Leaflet
The Newsletter of Fontenelle Forest
Summer 2017
fontenelleforest.org
Summer 2017 FONTENELLE FOREST | 1
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12 Solar Eclipse Month Solar Eclipse related activities for all ages in July and August
13 Membership Meet Bettia, our new Membership manager
Contents
14 Calendar Highlights
Fontenelle Forest’s Leaflet Summer 2017
Select upcoming programs. view the complete calendar at fontenelleforest.org
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10 Stewardship What will Fontenelle Forest look like in the future?
04 Highlights Upcoming events at the Forest
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05 Forest News A look back at the spring months
07 Education Important life lessons are learned at
Fontenelle Forest
summer camps every year
1111 Bellevue Blvd North
09 Raptor Recovery Learn more about the role foster moms play in the recovery process
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Bellevue, NE 68005 (402) 731-3140 fontenelleforest.org
Happy Summer!
\\MeMerica Whitehall, Executive Director, with volunteers from Girls Inc.
This time of year is when the Forest is green and lush. It’s so beautiful and tranquil. Fontenelle Forest has been called a “hidden gem”. But, what good is a hidden gem? The value in any treasure is finding it.
to provide internships for high school students throughout Nebraska. These young people are developing hands-on skills in land management and conservation; environmental education; animal care; and nonprofit management.
Fontenelle Forest is a treasure that’s meant to be shared with everyone in our community. Many of our community members are trapped by their economic circumstances and live completely confined to the urban environment. Fontenelle Forest is a place for people in our community who otherwise would never escape the constraints of city life.
Like no other organization in our community, Fontenelle Forest is uniquely positioned to provide a retreat from the health compromising pressures of urban life for youth and adults. This is especially true for those who have no other place to go. We are here to serve the people in our community. And through our robust internship partnerships we are developing the future leaders of our community.
True to our mission we are inspiring future generations of environmental stewards and nature lovers! We are strengthening our community partnerships to offer internships that allow teens and college students from diverse backgrounds to develop leadership and job-skills in the environmental sector. We are proudly providing internships to young leaders from Creighton University and the Universities of Nebraska in Lincoln, Omaha, and Kearney. We have partnered with the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, Girls Inc., Native Futures, the National Park Service, and Avenue Scholars
Fontenelle Forest is a treasure. It makes our community healthier, happier, and stronger. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Leaflet! Thank you for your membership and support!
Merica Whitehall, Executive Director
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Upcoming Highlights
Summer Fun at the Forest The photography of Matika Wilbur, the first anniversary of Raptor Woodland Refuge, and Beer on the Boardwalk
MATIKA WILBUR ARTIST RECEPTION
BEER ON THE BOARDWALK RETURNS
SUNDAY, JULY 9
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Fontenelle Forest is proud to present Matika Wilbur’s newest Project 562 collection: “Natural Wanderment: Stewardship – Sovereignty – Sacredness”, an exhibition of Native American portraits and stories that honors and seeks to protect ancestral ways of life and lands in North America. Members are invited to join us for a special artist’s reception with Matika Wilbur on Sunday evening, July 9th.
Beer on the Boardwalk, one of our most asked about events, is back by popular demand! Join us September 16 for an evening of beer tasting, entertainment, food, and more outside on the Riverview Boardwalk. We’re working on a fantastic line-up of local breweries for this one-ofa-kind event. We’ll share more information including times and pricing as we get closer to the big day. Beer on the Boardwalk is for ages 21 and up.
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RAPTOR WOODLAND REFUGE ANNIVERSARY SATURDAY, JULY 22 July marks the one year anniversary of the opening of Raptor Woodland Refuge at the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center! Join us for a special edition of Raptors... Live! on July 22 and celebrate a successful first year of this amazing addition. This is a great chance to meet and photograph some of our amazing raptor ambassadors up close and learn more about them. Stay tuned for informatuon about special surprises!
