the wilderness center celebrates 50 years!...the wilderness center will hold a brief annual meeting...

The Wilderness Center 2015 1

Vol. 8 No 2A publication for our Members February 2015

Inside:Director’s Corner..........................................................p.2Volunteer News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p .3New Members................................................p.3C l u b N e w s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p . 4E n d o w m e n t G i f t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p . 5Annual Campaign...........................................p.5ProgramGuideReg.Form... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .InsertTre e o f L i f e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p . 6 , 7G r e e n l i n e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p . 8Foto Fest........................................................................p.8

Newsletter

The Wilderness Center Celebrates 50 Years! Celebrating 50 Years!

Annual Meeting of the MembersThurs., Feb. 19, 4:45 PM

Join Us!

The OAKS program is here. Because we believe loving and understanding nature is a lifelong pursuit, we’ve de-signed this exciting collection of classes specifically for adult learners. Classes cover a wide variety of topics: learn to make beeswax and honey lotion, discover activities to help you share your love of nature with kids, find out how birds are like ballet dancers, or explore ways to help monarch butterflies. All

Come Learn With Us

The Wilderness Center will hold a brief annual meeting at 4:45 PM on Thursday, February 19, at the Center. The main purpose of the meeting will be to elect members to the Board of Directors for three-year terms. This meeting is open to all members. The nominated Board of Directors for 2015-17 term: Susan Cook James Jelinek Judith Kenny Marilyn Loveless Arlene Nussbaum Monty Reed Richard Shernit Marchelle Suppan All members are welcome! The short Members Meetingwill be followed by a Board of Directors meeting at 5 PM.

Think Spring!!! Native Plant Saleand Gardening SeminarsSaturday, April 25, 9-4 &

Sunday, April 26, 1-4

The garden seed catalogs have begun to arrive in the mail. It is time to think spring and think native! Mark your calendars for this spring’s Native Plant Sale and Gardening Seminars. The seminars and plant sale will be on Saturday, April 25th. Any plants left over will be sold on Sunday, April 26th. We will have detailed plant descriptions with pictures on our website so you can plan your garden design and plant purchases. Watch upcoming newsletters and e-mail announce-ments for more information.

of these, and many more, can be found in the OAKS program guide which will be available on our website beginning Janu-ary 1st. You can also watch for the OAKS logo in the program guide section of the newsletter. We hope you will continue to explore the natural world with us throughout the new year.

2 The Wilderness Center 2015

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We love when TWC gets press coverage in a newspaper article, but we don’t have access to all subscriptions. If you see an article in the news, please save it for us and drop it off or mail to The Wilderness Center, P.O. Box 202, Wilmot, OH 44689 Don’t forget to include the paper title it’s from and the date.

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Director’s Corner

Science Education as Service and

Imperative As 2014 drew to a close, TWC bid a tearful farewell to its Educa-tion Director of 27 years, Joann Ballbach. We all wish her well in retirement and thank her for helping build TWC’s education program to the level of excellence

it is today. But, as we enter both a new year and a new era for our education program, it provides an opportunity to pause and take a good hard look at not only what and how we will continue to provide quality programs but also why we—a nature center located a relative distance from most northeast Ohio K-12’ers—should be “in the business” of education in the first place. What role can we play in today’s demanding formal education schedules, tightening budgets, and standards-based curricular requirements? What influence can we possibly have on students’ understanding of complex science regarding the environment? In other words, why would teachers take the time to bring their students to visit a nature center to help support their teaching of science? In subsequent articles I’d like to explore some of these questions in more depth and illustrate what makes nature centers, and TWC in particular, unique and more relevant than ever as to what role we are capable of serving in today’s system of educating our young citizens. First though, I’d like to illustrate the growing concern regarding science education that extends well beyond just our state, and with not only educational but likely economic implications. Students attending K-12 schools in the United States today are falling dramatically behind the international curve in terms of scientific and mathematical literacies. The often cited Pro-gramme for International Student Assessment (PISA) report on international science exam results for 2012 demonstrated that students (tested at 15 years of age) in the United States on average scored lower than students from 19 out of 34 other wealthy industrialized nations. In mathematics, the United States faired far worse with an average score lower than 26 out of the 34 other countries. Correlating all too well with the PISA results, the ACT College & Career Readiness Re-port 2012 for U.S. high school graduates indicate that only 31% are “ready” for college-level coursework in science. Once in college, national studies indicate a disturbing trend toward fewer students pursuing science and technology in

