Pathways Spring 2013.pdf

8/14/2019 Pathways Spring 2013.pdf

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www.nysoea.org 6 0 7 . 5 9 1 . 6 4

Photo from Lily Pond Reinstein Woods Nature Prese

PathwaysOfcial Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association Spring 2013
http://www.nysoea.org/http://www.nysoea.org/


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Pathways Winter 2013Pathways Winter 2013

SOEA EXECUTIVE BOARD

esident Tim Stanley

P Administration John Garesch

P Communication Eric Powers

P Human Resources

ayLynne Samsonoff

P Program - Jolene Thompson

cretary - Meaghan Boice-Green

easurer - Elizabeth Van Acker

fice - Darleen Lieber

GIONAL DIRECTORS

stern - Amanda Ackers &

Natalie Rider

etro - Jessica Kratz

Sunny Corrao

orthern - Brian DeGroat

estern - Kimberly May &

Caryn Corriere

ntral - Benette Whitmore, Ph.D

Beth Folta, Ph.D

13 ANNUAL NYSOEA CONFERENCEaryLynne Malone

THWAYS

sue Editors

ssica Kratz

chole Gatherer

yout Editor

att Fraher

ontent Editors

rah Conley

arleen Leiber

l Eisenstein

chard Parisio (Poetry Editor)

nette Whitmore, Ph. D.

nline Content/

arketing Manager

nathan Duda

ontributing Past Editors

ank Knight

apper Petta

A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Its Time to Document our Success!by Tim Stanley

I have good news to report: the NYSOEA membership

continues to grow year by year. In addition, we

have nearly 40 afliate members from across New York State. In a time

when every dollar counts, why do people value their membership to this

organization? I believe it is because our message, our mission, becomes

more and more relevant as the focus in the educational system shifts away

from a learning format that engages youth to one that values testing as the

ultimate assessment tool. Both teachers and administrators have talked to

me about losing their passion and enthusiasm under the endless pressure

of having students do well on tests. Are children studying, memorizing,

being tested on material that has no meaning or relevance in the real world?

Should they not rather be learning to question, exp lore, experience, wonder,

make connections, imagine, and invent?

As Confucius said, I hear and I forget, I see and I remember. I do and I

understand. What words of wisdom! Why then do we keep students inside?

Perhaps we are doing them a disservice, robbing them of their sense of

wonder, their curiosity. Everyone remembers times when their senses were

fully engaged and that is easily done in the natural world-- where learning

can be unforgettably vivid, challenging, vigorous and bold.

I spoke with a young man who attended an outdoor education trip when he

was in the 5th grade. To this day, he remembers that experience as one of the

most awesome experiences of his life! He reminded me that as educators

we each have a story to share, and now its time to document our success

stories to create irrefutable evidence that what we do works. The NYSOEA

Environmental Literacy Committee has created an online form to facilitate

this process. Teachers and educators, its time to share your phenomenal

experiences with students in the outdoors! Take action, go to www.nysoea.

org and share your story! Its simple, its easy, and you can do it right now.

This will become an archive of evidence that as it mounts, they (whoever

they are) will nally recognize the power of the outdoor classroom.

Many thanks for the warm welcome I have received

from the board, committees, and other NYSOEA

members! As Vice President of Communications,

my job is to oversee and coordinate the collective

look and feel of our organizationranging from ou

website to various publications, Facebook and more

I welcome YOU to contact me about anything that

you would like to see on our website, or if you woul

like to propose an upcoming program, send a cool

article, share something with the rest of usanythi

at all. Bring it to me and Ill gure out where to pla

it!

We ALL do great thingsand I want to share it with

the world. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Eric Powers

Wildlife Educator

[email protected]

Eric Powers, also known as Ranger Eric

by students, is a biologist, wildlife educator,

photographer, outdoorsman, and overall

nature-lover. He started leading nature hikes

in 1987 as a park ranger in Colorado until he

served two years in the US Peace Corps as an

environmental education officer. Since then, he

has been running nature centers in Colorado,

Kingdom of Tonga, Alabama, and New York. In

2005, he started his dream company, YOUR

CONNECTION TO NATURE (YC2N), dedicated

to connecting the public and classrooms to

Wildlife conservation projects and eco-tours

and the role that each of us play as stewards of

the Earth.

