two-week window at the
same time each year, and all the plants bloom at once.
This is actually a pollinators desert; the rest of the year,
there is no pollen, no nectar. On monoculture farms, whenthe blossom period is over, the honeybees are loaded onto
tractor-trailers and transported to new fields where their
services are required.
For native pollen bees, such a system has insufficient plant
diversity to sustain a population. Since they are restricted
by their own size to a half-mile to mile radius, they need
a longer time of blooms over a small area to provide food
throughout the summer. It is achieved by a diversity of
plants that bloom from early spring to late fall.
Honeybees and their spokesmen have pulled on the publicsheartstrings and their plight has started a swelling rally
cry for change: save the honeybee, save our food supply.
But I rode the swell to a nearby realm... and discovered a
diverse group of native pollen bees that we need to better
understand and appreciate. Once we understand these
native pollen bees, we can develop plans to utilize them to
their full potential by transforming our current agricultural
practices to include wind rows, corridors and fallow fields of
biodiversity that can sustain our native pollen bees beyond
the bloom times of current mainstay crops. At the same
time, we need to listen to the rally cry and curb harmful
use insecticides and herbicides to protect ALL pollinators.Transforming the landscape to accommodate native
pollinators will produce lasting, pleasing results that will
not only save the food supply but make the environment
healthier. In the meantime, this newfound knowledge
of our native pollen bees can be used to initiate change
beginning in our own backyards.
To Learn more visit www.nativebeeology.com. Online field
guide to native pollen bees and other ways that you help
bees at home or at a schoolyard garden.
Non-native honeybee
This spring, the NYSOEA board is joined by Josh Teeter. He w
serve as the Central Region Chair. Josh brings many years
experience to the position. Currently, Josh works for the N
York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservatas the Finger Lakes Region environmental educator. Over t
past decade, he has held several other positions in the regi
including an environmental education internship with t
DEC at the Rogers Environmental Center in Sherburn
program director at the Waterman Conservation a
Education Center in Apalachin , and teacher for the Outdo
Pursuits Department at Binghamton University.
Josh received his undergraduate degree from Binghamt
University 1999 and earned his Masters degree in recreat
management at SUNY Cortland in 2009. Josh participated
a yearlong primitive and survival skills course at WilderneAwareness School in Duvall, Washington, where he realiz
he want to share things that might help connect people
their surrounding and feel comfortable being outside (wh
being outside himself). Josh continues to attend conferenc
trainings, lectures, and webinars. He says he has to fight t
urge` to constantly look things up. Very few days pass in
daily life without lots of laughter and hike or trail run.
Josh can be reached at [email protected]
Meet Josh TeeterNYSOEAs Newest Board Member and Central Region Chair
http://www.nativebeeology.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.nativebeeology.com/8/12/2019 Pathways Spring 2014
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14 Pathways Spring 2014
Frederick W. Stoss, MS (zool:ecol), MLS
Associate Librarian for Biological Sciences, Ecology, Geology, & Mathematics,
Science and Engineering Information Center Arts & Sciences Libraries
University at Buffalo
Reflections and Sharingsubmitted by Frederick W. Stoss, MS (zool:ecol), MLS
I was one of 30 members of the American Library Association selected to attend this years AnnualMeeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in February in Chicago. I
was amazed at the number of programs and opportunities for bringing STEM resources, instruction in
formal K-12 and non-formal settings, and a host of activities. I met some folks from Chicago Wilderness,
who were passing out information about their programs and resources, including a nifty looking flyer,
Childrens Outdoor Bill of Rights.
Childrens Outdoor Bill of RightsEvery child should have the opportunity to:
Discover wilderness prairies, dunes, forests, savannas,and wetlands
Camp under the stars
Follow a trail
Catch and release fish, frogs, and insects
Climb a tree
Explore nature in neighborhoods and cities
Celebrate their natural heritage
Plant a flower
Play in the mud or a stream
Learn to swim
Researchshows that the activities listed in the Childrens
Outdoor Bill of Rights nourish childrens physical, social,
and emotional development, while connecting them
to the wealth of resources available in their backyards,
neighborhoods, cities, and region.
See: http://www.chicagowilderness.org/what-we-do/leave-
no-child-inside/childrens-outdoor-bill-of-rights/
mailto:[email protected]://www.chicagowilderness.org/index.php/download_file/view/153/299/http://www.chicagowilderness.org/what-we-do/leave-no-child-inside/childrens-outdoor-bill-of-rights/http://www.chicagowilderness.org/what-we-do/leave-no-child-inside/childrens-outdoor-bill-of-rights/http://www.chicagowilderness.org/what-we-do/leave-no-child-inside/childrens-outdoor-bill-of-rights/http://www.chicagowilderness.org/what-we-do/leave-no-child-inside/childrens-outdoor-bill-of-rights/http://www.chicagowilderness.org/index.php/download_file/view/153/299/mailto:[email protected]8/12/2019 Pathways Spring 2014
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