college and career. Only 23% of our undergraduates pursue science related fields; of those 48% leave science to pursue other disciplines and careers. These results have deepened concerns that our students of today may be at a distinct competitive disadvantage vy-ing for science and technology careers, and that the United States in general may be facing a decline in our competitive edge internationally in terms of science and technology breakthroughs and products. What service can a nature center provide to help improve this perplexing national issue? It is within places like TWC where young people often discover their fascination with the natural world and take their first steps toward wanting to understand just how nature works. As many STEM pro-fessionals will attest, it is this initial and early experience of “wonder”—unhindered by formal lessons, tests, and the confines of a classroom—that leave a lasting impression, the spark of a curiosity, and maybe even the first inklings of a calling toward the pursuit of science in the hearts and minds of a young person. In short, nature centers continue to be uniquely poised to provide just this experience that most formal education venues struggle to re-create. Perhaps today, in our ever more cyber-centric world, a place for young people to unplug from their devices and re-connect with the natural world is more relevant and more critical than ever toward inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. Jeff Corney, Executive Director


Volunteers of the MonthChristmas Bird Count

Volunteers

Are You A Member?Please Join!

Welcome New Members!

The scenes to be found in rural and small town Ohio provide the inspiration for the water color paintings of art-ist Don Weisgarber. These paintings will be on display at The Wilderness Center now until February. If you missed Don’s artwork during the Nature Fest Arts and Crafts Show, these paintings will be available for purchase by contacting the artist. Don grew up in rural Ohio, graduated with a degree in biology and English literature, and served three years in the US Army. He was a fireman for 22 years with the Massillon Ohio Fire Department, and it was during that career that he began painting. He now paints full time and has a home gallery, Paint Valley Studio, in Beach City.

Artist Don Weisgarber Paintings on Display at TWC

Foxfield MeetingSat., Feb. 21, 2 PM

Staff will discuss natural burial at Foxfield, nature preserve cemetery management, restoration of the site and more. At-tendees will have an opportunity to ask questions in a relaxed, small-group setting. If you plan to walk Foxfield Preserve’s trails, be sure to wear suitable shoes and clothing. If you can’t attend a presentation, personal tours of the Preserve are available by appointment. Contact Sara Brink at [email protected].

Joan ArnoldPhil & Karen BuchmannMatt & Christy CudlipMarcia FergusonRobert HasmanNiles W KeeranDorothy LloydKevin R RubleRob & Molly StarnerClayton & Ruth SteinerRevs. Steven & Cara Stultz-Costello

The Christmas Bird Count at The Wilderness Center was started in 1966 and has been an annual event each year that helps provides wildlife management officials with census data they can use to develop management plans. One important aspect of this data for conservationists is to identify species which may be on the decline. The count lasts all day and The Wilderness Center has participated in this count for 48 years! Our organizer of the count is Ben Morrison and he makes sure that teams cover our entire approximate 500 mile area and this year we had 71 volunteers count at a total of 616 hours! We also had five volunteers provide chili for lunch and dinner and Paula Miller warm up the chili and keep coffee and tea and snacks going for everyone. Thanks Christmas Bird Count Volunteers! We are really doing our part for the National Audubon Society in getting our birds counted for our area!


Astronomy Club

Fly Fishing Club

Club News

Botanizers Club Cavers and Climbers Club

Needle Crafters

Nature Book Discussion Club

Bird Club News Geocaching Club

Woodcarving Club

Nature Photo Club

Backpackers/Dayhikers Club

The Needle Crafters are meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10 AM. Come to the next meeting, bring your project and join us!

Sun., Feb. 1, 10 AM-6 PM; Winter Picnic. Come celebrate almost-Groundhog Day with us. The Mingo Shelter (1501 Sand Run Parkway, Akron 44313) in Sand Run MetroPark is reserved; (it is enclosed, heated, and has kitchen facilities). Hike in morn-ing, eat, hike in afternoon, eat. Bring a dish to share. Come for any part or all day. Fri., Feb., 20, 7:30 PM; Club Meeting Program TBA. For details, changes, or additional February events, see our website: www.hikersoftwc.weebly.com.