His on-going wildlife projects include Save Our

Box Turtles, Quail vs. Ticks Study, Frog Pond

Monitoring, and Owl Nesting Projects, to name

a few.

You can connect to Eric through his YC2N

Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube, or at:

www.YC2N.com

OUR NEW VP OF COMMUNICATIONS
http://www.nysoea.org/http://www.nysoea.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.nysoea.org/http://www.nysoea.org/


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ter his farewell dinner with friend Ben Franklin in

iladelphia on May 30, 1749, Peter Kalm (1716-1779) started

orth toward Montreal and his planned return to Sweden to

w his collected American seeds. A wagon and riverboats

fely got him to NYC in a few days.

n June 11, the Finnish-Swedish Naturalist embarked on a

udson River sloop for Albany. Dying winds and turning tide

st north of now West Point soured a bit the majestic views

the Highlands and forced the sloop ashore. There amidst

ssafras, chestnut, and tulip trees, Kalm collected mountain

urel, (Kalmia latifolia), to be subsequently named for himmentor Carolus Linnaeus back at Upsula.

September 1609, Laurel was past when Henry Hudson

iled up the North River to now Albany, but logged seeing

he Rose Trees on his voyage to Cape Cod earlier that year.

he evergreen shrub Kalm collected is just one of seven

ew World Kalmia species in the Heath Family found in

states from Ohio to Louisiana and east. We enjoy the

milys economically important heather, rhododendron,

ntergreen, blueberry, and cranberry.

Peter Kalm and Mountain LaurelPhotos and Article by Frank Knight

Kalmias beautiful white to pink owers are unique in

resembling tiny umbrellas whose 10 anther spokes are held

under tension in pouches in the laterally-fused petals. Bee

legs, proboscis (and curious human ngers) release the

pouched stamens throwing pollen over furry bees for cross-

pollination transport to other shrubs.

Calico bush is a better name for atland Kalmia on Long

Island and Cape Cod. With extremely hard but small

diameter wood, pre-industrial Americans used it for briar-

substitute pipes, weavers shuttles, pulleys and trowels; and

my favorite use, giving it a third name, spoonwood. Leavesare toxic (think sheepkill, the name for another Kalmia), but

did the poison help kill germs on poorly-cleaned spoons that

Natives taught Colonists to make and use?

Although first scientifically collected in NY midway between

our neighbors, Mountain Laurel became PAs and CTs state

ower leaving us to choose a plant with multiple species

the rose. Enjoy any one of NYs eight native roses afield in

swamp, pasture or forest; or cultivated varieties from garden

or orist.

No mountain Laurel in your part of NY? Check the NY

Flora Atlas for other Kalmia species locations just like

I did for roses. In many areas, Ive seen Kalmia latifolia

=broadleaved, growing with the smaller rosy-petaled, more

toxic lambkill or sheepkill (K. angustifolia) =narrowleaved.

Each Atlas species page with a habitat description has a NY

map with shaded counties where it occurs. Look up alpine

azalea, K. procumbens=lying at, to learn that this NY

Endangered species is an Adirondack mountain-topper only

in Essex and Franklin Counties. The fourth species is pale

laurel (K. polifolia) widespread in acid bogs across the state

and west.

The NY ora Atlas is a fun tool to help and inspire 4th

grade (and adult) NY geography students. Using either

common or scientific names, budding botanists can find,

among many other things, if any given plant occurs in their

county or get a list of allspecies in their county. Links

to color illustrations and other resources enrich the site.

Once hooked, students will want to look up other native,

introduced, and even invasive plants.

Bibliography

The New York Flora Atlas http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/

Robbins, Paula Ivaska, The Travels of Peter Kalm, Finnish-

Swedish Naturalist, through Colonial North America. Purple

Mountain Press, Fleischmanns, NY, 2007.

Hudson Valley Wildflower Hikes

Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center

Cropseyville, NY

518 658-2055

Wildower Folklore Walk Saturday

May 11, 1pm 3pm Free

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Gardiner, NY

845-255-0752

Mountain Laurel Hike on Beacon Hill

Sunday, June 16, 10am 12:30 pm

Scenic views with Moutain Laurel in full bl oom.