Forest News
Springtime is a busy time of year A look back at some of the highlights from the last three months NEBRASKA SCIENCE FEST We participated in the annual Nebraska Science Festival presented by the University of Nebraska Medical Center for the fourth year in a row. Attendees enjoyed a host of fun science-related activities including hikes, crafts, and a prescribed fire presentation by the land stewardship department.
PAINT AND SIP Our first painting class and wine tasting event was enjoyed by all in attendance. Our friends at Corky Canvas created a special painting in honor of Fontenelle Forest. It was a lot of fun to see everyone’s paintings - no matter their skill levels!
FEATHER OUR NEST 2017 Thank you to everyone who
NEBRASKA SCIFEST
Matt Miller, Restoration Biologist, discusses the benefits of prescribed fire
PAINT AND SIP
Event attendees show-off the paintings they created with the help of Corky Canvas
helped make this year’s Feather Our Nest a big success! The fundraising gala was held at the Omaha Design Center on Saturday, April 29th and raised over $200,000 to support all aspects of our mission. Feather Our Nest is presented by the Fontenelle Forest Guild and this year’s chairs were Jenny Doyle, Meghan Oaks, and Debbie Stalnaker.
FEATHER OUR NEST
Betsy Finch, Raptor Rehabilitation Manager, and Dr. Anne Hubbard, Honorary Chair, at the gala Summer 2017 FONTENELLE FOREST | 5
NATURAL WANDERMENT: STEWARDSHIP. SOVEREIGNTY. SACREDNESS. Photography exhibition by Matika Wilbur
ARTIST TALK AND RECEPTION SUNDAY, JULY 9TH AT 6 PM. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT FONTENELLE FOREST NATURE CENTER Fontenelle Forest is excited to welcome theart of Matika Wilbur to the Nature Center’s Baright Gallery. The exhibit is a combination of pigment/ hand painted silver gelatin prints which is part of the larger Project 562. Directed by Matika Wilbur, Project 562 is a 7-year photography project documenting Native America and all 562 federally recognized tribes in the US. It is dedicated to addressing stereotypes surrounding Indian Country. By exposing the tenacity and richness of contemporary Native life, Project 562 educates beyond the stereotypical 19th century image, encouraging a global shift in the consciousness toward Native Americans.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST: Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) began her extraordinary portrait work after a dream in which her grandmother Laura Wilbur, a prominent Swinomish tribal leader, urged her to return home from a South American assignment and begin photographing her own people.
Dr. Mary Evelyn Belgarde (Pueblo of Isleta and Ohkay Owingeh), 2014
Education
The Power of Camps
As the week went on, they became a team. They worked together in canoes, seine netting in the pond, fishing, setting up tents, climbing over fallen trees, and hiking muddy trails. The experiences they had together happened not just in the physical space of the Wetlands, but also on an emotional and social level that can sometimes be tricky for middle schoolers as they navigate through life. This is the power of summer camps at Fontenelle Forest. Summer Camps give students of all ages the opportunity to engage with the natural world through their day to day experiences. With thoughtful planning, these kids are fully immersed in what is happening around them as they go about their week. Any pre-conceived notions about the natural world get thrown by the wayside as campers learn to coexist with the life in the Forest. In the words of one of our summer interns, Breanna Thompson, it’s all about, “…being comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
The task was simple: write down any fears you have about camp. So they began. The group of 12-to-14 year old campers sitting around the Wetlands Learning Center put pencils to paper describing their greatest fears, then placed them all in a box. Each camper pulled out a piece of paper and read a fear of their companions. The fears were varied: Ticks. Mosquitos. Falling in the water. Not being able to connect with others in the group. Then the group discussed these fears and how they could support one another during the week. They gained an appreciation and understanding of one another. They communicated and connected on a much deeper level. On day one of camp, this group of individuals began building a framework for their interactions with one another, with their naturalists, and with the Forest.
