MERAMEC HILLS CHAPTER MISSOURI NATURALISTS
APRIL 2010 NEWSLETTER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Spring Volunteer Dates for Bray Area school
programs
Volunteers are needed to help with school programs.
Large groups will always be broken into smaller groups of 12-25 for each
activity.
Please
call Connie to sign up or if you have any questions about volunteer days.
Connie can be reached:
by phone: 573-368-2225 (office)
573-422-3447 (home)
by e-mail: connie.schmiedeskamp@med.mo.gov
April 21 (Wednesday), 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Second grade (100 students) - track trail, pond
critters, journaling and nature adventure
April 23 (Friday),
9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Fifth grade (50 students) - pond invertebrates, track trail,
fishing and fish prints
April 28 (Wednesday),
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Kindergarten and pre-kindergarden (150 students) - track
trail, nature adventure, pond critters, and mammals
April 29 (Thursday),
9:00 am - 1:30 pm
First grade (75 students) - pond invertebrates, track hike,
fishing
May 3 or 5 (Monday or Wednesday)
This date is not definite. If you are interested in
volunteering, call or e-mail Connie, and she will update you on the exact date.
Chapter Field Trip May 22 (Saturday)
The chapter field trip to Prairie State Park has been cancelled. Instead,
a field trip to Ha Ha Tonka State Park, partnered with another MN chapter, has
been planned. Tour guide will be Jodi Moulder, Park Naturalist.
There will be two rigorous tours: karst features and savannah features of the
park. Less rigorous activities will include a dutch oven cooking class
and a castle tour. All will count toward advanced training hours.
RSVP required so that we can plan on the number of box lunches. If
interested, please contact Pat Perry at 573-364-8440.
Ozark MN Chapter will be holding a
Hiking "Mini Workshop" (first in a series), Saturday, April 10
Our
chapter has been invited to take part in a hiking workshop on part of the Ozark
Trail. This will be a great introduction to hiking, backpacking
"Leave No Trace" philosophy, and a chance to see some of the
beautiful Ozark Trail. The workshop will be conducted by Rick Henry,
assisted by Martha Mills, both Master Naturalists with the Ozark Chapter.
Rick has done extensive work in developing and maintaining the Ozark
Trail.
The
activities will be suitable for all ages, so feel free to bring family,
friends, and children, if they are capable of a mile and a half rountrip hike.
Rick's presentation will be followed by a short (.8 mile) hike to Lovers' Leap,
where we will eat, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and return for a total of a bit
over a mile and a half hike for the day.
Meet
at Noblett Lake pavilion, 9:00 am, Saturday, April 10 -in case of bad weather,
the event will be held on April 17.
Wear sturdy
boots or shoes, bring a first aid kit (if you have one), water, snacks, and
lunch. A hat and sunscreen are advisable.
Directions to Noblett Lake:
1. From Rolla, take Highway 63 to Cabool. Turn East on
Highway 60. Take the next exit South on Highway 181.
2. After about 10 miles, Highway 181 will turn to the left
(East) and join Highway 76 for a short distance.
3. About a mile South on 76, turn left (East) onto Highway
AP to the Noblett Lake area. Meet there at the pavilion at 9:00 am.
If you
are interested in attending, please e-mail Rick Henry (rhenry011@yahoo.com
) so that he can have enought materials available.
APRIL EVENTS
April
3 (Saturday) with rain/snow date of April 10
Monitoring
Water Quality, Big Piney River, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Stream
team #3481 monitors 4 sites along a 7-mile stretch of the Big Piney River, near
Duke, MO. This project will be sampling for macro invertebrates as well
as testing water samples for turbidity, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen,
nitrates, and ammonia.
To sign
up or for more information, contact Pamela Barnabee (pamela.barnabee@gmail.com
) or call 417-458-3099 by March 20th.
April
9 (Friday)
"Evening
with Wildlife", 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm, The Centre in Rolla. The chapter
will have a display. Volunteers are needed to help with this
project. If you are interested, contact one of the following members
who will coordinate: Virginia Applegate (jdgate35@gmail.com
), Ann and John Murphey (murphey@fidnet.com .
April
10 (Saturday)
Hiking
workshop and hike with Ozark Chapter, MN. Presentation and hike on the
Ozark Trail. Details in Announcements.
April
15 or before - Date to be announced
Prescribed
burn at Tanager Trails, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm - burning the glade and grassland
areas of the nature reserve.
The
date cannot be fixed due to requirements on burning and getting permission from
the Rolla City Fire Department and also weather conditions. Details and
date will be announced later.
Level 1
Prescribed Burn class is strongly recommended, but not required to assist with
a prescribed burn. A class will be held on a Saturday in April.
April
15 (Thursday)
Native
Plant School - "Native Small Flowering Trees & Schrubs," Shaw
Nature Reserve, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This is the second in a three-part
series: January 14, April 15, and October 14. To register or for more
information, call (636) 451-3512 or go to the website: www.shawnature.org
April
17 (Saturday) with rain/snow date: April 24
Beginning
at 9:00 am, planting native plants and mulching the pond bank at Bray
Conservation Area.
There
will be a potluck lunch following the planting, with dessert provided.
For
more information, contact Connie Schmiedeskamp (connie.schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov )
April
18 - 24 (Sunday through Saturday)
Passport
in Time (PIT) project: Volunteers are needed to help stablilize two
historic structures in the Eleven Point Ranger District, Mark Twain National
Forest. The structures include the Falling Spring Mill and homestead,
both located northwest of the Irish Wilderness. Volunteers will be housed
in a national forest bunk house with all amenities or volunteers can tent or RV
camp at nearby Greer campground. One must commit to work at least 4 days.
