THE NEWSLETTER OF FENNER NATURE CENTER & FENNER...

SUMMER 2014

THE NEWSLETTER OF

FENNER NATURE CENTER &

FENNER CONSERVANCY

STAFF

Jason Meyer, Executive Director [email protected]

Katie Woodhams, Development & Events Manager [email protected]

Liz Roxberry, Program Manager [email protected]

Robert Phillips, Bookkeeper

Gair Tourtellot, Explore Store Manager

Stephanie Lamb, Naturalist

Andrea Lazzari, Naturalist

Jenny Mensch, Naturalist & Volunteer Coordinator

INTERNS

Lia Biondo, Animal Care Intern

Hwi Yeon Choi, Special Events Intern

Nicole Gostek, Marketing & Communications Intern

Samantha Kaplan, Animal Care Intern

Patrick Shults, Environmental Education Intern

Samantha Tank, Environmental Education Intern

Celina Wanek, Special Events Intern

EDITORS

Julie Feldpausch [email protected]

Jason Meyer [email protected]

Amy Moore [email protected]

Katie Woodhams [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sue Eggleston

Simon Dongha Lee

David Marvin

Jason Meyer

Becky Shink

Katie Woodhams

NEWSLETTER TEMPLATE DESIGN

Redhead Design Studio virtualredhead.com [email protected]

PRINTING

Seasons is published four times per year and is received by all Fenner Conservancy members. It is generously printed by Jackson National Life Insurance.

In This I s sue01 FROM THE LEADERSHIP

02 40TH ANNUAL MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL

04 EARTH DAY EXTRAVAGANZA

06 FENNER’S POLLINATOR GARDEN

RON EGGLESTON HONORED BY MRPA

07 DONOR PROFILE: SUSAN DAVIS

08 DONORS & SUPPORTERS

10 THIS ONE IS FOR THE BIRDS

ANNUAL MEETING & VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION POTLUCK

11 PROGRAMS & EVENTS CALENDAR

12 KIDSPACE

13 CREATURE FEATURE

EXPLORE STORE

ON THE COVER: BANDWING SKIMMER | © David Marvin

OUR MISSION:

Fenner Conservancy connects people to nature in the heart of Lansing through conservation, education, and stewardship.

THE NEWSLETTER OF

FENNER NATURE CENTER &

FENNER CONSERVANCY

CONTACT US

Fenner Nature Center 2020 East Mount Hope Ave. Lansing, Michigan, 48910

Phone: (517) 483-4224

Web: mynaturecenter.org

Visitor Center Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10am–4pm Saturday & Sunday, 12pm–4pm Closed Mondays & Holidays

Trails are open daily from 8am to dusk.

Fenner nature Center & Fenner ConservanCy Summer 2014 | SEASONS | 1

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER SO FAR! Aren’t we lucky to have a place like Fenner Nature Center right here in the heart of our capital city? For over fifty years, this piece of land has been protected and cared for as a vital part of our community. When things got tough a few years ago, the Friends of Fenner Nature Center stepped up and took on the responsibility of ensuring that our programming, special events, and care for the park continued in the face of deep city budget cuts. Thanks to the partnership that was developed between the City of Lansing and the Friends group (now known as Fenner Conservancy), Fenner Nature Center is now not only a thriving part of our community but is also looked at as a model for public/private partnerships across the country.

Our festivals, like our Maple Syrup Festival and Earth Day Extravaganza this spring, have grown tremendously. Our conservation and stewardship efforts have won multiple awards—financial and otherwise. But perhaps most exciting…and most troubling…is that our reputation for the delivery of excellent environmental education programming has brought us to the point where we are now turning school classes away and creating waiting lists for programs like our Spring Break Camps and Summer Camps.

We need your help. We’re not happy about having to deny children the opportunity to experience nature. We need your support to hire more excellent naturalists. We could use your help as volunteer docents. Of course, we could just stay stagnant and rest on our laurels at this point, but you, our sup-porters, have not allowed us to do so. You have encouraged us, lifted us up, and given us the energy to be the best we can be. Now we need you to help us sustain the momentum that has been built.

