Mudpies

909 N K-7 Highway Olathe, Kansas 66061 Phone:(913) 826-2800 Visit us at www.erniemiller.com Follow us on: Twitter @JCPRDemncnature

Ernie Miller Nature Center Staff

Outdoor Education Manager - Andrea Joslin Park Supervisor - Leon Gordon Interpretive Assistant - Amy Isenburg Senior Park Naturalist - Regina Wasson Park Naturalist II & Tracks Editor - Diana Bliss

Park Naturalist II - Amber Lamble

Animal Caretakers - Abby Cummings & Lindsay Evans

Donations for the Animals

There are several ways you can help us care for the animals at the nature center. From monetary donations, to gift cards or purchasing items we need. We can’t do it without you! Donations May Be Dropped Off At Ernie Miller Nature Center: 909 N. Highway 7, Olathe, KS November 1-Feb. 28: Mon.-Sat. 9am-4:30pm Sun. 12:30pm-4:30pm March 1-Oct. 31: Mon.-Sat. 9am-5:00pm Sun. 1pm-5pm (913) 826-2800 www.erniemiller.com

Mammals

Peanuts in shell, no salt Sweet potatoes Whole carrots Pine shavings (Lifetime Pet in Olathe) Rodent Chow for mice

Snakes, Turtles and Toads

Frozen berries Frozen kernel corn Frozen broccoli Clear critter keepers

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EMNC Outdoor Discovery Camp

Assistant Director/Bus Driver Nolan Lewis

This summer, Nolan Lewis received the SEASONAL 2nd Quarter award for JCPRD! Nolan has been working with Ernie Miller

Nature Center for the Outdoor Discovery Camp for 7 years. During the school year, he teaches elementary school full time, and also works at TimberRidge Adventure Center as an Activity

Days leader. Nolan is challenge course facilitator trained, and often helps with the TRAC open house, before returning to camp! Nolan received the 2nd quarter award for handling several difficult situations revolving around the camp bus. He handled these situations professionally and calmly and ensured the safety of our camp participants. Thank you Nolan for your contributions to running a quality JCPRD program!

Mudpies

Nature Activities

Whoo’s There? OWLS!

for children

Fall is a great time to go outside and experience the sounds and animals of the night! Do you hear any hooting or trilling in your neighborhood? Whoo could it be? Owls! We have four owls in Johnson County: Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Barn

Owl, and Eastern Screech Owl (pictured above left to right). Come by the nature center to meet an owl up close! Until you do, enjoy using your creativity to make a craft pinecone owl!

Birds of Prey One-quarter inch and/or three-quarter inch rope Brown duct tape Detergent/Dryer sheets

Outside critters and general animal care

Apple Cider Vinegar Nitrile disposable gloves Disinfecting wipes Bird seed: black oil sunflower, safflower seed, suet cakes

Gift Card Ideas: Walmart, PetCo, Price Chopper, LifeTime Pet Pine Cone Owl

Materials: Pine cones, wiggle eyes, felt (cut into triangles for ear tufts and one slightly larger for nose), glue gun, tacky craft glue or wood glue. Instructions: Place one large pine cone upside down for the owl’s body. Glue a smaller pine cone right-side up on top of the large pine cone to make the head. Add wiggle eyes and felt nose and ears. You can make this into an ornament for your tree or glue to a piece of wood with a flat bottom to set on a table. Add three pine cone owls to the wood an make an owl family!