THE NEWSLETTER OF FENNER NATURE CENTER & FENNER …mynaturecenter.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/... · Spring 2016 | SEASONS | 1. MLK DAY OF SERVICE 2016 “erybody can be great,

SPRING 2016

THE NEWSLETTER OF

FENNER NATURE CENTER &

FENNER CONSERVANCY

STAFF

Liz Roxberry, Executive Director [email protected]

Nicole Nielsen, Development Manager

Jenny Mensch, Program Manager & Volunteer Coordinator

Abby Feder, Naturalist

Adam Haviland, Naturalist

Jeff Parks, Naturalist

Laura Rogers, Naturalist

Aubri Spenski, Naturalist

Stephen Vrla, YLP Coordinator & Naturalist

Robert Phillips, Bookkeeper

Gair Tourtellot, Explore Store Manager

INTERNS

Olivia Guswiler, Animal Care

Bailey Hannah, Environmental Education

Laura Nowakowski, Animal Care

EDITORS

Amy Moore [email protected]

Liz Roxberry [email protected]

Bobby Jereb [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHY

David Marvin Jenny MenschLiz RoxberryTricia PetersonDavid Cappaert

Dr. Sara R. Tanis

PRINTING

Seasons is published four times per year and is received by all Fenner Conservancy members. It is generously printed by Jackson National Life Insurance Company.

OUR MISSION:

Fenner Conservancy connects people to nature in the heart of Lansing through conservation, education, and stewardship.THE NEWSLETTER OF

FENNER NATURE CENTER &

FENNER CONSERVANCY

COVER PHOTO | © David Marvin

CONTACT US

Fenner Nature Center 2020 East Mount Hope Ave. Lansing, Michigan 48910

Phone: (517) 483-4224

Web: mynaturecenter.org

Spring Visitor Center Hours (beginning April 1st) Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm Saturday-Sunday 12pm-4pmExplore Store Hours Tuesday-Friday Open by Request Saturday-Sunday 12pm-4pmTrails are open daily from 8am to dusk.

In This I s sue01 LETTER FROM THE LEADERSHIP

02 MLK DAY OF SERVICE 2016

03 42ND ANNUAL MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL

04 6TH ANNUAL EARTH DAY EXTRAVAGANZA

05 BLUE RAVEN CREATIVE TO BRING EXHIBITS TO LIFE AT FENNER

06 DONORS & SUPPORTERS

08 LANSING’S INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY USES FENNER FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

09 FENNERVILLE: THE YLP PLAYSCAPE AT FENNER NATURE CENTER

09 IN MEMORIAM: SYDNEY ZABAN

10 “GO WILD” THIS SUMMER WITH FENNER NATURE CENTER

11 “GO WILD” DAY CAMP PROGRAMS

12 PROGRAMS & EVENTS CALENDAR

EACH SPRING, I reflect on the impact we have had in our community over the course of the previous year. Are we meeting our mission? How many people has our mission reached? Often times when I think about the impact Fenner Nature Center is having, I drift to thoughts of countless volunteers working to restore the landscape at Earth Day Extravaganza, or visions of volunteers guiding hundreds of children through the maple grove as they learn forestry, ecology, and botany. What I have realized is that everything we accomplish at Fenner Nature Center is the result of a collective impact; that it’s been done not just by our staff, but by the people who believe, support, and advocate for Fenner. Those people are you. You are the impact.

It is with this in mind that I would like to thank you for the impact you have had on this organization over the last year.

❦ More than 6,500 volunteer hours have been spent teaching children, restoring habitat, assisting in the office, helping to deliver three fantastic festivals each year, and governing our organization.

❦ Thousands of pounds of invasive species like garlic mustard, dame’s rocket, oriental bittersweet, buckthorn, and non-native honeysuckle have been removed from the property during workdays and events.

❦ Close to 20,000 visitors have entered the visitor center and been greeted by helpful and smiling volunteers in the front office and in the Explore Store.

Playscapes have been built, benches have been stained, trails have been mulched, and new signs have been installed thanks to you!

