Earth Day Volunteering at the Schrader Center — April 20, 2013

Like the outdoors? Want to spend a little time helping improve the exterior grounds at the local nature center?

Schrader Center staff will host a volunteer work event in honor of Earth Day on Saturday, April 20 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Schrader Center. We’ll be pulling privet, and other invasive species, planting trees and clearing walkways, cleaning up around the butterfly garden, and more! We encourage volunteers all of ages to participate for any amount of time! Volunteers should wear long sleeves, work pants and boots. Work gloves will be provided, but volunteers may bring their own. Coffee, tea and snacks will be complimentary.

Bird Walk – We’ll start the day out with a morning bird walk hosted by Brooks Bird member and Bethany College Professor of Biology, Jay Buckelew, from 9:00 -10:00 am. Meet in the lower parking lot of the Schrader Center near the trail head a few minutes before 9:00 am.

Astronomy Day Activities — Other activities include Oglebay Astronomy Club’s Astronomy Day program with two sessions. The daytime session will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Speidel Observatory and includes solar viewing (weather permitting– many sunspots are currently visible), meteorite display, space science demonstrations and activities, and Speidel Observatory tours. The nighttime session will be held from 8:00 to 11:00 pm, also at the Speidel Observatory, and will include telescope astronomy (weather permitting–Jupiter is spectacular now!), night sky tour of the constellations and special Speidel Observatory tours.

Call the Schrader Center at 304-242-6855 for more information.

Sap is Flowing at the Schrader Center!

By Erica McGrath–The sap season has begun at the Schrader Center and naturalists have been hard at work preparing for our upcoming harvest of maple syrup. During the warmer months, maple trees produce starches, which they store in their roots throughout the winter. As spring approaches the tree converts these starches to sugars which are carried to the rest of the tree in a fluid called sap. Sap flows through a portion of the outer trunk called the sapwood which is pressurized during the spring when temperatures rise above freezing during the day and drop below freezing at night. These fluctuations cause the sap to rise and allow us to safely collect sap without damaging the tree.

This sap, when collected and processed becomes the maple syrup we all enjoy. Here at the Schrader Center, we are putting the finishing touches on this year’s first batch of maple syrup. Sap was collected from our local stand of Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum) and processed by boiling the sap in a metal boiling machine called an evaporator. The evaporator boils away the water from the sap and leaves behind sticky, sweet syrup. It takes about forty gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. In the video below, naturalist Greg Park discusses the final steps of producing a batch of syrup:    To learn more about maple syrup production and its history, and to enjoy a hot pancake breakfast, be sure to come out to our Maple Sugaring Day on Saturday March 23. The event is held at Camp Russel in Oglebay Park and runs from 9am to 1pm. Admission: $7/$6 OI members. Call 304-242-6855 to book a one-hour tour.

Cupcakes for Volunteers!

 By Jake Francis, Director of Environmental Education–One thing that sets the Ohio Valley apart from other places I have lived is the intense pride that many of us hold for our natural resources.  It might have something to do with the massive body of water that we use as a reference for almost everything, or perhaps it has something to do with the rich tradition of sportsmanship in this valley. But I believe it has a lot to do with the amazing and unique city parks that are inextricably tied to our city’s identity.

In my two years here, I have met students who are willing to slave in the heat of summer working to conserve our forests, young adults shaping our food landscape and bringing green space to our downtown, and octogenarians who have given their entire life over to the our city parks and Oglebay Institute.  And, as I was trying to write a post about our upcoming volunteer opportunities, all I could think of was how much thanks we owe to you all!

In light of that, I want to share a couple of organized volunteer days we will be having at the Schrader Center which will focus on doing some much-needed maintenance on our trail system and continuing our battle with invasive exotic plant species that are threatening our forests.  We will be holding workdays from 9am-3pm on February 23 and April 20.  We will have all of the tools needed and can provide work gloves, as well as some hot beverages, snacks, and congratulatory cupcakes to thank you all for everything you do.  If you can’t make those days, don’t fret. You can call me at the Schrader Center at 304-242-6855, and I’ll make sure you get a cupcake, but you’ll have to spend some time discussing birding, botany, herpetology, or the like!  I hope you can forgive this departure from my normally scientific blog posts, and that you can come see us in the next couple of months!

