LEAFLET
The Newsletter of Fontenelle Forest
November and December 2015
#SAVETHEOAKS Learn more about our plans to restore and preserve the Forest’s Oak Savannas
As you may have heard, Fontenelle Forest has been awarded a
Nebraska Environmental Trust grant to restore oak woodlands and savannas. With these funds, we have increased our staff and obtained necessary equipment. You may also have recently learned that we are gearing up for our prescribed burn season. This year, weather permitting, and in future years, there will be a controlled burn in Fontenelle Forest, as well as those planned up at Neale Woods. But why do we feel it’s so important to put fire on the ground? In order to have a sustainable, healthy ecosystem with a high diversity of native plants and animals, the natural processes or “disturbances” need to be in place, including fire. Large grazers and flooding also played a role in shaping our landscape, but at this point, fire is the most time and cost efficient method to begin to restore our natural systems. Historically, Fontenelle Forest would have had open oak woodlands on the ridges, and on south and west facing slopes. Without the primary disturbance of fire, fast-growing, shade-tolerant trees such as hackberry and ash have invaded the oak groves. Unfortunately, these trees out-compete the oaks in the absence of fire, preventing young oak trees from growing. As we move forward with our restoration efforts, we will begin to see open, breezy spaces on the ridge tops, and a wide variety of native plants and animals. Keep in mind that it took nearly 150 years to get to this point, so it will take some time to restore.
#SAVETHEOAKS
There is a lot of pre-planning that goes on behind the scenes before every burn. Preparatory work takes place, such as thinning the larger mid-story trees to open the canopy, and mechanical removal of large invasive shrubs such as autumn olive and honeysuckle. We also use a technique known as hack and squirt to kill invasive and undesirable trees. This method consists of hacks into the bark to hold herbicide which will kill the tree, but leave it standing, providing habitat and a food source for many animals. Before we start work on the land, we need to know what we have and where. We are using a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit to map our invasive species, as well as desirable plants and then visually show these features in a geographical information computer system. We track what we have removed, like invasive honeysuckle and what we find, such as bur and red oaks. We are able to plan our management and burn units based on our mapping, and it’s a visual record of work accomplished and what we still have to do.
Josh Priester, Chief Ranger at FF, controls a burn at Neale Woods
While the Bellevue Fontenelle Forest property has been receiving publicity about controlled burning and restoration, conservation staff and rangers have been conducting controlled burns up at Neale Woods for 10 years. You can see the evidence of our hard work as you walk along the prairie areas and see new openings where we removed invasive shrubs. When you see us out there working, feel free to ask us about what we’re doing – we love what we are doing and are happy to share. We appreciate all of your support - see you in the forest! Sincerely, Team Save the Oaks
On the cover: The Constitution Tree in 1917
Matt Miller, Restoration Biologist, collects seeds at Camp Brewster
November and December 2016
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RAPTOR WOODLAND REFUGE
OPENING LATE 2015 AT FONTENELLE FOREST
FOR PROGRAMS REQUIRING REGISTRATION GO TO FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG
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November and December 2016
MEMBERS ONLY
MUD PIES Monday - Thursday 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m. FFNC Leader: Lindsay Cooley
Members Only December 31 3:00p.m. - 5:00 p.m. FFNC Members Only Leader: Deborah Woracek
Mud Pies Drop by to explore nature activities with your child. One adult is required for every two children. A different natural science topic is introduced each week through interactive stations within “Habitat Hollow”. Check the calendar at fontenelleforest.org to learn the weekly topic. This program is for children ages 5 and younger. Please note: Mud Pies will not meet on November 25 and 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The last Mud Pies for 2015 will be on December 17 due to the holiday season.
Nature’s New Year’s Eve Join us as we celebrate the New Year with a family-friendly celebration. We will make our own noisemakers, have a bubble wrap stomp, learn what the animals do for winter, listen to a story or two, go outside for a short hike, and welcome in the year 2016 (at London time - not our time).We will have a snack and toast the New Year with hot cocoa after our outdoor adventure. Space is limited, so register soon! Registration is required. For children ages 3-12 and their families.