I could list a dozen more examples, and they wouldn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the true impact you have all had. So as we enter into spring, I look forward to continuing to impact this wonderful community we serve with the help of each and every one of you. I encourage you to join a new committee, try your hand at pulling garlic mustard, or even man the evaporator at the upcoming Maple Syrup Festival. We love seeing you, and we love that together our impact is so much greater than anything we could accomplish as individuals. Thank you!

BY LIZ ROXBERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FENNER CONSERVANCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Peggy Roberts, PresidentStacie Longwell Hill, Vice PresidentKris Arnett, TreasurerVeronica Gracia-Wing, SecretarySara Frank-HepferMelanie HarrisRaymond HarrisScott McPhailAmy MoorePhil Rutkowski Chris Stewart

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Communications:

Amy Moore, ChairBrendan DwyerVeronica Gracia-Wing Melanie HarrisMeghan MartinDave MarvinScott McPhailAnne PrattTodd Ross Development:

Peggy Roberts, ChairKris ArnettRaymond HarrisStacie Longwell Hill Chris Stewart Personnel:

Lori BryceSara Frank-HepferAndrea RadelMichelle Rutkowski Programming:

Sara Frank-Hepfer, ChairPhil Rutkowski Stewardship:

Julie CassidyRon Eggleston Lucas ElenitskyJohn KrohnMike ParkerPhil RutkowskiGabe Zawadzki

LETTER FROM THE LEADERSHIP

Virg Bernero, Mayor

L i z R ox b e R R y , e x e c u t i v e D i R e c t o R

P e g g y R o b e Rt s , P R e s i D e n t o f t h e b o a R D

fenneR natuRe centeR & fenneR conseRvancy Spring 2016 | SEASONS | 1

MLK DAY OF SERVICE 2016

“ Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

BY JENNY MENSCH, PROGRAM MANAGER & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

OR THE PAST 5 YEARS, volunteers have gathered together on MLK Day at Fenner Nature Center to be great. This year was no different. We partnered with the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council (Mid-MEAC), Michigan Energy Options, and the Greater Lansing Housing Coalition (GLHC) to battle invasive species within the park. Although it

sometimes seems like the job will never quite be done, removal of invasive species and subsequent plantings of native species throughout the year helps us to create a better habitat for wildlife and improve upon the already scenic beauty of Fenner Nature Center. Volunteers at this workday removed honeysuckle and buckthorn with speed, creating a number of brush piles for birds, rabbits, and other small creatures to explore.

Around the country, MLK Day is a day that inspires many to serve their communities and engage in volunteerism, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s commitment to serving his community. When a large group of volunteers comes together, like we did on the 18th of January, service is not the only thing that happens. What happens is the building of a community. Volunteers engage in conversation and work side by side with people who they may never have met before; people who may be of a different age, race, neighborhood, education level, or background. We volunteer together, despite these differences, with hearts full of grace and souls full of love for Fenner Nature Center, the greater Lansing region, the environment, and our community.

F

2016 MLK DAY | © David Marvin

2 | SEASONS | Spring 2016 fenneR natuRe centeR & fenneR conseRvancy

ID YOU KNOW THAT the sap from a maple tree can only be gathered over a short period of 12 – 25 days in the early spring? As spring approaches, the days begin to warm but the nights are still cold – just below freezing in fact. It is when these conditions arrive in Michigan that we know it is time to go “tapping!

Those who have made an industry out of collecting and selling maple syrup are sometimes referred to as sugar wood farmers and their production facilities are called sugarbushes. They begin by first drilling a small hole into the maple tree about 1 ½ inches deep with a slight incline at chest height. Into this hole a spile is installed and a bucket is attached to the tree for sap collection.

During warm periods when temperatures rise above freezing, pressure (also called positive pressure) develops in the tree. This pressure causes the sap to flow out of the tree through the spile that was inserted. During cooler periods when temperatures fall below freezing, suction (also called negative pressure) develops, drawing water into the tree

through the roots. This replenishes the sap in the tree, allowing it to flow again during the next warm period. Once sap is collected it is boiled down, the water evaporates from the sap, and maple syrup is created.

