WILD School Sites, Schoolyard Habitats, Outdoor Classrooms, Land Labs, Oh My!

Well folks,

It's that time of year again! Here at the Ohio Division of Wildlife's Central Office, we're purchasing new plants, mulch, and cleaning our gardening tools, bird houses, and flower beds in preparation for the spring season in our WILD School Site Demonstration Area.  I know that a lot of schools are doing the same thing.  Our WILD School Sites Small Grant program is rolling along full steam.  And we are hearing from schools regularly that they are progressing with their lessons in their own schoolyards.  Let us know how things are going on your school grounds.  Comments can be posted below.

Also, if you're new to this land lab thing, the National Wildlife Federation has some great tools and resources that you can utilize to get you started.  Check out their offerings below! And happy planting! Both plants and nature kids!  And get outdoors!

Webinar—Summer Maintenance Planning for Your Schoolyard Habitat


May is Garden for Wildlife Month—a special time of year to celebrate the benefits of creating a Schoolyard Habitat. Celebrate with your students and make a commitment to use your outdoor classroom at least once a week in May. National Wildlife can help you with ideas and resources for taking your students outside during this busy month. We offer lesson plans, a Schoolyard Habitat How-to Guide, and free webinars.

We are offering a free webinar on May 10th from 6-7 p.m. Eastern on how to maintain your Schoolyard Habitat over the summer and throughout the year. We will cover what you need to account for in your summer plan, how engage the community and recruit volunteer assistance, and how to develop a maintenance plan for the entire year.

Sign Up Now!

In Praise of Winter

Winter is often when we have very mixed emotions about the weather.  It can be gray and bleak, bitter cold and damp, and even a bit treacherous on occasion.  But, I still say that living in a region that still has four seasons is a treat.  I want to share an essay written by Paul Schiff, retired wildlife educator, that was in our Wild Ohio Magazine over 18 years ago.  I think his sentiment still rings true today.  Enjoy!

In Praise of Winter
by Paul Schiff

Winter. Cold, wet, snowy winter.  Bleak, gray, barren, lifeless, depressing winter.  Poetry and song dismiss winter in favor of themes like the good ol' summertime and autumn leaves. It's difficult to find praise of winter, other than when it's referenced as a foreteller of spring.  And yet...

There are bright sunny days after a new snow, rosy cheeked children with sleds, snowmen, rabbit tracks to follow and winter birds at the feeder; winter has its moments.

For those of us who spend most of our leisure waking moments in the out-of-doors, winter becomes a challenge.  With the challenge met and feet snug in warm comfortable boots, winter is perhaps nature's most revealing time of year.

You can see things in winter that are hidden in other times.  Hidden by leaves and the dominance of green and growing things.

Last January I saw a red fox sunning itself on a hay bale left in the field.  If the fox hadn't raised its head I might not have noticed. There was a new snow and the red of the fox in the spotlight of winter sun peeking through the clouds was remarkable.  You won't see that in June.

I'd walked the day for the fun of seeing tracks and other winter marvels in the new snow.  I followed a pheasant trail until the bright colored bird flushed with a loud cackle from a bittersweet tangle in an old fencerow.  I automatically raised an imaginary shotgun and said "Bang" as my line of sight swung in front of the bird.  Pheasant season was out.  The old boy was safe.

A few berries that hung yet on the bittersweet looked like Christmas tree ornaments.  Juncos and song sparrows played hopscotch down the fencerow in front of me as I stopped for a closer look.

Fencerows are neat.  They provide food and travel lanes for wildlife of all kinds, especially in the winter.  But they are a landscape feature that is quickly disappearing in favor of larger and larger fields for monocultures of corn and beans.

You can walk the riparian corridor of a small stream more easily in winter.  You can see where a mink explored a root tangle and where other animals have visited any unfrozen trickle for a drink.  You can see squirrel leaf nests high among the branches of streamside cottonwoods and sycamores, and where deer have nipped buds and left their hoof prints in the mud or snow.

There is of course the occasional deep snow or severe blow--the winter of "76 or the 1950 snow (I don't remember this one, but I've been told it was a doozy).  These memories and the potential of extremes make winter weather watching exciting.  The first thing I do when the weather is at its foulest, is to find some excuses to venture out.  We should all experience this and imagine what it might have been like before the time of flip the switch for creature comfort; and what it's like for wildlife.