Phone pre-registration required.
http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/


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the woods even on the coldest days. Throughout the

year, guided tours for families provide a fun, educational

experience that connects the public to our treasured natural

resources.

The proximity of Reinstein Woods to urban areas gives

the staff a unique opportunity to offer outdoor recreation

experiences to underserved populations. In 2012, more

than 2,500 students from underserved neighborhoods

either came on tours at Reinstein Woods or experienced

in-class lessons connecting students to the natural world

around them. Reinstein Woods Diversity Program provides

unique outdoor experiences (hiking, shing, etc.) for kids

identified by teachers and community center leaders

as having an interest in the outdoors, but who may not

otherwise have access to these opportunities. (In 2012,

NYSOEA provided a campership for Kade Hudges, a diversity

program participant, to attend Camp Rushford, one of

DECs environmental education summer camps.) Reinstein

Woods also runs After School Conservation Clubs that

target underserved populations by bringing environmental

education into community centers on a weekly basis.

With activities like dissecting owl pellets, skull and furidentication, and exploring pond ecosystems, children at

these centers are given the opportunity to experience the

natural world in ways that may be completely unavailable to

them otherwise.

While visitors love exploring our forested trails and enjoy

learning about the ponds, many also want to take the

next step and help protect these ecosystems. Friends of

Reinstein supports an active and vibrant volunteer program

of more than 200 members. In 2010, a new volunteer

AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT:

Reinstein Woods Nature PreserveBy Brittany DiLeo, Great Lakes Educator, Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, like many other

etland areas in Western New York, spring is measured by

e calls of red-winged blackbirds and eager spring peepers.

ut a different kind of call also marks the beginning of

ring at this unique preserve: as soon as the snow beginsmelt and we enjoy our rst warm days, the telephone is

nging and people are asking when the pink water lilies

at completely cover Reinstein Woods Lily Pond will start

bloom. Visitors excitement to get outdoors is almost

lpable. While we have to wait until June to see the lilies,

e ponds and trails of Reinstein Woods have become a year-

und destination for nature explorers of all ages.

instein Woods Nature Preserve is a unique mosaic of

nds, wetlands, and forests surrounded by suburban

development. Even long-time residents of the area are

still amazed that such a peaceful, quiet nature preserve

is located just minutes from downtown Buffalo. Reinstein

Woods is operated by New York State DEC in partnership

with the non-prot group Friends of Reinstein. Since openingthe rst self-guided trail in 2003, staff has continually

expanded and enhanced Reinstein Woods programming

to offer learning, stewardship, and research opportunities

that inform and inspire citizens to take responsibility for the

environment.

About 25,000 people visit the 292-acre preserve annually

including more than 3,000 school children who experience

Reinstein Woods as an outdoor classroom. In the winter,

visitors can rent cross-country skis or snowshoes to explore


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FATHER TIME

RAMBLINGS

FROM

REDH

ILL

bySnapperPetta

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tickthe opening to

60 Minutes keeps running through my

head. I awake each morning slower in

movement, a bit sorer as well. Initially

I blamed it on an old mattress, but the

truth nally made itself plain. Father

Time has quietly crept up on me while

I wasnt paying attention. This ah

ha moment only reinforced the fact

that Im about to enter my seventh

decade. No longer can I wake up, jump

out of bed, and begin my day without

a hitch. In fact, that hitch in my giddy

up has become more pronounced with

each passing day. After confronting a

personal Waterloo late last summer,Ive realized the time has come to take

on a new challenge. The incident on

the ank of Mt. Tremper forged within

me the idea of needing to be in better

shape. What better time than now to

temper that thought into reality?

As long distance trails go, the

Northville-Lake Placid trail is relatively

short. Less than one hundred and

thirty miles separates the beginning

of this historic footpath from its

culminating point. Nonetheless, this is

my new goal; it will also be the longest

distance Ive ever hiked at one time.