How can you support us? In the near future, you may receive a letter in the mail from us asking for a contribution to our annual fund. That is one way. Susan and Jack Davis recently helped us install “The Davis Patio.” You can purchase a brick for inscription in this patio to show your everlasting support for Fenner. You could give us a gift of appreciated stock. You could even ensure that we are included in your estate planning. These are but a few of the ways that YOU can help us build the financial resources we need to become an even more important part of our community over the next fifty years. Thanks for all you have done so far, and for what you will do in the future!

FROM THE LEADERSHIP FENNER CONSERVANCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Peggy Roberts, PresidentSara Frank-Hepfer, Vice-PresidentRaymond Harris, TreasurerPaul Beczkiewicz, SecretaryKristen ArnettChong-Anna CanforaVeronica Gracia-WingMelanie HarrisStacie Longwell HillAmy MooreJennifer OlsonPhil RutkowskiChris Stewart

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Communications:

Amy Moore, ChairVeronica Gracia-Wing Lori LanspearyMeghan MartinNancy MetzgerSuban Nur CooleyTodd Ross

Development:

Paul Beczkiewicz, ChairChong-Anna CanforaRon EgglestonSara Frank-HepferRaymond HarrisStacie Longwell HillJennifer OlsonPeggy RobertsChris Stewart

Personnel:

Jennifer Olson, ChairLori BryceSara Frank-HepferAndrea RadelMichelle Rutkowski

Programming:

Sara Frank-Hepfer, ChairPhil Rutkowski

Stewardship:

Mark Ledebuhr, Co-ChairJulie Cassidy, Co-ChairRon EgglestonJim HewittMichael ParkerNic Weigold

Virg Bernero, Mayor

J a s o n M e y e r , e x e C u t i v e D i r e C t o r

P e g g y r o b e rt s , P r e s i D e n t o F t h e b o a r D

2 | SEASONS | Summer 2014 Fenner nature Center & Fenner ConservanCy

2014 MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL | © David Marvin, Simon Dongha Lee


2,000 ATTENDED 40TH ANNUAL MSF!

2014 MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL | © David Marvin

THANK YOU MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL SPONSORS!

®

Virg Bernero, Mayor


TOP & BOTTOM LEFT: BIRD BANDING | TOP RIGHT: MAKING PRAIRIE PATTY PLOPS | BOTTOM RIGHT: SMOKEY & FRIENDS

2014 EARTH DAY EXTRAVAGANZA | © David Marvin

Participants of 2014 Earth Day Extravaganza learned about nature and spruced up the grounds. THANK YOU!


THANK YOU EARTH DAY EXTRAVAGANZA SPONSORS!

Virg Bernero, Mayor


On March 19, Ron Eggleston received a Community Service Award from the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association. Ron was nominated for the award by Brett Kaschinske, Director of the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department, for his role in the transition of Fenner Nature Center from City of Lansing management to administra-tion by Fenner Conservancy.

While he was pleased that his efforts were recognized, Ron considered this award not a personal one, but something that is attributable to the efforts of many volunteers and staff. He especially singled out Jennifer Olson for her hard work during the transition years from 2008 through 2011. “I look upon this award as the third for Fenner from MRPA,” Ron stated. “Friends of Fenner Arboretum received one in 1992, as did Friends of Fenner Nature Center several years later. This one is for Fenner Conservancy.”

BY JASON MEYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

RON EGGLEST ON HON ORED BY MRPA

BY ANDREA LAZZARI, NATURALIST

Native plants are an essential habitat component for many species of pollinators. Plants and pollinators native to Michigan evolved together, and so they are highly dependent on one an-other for their survival. At Fenner, we recognize the importance of these relationships, and are working to create a more natural

landscape by removing invasive plant species, installing a 19–acre prairie, and creating a native pollinator garden.

The pollinator garden project, which was funded by the Michigan Botanical Foundation and the Michigan Master Gardener Association Capital Area Chapter, was a huge undertaking that could not have been successfully completed without the gen-erous help of the Master Gardeners, Wild Ones—Red Cedar Chapter, Earth Day Extravaganza volunteers, and Fenner Field School students. Now completed, the pollinator garden boasts more than 20 different species of native Michigan plants known to attract native pollinators such as ruby-throated humming-birds, various species of butterflies, and native bees. An Eagle Scout recently constructed a boardwalk through the garden to allow greater accessibility for all of Fenner’s visitors.