NATURE EXPLORERS Members only, for ages 5-11. Registration Required. Members Only November 21 1:00p.m. - 2:30p.m. Camp Brewster Leader: Kathy Fischer
WINTER CAMP
Nature Explorers: All About Turkeys For November, the Nature Explorers will learn fun facts about turkeys. Make your own turkey caller to take home and have turkey track snacks. For children ages 5-11, snacks provided. Please dress for the weather. Registration required. Space is limited!
YOGA IN THE FOREST Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. - rain or shine!
December 30 8:30a.m. - 3:30p.m. FFNC Leader: Jamie Vann Members: $35 Non-members: $60
Every Sunday morning 9:00a.m. - 10:30a.m. FFNC Leader: Julie McKeone
Winter Day Camp Spend the day hiking, playing games, creating art, reading and listening to stories, making new friends, and exploring. Our outdoor activities will depend on the weather but we will be sure to spend some time outside! Please be sure to pack extra socks and mittens in case we get to play in the snow! Pack a lunch and we will bring the snacks. Winter camp is for children currently in 1st through 8th grade. Registration is required.
ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE FOR FF MEMBERS OR WITH GENERAL ADMISSION UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED November and December 2016
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Yoga in the Forest Join us for an hour-long vinyasa style yoga class, surrounded by nature, designed to de-stress and relax you. This class is accessible for all levels of yogis, from beginner to experienced, and will feature the sounds of the forest as your soundtrack as you move towards complete wellness. A meditative walk will follow the class, ending with tea for those who can stay.
PROGRAMS Programs are listed in chronological order November 1 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m. FFNC Leaders: Ingrid Johnson and Bonnie Newman
Family Sundays in the Forest: Wandering Naturalists Keep a sharp eye out as you walk today, and you may find Wandering Naturalists Bonnie and Ingrid. Track them down on the boardwalk or one of the beautiful trails close to the FFNC. You may even learn something new about snapping turtles in the process!
Members Only November 5 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m. CB Leader: Rick Schmid
Bird Club Club President, Neal Ratzlaff, will take us down memory lane with a presentation of 35mm slides from the collection of Dr. Mary Tremaine. Dr. Tremaine took these bird photos in Churchill, Manitoba and the Sandhills of western Nebraska.
November 6 7:00p.m. - 8:00p.m. CB Leaders: Tracy Van Zee and Tad Leeper
November Campfire Program: The Night Sky - Moon & Constellations From civilizations long ago to the present day, the celestial bodies of the night sky have long been a source of fascination and wonder! Join us for fun facts, stories, and legends about about the moon and stars and help us sing a traditional camp song or two. Bring your blanket and a buddy as we enjoy an outdoor evening warmed by the glow of a campfire. Since the ground will be cold to sit on, folding chairs are encouraged. Bring a mug for hot cocoa after the stories.
November 7 9:00a.m. - 11:00a.m. Schramm Park SRA near Gretna Leader: Rick Schmid
Bird Banding at Aksarben Aquarium Get a people’s-eye-view of our feathered friends as we capture live birds, “tag” them with tiny light-weight leg bands and release them back into the wild. Drop by any time between 9:00am and 11:00am and stay as little or as long as you like. All ages are welcome, and anyone who wishes to may touch a live bird.
November 8 7:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. FFNC Leaders: Adam Erickson and Heidi Seals
Hike All Trails in a Day! Join us to hike all the trails at Fontenelle Forest in one day. You will definitely get your exercise for the day as we will hike nearly 20 miles, but we will also get to see the forest in a new light. We will hike by the Great Marsh, Hidden Lake, and all of the hills and ravines of the beautiful forest in the fall season. Please bring plenty of water, snacks, and a lunch you can eat on the trail. This will be a strenuous day of hiking, so come prepared and do some pre-hiking to get ready. Feel free to join us for the entire day or hike as far as you can and then head back.