Expecting to take about two weeks to

complete, recent days have been spent

examining maps, investigating menus,

weighing equipment on a postal sc ale,

eliminating unnecessary items, and

searching numerous websites - all

in preparation for this undertaking.

While tedious, this has been the easy

part. Carving out time each day tomorph back into hiking shape has been

the weightier part of the equation.

Mornings begin earlier with a stretching

routine. Before the sun appears on the

eastern horizon, entry-level yoga kick

starts each day. My vehicle, now parked

on the other side of campus, creates

a walk of a half mile to and from the

ofce. Im also accompanied by a new

companion on these mini hikes; my

pack. Regardless of where Im off to, the contents o

pack add an additional load to the journey. Starting

twelve pounds, the plan is to work up to my actual p

trip weight, thirty pounds or so, prior to stepping off

the trailhead. To supplement these additions in my

routine, Im also looking more closely at food intake

the quality of what I consume. Eliminating just ten

from my already bulky frame will result in a ve pe

drop in the weight to be carried. Its my hope that e

these small steps leads to big results in overall stren

efficiency while hiking.

So whats the ultimate goal here? The easy reply is

the Northville-Lake Placid trail, but the

complete answer is more multi-faceted than that. M

died at the age Im about to turn. This trip is both ato him as well as a personal birthday gift. He was th

most responsible for cultivating and nurturing my l

the outdoors. Ive always regretted his early passing

know I will think of him often while walking along.

than that though, its an effort to delay the gap betw

and Father Time from shortening more than it alrea

Eventually, it will shut completely; as it must. But t

it takes to close it, the more numerous the times Ill

to celebrate life with family and friends. In my esti

thats a worthwhile tradeoff for the task currently a

Until next time, may all your rambles lead you to n

exciting places.

portunity arose as staff at Reinstein Woods began to

cus on controlling invasive species found throughout the

eserve, including those pink water lilies. Trail Tuesdays is

weekly workday where volunteers can help out with trail

aintenance, invasive species removal, and other projects

at help protect and preserve our unique ecosystems. This

ar also marks the third annual Garlic Mustard Challenge

here school groups, scouts troops, clubs and families can

gn up to remove as much garlic mustard (an invasive

ant that reduces biodiversity) as they can and the groups

mpete for prizes. Last year 32 groups pulled a total of

471 pounds of garlic mustard!

he great number of school tours coming through Reinstein

oods is an indication of how much teachers value the

ucational opportunities that are of fered. To enhance

udents learning, Reinstein Woods offers workshops for

achers that give them the tools and resources necessary

incorporate nature and environmental stewardship into

e classroom. Through programs such as Project WET,

oject WILD and Project Learning Tree, Reinstein Woods

aff helps an average of 550 teachers annually connect their

udents to nature. In 2012, Reinstein Woods collaborated

th Buffalo Audubon Society, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper,

uffalo Urban Outdoor Education, and others to d evelop the

ew York Teachers Get WET for the Great Lakes program.

he program offers teachers the unique opportunity to

corporate place-based, aquatic activities into their existing

rriculum through hands-on activities. A week-long Great

kes Academy, held over the summer, affords teachers the

portunity to follow the course of the Buffalo River out

Lake Erie and learn about the ora, fauna, geology, and

storation projects along the way.

hrough exciting interpretive programs, active citizen

gagement and regional collaborations, Reinstein Woods

s become a priceless resource for students, teachers,

milies, and communities throughout Western New York.

tention NYSOEA Affiliates:if you would like to be featured

an upcoming issue of Pathways, you can submit an article

d accompanying photos to [email protected]

MILESTONESREMEMBERING LOUISE STANDARD

Louise Standard, a teacher and long time member and

supporter of NYSOEA, passed away on November 9, 2012.

Born in Flushing, Queens, she attended Hunter College

and New York University, before receiving her masters

degree at Queens College. From there, she went on to

teach history to 4th -6th graders in Levittown for 34 years.

Louise loved history and, in particular, medieval times.