So, while campers come to the Forest to learn about the plants and animals that inhabit this land or the people who made this place their home long before Fontenelle Forest was Fontenelle Forest, they also reap intangible benefits: they learn to build trust with others, they expand the boundary of what they think they are capable of accomplishing, and they step outside of their comfort zone and see the world through fresh eyes. Their minds are open to the possibilities of what wonders nature holds in store for them, and of what they can accomplish when they put their minds to it. A pond that looks small and lifeless comes to show a variety of fish never imagined. A group of young people who started off the week spread out amongst the picnic tables eating lunch share adventures and experience beyond their wildest imagination, and form lifelong memories of time shared in nature. We are building the next generation of stewards, one day at a time. By the end of the week, the fears in the hat? Overcome as a team. - Elizabeth Chalen, Director of Education Summer 2017 FONTENELLE FOREST | 7
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Raptor Recovery
Free Flight
Of eggnancy, storms, and aftermaths
Severe weather can cause significant impacts on wildlife populations. The spring thunderstorms, high winds, hail, and tornadoes leave the surviving wildlife injured, orphaned, and homeless. Such storms are a source of many raptor admissions to the Fontenelle Forest Raptor Rehabilitation Center from March through September. Some of the orphaned young owls we receive are lucky - They get to be fostered to a “mama owl,” who had been preparing for this role much earlier. “Eggnancy” is a state of physical and emotional readiness to lay and incubate eggs. There are three special residents at the rehabilitation center who go into this state each year. I also call it the “motherhood mode.” Laying eggs propels them into that instinctive behavior which allows them to adopt and nurture very young raptor babies that arrive in the spring. Moopitz, our Eurasian Eagle Owl, and Luna, our Barred Owl, live in adjacent pens They seem to stimulate each other to lay, since Luna, not an imprint, never laid before Moopitz arrived. Their states of “eggnancy” coincide with each other, and not the timing of the related species. Moopitz, closely related to our Great Horned Owls, fosters those babes; but she lays later than her cousins, and is still on eggs when the first babes arrive. She will care for the new ones, but still stays on her eggs. (Owls have an instinctive knowledge of when their eggs are suppose to hatch.) Luna, in sync with Moopitz, lays earlier than than her wild counterparts, and had actually left her eggs two days before we received a youngster! But after a day, she went back into the motherhood mode and accepted the babe as hers.
incubating when two young Screech Owls were put into her nest box. They immediately started demanding food, much to Winslow’s bewilderment. She kept trying to get away from them initially, but eventually succumbed to her instinct to feed these noisy babes! Our foster parents don’t get away with just nurturing one set of babes; baby season is long, and they get more kids given to them when their first sets fledge. But just when Moopitz’ babes were about to fledge, she unexpectedly laid more eggs! Luckily, late into her second incubation period, we got a late hatch of nestlings for her. Luna also received another youngster, this one found soaking wet after a storm. And Winslow, the first-time parent, also got another set of babes to raise. In addition to the mamas at the rehabilitation center, we foster youngsters to Owlberta, a Great Horned Owl, and Nimbus, a male Barn Owl, who probably fosters the most babes of all. Barn Owls have large broods! Fostering raptor chicks to adults of their own (or similar) kind is extremely important; it ensures that the chicks imprint to their own kind and not to people. Our “eggnant” owls fulfill their roles as parents by raising healthy, wild birds. - Betsy Finch, Manager of Raptor Rehabilitation
Our newest foster mom, Winslow, an Eastern Screech Owl, laid eggs later than normal and was still dreamily Summer 2017 FONTENELLE FOREST | 9
Stewardship