Although it is difficult to celebrate the process of making maple syrup in one day, Fenner Nature Center would like to invite you to our 42nd Annual Maple Syrup Festival on Saturday, March 19th from 11 am – 5 pm. During the festival, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in making maple syrup as well as learn about some of the tools and techniques that various cultures have used throughout history.

After touring the maple grove, families can warm up in the visitor center where locally made syrup, maple cotton candy, and other delicacies will be available for sale. Additionally, you can head out to the main field tent, where visitors can support Fenner Conservancy, the non-profit that manages the nature center, by purchasing a ticket for our annual fundraising event “Flapjacks for Fenner!” Beware though, as Guinness World Record Flapjack Flippers “Chris Cakes” will be serving them up with their unique high flying antics. Tickets are $8 at the door and include All-You-Can-Eat pancakes served with a side of sausage, orange drink, and coffee.

Interested in volunteering for the event or need additional festival information? Visit us at www.mynaturecenter.org or check in at our Facebook event page. You can also call Nicole at 517-483-4224.

BY NICOLE NIELSEN, DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

D

2015 MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL | © David Marvin

2015 MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL | © David Marvin


RE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? In honor of the annually celebrated Earth Day on April 16th,

Fenner Nature Center will be hosting its 6th Annual Earth Day Extravaganza on Saturday, April 16th. From 9am – 3pm our

community will have the opportunity to explore the local flora and fauna alongside biologists, hobbyists, and Michigan State

University Fisheries and Wildlife students. This biological inventory of the park is a fun way for visitors to become engaged

in the care of the wildlife here, determining what species are present so that we can provide and protect their habitat. Visitors of all

ages are welcome to join us as we search for salamanders, put leg bands on birds, and dip for pond creatures! After a fun day of

stewardship, volunteers and the community are welcome to join in other fun and educational activities throughout the day oriented

to all ages.

If your business, family, or friends are interested in coming together to volunteer for a great cause, please email us at volunteer@

mynaturecenter.org.

A

BY NICOLE NIELSEN, DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

FENNER NATURE CENTER’S

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 | 9:00AM - 3:00PM

2015 EARTH DAY EXTRAVAGANZA | © David Marvin


S PART OF THE “UNIVERSAL NATURE” RENOVATION at Fenner Nature Center, an innovative company has joined in our efforts to bring the new exhibits to life. Tricia Peterson, founder of Blue Raven Creative in Lake Barrington, Illinois, works with a unique integrated

technology called SensoryPEN. This small hand held speaker has been recognized by the National Center on Accessibility and plays self-recorded or professional audio when touched to a tiny code “button” on each display. At Fenner, many of the new exhibits will house a language button and when activated the display content will be read aloud to the user in one of four languages: English, Mandarin, Spanish and Arabic.

“The idea behind incorporating sensory pens is that it will allow all members of the community the opportunity to learn about nature, regardless of their primary language,” says Jenny Mensch, Fenner’s Program Manager. “The entire renovation is about inclusion and connecting, and what better way to connect than through removing the barriers between languages.”

Though SensoryPEN is an exciting advancement, it is only one of the many changes you can see underway at Fenner. Touch screen panels, sensory driven interpretation, and overhead audio will add to each and every user’s experience.

BLUE RAVEN CREATIVE TO BRING EXHIBITS TO LIFE AT FENNER

© Trica Peterson

© Trica Peterson

BY LIZ ROXBERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A

MARCH 2015 | © David Marvin


f e n n e R c o n s e R va n c y D o n o R s & s u P P o Rt e R s

o c t o b e R 1–D e c e m b e R 31, 2015

Thank you donors and supporters for your generosity!

DONOR PATIO

Thanks to the generous support of Susan and Jack Davis, we now have a patio behind our building that not only enhances the fire pit area, but also gives you a chance to show your permanent support of Fenner! Bricks are available in two sizes: 8” x 8” ($500) and 4” x 8” ($250). They can be purchased and engraved with your name, the names of loved ones, or your favorite nature-related quote. Help us continue to grow by purchasing a brick today! For more information or to purchase a brick, call 517-483-4224 or e-mail [email protected].