In case you are interested in creating your own native pollinator garden, interpretive signage is located throughout the garden providing information on some of the plants and pollinators you may find there. Be sure to stop by—the garden is sure to be blooming soon with beautiful flowers and buzzing with the sounds of native pollinators!

F EN N ER’S P O LLI NATO R G A RD EN

© Katie Woodhams

© Sue EgglestonLEFT TO RIGHT: Jennifer Olson, Ron Eggleston, Katie Woodhams, Jason Meyer


Sue Davis and her husband Jack have been generous philanthro-pists in the Greater Lansing area for many years. They have supported Fenner Conservancy through many different initiatives, including spon-soring our annual events, such as the Apple Butter and Maple Syrup Festivals. Their most recent contri-bution has been the leadership gift that enabled Fenner Conservancy to install a new donor patio behind the Visitor Center. “The Davis Patio” overlooks the pond where wildlife may be viewed by nature lovers of all ages, no matter the season.

SEASONS: Sue, we are so grate-ful for the continued support from you and Jack! Can you tell us what first motivated you to become in-volved at Fenner?

Susan Davis: I began coming to Fenner to participate in the bird walks that Capital Area Audubon Society leads during the spring and fall migrations. I find birds endlessly fascinating: their unique evolution-ary adaptations, behaviors, endur-ance, and beauty. And I’m grateful for the expertise and dedication of the volunteers who have led those hikes—it was and is impressive.

SEASONS: We understand that you support many other causes in the Greater Lansing area. Why were you and Jack inspired to give the leadership gift of The Davis Patio to Fenner Conservancy?

Susan Davis: Our children will inherit our environment. Fenner is one of the few, and one of the best, places for them to learn about, ex-perience, and grow to appreciate the natural world. The only way that Fenner will be able to continue to carry out its mission of education, conservation, and stewardship is through private support.

SEASONS: Sue, you and Jack have literally “paved the way” for others to support the mission of Fenner Conservancy through your generous gift. Is there anything else that you would like to add to en-courage others to follow your lead?

Susan Davis: First of all, we are pleased that the new patio is an attractive addition to the fire pit area near the building that has been such an integral part of so many memorable Fenner events over the years. But the enduring importance of our gift is yet to be realized: The POWER OF THE PATIO IS IN ITS POTENTIAL! We invite all to join us by sponsoring a personalized brick, and in so do-ing, help to ensure a bright future for Fenner Conservancy.

DONOR PROFILESusan Davis

© Katie Woodhams


F e n n e r C o n s e r va n C y D o n o r s & s u P P o rt e r s

J a n ua r y 1–M a rC h 31, 2014

Thank you donors and supporters for your generosity!

Circle of Stewards Legacy Society

Bauer, DorisClark, Phoebe (deceased)Eggleston, Ron & SueEskes, Arlene (deceased)Hoffer, GraceMonaghan, MaryYoung, David (deceased)Ziarno, Raymond

$500 Commemorative Bricks

Capital Area Audubon Society

$250 Commemorative Bricks

Meyer, JasonMillar, Charles & SusanRall, Carol & Steve

Gifts in Memory of Fern Featherly

Bohnett, Marsha & BillColandrea, MarilynDeaven FamilyDow, Mike & StephanieFate, DeloresFeatherly, Chuck & FamilyFord, David & ShirleyHeusel, Gwen & RichardHibner, Paul and NancyKlenk, Jerry and MaxineKlingshirn, James and Laura

Latterman, Joey & Hambly, FritzMDOT Office of Passenger Transportation employeesMeyer, JasonMoore, BettyMyers, William & SharonNovasel, Sharon & MichaelNurenberg, LucyOlson, Jennifer & Ledebuhr, MarkOtt, Steve & LoriPrice, DonRech, Richard & BarbaraRule, KimberlyRussell, Tim & MelanieSavage, Mary & BillShannon, Shirley Sundberg, CynthiaTormala, VikkiWilliamston Baseball BoostersWrisley, Nan Young, Stewart & Family