The Future of Fontenelle Fores In early June, the Fontenelle Forest Conservation Team conducted a site visit to Timberhill Oak Savanna in Southwest Iowa near the town of Leon. The 200 acre property is owned and managed by Sybilla and Bill Brown, who explained that initially, they just wanted to be able to walk in their woods where the large, beautiful oak trees grew, but the woods were overgrown and you couldn’t walk through them. Since 1993 the Browns have conducted controlled burns on their land annually during the dormant months, usually in November or December. They also implemented a thinning program to remove overabundant trees. Thinning and burning allows more sunlight to reach the ground level and stimulates native sedges and grasses and other native flora to return. Oak saplings also sprout and grow with the increased light and young oak trees were observed on the tour in many areas of Timberhill. We observed a diverse understory of native flower and grass species including goldenrods,
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blazing star, leadplant, purple milkweed, bastard toadflax, big bluestem and little bluestem. Water quality was a recurring theme throughout the afternoon and during the tour we observed ravines where the erosion was being stabilized by the return of native vegetation. The native plants move uphill and help stabilize the soil and control erosion. What the Browns are observing on their land is restoration of an infiltration-based, groundwater driven hydrology that happens as the native plant species are reestablished and soil health is restored. As the soil and hydrology are restored, the landscape has the ability to absorb rain, whereas in the past, water running off the land eroded trails and hollows. This is nature’s way of controlling erosion. Using Timberhill as a model of what we hope to achieve, our prescribed fire program must continue in order for us to create a system where an increase in native vegetation will minimize soil erosion, eliminate trail erosion, and promote a higher diversity of plants, animals,
st’s Landscape
Forest Family Meet Valerie Slocum, Raptor Care Specialist
insects, and fungi. What’s missing at Timberhill? Invasive plants like honeysuckle, garlic mustard, dames rocket, and tree of heaven are rare at Timberhill. When an ecosystem is functioning and resilient, native plants out-compete invasives and provide a more sustainable system that requires less input of resources to maintain. - Jeanine Lackey, Director of Research and Stewardship
How long have you worked at the Forest? I have worked at Fontenelle Forest for just over a year now. What is your role at the Forest? I am the Raptor Care Specialist. I am in charge of taking care of all of the raptors you see in the Refuge and on education programs. This includes feeding, offering enrichment opportunities, supervising volunteers, and more. What is your professional background? I have a heavy background in environmental education and raptor care/education. I’ve worked at nature centers, residential environmental learning centers, and zoos and began working with raptors when I was 18 years old. What is your favorite part of the Forest? My favorite place to hike is the Wetlands, it’s so beautiful and peaceful down there. What keeps you busy when you’re not working? I enjoy the outdoors, so I love to hike, bird, and camp. I also spend a lot of time playing roller derby and skating with the Omaha Rollergirls! Summer 2017 FONTENELLE FOREST | 11
Solar Eclipse Month On August 21st, a total solar eclipse will take place in the skies above Nebraska for the first time in decades. To commemorate this rare event, we have opportunities in July and August for people of all ages to help you prepare for the big day. In Bellevue, we have the opportunity to experience a partial eclipse beginning around 11:30 a.m. on August 21st. Join our experts in the wetlands to witness the event safely and learn more about this unique occurence! Thursday, July 29 Solar Eclipse Teacher Workshop Friday, August 4 Family Campfire: Tales of the Solar Eclipse Sunday, August 6 Get Ready! - View the Great American Solar Eclipse Solar Eclipse Photography Class Monday and Tuesday, August 7 and 8 Home School Science: The Eclipse Across America Monday, August 14 Solar Eclipse Trivia Hunt Monday, August 21 Wetlands Eclipse Adventure Visit fontenelleforest.org for more information.