© Jason Meyer

Circle of Stewards Legacy Society

Doris Bauer

Phoebe Clark (Deceased)

Ron & Sue Eggleston

Arlene Eskes (Deceased)

Grace Hoffer

Mary Monaghan

Jack & Peggy Roberts

David Young

Raymond Ziarno

$10,000+

Susan & Jack Davis

Rotary Club of Lansing Foundation

$1,000–$1,999

Capital Region Community Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. David J. Donovan Family Fund

Susan and Jack Davis Charitable Fund

$500–$999

Joe & Phyllis Bogle

Beverly Bonning & Jeffrey Lapinski

Dave & Jan Brigham

Dave & Shirley Fenner

Wendy Kulberg

Barbara Toman

$100–$499

Arthur Amacher

David Baur

Larry & Jean Beckon

Glenn & Susan Cook

John & Kristen Courtney

Bruce & Joy Curtis

Michael & Gloria Danek

Catherine Davis

Charles Featherly

Sam & Liz Febba

Julie Feldpausch & Henry Rayn

Veronica Gracia-Wing & Luke Pline

Larry & Mary Hennessey

John & Marti Hesse

Catherine & Andrew Huddy

Lawrence Larson

Cindi Martineau

David & Valerie Marvin

Betty Moore

Clayton Moore

Barbara O’Kelly

Amy O’Brien

Jacob Plotkin & Susan Schuur

Fred & Charlotte Poston

Ronald & Helen Priest

Tom Rashid

Kris Reader

Luke & Alison Roberts

Phil & Michelle Rutkowski

Louise Sternberg

John Wales

Peggy Wof & Pat Wolf

Rose & Everett Zack

Annie’s BIG Nature Lesson, Margaret Holtschlag

Big Daddy’s Big Dawgs, Todd Delo


f e n n e R c o n s e R va n c y D o n o R s & s u P P o Rt e R s

o c t o b e R 1–D e c e m b e R 31, 2015

Thank you donors and supporters for your generosity!

Join the “Circle of Stewards Legacy Society” with an Estate Gift to Fenner Conservancy.

A bequest is one of the simplest and most meaningful ways to support Fenner Conservancy.

These thoughtful gifts help ensure that Fenner Conservancy will continue to provide environmental education and outdoor recreation for future generations of greater Lansing’s residents and visitors.

If you have already made provisions for Fenner Conservancy in your estate planning, please let us know so that we can recognize you as a member of the Circle of Stewards Legacy Society.

For more information on including Fenner Conservancy in your estate plan, please contact your financial advisor and call Liz Roxberry at 517-483-4224.

$100–$499 (cont.)

Pfizer Foundation

Piper & Gold Public Relations, Veronica Gracia-Wing

Up Through $99

Kroger

Martha Aldenbrand

David & Regula Arnosti

Betty Baltzer

Joanne Bauer

Grace Baumeister

Anita Beavers

Carolyn Beckwith

Jim & Kathy Booth

Mike & Nancy Boyce

Chance Boyd

Sandy & Carol Bryson

Sharlene & Tom Cannon

Lon & Pat Carlisle

Benjamin & Barbara Carman

Julie Cassidy

Peggy Cheney

Georgia & Robert Curry

Molly Dean

Michelle DiMartino

Thomas & Vicki Dolata

Richard & Doris Drake

Karin & Frank Eirosius

Raymond & Doris Feldpausch

Fair View Elementry, Micheal Forman

Gail Fournier

Louise & Michael Giddings

Bill Gray

Bill & Irene Hanes

Daniel Hayes

Phil Hegge

Michael Hluchaniuk

Jack & Caroline Hummel

Richard Jeeter

Christy Jones

Up Through $99 (cont.)