In-Kind Contributions

PNC

$20,000+

Anonymous Donor

$10,000–$19,999

Consumers Energy FoundationThe Hal and Jean Glassen Memorial FoundationYoung, David

DONOR PATIO

Thanks to the generous support of Susan and Jack Davis, we now have a patio behind our building that not only enhances the fire pit area, but also gives you a chance to show your permanent support of Fenner! Bricks are available in two sizes: 8” x 8” ($500) and 4” x 8” ($250). They can be purchased and engraved with your name, the names of loved ones, or your favorite nature-related quote. Help us continue to grow by purchasing a brick today! For more information or to purchase a brick, call Katie Woodhams at 517-483-4224.

© Jason Meyer


Join the “Circle of Stewards Legacy Society” with an Estate Gift to Fenner Conservancy.

A bequest is one of the simplest and most meaningful ways to support Fenner Conservancy.

These thoughtful gifts help ensure that Fenner Conservancy will continue to provide environmental education and outdoor recreation for future generations of greater Lansing’s residents and visitors.

If you have already made provisions for Fenner Conservancy in your estate planning, please let us know so that we can recognize you as a member of the Circle of Stewards Legacy Society.

For more information on including Fenner Conservancy in your estate plan, please contact your financial advisor and call Jason Meyer at 517-483-6024.

F e n n e r C o n s e r va n C y D o n o r s & s u P P o rt e r s

J a n ua r y 1–M a rC h 31, 2014

Thank you donors and supporters for your generosity!

$1,000–$4,999

Davis, SusanMcMeekin, Dorothy

$100–$999

AIS Construction EquipmentAnonymous DonorBatterson, TedBeczkiewicz, Paul & ShannonCheney, Bruce & PeggyClaypool, Allan & CathyGeist Rutledge, GretelGoodwin, Kevin & Derosier, AmyHengesbach, Gene & Prelesnik, KathyHuddy, Catherine & AndrewLaRoy, Bernard & CharlotteMalmstrom, CarolynRawsthorne, Carolyn & LarryRhodes, MaryRutkowski, Phil & MichelleSavage, Mary & BillSpink, Gordon & JaneSternberg, LouiseVan Atta’s Greenhouse and Flower Shop

Up Through $99

Brown, EveBurroughs, SallyCannon, Sharlene & TomCognato, AprilConner, Tom & Page, ConnieCurry, Georgia & RobertDeines, TimEagle, Andy & KarenEirosius, Karin & FrankFillius, SarahFinks, JennieFoy, JoanneGerber, PeggyGriffin, Phoebe & DonaldHorvath, Brian & LoriHoward, PaulKirkby, Kyle & BobLatterman, MarilynLeodler, Tom and ChrisMays, Jody & FranklinMeyer, JasonMiller, DougMiyakawa, TomomiNichols, Carl and LindaRall, Carol & SteveRotman, Jack & MacFadden, SusanSalinas, James & StephanieSingh, ShikhaStanaway, LorettaStory, QuendaTourtellot, Gair


FENNER CONSERvANCY’S ANNuAL MEETiNG AND vOLuNTEER APPRECiATiON POTLuCk wiLL BE HELD AT FENNER ON SuNDAY, JuNE 22, FROM 4–6:30PM.

PotluCk For MeMbers anD volunteers will begin at 4PM. (this PotluCk will rePlaCe the DeCeMber volunteer lunCheon.)

annual MeMber Meeting will start at 5:15PM.

Please rsvP to [email protected] or 517-483-4224

All year long, and in all sorts of weather, dedicated nature lovers donning binoculars and field guides can be found perusing Fenner Nature Center with their eyes to the skies and heads in the clouds. These friends of all things feathered are participating in an activity known as “birding” and they are not alone. According to the National Audubon Society, birding is the number one sport in America! According to US Fish and Wildlife Service, there are currently 51.3 million birders in the United States alone, and this number continues to grow! Maybe it’s the peace that comes with observing these graceful creatures in their natural habitats that attracts so many people to birding, or maybe it is the patience and skill that must be honed in order to have successful sightings.