Whenever the opportunity arose, she would travel to

other countries and take in the history and culture that

so fascinated her. In fact, Dr. John Loret organized trips

with Queens College, and she often traveled with one of

his courses, whether to the Yucatan Peninsula, Captain

Cooks Voyages, or the Silk Road. The world was her

classroom, and Louse was a life-long learner. Perhaps that

is what brought her to NYSOEA, where her volunteerism

made her the backbone of the organization for many

years. Louise took pride in knowing all the members and,

for many years, she was very active in the membership

committee. Louise would never miss a conference. Her

endless energy was rst recognized in 1980 when she

received the Service Award and again in 1988 when she

received the Presidential Award. Louises dedication to

the organization was once again honored in 2004 when

she received the Harlan Gold Metcalf Award.

Long-time friend Diane Huber rst met Louise in 1976, at

which time Louise was already active in NYSOEA. Louise

chaired the conference, served on the board of directors,

and overall was a strong force in the organization. And

as Diane points out, Louise had her nger on the pulse

of the organization. Louise believed in the mission of

NYSOEA and she continued to support the organization

by annually making donations to support its continued

success.

For those of us who may not have had the fortune of

knowing Louise, we can surely be inspired by her endless

energy, her passion, and her love of education. Getting

students outside and seeing the real world is real ly the

best education after all, as all of us in NYSOEA believe.

Thank you to Louise Standard for being a pillar of the

organization and someone we can all look up to. She

will remain a mentor and will be missed by all.
mailto:pathways%40nysoea.org?subject=Affiliate%20Spotlightmailto:pathways%40nysoea.org?subject=Affiliate%20Spotlight


6/9


itors note: Environmental literacy doesnt have to mean long

ps to the country, turning over rocks and digging in ponds. Here

a project that is both outside the classroom doors and outside the

x of traditional learning.

he Bronx Design & Construction Academy (BDCA) creates

earning environment where Career & Technical Education

TE) and Core-Content classes are taught through the lens

environmental awareness and stewardships. How? By

pplementing science and CTE classes with instruction onr Green Roof at Smith (GRaS).

1,500 square-foot green roof on the Smith Campus in

e South Bronx, which we call our Green Roof at S mith

RaS), is used as an environmental learning center in

DCAs 9th grade ecology class, as well as after school with

e Energy-Environment Research Club students. On GRaS,

udents build a model Green Roof Integrated Photovoltaic

anopy, and last year students had the opportunity to

eak to an international group of professional renewable

A GREEN ROOF IN THE BRONX:

Cultivating Environmental Literacy and a Sense of PlaceBy Nathaniel Wight

energy practitioners and researchers at the American Solar

Energy Society World Renewable Energy Forum. Recently,

we competed in the Zayed Future Energy Prize and were

invited to Abu Dhabi to present our Green Roof Integrated

Photovoltaic Canopy project at the annual World Future

Energy Summit. We took home 2nd place for the Americas

Region!

Like the environment itself, GRaS is constantly evolving:

weve built a rainwater harvesting system, raised cedar bedsfor planting edibles, a drip irrigation system, and installed

solar panels. Students from math, art, science, english, and

CTE shop classes have been involved in GRaS in many ways:

students have had the opportunity to measure and collect

rainwater data, observe weather behavior, and use monthly

average data to make predictions about how much rain

we can collect, install and maintain solar panel systems,

measure solar panel efciencies, and build integrated

systems such as a Rainwater-Harvesting Solar-Panel System

and the Green Roof Integrated Photovoltaic Canopy.

These projects at GRaS have enhanced our students

understanding of sustainability: students are given a

recycling questionnaire before the project begins, then

during the project, they engage in d iscussion about recycling,

reuse, and sustainability. They also make predictions

and decisions based on measurement, observations, and

calculations: Utilizing average rain data for the area,

students engage in real engineering problems involving

measuring, sizing, and predicting how much rain water

we can collect given monthly averages. Students discuss

environmental justice through innovative, economically

sustainable projects that are informed by community needs.

Beyond that, our environmental learning center

provides educational outreach to community organizations

and neighborhood schools. We work with our neighborhood

schools to provide opportunities to visit GRaS, where our

high school students teach elementary school students

about our projects.