Wildlife can have a tough time in winter.  When deep snow or freezing rain cover available food survival is a struggle.  Of course wildlife survival is a struggle all year long.  That's part of the plan.  And in truth, wildlife has survived Midwest winters for centuries before people were around to worry about it.  The axe and plow doom more wildlife than the most severe winter. 

So dress right, eat your oatmeal.  Just like wildlife, our choices are to adapt or migrate.  If we choose to adapt and explore winter for all it's worth, we should find plenty to like.  And as long as the present rotation of seasons includes just one winter, I wouldn't trade it for any other season.

Happy New Year! A Year's Worth of Good Behaviors.

It's so hard to believe that it's almost 2011 already.  It seems the older you get, the faster time goes by.  So, we sit and make some New Year's resolutions that often involve exercise or eating right or enjoying life more.  And, how long do we stick with them...probably till about mid-February if we're lucky.  So, how does one start healthy habits and KEEP them? General consensus says that if you can do one thing at a time and do it for a month, then the habit is more likely to stick.  So, here is a whole year's worth of monthly healthy habits you can do for yourself, your students, your family, and the outdoors:

January--Plan a Garden!
Growing your own veggies is fun and healthy.  This can be done in your own backyard or on your school grounds as part of your life science curriculum, art curriculum and family and consumer science courses.  Pouring through all the seed catalogs that come out this month is a great way to budget and plan what you'll grow the rest of the year.  And it's a great way to spend a quiet hour at home on the couch!

February--Swap For a Healthy Snack!
Small steps are the key for eating healthy.  There is a lot of discussion over which is better, local or organic, when it comes to produce.  But, either is good if you're making the choice to eat a fruit or veggie everyday instead of something from the vending machine or convenience store.  This small step could save you several hundred calories everyday, which can add up to losing a pound or two a week.  Try a cup of blueberries instead of a handful of chips, or an apple instead of a candy bar.  Your waistline will thank you at the end of the month.

March--Start the Seeds!
If you're planning a garden and want to start your plants from seed, this is the month to do it in Ohio.  Most plants take about 6 weeks to get to a height that's appropriate to transplant.  This is also a fun activity to do with your children or students.  They get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing the first little leaves poke out of the soil, and even more when they get to transplant them in May or June.

April--Get Outside for 15 Minutes Everyday!
Again, starting small will make the difference in your success.  If you're someone who doesn't like to exercise, walking in nature is the easiest and cheapest type of exercise you can do.  And, there are plenty of free parks and nature trails in Ohio to access.  Take a pair of binoculars or a camera with you, it will seem less like work and you'll get to see some birds or take some photos of some of Ohio's beautiful spring wildflowers while you're there.  And you'll be amazed what it can do for your frazzled state of mind!

May--Plant That Garden!
One of the best forms of exercise and relaxation is gardening.  It can be a peaceful yet challenging way to spend a few hours outdoors.  And, with how many forms of exercise do you actually get to eat your efforts?  And again, this is an excellent way to spend time with your children or students.  Kids love to get dirty and what better, safer place to do that than in the garden.

June--Get Outside for 45 Minutes Everyday!
With the warm weather and the kids out of school, now is when you can really take the time to get outdoors.  Take the dog, take the kids, take the Frisbee, fishing rods, bikes or GPS and Get Outdoors!!

July--Swap For a Healthy Drink!
With the hot weather, keeping an eye on what you're drinking everyday can really make a difference if you're trying to lose a few pounds.  Sodas, juices, flavored water and sports drinks are loaded with sugar and calories.  Swapping out a glass of water for even one or two bottles of these high calorie drinks can lead to shedding a couple of pounds a month.  If you just can't take water, try adding some lemon to it.  Drinking diet versions of sodas and sports drinks is better than full sugar versions, but water is the best source of hydration on a hot summer day.

August--Swap for a Healthy Meal!
It's state and county fair time and there are a lot of delicious but VERY unhealthy foods to indulge in at these events.  So, one thing to do this month is to swap out a high calorie meal for one that's more healthy.  And, with the produce in your new garden coming on right now, this will make it even easier to try new recipes that are loaded with veggies and herbs.  You can even go meatless for one day a week! And, with all the good produce available at the farmer's markets this time of year, you should have plenty of tasty alternatives to try.  Experiment with new veggies and fruits in your kitchen.  There are a lot of great resources online for trying new cooking ideas.