Lee & Roger Laylin

Ross & Barbara Lowes

Madeline Masterson

Barbara McDowell Bonge & Dale Jay Bonge

Jennifer Mensch

Ed & Madeline Merz

Shaun Millhouse

Daira Moruss

Fenner Nature Center, Nicole Nielsen

Jennifer Olson & Mark Ledebuhr

Karen Owen

Steve Palmer & Mary Gondek

Dan Parker

Anne Pratt & Suzy Grace

Carole Reynaert

Jack & Peggy Roberts

Paula Rollins

Kenneth Rosenman

Liz Roxberry

Heather Salais

Carol & Doug Salisbury

Brad Skiba

David W. Stowe

Samantha Tank

Paul & Diane Thompson

Barbara Thornbury

Tom & Deborah Tomlinson

Janet Walkinshaw

Woodcraft Kits, Gene Wasserman

Harold & Betty Weaver

Amy Winans

Roger & Debra Wolf

In-Kind

Ronald Eggleston

Jennifer Olson & Mark Ledebuhr

Jerry Gillissen

Fenner Nature Center, Jeff Evans

Tony Sacco’s Pizza, Josh


BY DYLAN MINER AND ESTRELLA TORREZ

F YOU ATTENDED THE APPLE BUTTER FESTIVAL THIS AUTUMN, you may have noticed the frame of a 12-meter birchbark canoe. In fact, the canoe has been housed at Fenner off-and-on over the

past two years. Beginning two summers ago, Native youth, artists, elders, and other community members used Fenner’s group camp to begin construction of the wiigwaasi-jiimaan (birchbark canoe in Anishinaabemowin or the Ojibwe language). In addition to birchbark which was harvested in northern Michigan, the wood for the frame was harvested and milled in the Upper Peninsula. The ribs were then soaked in the pond behind the Visitor’s Center. Elder and language teacher Howard Kimewon also instructed youth how to harvest wiigob (basswood) for making rope and cordage to sew the bark to the frame. Fenner has many basswood trees.

The canoe is a project of the Indigenous Youth Empowerment Program, a local organization commonly known by the acronym IYEP, which is co-directed by Ramona Henry, Emily Sorroche, Dr. Estrella Torrez, and Jackie Lloyd. IYEP is a collaboration between the Lansing School District’s Title VII Native American program, Michigan State University’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities and American Indian Studies Program, Lansing Community College, and the Ingham County Health Department’s Native American Outreach.

In recent years, IYEP has collaborated with Fenner on a variety of programs. This past November, IYEP hosted their annual Jiibenaakewin (Spirit Feast or Ghost Supper) at Fenner Nature Center. Over the past couple of years, IYEP has developed programming in collaboration with Fenner, using the Sugar Bush and Group Camp on multiple occasions. This summer, Dr. Dylan Miner (Director of American Indian Studies and professor in the Residential College at MSU) and Fenner’s Adam Haviland led Native American youth on “medicine walks.” During the medicine walks, youth traversed Fenner’s grounds learning about different plants and their ethnobotanical uses. During this period, youth also created small, hand-sewn medicine bags made from Pendleton blankets. They also created their own wiigwaasi-makakoon (birchbark baskets) and learned the rare art of mazinaabidenjiganan (birchbark

bitings). According to Wikipedia, there are approximately one dozen individuals actively practicing birchbark biting. In conjunction with birchbark biters from other parts of the US and Canada, MSU’s American Indian Studies program is planning a symposium on the topic.

IYEP and MSU’s American Indian Studies program are excited to continue working with Fenner and expanding their community-based programming that revitalizes traditional ecological knowledge and maintains Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices, particularly for youth. This February, MSU’s American Indian Studies and IYEP are planning more active use of Fenner’s Sugar Bush, as well as hoping to begin an annual Shushumeg (Snow snakes) tournament. Shushumeg or Snow Snakes is a winter-time game played by Indigenous communities across the Great Lakes and eastern woodlands.

Historically, Lansing has been a center of Anishinaabeg life and culture. Elders call this place Nkwejong – place where the rivers meet. Currently, Lansing has one of the highest number of fluent Anishinaabemowin-speakers of any off reservation community in the U.S. In fact, many Anishinaabemowin teachers in Michigan live in the Greater Lansing area.

The Indigenous Youth Empowerment Program and American Indian Studies Program at MSU look forward in collaborating with Fenner Nature Center in 2016 and into the future.