For more information about Nathaniel Wight and his students wonderful work, please visit these websites:http://mrwight.wordpress.com/gras/

http://e2rc.wordpress.com

http://gripv.wordpress.com

http://www.ases.org/green-roof-study-by-south-bronx-students-to-be-presented-at wref-2012/

https://www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com/en/

http://www.worldfutureenergysummit.com; http://vimeo.com/24498720
http://mrwight.wordpress.com/gras/http://e2rc.wordpress.com/http://gripv.wordpress.com/http://www.ases.org/green-roof-study-by-south-bronx-students-to-be-presented-at-wref-2012/https://www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com/en/http://www.worldfutureenergysummit.com/http://vimeo.com/24498720http://vimeo.com/24498720http://www.worldfutureenergysummit.com/https://www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com/en/http://www.ases.org/green-roof-study-by-south-bronx-students-to-be-presented-at-wref-2012/http://gripv.wordpress.com/http://e2rc.wordpress.com/http://mrwight.wordpress.com/gras/


7/9


Quail vs Ticks StudyJoin us for the 10th Annual Bobwhite Quail Release as students across Long Island come together to witness roughly 200

Northern Bobwhite Quail take their rst ight into freedom! As part of a greater study to determine the relationship

between quail and ticks, students are able to take part in this project by incubating quail eggs as part of their regular

life cycles unit in school. In the process, they end up learning about the local ecology, predator and prey relationships,

and how people can affect the environment (both negatively and positively). Please come see it for yourself!

Saturday June 29, 2013 @ 9:30am: Caleb Smith State Park (Long Island), Smithtown, NY.

Share your Stories: Profiles of EE in NY StateNYOSEAs Environmental Literacy Committee is compiling examples of environmental projects that exemplify

environmental literacy in action in New York State. If you are a teacher or educator working with a school, please tell

us how you are helping to create environmentally-literate students in your classroom. NYSOEAs working denition of

environmental literacy might help you to pick an appropriate p roject to submit:

An environmentally literate citizen has a connection to the outdoor environment and a sense of place, understands

the interconnectedness of all Earth systems, and is engaged and empowered to address environmental issues and their

impact.

If you are interested in sharing your story, please visit:

http://nysoea.org/environmental-literacy/proles-of-ee-in-new-york-state/

Should I Just throw it out?How many times have you

asked yourself that question as you gazed at your batteries

or cleaning uid? How many times have you shrugged

your shoulders and just dumped it in the trash? Many

different substances are considered hazardous, such as

light bulbs and cleaning supplies that need to be disposed

of in a particular manner. Why is that? These products

contain harmful chemicals. Through decomposition, these

substances could leach out dangerous chemicals into the

environment. That means that this leaching of chemicals

could contaminate our soils and water supply. Now our

individual trash may not seem like so much, but what about

large chemical companies that dump their mountainous

amount of waste into the ground? What is there to dowhen chemical companies, present and past, simply decide

to throw it out? We can help clean up and restore these

landscapes decimated by the dumping of chemical wastes.

Restoring soils and planting trees can help green the

landscape and keep our water sources clean and healthy.

In the 1800s, a chemical company called Solvate Processing

Company created soda ash. Soda ash helps in the making

of glass. For years, the chemical company dumped its

excess waste into the ground. This waste is called calcium

carbonate by-product. The site of the dumping ground is

the Fairgrounds parking lot in Syracuse, New York. After the

factory shut down and stopped producing waste, the city of

Syracuse developed the Fairgrounds over this site. However

this white, chalky, dangerous substance still sits within the

earth. Calcium carbonate can pollute our surface water and

drinking water sources. How can we prevent this harmful

chemical from poisoning our surface water, our water supply,

and ultimately our health?