What: Volunteer Days at the Schrader Center

When: February 23 & April 20

Where: Schrader Center, Oglebay Park

Time: 9am-3pm

Info: 304-242-6855

 

 

Monarchs Flutter at the Schrader Center

“Flock”, Miller University

Getting to be the greeter of guests, one never knows who’s going to walk in the door at the Schrader Center!  It could be a community member or a visitor from Sarasota, FL.  It could be a child with a question about native animals or a family from Phoenix, AZ visiting Oglebay Park.  It could be someone wanting to walk our trails or a former Junior Nature Camper.  On this particular day, it was aerial artist Erica Loustau and her three- year-old daughter, Zoe.

Someone who finds inspiration from flocks of birds, Erica designs site-specific artistic displays that are suspended in mid-air by geometrically arranged wires.  Her three-dimensional mixed media is a nod to how nature inspires art.  Her suspended art is both magical enough to captivate kids and creatively alluring for adults.

“I have long been fascinated by the movement and organization of flocks of birds,” says Erica. “These birds in flight are like ant colonies or swarms of bees. Not only do they seem to have a distinct form, but also a sense of organization and purpose.”

“Monarch Rabble”, Schrader Center

Erica recently designed a suspended work of monarch butterflies soaring over the exhibit hall of the Schrader Center.   “Monarch Rabble” includes 2,000 butterflies that begin at the door and guide guests into the exhibit hall which overlooks the Corson Butterfly Garden.

Erica’s art brings nature not only inside, but into our imaginations.  Her recent visit to the Schrader Center allowed her to see the panel that was created to honor those who donated “butterflies”.  Accompanied by her daughter, Zoe, the pair enjoyed playing in our puppet room and touring the Center.  It was great to meet the maker of the Monarch Rabble that soars above me while I work! ~Sara Fincham, Customer Service Representative at the Schrader Center 

“Scatter”, West Chester University

Annual Christmas Bird Count at Schrader Center This Saturday

Annual Christmas Bird Count

8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, December 22
Schrader Environmental Education Center, Oglebay

Love birds? Want to see how many you can locate around Oglebay Park? Join the Schrader Center staff and participate in the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, December 22 at the Schrader Center in Oglebay Park. The longest running Citizen Science survey in the world, the Christmas Bird Count provides critical data on bird health and population trends. We’ll be scouting the area for all types of birds and then submitting our collective data to the Audubon Society’s census.

Help make a difference for science and bird conservation. Participate in the Christmas Bird Count this year. We’ll even provide the snacks and coffee! For more information, contact Greg Park at the Schrader Center, 304-242-6855. You can also visit the National Audubon Society’s website.

Last Trail Maintenance Day for 2012

Last volunteer Trail Maintenance Day for 2012 will be this Saturday, Dec. 15 from 10am-12pm at the Schrader Center. We’re continuing to focus on the removal of invasive exotic species, such as European Privet, and to clean up the trail for visitors. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, work pants and boots. Work gloves will be provided, but volunteers may bring their own. Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided. Call the Schrader Center at 304-242-6855 for more information.

Spark Night at the Schrader Center!

Join members of the Kids+Creativity Network for an evening of environmental education, as we explore the importance of outdoor play!

Spark Night will emphasize the relationship between outdoor play and creativity, and the unique bond between children and nature. It will feature a presentation of educational activities available at the facility by Schrader Center director, Eriks Janelsins,  as well as a tour of the grounds and a reception. Attendees are welcome to extend their visit to Oglebay Park after Spark Night by joining in one of the public programs offered at the Schrader Center on Thursday nights st. Join the campfire at 8:00pm for singing, story-telling and marshmallow roasting, with Astronomy in the Park following at 9:00pm.

When: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Where: Oglebay Institute’s Schrader Environmental Education Center, located in Oglebay Park, Wheeling, WV, 26003 (465 Lodge Drive)

This event is free to attend, but registration is limited. Be sure to RSVP! Feel free to call 412-325-0646 with questions.

Butterflies for Earth Day!