Canoe the Great Marsh Join us in the wetlands as we explore the great marsh and its amazing array of wildlife! From Beavers to Owls and everything in between, this program is great for both beginners and experienced canoers! Only $5 for members $15 for non-members Visit fontenelleforest.org to register. Space is limited! 12 | FONTENELLE FOREST Summer 2017
Upcoming Dates July 8 (Sunrise) July 19 (Evening) July 22 (Sunrise) July 26 (Evening) August 7 (Full Moon) August 12 (Sunrise) August 23 (Evening) August 26 (Morning) September 6 (Full Moon) September 9 (Morning) September 12 (Evening) September 20 (Evening) September 23 (Sunrise) September 30 (Morning)
Hello! An introduction to Bettia Turner, our new membership manager As the new Manager of Membership and Donor Relations, I feel extremely fortunate to have joined the Fontenelle Forest family and become a steward of this historical land. It is my mission to share the wonders of this beautiful habitat with everyone. To have members, visitors and donors create lasting memories with the Forest as a backdrop. Our first Paint and Sip event was a blast! We partnered with Corky Canvas to illustrate an exclusive painting of our boardwalk. I had such a great time meeting our members, enjoying the atmosphere, and creating a painting. Summer is such a beautiful time at the Forest. I hope you will join us as we celebrate the oneyear anniversary of the Raptor Woodland Refuge and for some family fun, as we recognize the efforts and sacrifice of our Military Families. Beer on the Boardwalk is back this year by popular demand. Don’t miss out on your chance to catch local breweries and vendors set up shop on our boardwalk. Join us weekly for Yoga in the Forest, Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 7:00 pm or Sunday Mornings 9:00 - 10:30 am, Tuesday Morning Walks on the Boardwalk, Tuesdays 8:30 - 9:30 am, Canoe the Great Marsh, hike the trails or stop by our new Native American photography exhibition by Matika Wilbur in the Baright gallery. There are so many things to do at Fontenelle Forest this summer. I hope to see you there! - Bettia Turner, Manager of Membership and Donor Relations
Free admission for active duty military families all summer
We’re excited to be a Blue Star Museum once again in 2017. Active duty military families receive free admission to the Forest this summer until Labor Day. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America. For more information on the Blue Star Museum program, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseum.
Military Families Weekend in August Military families, both active and veterans, are invited to join us for a weekend of fun activities on Saturday, August 26th and Sunday, August 27th. We’ll be celebrating the end of another successful Blue Star Museum summer and a special discount on membership will be available. Activities include: Saturday Complimentary refreshments Guided hikes Raptors... Live! Military Family Campout Sunday Yoga in the Forest Shoot, Don’t Shoot! Guided Photography Tour Canoe the Great Marsh Look for more details soon at fontenelleforest.org. Summer 2017 FONTENELLE FOREST | 13
Regular Programming Wild Summer Days Every child should experience the magic of holding a snail or smelling a wildflower, and learning alongside a special adult in their life. This summer, connect your child to the natural world by experiencing it together! Come to Wild Summer Days, a drop-in program for adults and children ages 11 to infant, for hands-on learning and screen-free play indoors and out.
Mud Pies Looking for a unique setting in which to have fun with your child while learning about the natural world? Mud Pies is a drop-in-and-play program that encourages interaction between adult and child. Each week, a natural science topic is explored through station-based activities, free play, and a guided walk. Come discover the joy of sharing nature with your child!
Family Sundays in the Forest Join a Fontenelle Forest educator every Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. for Family Sundays in the Forest. Each week presents a new topic, from snowshoe hikes and indoor activities in the winter to wildflower walks and outdoor fun in the summer. All activities are family friendly and designed to both educate and entertain.
Home School Science Discoveries Fontenelle Forest’s Homeschool Science Discovery program introduces students to a different natural science topic each month. The content is matched to the Next Generation Science Standards and focuses on interaction and inquiry. This program is the perfect way for children to connect with nature at an early age. Registration is required. Space is limited so register early. 14 | FONTENELLE FOREST Summer 2017
Mondays and Wednesdays
9:30 - 11:30 am Ages 11 & younger Until August 2 Except July 3 & 5
Mondays Thursdays
9:30 - 11:30 am Ages 5 & younger Returns August 14
Most Sunday Afternoons 1:00 - 3:00 pm
First Monday and Tuesday of Each Month
For ages 5 - 11 Morning and afternoon sessions available Resumes in August
2nd Tuesday of Each Month
9:45 - 11:30 am Resumes in August
Seniors Understanding Nature Many seniors grew up in a time when nature was a big part of everyday life; SUN (Seniors Understanding Nature) programs enhance that experience. Join us to learn about a different topic every month. Refreshments are served for the presentation, and a nature walk follows for all who are interested.