Regardless of your experience in birding, you can enjoy this activity at Fenner Nature Center on your own, or you can tag along with the experts from the Capital Area Audubon Society as they lead free bird walks through the park during the spring and fall migration.

Capital Area Audubon Society (CAAS) and Fenner Nature Center have had a long-standing relationship that has been beneficial to both wildlife and the people who enjoy viewing it at the park. Over the years CAAS members have supported Fenner in so many ways, both physical and financial; it’s

a symbiotic relationship really. Members have volunteered countless hours peeling and processing apples for Fenner’s annual Apple Butter Festival in the fall and assisting with its Maple Syrup Festival each spring. They have helped spruce up trails, removed invasive plant species, and have generally supported Fenner activities in any way they can. Also, CAAS members volunteer many hours staffing the Explore Store.

Both Fenner and CAAS members understand that people do not value things with which they are not familiar. Our remaining open spaces, wildlife of all kinds, and particularly birds, are threatened by development, pollution, and numerous man-made hazards. Without public understanding and interest, support for birds, wildlife, and open space preservation will steadily erode. We feel that educating as many people as possible, particularly children, about birds will help generate public support (both monetary and political) to protect birds, parks, and wildlife habitat. Birding is a fascinating hobby that can be done almost anywhere and at any time. It has taken many of us to wonderful places in pursuit of our hobby and given us much joy. The bottom line is that we love to share our passion for birds and birding. CAAS holds monthly meetings at Fenner from September through June that are open to the public. Meetings feature an informative program on bird or nature-related topics.

t h i s o n e i s F o r t h e b i r D s

BY KATIE WOODHAMS & ANN HANCOCK

© Becky Shink


Phenology Hike (Adults)

AUGUST 2, NOVEMBER 1 | SATURDAY |1–2PM

Phenology is the study of plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by the seasons. Participants in these seasonal hikes will learn to identify plant and animal species while on the trails and become a citizen scientist while helping us collect data about the annual changes at Fenner Nature Center.

Cost: $10.00 | Members: $5

Nature Story Hour (Ages 4–6)

FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH | 1–2PM

Our volunteer librarian will be leading a nature story hour in the visitor center that is geared toward children between the ages of 4 and 6. After the story, children can participate in a fun craft and watch a family-friendly video.

Cost: FREE/Donation

Backyard Habitat Workshop (Adult)

SEPTEMBER 6 | SATURDAY | 1–2PM

Learn how to use native plants to create habitat for wildlife in your own backyard! Find out which plants attract birds as well as beneficial pollinators, such as butterflies, hummingbirds, and more!

Cost: $10.00 | Members: $5

Haunted Forest (Adults)

OCTOBER 31 | FRIDAY | 8–10PM

Experience the spooky side of Fenner with a hike led by one of our ghostly hosts that will introduce you to some of the scariest creatures to ever roam Michigan. This forest is not for the faint of heart and is guaranteed to be bone chilling. Once you have fended off the creatures of the night, you can feel free to enjoy a nice campfire under the stars. Our friends Dogman and The Wendigo are even here and they are dying to meet you….

Cost: $10.00

Dia de los Muertos Cemetery Stroll (All Ages)

NOVEMBER 1 | FRIDAY |6–8PM

Fenner Nature Center and the Friends of Lansing’s Historic Cemeteries are teaming up for a guided tour through Mount Hope Cemetery to investigate the signs and symbols of nature that surround life and death. We will delve into the folklore of ravens, owls, and other animals that can be found on the tombstones on our walk before heading back to Fenner for a campfire and marshmallow roast.

Cost: $5.00 | Members: FREE

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We have opportunities for groups of young people and adults to volunteer indoors and outdoors—maintaining our trails, creating displays, helping with events, and clearing invasive species from our natural areas. This is a great way to get connected to nature in your community. Please visit our website at www.mynaturecenter.org or call 517-483-4224 for more information.

PROGRAMS & EVENTS CALENDAR

CALL 517-483-4224 TO REGISTER AND FOR MORE INFORMATION!


