MERAMEC HILLS CHAPTER MISSOURI NATURALISTS
AUGUST 2009 NEWSLETTER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Special
Event at Bray Conservation Area
Open
House and Dedication of the new Nature Adventure Area at Bray on Thursday,
August 20, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, with Master Naturalists being recognized at
7:00 pm. All Master Naturalists are urged to be there, even if you did
not work on the project. There will be media coverage of the event.
Several MDC people from Jefferson City will be there to recognize the work done
by the chapter. The public is invited to attend and explore the new area.
Tour
of Round Spring Cave - Saturday, August 29
Neil Elfrink
and Ineke Vander Meulen, who are tour guides at the cave, have volunteered to
take the chapter members on a guided tour of Round Spring Cave on
Saturday, August 29. The cavern tour will begin at 12:00 noon and last
about 2 hours. There will be an optional walk to the Spring until 3:00
pm. We will meet at the Round Spring Picnic area parking lot. We
will then drive or walk 1/4 mile to the cave site. Bring sturdy
shoes/boots, jacket, and a camera. Lanterns will be provided, but you are
welcome to bring a flashlight as well.
This program
will count as 2.0 or 3.0 hours of advanced training.
To sign
up for the cave tour, contact Emily Brown (573-762-2727) or e-mail: nature97eb@dishmail.net
Note:
For those who
want to carpool from Rolla, Neil is going to arrange to
carpool from Kroger's parking lot. If you want to carpool, please contact
Neil directly (tel: 573-341-5190) or e-mail: nelfrink@rollanet.org
Master
Naturalist Core Training Class Set for Fall 2009
Classes
will be held on Thursday evenings, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, beginning September 10
and going through November 19. All classes will be held at Webster
University, Rolla campus. Following is an outline of classes:
Class 1 (September 10) - Overview of Master Naturalist program - Syd Hime, MDC
Introduction to Meramec Hills chapter
Role of the Naturalist - Jamin Bray
Class 2 (September 17) - Botany - Andy Read, University Extension
Field Trip (Saturday,
September 19)
Indian Trail Conservation Area, 9:00 am - 1 pm: Tree ID - Mike Fiaoni, MDC
Class 3 (September 24) - Cultural History of the Ozarks - Stephanie Nutt
Karst and Groundwater - Jim Vandike, DNR
Class 4 (October 1) - Mammals - Carol Mahan, MDC
Wildlife Management - Jim Braithwait, MDC
Class 5 (October 8) - History of Missouri's Natural Communities - Paul Nelson, USFS
Class 6 (October 15) - Birds
Grasslands Ecology - Norm Murray, MDC
Field Trip (Saturday, October 17) - White River Trace Conservation Area, 9:00 am -
2:00 pm: Birds - Loretta mcClure
Grasslands Mgmt - Justin Gailey, MDC
Class 7 (October 22) - Missouri's Ecological Classification System - Tim Nigh, MDC
Insects
- Lynda Richards
Class 8 (October 29) - Wetlands - Rhonda Rimer, MDC
Amphibians
Field Trip (Saturday, October 31) - Woodson K. Woods Conservation Area, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm:
Aquatics - Nick Girondo, MDC
Class 9 (November 5) - Woodland Management - Lee Hughes, MDC
Class 10 (November 12) - Missouri Geology and Soils - Neil Elfrink, DNR
Class 11 (November 19) - Education and Interpretation - Carol Mahan, MDC
Graduation
Please
let friends, neighbors, relatives know about this wonderful opportunity.
Fee is $100.00 and includes all materials. Contact Pam Barnabee (tel:
417-458-3099) or e-mail: pamela.barnabee@gmail.com
Volunteer
Opportunities to help with Core Classes:
Classroom Volunteers: Set up classroom, set out class attendance sheet, greet participants
and go over housekeeping issues, greet speakers and assist with any special
requirements or needs, introduce speaker, send thank-you note to speaker
Field Trip Volunteers: Help organize trip and facilitate leader; arrange car-pooling, provide
directions, maps, and information; record attendance; send thank-you note to
facilitator
To
volunteer for any class or field trip, contact Pam Barnabee (tel: 417-458-3099)
or e-mail: pamela.barnabee@gmail.com
AUGUST EVENTS
August
1 (Saturday)
Guided
hike at Prairie State Park near Mindenmines. Sponsored by the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources, the hikes begin at 10:00 am and are free and
open to the public.
Prairie
State Park is located 17 miles west of Lamar on Highway 160 to State Road
NN. For more information, contact the park at 417-843-6711.
August
8 (Saturday)
Tour of
Fisher Cave at Meramec State Park near Sullivan. Sponsored by the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources, this special cave tour will begin at
9:00 am and last until approx. 1:00 pm. This adventurous tour will
consist of strenuous crawling, at times through semi-filled water passes, to
reach an enormous room. Participants must be at least 18-years-old.
Come equipped with a hard hat, three independent sources of light (two of which
should be waterproof), and a wetsuit that covers at least two-thirds of the
body.
Admission
is $6.00 for adults and $5.00 for those ages 18 to 19. To reserve a spot
or for more information, contact Erik Otto at 573-468-8155.
August
13 (Thursday)
Prairie
and Savanna Restoration Part 1: Site Prep and Seed Collecting, 1:00 pm - 3:00
pm, Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit
Fee is
$12.00. To make a reservation, call 636-451-3512 or go to the website: www.shawnature.org
(2 hrs
advanced training credit)
August
20 (Thursday)
Open
house at Bray Conservation Area to dedicate the Nature Adventure (Pre-School)
Area, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Details under Announcements.
