MERAMEC HILLS CHAPTER MISSOURI NATURALISTS
JULY 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 Jeffrson City will be there to recognize the work done
by the chapter. The public is invited to attend and explore the new area.
Proposed
Chapter Field Trip to Ha Ha Tonka State Park has been postponed
The proposed August
field trip to Ha Ha Tonka has been cancelled, due, primarily, to the hot
weather we usually experience in August. Several ideas for autumn field
trips are being explored. Details to follow.
Tour
of Round Spring Cave
Neil
Elfrink and Ineke Vander Meulen, who are tour guides at the cave, have
volunteered to take the chapter on a guided tour of Round Spring Cave on
Saturday, August 22. Details to follow.
JULY EVENTS
July
4 (Saturday)
"Learn
About the Prairie Wildflower Hike," Prairie State Park, beginning at 10:00
am. The hikes are sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources and are free and open to the public. Participants will meet at
the Park's Visitor Center. Wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes, bring drinking
water, and dress for the weather.
Prairie
State Park is near Mindenmines and is located 17 miles West of Lamar on
Highway 160 at State Rd. NN. For more information, contact Prairie State
Park at 417-843-6711 or call the Department of Natural Resources toll free
number: 800-334-6946
July
9 (Thursday)
Native
Perennials and Grasses for Landscaping Part 2: Summer Blooming, 1:00 pm - 3:00
pm, Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit
Fee is
$12.00. To make a reservation, call 646-451-3512 or go to the website: www.shawnature.org
(2 hrs advanced training credit)
July
11 (Saturday)
Fisher Cave
Wilderness Tour at Meramec State Park. Sponsored by the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources, this special tour will begin at 10:00 am and
last until approximately 2:00 pm. Trip will consist of semi-strenuous
crawling and walking through clay-filled passages. Participants must be
at least 11-years-old and come equipped with a hard hat and threee independent
sources of light. Parent or guardian must accompany individuals under the
age of 18. Admission for the tour is $6.00 for adults; $5.00 for ages 13
to 19; and $4.00 for ages 11 and 12. Space on tour is limited. To
reserve your place, call Erik Otto at 573-468-8155.
July
27 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of Meramec Hills Chapter Missouri Naturalists, 6:00 pm - 8:00
pm, Bray Conservation Area
Program:
David Bruns - How to Identify Lichens
(2 hrs.
advanced training credit)
Refreshments: Connie Roberts
Pam and Jerry Barnabee
July
28 (Tuesday)
Tree
I-D Hike, Bray Conservation Area, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. The hike is open to
the public. Volunteeers are needed to guide a hike or assist with visitor
information. To volunteer or for more information, contact Connie Schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov
or telephone: 573-368-2489 or 573-422-3447 (home)
AUGUST EVENTS
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 (Thursdsay)
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
22 (Saturday)
Tour of
Round Spring Cave, conducted by park guides and chapter members, Neil Elfrink
and Ineke Vander Meulen. Details to follow.
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: Robin Higley
Linda Marshall
UPCOMING EVENTS
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
21 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of Meramec Hills Chapter Missouri Naturalists, 6:00 pm - 8:00
pm, United Methodist Church, Rolla. Program to be announced.
Refreshmennts: Everyone!
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
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)
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
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!