Orion and Taurus will be high in the sky for the Public Star Watch on February 6. Jupiter will be above the horizon, and the Moon will be rising a little later in the evening. The planetarium show starts at 8 PM. This event is free and open to the public for all ages. Our meet-up for the month will be on the 27th at 7:30 pm. We will be discussing some topic relating to astronomy. If you received a telescope for Christmas and need help, this will be a great op-portunity to receive help and have some questions answered. Our meet-ups are held in the Astronomy Education Building.

On Sat., Feb. 21 at 2 PM (note time change from previous an-nouncements) Fritz Schmitthenner will share his program “Early days of Botanizing in Glacier National Park Back-country” This program is open to the public and will be held at TWC. Fritz is a charter member of the Botanizer club and has served as our cor-responding secretary over 30 years. He and his wife Alice, now in their 80’s, still remain active and go on walks with us. Please join us for the afternoon and a “walk” down memory lane. I’m looking forward to sharing the time with you. Sandy Smith, Club President

Our next meeting will be Sat., March 7, 2-3:30 when we will be discussing The End of Night: searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light by Paul Bogard.

The Geocache Club recently held a breakfast chat at The Amish Door to celebrate the last date alignment that any of us will wit-ness...12-13-14! We had 36 cachers in attendance. Good food and good chatting! Plans are finalized for our winter geocaching event, SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER-2015, on Sat., Jan. 31, 2015. The event will start at 5 PM with registration in the Buckeye Room. No one on trails until 5:30 PM and all cachers must be back in the build-ing and off the trails by 8:30. The club will be putting out at least 10 new permanent caches for the event and we will have 15-20 “game” caches. There will be door prizes and a 50/50 drawing. We are asking all those who attend to please bring a plate of goodies to share and canned goods to be donated to a local food pantry. For more details on the event or info about our club or geocaching in general, please e-mail Rita at [email protected].

The Woodcarvers meet the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 9 AM. We are always looking for new friends! You don’t have to know how to carve, just bring a knife and we’ll help you!

The Fly Fishing Club will meet on Thurs., Feb. 12 and Feb. 27 at 7 PM at The Wilderness Center. Please join us!

The annual Foto Fest is coming up April 18 and 19 . Keep an eye out for your award winning photo! Our next meeting is Feb. 28 at 9:30 AM . All visitors and members are welcome at the Nature Photography Club meetings. We look forward to meeting anyone, young or old, pro or newbee, that has an interest in photography.

What is caving? We are a National Speleological Society affiliated caving club, which means we are big into safety, training, and cave conservation-Machan’s Rock cave is our club project-and fun! We cave in Ohio and neighboring states, do a little camping, and see some incredible places, both in-cave and out. We love beginning cavers and have trips to get you started. We are a rock climbing club! We do top-roping, bouldering, rappelling, and ascending. around local areas. Please visit us on our Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/OhioCaversandClimbers

Weather was good for the 2014 annual Bird Count. The best bird was an Orange-crowned Warbler. Watch next month for the results. Bundle up and join us–get rid of that “cabin fever”! The 2015 trips start on Jan. 24 to Castalia/Medusa Marsh. Winter waterfowl are the highlight of this trip, Join us for some fun winter birding. On Feb. 14, the annual Great Backyard Bird Count will be held at TWC from 9-3 . Stop in anytime to help count, have a donut and coffee and visit for a while. OR, stay the entire day with us. Here’s to another great year of “birding” -- 2015! Until next month–May you always hear the whisper of wings…


TWC Gladly Accepts Vehicle DonationsTWC’s vehicle donation program is an important source of added revenue for our organization and can help save you the time and inconvenience of disposing of a used car, truck, RV, boat, motorcycle or other vehicle.

Charitable Auto Resources, Inc. (CARS™) processes these donations for The Wilderness Center and more than 500 other non-profit organizations throughout the United States. CARS™ is well organized and accredited with the Better Business Bureau. When CARS™ accepts a vehicle donation on behalf of TWC, we receive 70% of the proceeds from the sale of the vehicle.