Visit
the Passport In Time website for more information and to download and submit an
application: http://www.passportintime.com
.
Application
deadline is February 14. This project qualifies for volunteer hours.
April
21 (Wednesday)
School
program for second graders (100 students), at Bray Conservation Area, 8:30 am -
1:00 pm. Activities include: track trail, pond critters, journaling and
nature adventure. To volunteer or for more information, contact Connie (connie.schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov
) or call 368-2225 (office) or 573-422-3447 (home)
April
22 (Wednesday)
Earth
Day at Missouri S & T, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Our
chapter will be an exhibitor. Anyone interested in helping with this
project should contact John Murphey: murphey@fidnet.com or Janet McKean: jmckean@fidnet.com
April
23 (Friday)
School
program for fifth graders (50 students), Bray Conservation Area, 9:00 am - 1:30
pm. Activities include: pond invertebrates, track trail, fishing and fish
prints. To volunteer or for more information, contact Connie (connie.schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov
) or call 573-368-2225 (office) or 573-422-3447 (home).
April
24 (Saturday)
Ft.
Leonard Wood Earth Day, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
We will
have a booth at FLW's Earth Day celebration. The focus will be on water
quality. We plan to display water quality monitoring paraphernalia and
"Healthy Yards for Clear Streams" information as well as MN display
materials. Set up time at 9:00 am. Anyone interested please contact
Pamela Barnabee (417-458-3099) or e-mail: pamela.barnabee@gmail.com
April
26 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of chapter, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. United Methodist Church,
Rolla.
Program: Prairie Plants and Plant ID, presented by Dana and Justin
Thomas. Qualifies for 1 hr. advanced training.
Refreshments:
Lynda Richards
We need another volunteer to bring refreshments
April
28 (Wednesday)
School
program for kindergarten and pre-kindergarden (150 students), Bray Conservation
Area, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm. Activities include: track trail, nature
adventure, pond critters and mammals. To volunteer, contact Connie (connie.schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov
)
or call
573-368-2225 (office) or 573-422-3447 (home).
April
29 (Thursday)
School
program for first graders (75 students), Bray Conservation Area, 9:00 am - 1:30
pm. Activities include: pond invertebrates, track hike, fishing. To
volunteer or for more information, contact Connie. Contact information
listed above.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May
3 or May 5 (Wednesday or Friday)
School
program at Bray Conservation Area. The day is not definite. If you
are interested in volunteering, contact Connie (connie.schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov
) or call 573-368-2225 (office) or 573-422-3447 (home)
May
22 (Saturday)
All day
field trip to Ha Ha Tonka State Park, partnered by another MN chapter.
Tour guide will be Jodi Moulder, park naturalist. There will be two
rigorous tours: karst features and savannah features. Less rigorous
activities include: dutch oven cooking class and tour of the castle. All
activities count towards AT hours. RSVP required so that we can plan on
the number of box lunches. Contact Pat Perry at 573-364-8440.
May
24 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Rolla,
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Program: Training on Climate Change in Missouri, Pat Guinan.
Qualifies for 1 hour advanced training.
Refreshments:
?????
June
28 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, Tanager Trails, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Program: Projects at Tanager Trails, presented by Connie Roberts
Refreshments:
??????
July
26 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, location to be announced.
Program: Butterfly Identification, presented by Dave Dawson, MN. Qualifies for
1 hour advanced training.
Refreshments:
?????
August
23 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Camp Brimshire
Program: Bats of the Ozarks and Bat ID, presented by Carol Mahan, MDC.
Qualifies for 1 advanced training or 1 volunteer hour.
September
-
Field
trip on a Saturday to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, near Columbia
Program: Wetlands management and Bird Identification, Tim James (qualifies for
5.5 advanced training hours)
September
27 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Rolla,
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Program: Karst Topography and Karst Features in the Meramec Hills Chapter area,
Neil Elfrink. Qualifies for 1 hr. Advanced Training
Refreshments:
???????
October
14 (Thursday)
Native Plant
School - "Native Small Flowering Trees and Schrubs, Shaw Nature Reserve,
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This is the third in a series of workshop: January
14, April 15, and October 14. Focus will be on native small trees
and schrubs for home landscaping. For more information or to register:
call (636) 451-3512 or go to: www.shawnature.org
October
25 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Rolla,
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Program: Open for recommendations.
November
27 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Rolla,
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Program: Training on Animal Track Identification, Missouri Trappers' Association.
Qualifies for 1 hour advanced training.
December:
No Meeting
CHAPTER COMMITTEES and COORDINATORS
Volunteer
Opportunities Committee - Neil Elfrink and Ineke Vander Meulen Co-Chair this
committee
The following members will be liaisons with centers, projects, and programs
with which we are working (The plan is for them to bring to the committee and
the membership information about volunteer work at these places):
Rich Hashagen - Camp Brimshire, St. James
Nancy Moenster - Bonebrake Center of Nature and History,
Salem, and Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, Salem
Connie
Roberts - Tanager Trails
Pat Perry - Bray Conservation Area, Rolla
Bob Perry - Truman Elementary School, Rolla
Publicity
Committee - Sue
Goodman chair
Advanced
Training Committee- Emily
Brown chair
Core
Training Committee - We
need a chair. Anyone interested please contact Pamela Barnabee.
Newsletter
- Janet McKean
Website
- Jerry Barnabee
Note: If anyone is interested in
working with any of these committees, please contact the chair. We want
everyone in the chapter to be involved!