Tuesday Mornings
Tuesday Morning Walks
Sunday Mornings
Yoga in the Forest
8:30 - 9:30 am Until August 1 Except July 4
9:00 - 10:30 am and
Wednesday Evenings
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Join us this summer for a special opportunity to get outside on the Riverview Boardwalk! Lindsay Cooley, Naturalist, will lead a walk every Tuesday morning from 8:30 am until 9:30 am. Stretch your legs and learn about the Forest from one of our experts. These walks are perfect for moms with strollers and seniors. Refreshments are provided.
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.
Calendar Highlights July 9 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM FFNC
Natural Wanderment: Artist’s Reception Fontenelle Forest is proud to present the photographs of Matika Wilbur beginning in July. Wilbur is photograping all 562 federally-recognized Native American tribes. Members are invited to join us for a special artist’s reception on Sunday evening, July 9th.
Short July 15 Interview 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM FFNC
Land Steward Volunteer Workday Do you like being outside in nature year round, staying active with physical activities, and the idea of assisting Fontenelle Rangers and Biologists with restoration efforts in your backyard Forest? Join us on a Land Steward Volunteer Workday and help us keep the Forest in top condition! Summer 2017 FONTENELLE FOREST | 15
Calendar Highlights Short July 22 9:00 AM Interview - 12:00 PM FFNC
August 18 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM NEALE WOODS
August 21
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM WLC
September 8 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM CB
Raptor Woodland Refuge First Anniversary We’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of Raptor Woodland Refuge with an extra-special edition of Raptors.. Live! Meet our raptor ambassadors face-to-face, take photos, and help us commemorate the occasion.
Constellation Viewing at Neale Woods Join us at Neale Woods to see and learn about the constellations and maybe even make a wish on a shooting star! This should be a great time to see the Perseid meteor shower. There will be a short walk prior to the constellation program.
Partial Eclipse Adventure in the Wetlands View the partial eclipse right here in Fontenelle Forest! The 99% covered eclipse will look beautiful reflecting off the water of the marsh at the wetlands. This group will also collect data on plant and animal reactions to the lessening of daylight.
September Campfire Program: Radical Reptiles Come enjoy an evening with family and friends as we explore the radical world of reptiles! Enjoy stories, learn fun facts, and even meet a couple of live reptile guests. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy the beautiful autumn weather.
July 29 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM WLC
August 19 10:00 AM -12:00 PM CB
August 26 and 27 FFNC
September 16 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM FFNC
Dirt Time: A Tracking Adventure If you’ve ever wanted to learn to interpret the animal clues around you, this is your opportunity. Come spend time literally in the dirt and gain the skills needed to “read” the forest and its animal inhabitants. Be prepared to get dirty! You never know what you’ll discover.
Prairie Wildflower Hike Fontenelle Forest What wildflowers call our Nebraska prairies home? Join Eric Scholar at Camp Brewster and find out! We’ll walk through the prairie and learn all about them. Please wear a hat and bring a water bottle, it is very sunny in the prairie.
Military Families Weekend Active and inactive duty military families are invited to join us for a weekend full of adventure and learning at Fontenelle Forest! Activities include a family campout, hikes, canoeing, yoga, a photography program, and more. Visit fontenelleforest.org for more information in late July.
Beer on the Boardwalk Join us at the Nature Center for a unique autumn experience - Beer on the Boardwalk. Enjoy beer from several local breweries, food, music, and more outside on the Riverview Boardwalk. Look for more details and sign-up information as we get closer to the big day!
FOR COMPLETE PROGRAM LISTINGS, VISIT FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG 16 | FONTENELLE FOREST Summer 2017