To donate your vehicle to The Wilderness Center, call (855) 500-RIDE or 855-500-7433 and a representative will help you with your donation. You may also make a vehicle donation by following the link at: http://www.wildernesscenter.org/give/donate-your-car/

Why Donate?There are several great reasons, like: 1. You don’t want to worry about selling your vehicle 2. It is too expensive to repair your vehicle 4. You don’t trust your car to be safe on the road 5. You need a tax write-off

Most importantly, your gift today will help support critically needed environmental education programs and land conserva-tion efforts right here in northeastern Ohio.

Thank you! Barb Vitcosky, Development Director

Endowment GiftsAnnual Campaign Donors

Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. FarberThomas A. McDowellMrs. Richard C. RushMr. & Mrs. August F. Schmitthenner

In honor of the retirement of Joann Ballbach Sarah H. Douglas

Roger & Jan BakerMichael & Linda ClementSusan CookJeff & Sarah CorneyPhil & Molly DoughtenWalt & Cindy FinkFred & Marilyn FinneySusan Fisher-ThompsonMr. & Mrs. Jack FoltzRobert HaeberleRick & Vicki HainesSue & Ken KellerCarol LuntzBarb & Monty ReedCynthia RosedaleKim SchrockMr. & Mrs. David SingleTerry Smith

In honor of Jean Paddock Christine Court Jo Ann Donnenwirth Amanda Espenschied-Reilly Sue Shepherd


Tree of LifeDecember Tree of Life

In memory of Leroy Amos 3rd Grade Team - Jenny, Holly, Melissa, Tondra, Kris, Adam, Sharon and Jessica In memory of Abigail Hope Anderson Chip HigginsIn memory of Dana Andrews Don & Velma PolandIn memory of Marshall Andrews Don & Velma PolandIn loving memory of David John Aventino Ann M. MartinIn memory of Phyllis Ballentine Kim CaldwellChristmas Greetings to Jo Benjamin Marge ThomasIn memory of Robert Bowles, Sr. Erin Cusack & Curt HanleIn memory of Geraldine Louise Burke Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Jerry Dean Bussinger Jan & Bryan WeblerIn memory of Nancy Condo Ed & Nancy Hare Larry & Tootie MillionIn memory of Mrs. Sharon Coy Mr. Mrs. Stephen Benedict & FamilyIn memory of Walt Dailey Tom & Dee SchlundIn memory of Patricia Ann DeMarsh John Lescallett & Lisa DeMeoIn memory of Patricia Ann DeMarsh, with our deepest sympathy on the passing of your Mom Mark, Beth & Brenden TullyIn memory of Loki DeSeyn Tom, Diana, Lauren & Ryan Springer

In memory of Max Dorkoff Ed & Nancy HareIn honor of Joann Dowell Eric & Miste JettIn memory of Michael Dragomier Mike & Marilyn HankeIn memory of Dick Drukenbrod Bobbie & Hal DowellIn memory of William Eckroate Kim CaldwellIn memory of Lillith Irene Emrich Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Pete Erfurth Janine & Perlee HartmanIn memory of Doris Jean Flores Marianne PettayIn memory of Frankie Marjorie FinleyIn memory of Paul Gard Kathy SmithIn memory of Cora Olive Collier Gillespie – on the 100th Anniversary of her Birth December 1st

Cora’s Children, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren Audrey, Jeff, Preston & Collier Day Adam, Breanne, London & Corbin Theodore Weston Andrew Weston Janice WestonIn memory of Ray Gillman,our favorite tree farmer Emily, Karla and Bob HoffIn memory of Jo Ann (Long) Gravley Julie Border Fran Kingsbury Dorothy Long Mike & Patricia Long Tonya StuckIn memory of George L. Greer Ridge FlandersIn memory of Steve Hahn Beryl Beckett