For information on IYEP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IndigenousYouthEmpowermentProgram/

For information on American Indian Studies Program at MSU: http://aisp.msu.edu or email [email protected]

LANSING’S INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY USES FENNER FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

I

© David Marvin © David Marvin


SYDNEY ENTERED OUR LIVES AT FENNER NATURE CENTER IN 2014 like a breath of fresh air and a hurricane all rolled into one. Her boundless energy, enthusiasm, love for the outdoors, and infectious kindness, will remain part of this organization forever. Not only was Sydney the Vice President of the Youth Leadership Program, she had been a Jr. Counselor at our summer day camps, volunteered as an ambassador at Fenner festivals, and worked tirelessly toward seeing the Natural Playscape at Fenner through to completion.

Her love of the Playscape was fueled by her desire to share nature with others in a way that fostered creativity, imagination, and fun. She could often be heard proclaiming during one of many planning sessions that “this Playscape will change the world”, and I believe in some small way, it already has.

In the coming months we will be working to complete the remaining elements in the Playscape as well as add a few of Sydney’s own “big idea” creations as we pay tribute to this remarkable young lady who will remain in the hearts of so many in the Fenner community.

IN MEMORIAM

Over the past several years, Fenner’s Youth Leadership Program has been developing the woods north of the parking lots into a natural play area called the Fennerville PlayScape. The PlayScape is nearing completion, and Fenner’s Youth Leaders are excited to invite you to its ribbon cutting during this spring’s Earth Day Extravaganza!

Natural play areas help children connect with nature and facilitate their physical, cognitive, and social development by offering them a natural space in which to engage in unstructured play. Fennerville offers four stations: Scavenger Square, Water Ways, Beaver Boulevard, and Cardinal Court. At Scavenger Square, children can balance across a bridge made of logs; at Water Ways, they can pretend to paddle a canoe made of sticks; at Beaver Boulevard, they can build a shelter with branches; and at Cardinal Court, they can imagine what the forest looks like from the perspectives of different animals. Of course, no natural play area would be complete without a climbing tree. At the center of the PlayScape is a gnarled oak tree with exposed roots and low branches that make it perfect for little climbers!

Once they have completed the PlayScape, Fenner’s Youth Leaders will host regular “PlayScape PlayDates” to introduce community members to the opportunities and benefits it has to offer. Pleased check back with us for more information about these programs.

We invite you to celebrate the dedication and vision of our Youth Leaders and the promise and potential of this new addition to Fenner at this spring’s Earth Day Extravaganza.

FENNERVILLE: THE YLP PLAYSCAPE AT FENNER NATURE CENTER

BY STEPHEN VRLA, YLP COORDINATOR & NATURALIST

© Jenny Mensch © David Marvin

© David Marvin © Jenny Mensch

“ In this place I feel protected by all that is around me. Therefore, I have vowed to protect it as well.”

~ Sydney Zaban

FENNERVILLE PLAYSCAPE RIBBON CUTTING SATURDAY, APRIL 16 AT 12pm

JOIN US!


“GO WILD” THIS SUMMER WITH FENNER NATURE CENTER

© David Marvin© David Marvin© David Marvin

“GO WILD” SUMMER CAMP | © David Marvin

S I AM WRITING, it is 36 degrees outside with snow and ice on the ground. Although it has been a mild winter so far, I am ready for summer. Not only am I dreaming of the sunshine and warm temperatures, I am also imagining the fun that will be had by our campers this summer.

Summer day camps have been offered at Fenner Nature Center for decades. Some of our campers this year will be children of former Fenner camp participants. Some will be returning for their 3rd, 4th, or 5th season. Some of our campers will never have visited Fenner before, and maybe haven’t ever experienced being outdoors much at all. One thing that I do know about all of these children is that they will benefit from and remember their time outdoors this summer.

Being in nature, as many of our supporters and friends can attest, provides kids and adults alike with renewed energy and sparks our sense of wonder. Under the guidance of our skilled counselors, kids in Fenner’s “Go Wild” Day Camp have the chance to investigate and take time to delight in the wonders they find in the woods. We hike, learn through hands-on experiences, develop friendship, and most of all, play. It’s been said that play is the work of childhood, and summer is a great time to play outdoors.