SUMMER TIME FUN!Summer time in Michigan is the perfect time to play out-doors with your child! The warm, sunny weather means you can explore outside together all day! Here are just a few, fun summer activities to inspire you to get outside.

k i D D i e P o o l F u nFill a kiddie pool with water, add a few tablespoons of water beads, and allow the water beads to expand overnight. Add some frog life cycle toys to create a ‘pond’ for your child to play in. The water beads create a fantastic sensory experience, and the toys create an opportunity for your child to learn all about life cycles.

l e a r n i n g C o lo r s n a t u r a l ly

Collect some color swatches from the paint section of your local hardware store and create a booklet of them using a binder ring. Bring your color swatch book on a walk around your neighborhood or on the trails at Fenner. Together, see how many colors you can match to objects in nature. Not only is this a great way for your little one to practice his or her colors, but you’ll be amazed at how many different colors there are in nature!

i C e - C a va t i o nLet your child go on an ‘ice-cavation’! Freeze small toys in a large, plastic container. Once frozen, bring your ice block and a variety of excavation tools (toy hammer, spray bottle, sponge—whatever you have on hand) outside. Challenge your child to find the best method to free toys from the ice block!

Source: http://jenniferperkins.com/2012/03/spring-break-fun-with-the-kiddlets-excavating-dinosaurs-from-ice/


WATER BEADS | © ahappywanderer.com

ICE-CAVATION | © jenniferperkins.com


If you have ever spent time observing on the pond deck behind Fenner’s Visitor Center, you have probably seen one of our many resident snapping turtles. This past fall, many of our visitors even had the pleasure of witnessing newly hatched snapping

turtles making their way to the pond from their nest!

Snapping turtles prefer freshwater or brackish lakes, riv-ers, marshes, and ponds with a muddy bottom and plenty of plant material for hiding. These large turtles have a dis-tinctly prehistoric look to them, with a dark shell and body, a sharp beak, and a tail nearly as long as the body. Like most turtles, snapping turtles are relatively long-lived, with an average lifespan of 30 years.

Snapping turtles will consume a wide variety of organ-isms, including invertebrates, fish, birds, amphibians, small mammals, and even aquatic vegetation. To capture their prey, these turtles bury themselves in the mud, wait-ing to ambush unsuspecting creatures passing by.

The next time you are visiting Fenner, be sure to stop by the deck behind the visitor center to search for snapping turtles. Fish food, which is available in the visitor center, does a great job attracting these reptiles to the pond’s surface. But be sure to admire from afar—snapping turtles can be quite aggressive and have very strong jaws!

Source: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Chelydra_serpentina/


BABY SNAPPING TURTLE | © Katie Woodhams

COME SEE WHAT’S NEW AT THE FENNER EXPLORE STORE! New items in stock include posters, gorgeous greeting cards, cute decorative items for your kitchen, new “Puzzles That Rock,” and more toys and rings for children—all with themes or images related to nature. We also replenished the popular Cozmé jewelry, Bear Claw Backscratchers, and Folkmanis puppets. After selling out at Maple Syrup Festival, we again offer a large variety of maple syrup prod-ucts, including candy and the irresistible Maple Root Beer. All proceeds from our store directly support our important conservation and education programs. Please support us by purchasing your next gifts through us.

There is so much to see and do at Fenner! Explore our store on your next visit!

BY GAIR TOURTELLOT, EXPLORE STORE MANAGER

EXPLORE STORE

s n a P P i n g t u rt l e (Chelydra serpentina)

FENNER NATURE CENTER

FENNER CONSERVANCY

2020 EAST MOUNT HOPE AVE.

LANSING, MICHIGAN, 48910

Newsletter printing generously provided by:

Would you like to “go green” and receive the newsletter via e-mail? If so, please contact [email protected].

A big THANK YOU

to the Consumers Energy Foundation

for their contribution of nearly $12,000

toward our prairie installation project!

© Katie Woodhams

Stay in the know about Fenner’s

stewardship events, by visiting

mynaturecenter.org/stewardship_calendar.

© David Marvin

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