MERAMEC HILLS CHAPTER MISSOURI NATURALISTS

SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

09/02/08

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Camp Brimshire (MN Capstone project) has the following ongoing volunteer projects:

    1. Plant identification

    2. Trim trees

    3. Weed-eating/trimming with 5 HP weed-eater on wheels

    4. Nature Trail clean-up

    5. Staining of cedar trim on new shower house

    6. Planter building at new shower house

    7. Fence clearing

    8. Fence repair

    9. Cut down dead trees

    10. Mowing

    11. Leaf pickup with lawn tractor-pulled vacuum

    12. Assembly of 10' x 10' lawn building

For more information, contact Rich Hashagen at 573-699-4351 or e-mail: brmshire@socket.net

David Plank's Watercolor Paintings of Birds

The Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center in Salem is featuring an exhibit of David Plank's paintings from the 1940's to the present, September 9 - September 27.  An educational portion of the display will contain field drawings to demonstrate the process leading up to the finished painting.  David will be in attendance for a "Meet the Artist" session on Saturday, September 13, from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon. There will be a drawing at the end of the exhibit for a signed original painting.

The Center is open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and on Tuesday, from 9:00 am - 8:00 pm.

The Cultural Center is located on Highway 19 (South Main Street) in Salem.  For more information, call 573-729-0029.

"Show Me Yards and Neighborhoods"

A training program offered through the Extension Office teaches the public to be good stewards.  For more information, contact Carol Mahan at 573-368-2590 ext. 29 or e-mail: carol.mahan@mdc.mo.gov

MDC Discover Nature Families - Fall Tree Hike

Saturday, September 27, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon, Bray Conservation Area

Call Pat at 573-368-2225 for more information or to register.

Other upcoming events include: "Where the Wild Things Are" (Oct. 25) and "Nature Journaling" (November 22)

ADVANCED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

September 15 - 18 (Monday - Thursday)

Association of Missouri Interpreters 2008 Conference

Conference includes field trips, field studies and concurrent sessions.

Registration deadline: September 2, 2008

For more information, contact Committee Chair, Borin Grumm, at 573-526-5544, ext. 3405

September 18 (Thursday)

Prescribed Burn Workshop - Salem TCRC, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

Registration required: Contact Mike Gaskins at 573-226-1285 ext. 106 or e-mail: mike.gaskins@mdc.mo.gov or Sarah Egly at 573-364-6202 or e-mail: sarah.egly@mdc.mo.gov

September 22 (Monday)

At the regular monthly chapter meeting, Dr. James Trager, will give his presentation on "Ants."  This will count towards 1-hr. advanced training.

October 2 (Thursday)

Advanced Training Workshop - Ozark Archeology.  Presenter, Dr. Richard Edging

Phelps County Courthouse Multipurpose Room, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Emily Brown at 573-762-2727 or e-mail: nature97@socket.net

October 27 (Monday)

At the regular monthly meeting of the chapter, Dr. Joe Senne will present a program on Astronomy.  This will count towards 1-hour of advanced training.  For more information, contact Emily Brown at nature97@socket.net or Gary Morford at morfordg@mst.edu

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

September 5 and 6 (Friday and Saturday)

St.James Grape and Fall Festival - Help staff the booth which will showcase MDC and Master Naturalists programs and projects.  For more information or to volunteer, contact Carol Mahan at 573-368-2590 ext 29 or e-mail: carol.mahan@mdc.mo.gov

September 9 (Tuesday)

Work-day at Bray Conservation Area, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

    1. Weed "Grow Native" beds

    2. Mulch pre-school area

    3. Prepare animal track signs

    4. Trail maintenance

September 9, 10, and 12 (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Rolla Middle School Fishing Days, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm each day

There are four stations, each one-hour long:

    1. Fishing

    2. Hiking

    3. Macro Invertebrates/Fish Classification

    4. Journaling/Fish prints

If you can help, call Connie Schmiesdeskamp at Bray: 368-2489 or at home: 573-422-3447

September 20 (Saturday)

Work-day at Bray Conservation Area, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Projects include completing those listed under September 9 workday.

September Monthly Meeting - Monday, September 29, 6:00 pm, United Methodist Church, Rolla