BY JENNY MENSCH, PROGRAM MANAGER & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

A


“GO WILD” DAY CAMP PROGRAMS

CALL 517-483-4224 TO REGISTER AND FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Camp sessions will run from June 13-August 5. Half-day preschool camps are open to children ages 4-5 and run from 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm (see session description for details). Full day camps, from 9am-4pm, are open to children who have completed Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Registration begins on February 26th for Fenner Conservancy members. Registration for non-members begins March 26th. Want to learn more about how to “GO WILD” at Fenner this summer? Join us at our Camp Open House on Saturday, March 26th from 12pm-3pm to try out some camp favorite games and activities, register your child for camp, and meet with Fenner’s camp director to ask questions about our camps.

(3 day) The Art of Nature

The beauty of our environment provides the inspiration and materials for this camp where we will paint with pond water, build sculptures, make music, and more. Campers supply the energy and play to transform nature into art!

(3 day) Up in the Clouds

Let your imagination soar to new heights in this expedition into the realm of birds, bats, and bugs! Find out how these animals fly and how they have fascinated and inspired engineers and scientists to take to the skies!

Mammals of Michigan

Cuddly and cute? Let’s find out! Our furry friends are more than just a pretty face; they are uniquely adapted to survive right here in Michigan. We will spend the week venturing out for a glimpse into the lives of squirrels, deer, bats, and raccoons!

Wilderness Rangers

It’s a wild world out there, so come along and see if you have what it takes to survive! Learn the fundamentals of shelter building, fire starting, water purification, and navigating in the back country while you set out to survive in the wilderness.

Nature Detectives

Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue, or where frogs go during the winter? Come and find out through exploration of our trails and hands-on experiments that will help you solve some of nature’s amazing mysteries.

Prairie Homestead

Step back in time and become a homesteader! Experience what it was like to live on the prairie. Play hide and seek in the tall grasses, practice the 3 R’s of a one-room schoolhouse, and try your hand at making goods to trade or use on the homestead. This weeklong camp will have you experiencing the true homestead life.

PRE-K HALF-DAY CAMPS

Sensational Animals

The best naturalists know that our five senses are the best tools we can bring with us on a hike. This week we will explore how our senses work and how they compare to animal senses. Let’s find out together if bats are really blind, how a spider senses something in its web, and whether birds can see in color.

The Art of Nature

The beauty of our environment provides the inspiration and materials for this camp where we will paint with pond water, build sculptures, make music, and more. Campers supply the energy and play to transform nature into art!

Delightful Dirt

Are you ready to get a little dirty? This week, we will be digging in the dirt to learn more about how animals and plants use dirt, mud, and soil. Make a mud pie, watch the worms squirm, and come join in on the messy fun!

K-5TH GRADE FULL DAY CAMPS

Down by the Pond

Make a splash with our aquatic friends! You will spend your time by the water, searching for critters that live in the water, and getting up close and personal with the turtles, frogs, and fish that call Fenner home.

Gross Nature

Sometimes nature is downright disgusting! Slime, sludge, and sticky situations abound in this camp, where we will spend the week exploring and expelling myths about creepy critters and gross natural phenomena that are often misunderstood.


“GO WILD” CAMP OPEN HOUSEMARCH 26 | SATURDAY | 12PM-3PM

Get excited, because camp is just around the corner! Drop in to our camp open house to test some of our favorite camp activities and pique your interest in our summer offerings. You will also have the opportunity to meet with Fenner’s camp director and counselors to ask questions about our camp programs. The “Go Wild” Camp Open House is also the very first day that non- members can register their children for camp. Mark your calendars, and stop on by. Summer will be here before you know it!

Cost: Free

EARTH DAY EXTRAVAGANZAAPRIL 16 | SATURDAY | 9AM – 3PM

Earth Day, officially recognized on April 22nd, is a day when people across the country show their support for the environment. Here at Fenner, we celebrate this day with our biggest Stewardship Workday of the year and educational programs about the plants and animals that call the nature center home. If you would like to learn more about participating in stewardship activities at the Earth Day Extravaganza, visit our website.