November 10 9:45a.m. - 11:00a.m. FFNC Leader: Catherine Kuper
Seniors Understanding Nature: Sites Along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Byrony Forbes, of the National Parks Service, is from the headquarters of the Lewis & Clark Historic National Trail located on Omaha’s Riverfront Drive. She will speak about the sites you can visit along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail. Come join us for an armchair journey across the country.
November 14 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m. FFNC Leader: Jeff Lacey
Write in the Forest Explore the sights and sounds of the forest through the lens of writing! Poet, teacher, and Master Naturalist Jeff Lacey will lead you on a walk through the forest, with stops for guided writing along the way. This is a great chance to learn new writing skills and celebrate the forest with your own prose or poetry. This hike will stick primarily to the boardwalk, and all ages are welcome. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, an inside walk-and-write activity will be held.
November 15 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m. FFNC Leader: Sharon Draper
Family Sundays in the Forest: Wandering Naturalist Have questions about natural sights and sounds while hiking? Keep an eye out for Wandering Naturalist Sharon Draper as you hike the boardwalk or the trails close to FFNC. She’s ready to answer your questions and give you information about the animals active in our forest right now!
FOR PROGRAMS REQUIRING REGISTRATION GO TO FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG
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November and December 2016
November 19 7:00p.m. - 8:30p.m. WLC Leader: Sharon Draper
Members Only November19 7:00 p.m. FFNC
Silent Night Hike Late autumn at the Forest Wetlands is a time of many seasonal changes. Join us on a silent night hike along the Great Marsh as we explore nature’s ‘borderlands’ and the many transitions that take place around the wetlands habitat. Ages 12 and older. Please wear appropriate hiking footwear and warm clothing.
December 8 9:45a.m. - 11:00a.m. FFNC Leader: Catherine Kuper
December 11 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Fontenelle Forest Photography Club Neale Woods Members will enjoy a presentation on flash Leader: Bob Fuchs photography.
November 20-22 Neale Woods trails closed for annual deer hunt. These managed hunts are designed to control the deer population.
November 27 9:00a.m. - 11:00a.m. Schramm Park SRA near Gretna Leader: Rick Schmid
December 4 7:00p.m. - 8:00p.m. CB Leaders: Tracy Van Zee and Tad Leeper
Bird Banding at Aksarben Aquarium Get a people’s-eye-view of our feathered friends as we capture live birds, “tag” them with tiny light-weight leg bands and release them back into the wild. Drop by any time between 9:00am and 11:00am and stay as little or as long as you like. All ages are welcome, and anyone who wishes to may touch a live bird.
Observe the Night Sky: Meteors and Constellations Perfectly timed with the new moon and the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, this evening of observation will give you more than a glimpse into the wonders of our galaxy and beyond. Teacher Naturalist Bob Fuchs will help you find constellations, and you may see a shooting star (meteor) every minute. Bring your binoculars to see deep sky objects like star clusters and galaxies. Dress for the weather. All ages are welcome. A porta-potty is available.
December 13 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m. FFNC Leader(s): Denise Lewis
Raptors.. Live! This is your opportunity to come visit us and meet our amazing raptors! See and learn about these fascinating owl, hawk, and falcon wildlife ambassadors; photographs are encouraged.
Members Only December 17 7:00 p.m. FFNC
Fontenelle Forest Photography Club For December, the Photography Club will have a Holiday Pot Luck and share a slideshow of members’ favorite photographs of the year.
December 19 Four sessions 9:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. CB Leader: Kate Murphy
Going Wild with Gingerbread Come to the lodge at Camp Brewster. Use your imagination to create a gingerbread cabin complete with wildlife in your snow covered yard. Dress for the weather as this activity includes a short walk through the winter woods and prairie.
December 20 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m. FFNC Leader: Sharon Draper
Family Sundays in the Forest: Cold-Weather Creatures The shortest day of the year is almost here, and winter has nearly officially begun. Join Sharon Draper in the nature center before or after your hike, and find out how our cold-weather creatures survive these frosty days and long nights.