September--Feed the Birds!
This time of year is perfect for starting a bird feeding station in your yard or schoolyard.  No matter where you live, you'll attract some birds with even the simplest feeding station.  All it takes is one feeder that's located near a window and some cover for the birds, such as a bush or tree, and you'll enjoy the beginning of a regular cast of visitors for the coming winter months.

October--Start a New Hobby!
The days are getting shorter, the kids have settled back into their school routines and, if you're like me, this is the time of year when you're looking for something to do.  So, find a new hobby, preferably one that gets you outdoors.  Whether it's hunting, fishing, hiking, geocaching, cross country skiing, canoeing or any other activity, this is a good time to get the ball rolling on any new hobby.  Having a hobby that you enjoy is proven to reduce stress and anxiety.  So, ease your mind by getting outside with a new hobby!

November--Eat at Home at Least Twice a Week!
Eating a home cooked meal is not only satisfying, but it's typically healthier than any take-out, fast food, or restaurant meal you can buy.  You can control the portion size, the amount of salt and fat, and you get to spend some time with your family knowing you're giving them a good meal.

December--Find an Environmental or Conservation Group to Join and/or Support!
One of the best indications of a person's support of the environment is their willingness to put up or shut up, so to speak.  If a person is willing to spend their time and money on a cause, that is a true mark of support.  So, if you're willing to give of your time, energy, expertise and funds, December is an excellent time to join any organization.  Many groups are looking for support this time of year to raise awareness of social and environmental issues.  And, an end of the year donation to a charitable or non-profit organization can be a tax benefit in the following year.  So check out the websites of your favorite organizations and see how you can help their cause, and make it your cause too!

I hope this list gives you lots of ideas and challenges you to make some healthy and positive changes in your life.  I know I'll be doing a few of these myself.  I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!

A great day for a ramble

On two occasions since my last posting, I was sharply reminded of the fact that I do not get outside enough.  Or, more importantly, I don't take my daughter outside enough.

The first was a short and, what I suspect was, an off-the-cuff speech at the Statewide Leave No Child Inside Call to Action Rally on September 24th by the Director of Ohio's EPA.  Chris Korleski stood up and lamented not spending enough time outdoors with his own children and openly wondered how much he was missing.  Director Korleski then advised us all to "get off our butts" and get outside with our children before too much time has passed.  It was an informal and funny pronouncement, but it hit home with a lot people.  Shortly afterwards, ODNR Director Sean Logan introduced a Proclamation from Governor Strickland that reads that all Ohio children shall have the opportunity to by physically active, have access to nature, discover plants and animals, and learn how to give back to nature.  These two speeches gave me pause about my own efforts with my daughter.  And, I know I wasn't the only one in the room looking in the mirror as it was one of the primary discussions at the end of the event. 

The other was a small, seemingly insignificant act that my daughter did the other night.  I'd had a bit of a rough day at work and, while I normally am pretty good about not bringing work home, either in my hands or in my head, I had gotten on the computer to check and see the progression of a discussion that was ongoing on emails at work.  My daughter, who is not quite two, came up and physically pulled my hand off the computer mouse and repeated "Outside!!" over and over again as she pulled.  At first, I tried to put her off, but she is a pretty persistent little girl and kept pulling and yelling "Outside!"  Then it hit me...she's right!  And off we went. 

I put her in the car and we went down the road to the new Natural Play Area I'd read about at Prairie Ridge Metropark.  It was a beautiful fall evening and I was surprised that there weren't other people there.  But, I was also glad.  We had the whole place to ourselves.  So, we took a walk, she got filthy dirty in her pink bibs as she stumbled and bumbled around down the paths.  It put me to mind of one of her books where Piglet tells Pooh "It's a great day for a ramble."  These natural play areas are really a great way to let kids explore off trail the way we used to when we were kids.  I'm glad that parks are starting to add these to their offerings.  And, I know my daughter loved it too. 

Have you rambled with your kids today?

National Public Lands Day

September 25, 2010

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) -- the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance America's public lands -- is just a week away. It provides an invaluable service-learning opportunity for students this fall. NPLD engages a diverse audience of adult and youth volunteers, whether at a national park, nature center or school garden. Go online to find an existing project or register your own.

NPLD is also a great opportunity to bring learning outdoors and educate students of all ages about environmental stewardship. For ideas, check out NPLD's educational resource library, which includes lesson plans, project ideas, recreational opportunities and more.