Cost: Free

NATURE STORY HOUR (AGES 4-6)

APRIL 2, MAY 7, AND JUNE 4 | 1:00 PM-2:00 PM

On the first Saturday of each month, our resident librarian will be leading a nature story hour in the visitor center that is geared towards children between the ages of 4 and 6. After the story, participate in a fun craft.

Cost: Free

SPRING BREAK ADVENTURES (AGES 5-10)

Spring break adventures are a great way to shake off that cabin fever! Sign up for one or more of our hands-on, full-day camps in the great outdoors. Participants will need to bring their own lunch and snacks.

Up in the Clouds

APRIL 4 | MONDAY | 8:30AM-4:30 PM

Let your imagination soar to new heights in this expedition into the realm of birds, bats, and bugs! Find out how these animals fly, and how they have fascinated and inspired engineers and scientists to take to the skies!

Cost: $35/Member; $40/Non-Member

The Art of Nature

APRIL 5 | TUESDAY | 8:30AM-4:30 PM

Nature is full of art! Use your creativity to paint, draw, sculpt, and create using natural materials. Participants are sure to return home with plenty of their own masterpieces inspired by nature.


Down by the Pond

APRIL 6 | WEDNESDAY | 8:30AM-4:30 PM

Make a splash with our aquatic friends! You will spend your time by the water, searching for critters that live in the water and getting up close and personal with the turtles, frogs, and fish that call Fenner home.


Nature Detectives

APRIL 7| THURSDAY | 8:30AM-4:30 PM

Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue, or where frogs go during the winter? Come and find out through exploration of our trails and hands-on experiments, that will help you solve some of nature’s amazing mysteries.

$35/Member; $40/Non-Member

PROGRAMS & EVENTS CALENDAR


© David Marvin


Wilderness Rangers

APRIL 8 | FRIDAY | 8:30AM-4:30 PM

It’s a wild world out there, so come along and see if you have what it takes to survive! Learn shelter building techniques, filter your own water, and identify several Michigan wild edibles as you navigate through our fields, forests.


NATURE’S TRADING POSTAPRIL 24 | SUNDAY | 12PM-4PM

Calling all backyard naturalists! Have you found something intriguing, unusual, or just plan cool in nature? Bring it in to Nature’s Trading Post! Starting in April, Fenner Naturalists will open up the Trading Post monthly to help you identify and learn more about the amazing things you find in nature. You can even earn points through trading the item you collected, or researching more about your item toward something special from our Trading Post collection. Visit the Nature’s Trading Post page on our website to learn more about earning and spending points.

Cost: Free

BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWNJUNE 4 | SATURDAY | 10AM-5PM

Fenner is proud to be part of this citywide event to encourage residents of the greater Lansing area to get out and explore their hometown. This year, we’ll be highlighting our reptile and amphibian friends. Join us for special hands-on exhibits and activities to learn more about the snakes, frogs, turtles, and salamanders that call Lansing home.

Cost: Free

COMMUNITY CAMPFIREJUNE 10 | FRIDAY | 6PM-8PM

Fenner Nature Center staff are excited to invite you to our first community campfire. On the second Friday of each month of the summer, we will light the fire near the front gates of the park and offer stories, songs, and s’mores. This is an opportunity for friends, families, and Fenner supporters to get together and enjoy a summer’s evening together. Bring a blanket, picnic, or instrument if you’d like; or bring just yourself. All are welcome to this community event.

Cost: Free

NATURE EDUCATION TOURSGet your students out in nature and fulfill a variety of science, social studies, math and language arts GLCS while you’re at it! We offer programs for students in grades pre-K through 12, and general programs for homeschoolers and community groups, all of which can be viewed on our website: www.mynaturecenter.org. Please call to make a reservation.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESWe have opportunities for both young people and adults to volunteer indoors and outdoors, maintaining our trails, building, creating displays, helping with events, and clearing invasive species from our natural areas. This is a great way to get connected to your community parks, grow closer together through service, and learn about our ecosystem. Please visit our website or email [email protected] for more information.


© David Marvin

© David Marvin


FENNER NATURE CENTER

FENNER CONSERVANCY

2020 EAST MOUNT HOPE AVE.

LANSING, MICHIGAN, 48910

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© David Marvin

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