December Campfire Program: Nature in Winter While Fontenelle Forest appears to be sleeping during the winter season, it is actually quite AWAKE and very much ALIVE! Join us for stories, songs and fun facts about animal tracks, snowflakes, hibernation and other prominent aspects of nature in winter. Bring your blanket and a buddy as we enjoy an outdoor evening warmed by the glow of a campfire. Since the ground will be cold to sit on, folding chairs are encouraged. Bring a mug for hot cocoa after the campfire.
December 5-9 Fontenelle Forest Deer Hunt Nature Center and Riverview Boardwalk open. All other trails closed. These managed hunts are designed to control the deer population.
ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE FOR FF MEMBERS OR WITH GENERAL ADMISSION UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED November and December 2016
Seniors Understanding Nature: Fire and Ice Alex Wiles, Animal Care Specialist, continues to explore the world with a trip to Costa Rica, working with the leatherback sea turtles. He will also share memories of his trip to Iceland.
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$10 per child - includes all supplies needed to make a gingerbread house. Parents, grandparents, etc. are welcome and encouraged to join in their child’s fun. Registration is required. Space is limited, so register soon!
AT A GLANCE NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
1 Yoga in the Forest
4 Campfire Program: Nature in Winter
Family Sundays: Wandering Naturalists
5 Fontenelle Forest Nature Center and Riverview
5 Members Only: Bird Club
Boardwalk Open - All other trails closed
6 Campfire Program: The Night Sky
6 Fontenelle Forest Nature Center and Riverview Boardwalk Open - All other trails closed Yoga in the Forest
7 Bird Banding at Aksarben Aquarium 8 Hike All Trails in One Day
7 Fontenelle Forest Nature Center and Riverview
Yoga in the Forest
Boardwalk Open - All other trails closed
10 Seniors Understanding Nature (SUN)
8 Fontenelle Forest Nature Center and Riverview Boardwalk Open - All other trails closed Seniors Understanding Nature (SUN)
14 Write in the Forest 15 Yoga in the Forest
9 Fontenelle Forest Nature Center and Riverview
Family Sundays: Wandering Naturalist
Boardwalk Open - All other trails closed
19 Silent Night Hike
11 Observe the Night Sky (at Neale Woods)
Fontenelle Forest Photography Club
13 Yoga in the Forest
20 Neale Woods Trails Closed
17 Fontenelle Forest Photography Club
21 Neale Woods Trails Closed
19 Going Wild with Gingerbread
Members Only: Nature Explorers
22 Neale Woods Trails Closed
20 Yoga in the Forest
27 Bird Banding at Aksarben Aquarium
27 Yoga in the Forest
29 Yoga in the Forest
31 Members Only: Nature’s New Years Eve
Yoga in the Forest
Family Sundays: Cold Weather Creatures
Mud Pies meets Monday - Thursday mornings for children ages 5 and younger. Please note: Mud Pies will not meet on November 25 and 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The last Mud Pies for 2015 will be on December 17 due to the holiday season.
FOR PROGRAMS REQUIRING REGISTRATION GO TO FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG
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November and December 2016
1111 Bellevue Blvd. North Bellevue, NE 68005 www.fontenelleforest.org
GENERAL INFORMATION Phone: 402.731.3140 Email: info@fontenelleforest.org Web: fontenelleforest.org Find us on:
Fontenelle Forest Nature Center
Neale Woods
1111 Bellevue Boulevard North, Bellevue, NE 68005
14323 Edith Marie Avenue, Omaha, NE 68112
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Hours: Open daily, 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.
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Trails open year round, dawn to dusk
Closed December 25 & January 1
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Nature center CLOSED for renovation
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Trails open dawn to dusk for FF members. Non-members admitted before close have trail access until dusk
Admission: Fontenelle Forest members Free One Day Membership $7 Adult | $6 Senior (62+)| $5 Child (2-17)
Admission: Fontenelle Forest members Free One Day Membership $5 Adult | $4 Senior (62+) | $3 Child (2-17)