NPLD and EE Week are programs of the National Environmental Education Foundation.

Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp

With a multi-billion dollar deficit looming in Ohio's state budget, some of you may wonder how the Ohio Division of Wildlife can afford to create and offer all of our great field guides, posters, Wild Ohio for Kids magazine, and Project WILD workshops for free.  It has a lot to do with our Wildlife Diversity Fund.  And now this fund has a new tool in its toolbox for raising additional funds for these projects and programs.

Today was the Annual Wildlife Diversity Partners meeting, which took place at the Mohican State Park Resort.  This annual gathering brings together key stakeholders and partners of the Ohio Division of Wildlife in the promotion of Ohio's Wildlife Diversity Fund.  The Wildlife Diversity Fund pays for research and conservation projects for non-game animals, threatened and endangered species, critical habitats, and our educational resources.  Our partners include many of the state's birding clubs and organizations, university research partners, park districts, and many other groups and organizations who have like-minded missions to conserve Ohio's wildlife and wildlife habitats. 

This past year's subject was a beautiful
Baltimore Oriole.
Photo taken by Russell Reynolds of Lima.

The past two days spent at Mohican were primarily to reveal the winner of the 2011 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp Photo Contest Winner, which will be announced later today.  You can check out our website, look us up and become a fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter to see the results of the contest.  This year's subject was Dragonflies and Damselflies.  The Division received 280 photos this year from 125 Ohio residents in hopes of being selected for the 2011 stamp. 

Stamps can be purchased for $15 online, by mail, at one of the Division of Wildlife's offices, and from many of our outstanding partners.  Learn more about Ohio's Wildlife Legacy Stamp and the many projects and programs that your purchase will support.  And don't forget to thank a Cardinal License plate owner for their contribution as well!

School's Out for Summer!! But not for long, Parents! Some end of summer fun with the kids...

Being a parent of a toddler, I haven't quite experienced the "Back to School" anticipation that parents have.  But I have many friends that are parents of school-aged children and I can tell that they are aching for school to start.  The complaints I'm hearing and that I'm seeing posted on Facebook and Twitter are that they have run out of things to do with their kids.  So here are a couple of suggestions on things to do outside with your kids for the few remaining weeks of summer:

• Make a bug terrarium!  A small glass aquarium with a screen lid can be purchased fairly cheaply from pet stores and larger retail stores.  Small butter tubs with holes in the lids can be used to collect bugs found outside.  Place sticks with leaves, some soil and grass in the tank and go on a bug safari.  You can do this at different times of the day to see what different kinds of bugs are out.  An after-breakfast bug hunt will yield very different finds than an after-dinner hunt.  Beetles, worms, lighting bugs, sow bugs (rollie polies), cicadas, grasshoppers, all make great residents for your terrarium.  Just be sure to let them go after a day or so.
• Take a hike!  There are lots of city, metro and state parks in Ohio that provide great views and new challenges if you want to burn some of your kids' energy off for a day.  Take a backpack with some water, bug spray, sunscreen, and some snacks for a short hike.  You'll find lots to see and do and you'll be amazed at how fast the day passes.  And it's free!
• Catch a fish!  Kids under 16 fish for free! Larger retail stores have beginner fishing kits that include the rods, reels, line and tackle already geared up and fairly cheap.  For more beginning fishing tips, check out the Ohio Division of Wildlife's "New to Fishing?" page for more information and suggestions.  And take lots of pictures!! You can submit your kid's fishing pictures on the Division of Wildlife's Photo Gallery for everyone to see.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife's Wild Kids page has lots of additional activities, including outside activities, rainy day activities, things for the "Junior Biologist" in the house, and other ideas for your little wildlife lovers.  So don't stress out when you hear "I'm Bored!" for the 100th time.  And take a break from the back to school shopping grind and get outside with your kids! Before you know it, they'll be back in school and you'll be finding that you actually miss them....maybe? ;-)

No Child Left Inside!

You may or may not know that there is a current push for the inclusion of environmental education into the National Elementary and Secondary Education Act through an amendment called No Child Left Inside (NCLI).  You can find out more about this grassroots effort online.  For Ohio's part, the Environmental Education Council of Ohio is working with ODNR, ODE, Ohio EPA, Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, and the Leave No Child Inside Coalition to develop a state Environmental Literacy Plan (ELP).  This ELP has to be in place to capture funding should the NCLI amendment pass as there are significant dollars that will be distributed to states to help in including environmental, conservation and outdoor education into the regular school curriculum.  This includes the creation of schoolyard habitats, field investigation opportunities, and professional development for teachers in this type of education.  Check out the Children and Nature Network to find extensive research on the advantages and benefits of spending time outdoors and using the outdoors as a context for learning.  And, you can feel free to contact any of the partnering agencies for additional information about the status of Ohio's ELP.

Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day!  Did you do something for the planet today? That seems to be the theme of the day on all the Facebook pages and Twitter tweets and email advertisements that have flooded my inbox.  Thank goodness we don't do this all by junk mail anymore, imagine the trees that would have died for the sake of Earth Day, ironic as that is.

I took my daughter for a walk today in celebration of Earth Day.  She's only 16 months old, but she loves the outdoors already.  I suppose she gets that from me, at least I hope she does.  She thoroughly enjoyed her walk, even if it was just around the neighborhood.  She learned what a stop sign was, she picked up several pine cones, she filled her little pockets with rocks from the neighbor's driveway, and she stopped to watch a pair of mallards waddle through a field, proclaiming at the top of her lungs "Ucks!"  She is fascinated with all things outdoors, from the tiniest leaf on the deck, to the pile of mulch in the driveway.  It's so much fun for me to see these things again, but through her eyes.  And we literally have to drag her kicking and screaming into the house to get her into the tub before bed.  That's my girl.

If you ever wonder how you make an outdoors person, don't discount these little moments.  Ask anyone in the field of outdoor or environmental education and most will tell you that they chose this career because of their memories of the outdoors.  Mine are with my uncle.  He was, and still is, and avid outdoor enthusiast.  He is an amazing photographer and, even now in his 60's, can still hike miles and miles in a day with his dog.  He used to "kidnap" me and my brothers and sister and take us on day-long hikes in the parks around our hometown.  It was fun, we felt like we were escaping.  He made us feel like we were sneaking off to some far away land that only we knew about.  I now know all the same parks and natural areas that we went to as kids and they are very well known and well used.  But, as a kid, I don't ever remember seeing anyone else out on those trails with us.  We always felt like we were so far away from everyone and everything.  It was great.

So, in celebration of Earth Day, don't just do something for the environment, let the environment do something for you.  Get outdoors! That's always the first step toward being an environmental steward.  Take a walk, catch a fish, spy on a bird, photograph a sunset.  Do whatever you can that will recharge your batteries.  Enjoy the outdoors!  And take a child with you.  You'll never see things the same again.

Birdfeeding in Wintertime...Memories in the Making.

I just got back from a nice, albeit short, vacation in Florida.  I'm always struck by the diversity of birds that I see at my mom's verses my own home, especially in winter.  For goodness sake, she has Painted Buntings at her feeders all winter long!! And, on a trip to the grocery store, you will likely see Sandhill Cranes in the parking lot! Lucky! 

My first exposure to bird feeding was actually through her parents, with whom I was very close, and who my daughter is named after.  My grandfather was the avid bird feeder.  He had feeders on his back porch all winter long and he'd sit and eat breakfast at the kitchen window and watch the many visitors.  He had an old Golden Guide to Birds, which I inherited when he passed away.  I've kept it in a special place because it has wonderful little handwritten notes and newspaper clippings in it that he kept, all related to birds.  It wasn't until I went to college and took my first ornithology class that I realized that my grandfather was a bona fide bird nerd, just like the rest of us.  I smile when I think of that because I believe he would have loved that title.  My grandmother was not as interested, but she continued to feed the birds long after he passed.  I think she had just as many fond memories of him sitting at that window with his cup of coffee as the rest of us did and probably couldn't bear to stop. 

My daughter now has a feeding station outside her bedroom window.  And, even though she's a toddler, she gets excited when the downy woodpecker comes to the suet feeder.  She loves the little goldfinches and chickadees too.  I keep a list of our visitors hanging on a tack next to her window, kind of a house list so to speak.  And Grandpa's bird guide is in the top drawer of her dresser waiting for her to be old enough to carefully flip through the worn pages and pick out what birds are at her feeders now as compared to what he was seeing way back when. 

We'll probably always feed birds at our house.  And I hope my daughter has just as many fond memories of those birds and our time together as I do of my mom and my grandparents.

February is National Birdfeeding Month. 

February 12-15th is the Great Backyard Bird Count.