The Schrader Center will host a very special guest for Earth Day activities this year. Ba Rea, author, naturalist and monarch expert will be on-hand to provide interactive “Monarch Magic” presentations.  She brings a wealth of knowledge and information about monarchs as she has been raising and releasing them since 1970 and introducing monarchs to school children and teachers since 1986.

“Monarch butterflies have captured the imaginations of people all over North America. They are used in classrooms to teach science, geography, art, math and writing,” says Ba. “They find their way into fairs, nature centers and public places to help people make connections with the natural world. They are used in hospitals, dialysis clinics, hospice, and Alzheimer clinics to bring us the metaphors in life that we need during major transitions.”

All of her life, Ba Rea has been passionate about the natural world — enjoying, investigating, learning and sharing what she discovers.  These days she lives in the woods on the Knobs over Union, West Virginia. Ba has researched, drawn, photographed and written about many different plants, animals and natural phenomena. Ba’s favorite creatures are monarch butterflies, but praying mantids, toads, American eels, puffins, and whales are all close contenders!

Join us for a day full of monarchs and magic!

Noon – 4p.m.   – Children’s Activities

Noon – 4 p.m.  – Planting in the Butterfly Garden

1 – 4p.m.  – Monarch Magic 

2:30 p.m.  –  Dedication Ceremony for “Monarch Rabble” 

Earth Day Family Celebration at the Schrader Center

Earth Day is a day in early spring each year on which events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment. Earth Day is coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year.

The Schrader Center is adding a little Monarch Magic to our Earth Day celebration this year! We’re inviting families and friends to spend Earth Day at the Schrader Center, and we have a ton of activities planned for all age levels.

Activities include children’s stories, crafts and activities with Schrader Center educator Robin Lee and her creative staff, hands-on “Monarch Magic” presentations by author, naturalist and monarch expert Ba Rea, flower and tree plantings and light refreshments. Milkweed and wildflower seed packets will also be given away to participants.  And, all activities are free and open to the public!

• Noon – 4p.m. Children’s Activities – Join us for a story by children’s author Ba Rea about the life cycle and miraculous migration of the Monarch butterfly. See for yourself how a butterfly’s vision helps it find its food as you try to find your “host” flower, spread some pollen, and taste some nectar. Celebrate the importance of butterflies as pollinators in these hands-on learning activities designed for small folk. Make your own symmetrical Monarch butterfly to take home.

•  Noon – 4 p.m.  – Planting in the Butterfly Garden– Plant flowers in the Corson Butterfly Garden and trees along the Discovery Trails

•  1 – 4p.m.- Monarch Magic – Hands-on presentations with author, naturalist and monarch expert Ba Rea.

•  2:30 p.m. Dedication Ceremony for “Monarch Rabble” – Join us as we dedicate the three-dimensional, suspended installation by artist Erica Loustau that features 2,000 butterflies and is on permanent display in the Schrader Center exhibit hall. The butterflies welcome guests at the door and lead them through the Exhibit Hall to the windows and decks overlooking the Corson Butterfly Garden, bringing the outdoors inside.

Call the Schrader Center at 304-242-6855 for more information. Bring your gloves, a rake and a willingness to dig in to fun at the this year’s Earth Day Celebration at the Schrader Center!

Schrader Center to Provide Hands-on Activities at The Lorax Debut

Schrader Center staff will be on hand this Saturday at Marquee Cinemas at the Highlands for the opening of the new animated feature film The Lorax about a character who “speaks for the trees.” Staffers will be in the lobby of Marquee Cinemas from noon – 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3 presenting activities that include live native animals, artistic leaf rubbing, an Age the Trees counting rings contest and more. There will also be giveaways and prize drawings including one for a free week of Oglebay Institute Nature Day Camp! Activities are free and open to the public.

“The Schrader Center embraces the film’s nature-friendly message and has partnered with Marquee Cinemas at The Highlands to provide educational, eco-centered games, activities and displays for children to enjoy before and after screenings on Saturday,” said Schrader Center director Eriks Janelsins.

A portion of The Lorax ticket sales will benefit the Schrader Environmental Education Center. Visit Marquee Cinemas website for showtimes and prices. And, when you “leaf” the movie, don’t forget to discover the forest!