The city of Syracuse, the D epartment of Environmental

Conservation (DEC), and State University of New York

School of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF)

brainstormed to develop effective methods to prevent water

and soil contamination. A clay liner could be put over thecalcium carbonate mound, but this solution could result

in excess water runoff. The DEC and SUNY ESF decided to

create their own landll cap containing different mixtures of

biosolids. These biosolids contain materials high in organic

matter, and plentiful in nutrients. The biosolid material is

comparable to soil or compost. Plants absorb water and

nutrients more effectively when grown in soils high in

organic matter. The DEC and SUNY ESFused three different

sources for the biosolid mixture.The mixture contained

biosolid waste from the AnheuserBrewing Company, sludge

FINDING THE GREEN LININGThe restoration of a hazardous waste site planting one tree at a time

By Sara Velardi

mixture from the local wastewater treatment plant,

local yard waste. They then planted willows on top

soil mixture to act as additional l ayer to the landfill

Willow trees are considered pioneering species. Th

are able to grow in many different locations under m

different conditions. If they are cut down, they can

back quickly and plentiful. Willow trees have large,

canopies that collect water on their thick leaves. Th

the willows planted at the site collect the majority o

with their wide thick leaves before the water reache

calcium carbonate.

Stephanie Lewis is a graduate student at SUNY ESF w

alongside the DEC on this project. She monitors the

amount of water soaked up by the trees and how mu

water, if any, reaches the calcium carbonate. Stepha

also investigating whether this amended landfill cov

biosolids can be used as carbon storage. Stephanie l

three different samples in order to make her compa

The rst soil sample originates from a naturally grow

willow tree plo t in Heiburg Forest in Tully, New York

second sample is the amended soil (previously expla

containing the three different sources of biosolids).

third sample contains the waste product (calcium

carbonate) with a light layer of decomposing grasses

leaves that grew and then died.

Stephanie hopes to discover that the amended soil,

containing the three different kinds of biosolids with

growing atop, will be a good middleground between

natural soil from the forest and the waste product inof carbon storage. If this amended soil proves to be

storage for carbon, this type of soil could be a viable

for future landfill covers.

Hazardous waste site cleanup is imperative for our p

health. These biosolid landll covers with willow tr

provide an aesthetically pleasing cover. They also m

the inux of carbon entering our atmosphere. We w

provide a healthy, vibrant landscape for ourselves an

future generations. Lets start at hazardous waste si

planting one tree at a time.

Download the yer at www.yc2n.com or [email protected] more information.
http://www.yc2n.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.yc2n.com/


8/9


ADVERTISING IN PATHWAYSPATHWAYS welcomes advertisements which will be

of interest to the membership of NYSOEA. If you have

a product, service, equipment, resource, program, etc.

that you would like to share with our membership via

an advertisement, we can receive it through any of the

following ways.

Email: [email protected]

Fax: (607) 753-5982

Mail: Darleen M. Lieber

Ref: Pathways Advertisement / Article

SUNY Cortland RPLS Dept.

PO Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045

Materials should be typed. Please include a short

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(ISSN 1077-5100) PATHWAYS is published four times a

year by the New York State Outdoor Education Association

and is emailed to NYSOEA members. Opinions expressed

by contributors are theirs solely and not necessarily

those of the Ed itorial Board of PATHWAYS or of NYSOEA.

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interpreted as endorsement of the product(s) by NYSOEA.

INVITATION FOR ARTICLES AND NEWS.The PATHWAYS team is always eager to hear from members

and publish the articles that they have authored or news

or event announcements that they would like to share with

fellow members. We invite you to send your submission for

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in New Yorks Historic Capital Region

Workshop presenters are sought to ll theWorkshop presenters are sought to ll the

impressive schedule of programs highlighng:impressive schedule of programs highlighng:

Outdoor Education and the Common Core

The Nature of New YorkSustainability: Preserving Our Future

History Shapes Our Environmental World ViewUrban Outdoor Education

OFFOFF--SITESITE

PROGRAMSPROGRAMS

FEATUREDFEATURED

SPEAKERS ANDSPEAKERS AND

PERFORMERSPERFORMERS

Joe BruchacJoe Bruchac

Donald Knaack,Donald Knaack,

The JunkmanThe Junkman

John WaldmanJohn Waldman

To submit a workshop proposal, visit the 2013 Conference pTo submit a workshop proposal, visit the 2013 Conference p

www.NYSOEA.orgwww.NYSOEA.org

Or contact our conference commiee at:Or contact our conference commiee at:

[email protected]@nysoea.org

Sweet Success!

The true recipe for a sweet fundraiser netted over $500.00 in

DEC Camp Scholarships in just a few short hours.