Volunteers are needed to answer questions, play with the kids, read a nature
book. Please come for refreshments and the dedication if you don't want
to volunteer. To volunteer, contact Connie schmiesdeskamp@mdc.mo.gov
or call 573-368-2489 (w) or 573-422-3447 (h)
August
24 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of Meramec Hills Chapter Missouri Naturalists, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm,
Bray Conservation Area
Program:
Carol Mahan - Creating Conservation and Nature Activities for Kids
(3 hrs.
advanced training credit)
Refreshments: Linda Marshall
Janet McKean
August
29 (Saturday)
Tour of
Round Spring Cave, conducted by park guides and chapter members, Neil Elfrink
and Ineke Vander Meulen. Details under Announcements
UPCOMING EVENTS
September
10 (Thursday)
Class
1: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Overview of Master Naturalist Program by Syd Hime, MD,
Introduction to Meramec Hills Chapter, and the Role of the Naturalist by Jamin
Bray.
September
10 (Thursday)
Prairie
and Savanna Restoration Part 2: Seeding and Maintenance, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm,
Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit
Fee is
$12.00. To make a reservation, call 636-451-3521 or go to the website: www.shawnature.org
(2 hrs
advanced training credit)
September
16 (Wednesday)
Managing
Your Land for Quail and other Grassland Birds, 8:00 am - 10:00 am, Shaw Nature
Reserve, Gray Summit
Fee is
$12.00. Call 636-451-3521 or go to the website: www.shawnature.org
(2 hrs.
advanced training credit)
September
17 (Thursday)
Class
2: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Botany - Andy Read, University Extension
September
19 (Saturday)
Core
class field trip to Indian Trail Conservation Area, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Tree ID - Mike Fiaoni, MDC
September
24 (Thursday)
Class
3: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Cultural History of the Ozarks - Stephanie Nutt
Karst and Groundwater - Jim Vandike, DNR
September
28 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of Meramec Hills Chapter Missouri Naturalists, 6:00 pm - 8:00
pm, Bray Conservation Area
Carry-in
picnic with hot dogs and burgers provided by the chapter. Attendees are
asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share.
New
class members will be invited. All current members are encouraged to
attend to welcome and get to know our newest members.
Refreshments: Everyone!
October
1 (Thursday)
Class
4: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Mammals - Carol Mahan, MDC
Wildlife Management - Jim Braithwait, MDC
October
8 (Thursday)
Class
5: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
History of Missouri's Natural Communities - Paul Nelson, USFS
October
8 (Thursday)
Native
Perennials and Grasses for Landscaping Part 3: Autumn Blooming, 1:00 pm - 3:00
pm, Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit
Fee is
$12.00. Call 636-451-3521 or go to the website: www.shawnature.org
(2 hrs.
advanced training credit)
October
10 and 11 (Saturday and Sunday)
Old
Iron Works Days, Maramec Spring Park. 4 volunteers are needed each day,
each pair working 1/2 day: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (2 people) or 1:00 pm -
5:00 pm (2 people). Details to follow.
October
15 (Thursday)
Class
6: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Birds
Grasslands Ecology - Norm Murray, MDC
October
17 (Saturday)
Core
class field trip to White River Trace Conservation Area, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Birds - Loretta McClure
Grassland Management - Justin Gailey, MDC
October
22 (Thursday)
Class
7: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Missouri's Ecological Classification System - Tim Nigh, MDC
Insects - Lynda Richards
October
26 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of Meramec Hills Chapter Missouri Naturalists, 6:00 pm - 8:00
pm, Bray Conservation Area Program: Carol Mahan - Mammal Skull
Identification
(2 hrs.
advanced training credit)
October
29 (Thursday)
Class
8: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Wetlands - Rhonda Rimer, MDC
Amphibians
October
31 (Saturday)
Core
class field trip to Woodson K. Woods Conservation Area, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Aquatics - Nick Girondo, MDC
November
5 (Thursday)
Class
9: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Woodland Management - Lee Hughes, MDC
November
12 (Thursday)
"Deer-Resistant"
Native Landscaping, 1:00 pm - 3:000 pm, Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit
Fee is
$12.00. Call 636-451-3521 or go to the website: www.shawnature.org
(2 hrs.
advanced training credit)
November
12 (Thursday)
Class
10: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Missouri Geology and Soils - Neil Elfrink, DNR
November
19 (Thursday)
Class
11: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla
Education and Interpretation - Carol Mahan, MDC
Graduation
November
23 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of Meramec Hills Chapter Missouri Naturalists, 6:00 pm - 7:00
pm
Program
to be announced.
CHAPTER COMMITTEES and NEW COORDINATORS
Volunteer
Opportunities Committee - Neil Elfrink and Ineke Vander Meulen will 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 - Audubon
Bob Perry - Bray Conservation Area, Rolla
Bob Perry - Truman Elementary School, Rolla
Publicity
Committee - Sue
Goodman will chair this committee
Advanced
Training Committee- Emily
Brown will continue to chair this committee
Core
Training Committee - Robin
Higley will continue to chair this committee
Newsletter
- Janet McKean
will continue to compile and send out the monthly chapter newsletter
Website
- Jerry Barnabee
will continue to update and add new information to the website
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!