At this years Sharpe Reservation Maple Celebration,

NYSOEA was allowed to sell hot drinks and hot wafes. Onthis cold Saturday with beautiful snow urries cascading

from the sky, over 1,000 people came out to celebrate maple

sugaring as well as animal presentations, woodsman events,

vendors, nature activities, history, hiking, and, of course, a

contest of local syrups to see which would be crowned best.

Through a stroke of genius this year, rather than the usual

bake sale, it was decided to sell hot wafes instead. The

amazingly talented Nicki Bogie, a volunteer who is the Farm

Director for Summer Camps at Sharpe Reservation, made

the lightest, ufest wafe batter with just a hint of vanilla

and a powder sugar sprinkle. There were items to add to

your wafe including Nutella and, of course, local maple

syrup, but most left them with just the sugar.

As with any event, there were a few glitches: circuit

breakers tripping and extension cords unplugging; but as

the crowds began to decent, the wafes were keeping up

with demand! We couldnt have done it without Nicki. The

counter girls for the event were Eastern Region Co-Directors

Amanda Ackers and Natalie Rider as well as yours truly.

Nicki is a talented culinary artist and does nutrition and

cooking lessons at the farm. Please look for Nicki on an

upcoming episode of Food Network Chopped. As far as this

NYSOEA member is concerned, you are a champion!

MaryLynne Malone

the mothership

by Bayla Laks

I went back to my desk to check on the doe skull

I had found and cleaned earlier that day. Maggots

little tiny wriggling ones suffering in bleach and

salt and falling from some internal hell of the skull

where their parents had once feasted on venison

brain. They hit the desk top like tiny raindrops and I

felt repulsed. Shining my headlamp into the cavern

of the cranium, I saw smooth walls interrupted by

a few patches of dried esh and sinew the bleach

hadnt loosened free. Lying inside was some horrible

multi-legged and bulbous creature, twisted, dead,

and the mother of all those tiny, blind, pale worms

wriggling under my nose. There was one even then

crawling over its dead mother, the y, which was

somehow fused to the side wall. It almost appeared

as though she were still birthing worms, even in

death...like they could just skip being laid, being

eggs, and just crawl right out of her bloated, dead

belly. Oh my goodness. I realized that the skull was

the mothership, and after taking it outside to hide

behind the woodpile, I slowly, and very reluctantly,

went about the business of throwing away her

children.

Bayla is currently doing a year of AmeriCorps near

Hudson, NY, at a residential center for young adults with

developmental disabilities.

NYSOEA is proud to announce their latest afliation with

The Western New York Environmental Alliance (WNY EA).

WNYEA was created by the Community Foundation for

Greater Buffalo (CFGB)to unite the many organizations

working to restore and preserve our regions natural

environment. The Alliance represents and supports arich community of organizations, whose collaboration

is the key for a greener Western New York. WNYEA is an

umbrella group that strengthens the work of our regions

environmental community by:

Increasing collaboration among organizations working

on environmental issues

Developing consensus around a Shared Agenda for

Action, a blueprint for action on regional

environmental issues

Attracting resources to support the Shared Agenda.
mailto:[email protected]://www.growwny.org/about/cfgbhttp://www.growwny.org/about/cfgbhttp://growwny.org/organizations/our-shared-agendahttp://growwny.org/organizations/our-shared-agendahttp://growwny.org/organizations/our-shared-agendahttp://growwny.org/organizations/our-shared-agendahttp://www.growwny.org/about/cfgbhttp://www.growwny.org/about/cfgbhttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-th1jmwG0gck/UQ5yneopzeI/AAAAAAAABNI/SlTbPHpDxw4/s1600/Waffle_Oatmeal.jpgmailto:[email protected]


9/9

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Permit No. 14

New York State Outdoor Education Association

c/o Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure StudiesP.O. Box 2000

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, New York 13045

NYSOEAisaprofessionalorganizationthatpromotesinterdisciplinarylife-longlearningin,for,andabouttheoutdoors

andseekstoinspireappreciationoftheenvironmentbyallpeople.

Pathways

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Pathways Spring 2013.pdf

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Transcript of Pathways Spring 2013.pdf