In memory of Joyce Hancock, - a very special long-time friend Dick & Sue FarleyMerry Christmas 2014 to Mac & Marg Hawkins Erin HoppeIn memory of Bob & Bev Heck Vicki HersheyIn memory of Ralph C. Hess All the Briggs FamilyIn memory of Jane Huff Kathy SmithIn memory of Lillian M. Kandel Jan & Roger BakerIn memory of Miss Kitty Gina MastIn memory of Kenneth M. Knish Mr. & Mrs. Steve Boczulak Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Denk The M. Gallucci Family The Hrouda FamilyIn loving memory of Krisey - a free spirit Patsy & Chuck SlowikowskiIn memory of Edward J. Langenfeld Julie Border Dorothy Long Mike & Patricia LongIn memory of Christopher J. Lawrence Shirley MarmieIn memory of Jonathan R. Lawrence Shirley MarmieIn memory of Phyllis L. Lawrence Shirley MarmieIn memory of Raymond M. Lawrence Shirley MarmieIn memory of Fran Lucia Jo Trotter Breakfast ClubIn memory of Audrey A. Malavite Robert & Judy Carrick Carole Nichols


visit us online at

wildernesscenter.org

TWC HoursTrails: Sunrise to Sunset

every dayInterpretive Building and office:9 am to 5 pm Tues. through Sat.Closed Sundays until March 15

Closed MondayThe Wilderness Center, Inc.

PO Box 202Wilmot, Ohio 44689-0202

Phone toll-free: (877) 359-5235E-Mail: staff page on website

Website: www.wildernesscenter.org

To connect people with nature, educate people of all ages, conserve natural resources, and practice

environmental stewardship.

President: Andy HaagExecutive Director: Dr. Jeff Corney

Editor: Vicki L. WhittProofreaders: Barb Bartchy, Brian Gray,

Sarah Douglas, Kitty Johnson

Wilderness Center

Tree of LifeIn memory of Leona Maxhimer Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Norma J. Miller Jeff & Amy Clapper Marilyn & Kevin KoontzIn memory of Joe Mirocke, Sr. Mike Holdford & Lisa Stamford Larry & Tootie MillionIn celebration of the 50th Wedding Anniversary of David & Doris Mitchell Lucie C. RushIn memory of Dennis Mohler Canton South Community Men’s ClubIn memory of Kathryn Mollohan Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Georgianna Mosser Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Thomas Nelson Ed, Nancy & Chip HareIn memory of Douglas Sherman Nichols Cheryl J. HeckmanIn memory of Bill Nickles Mr. & Mrs. Stanley HustedIn memory of Mildred Joyce O’Connell Martin & Marilyn KuboffIn memory of Lena Okey Larry & Tootie MillionIn memory of Miss Peggy Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Thomas Penn Pam GoudyIn memory of the life and 35 years of friendship of Elizabeth Cavender Queen Niles W. KeeranIn memory of Margaret E. Ravenscraft Larry & Tootie MillionChristmas Greetings to Viv Reinhardt Marge ThomasIn memory of William (Bill) Rieger Buster & Birdie Metcalf

In memory of Adele Schierbaum Julie & Rich FitzerIn memory of Arthur Schwab Rick & Donna ReaganIn memory of Harry G. Scott III Paul & Lou Ann Toalston, Eric & Vaughan Toalston Jenni-fer, Todd & Reese DunlapIn memory of Gary R. Shackelford Tom & Judy KennyIn memory of Jackson Thomas Siddle Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Barbara Sinclair Mark, Kathy, Ashley & Alex AllenIn memory of Bonnie & Ray Steele Marcia & Bob JohnstonIn memory of Robert “Bob” Steinbauer Wanda & Skip MarquardtIn memory of Thomas (Tom) Swaim Janet HayesIn honor of Rick & Etta Trimpi, wonderful friends Nancy Baker CazanIn memory of Carol Walters Kim CaldwellIn memory of Elma Lee Wilkerson SuzAnn & John Terry & FamilyIn memory of Charles Williams Matthew & Amy Thiel In memory of Donald E. Wise Mr. & Mrs. Mauro (Mike) SpitaleIn memory of Imogene Louise Zamilski Dave & Kathy Rogers


Date Mailed: Jan. 22, 2014

P O BOX 202WILMOT OH 44689-0202Contains Dated MaterialPlease Do Not Delay

GreenlineGreen Quote:

“Problems cannot be solved at the same

level of awareness that created them.”

– Albert Einstein

Golden Nuggets fromThe Wilderness Center

Jim Roby, Eagle Scout builds Kiosk-2002

The Wilderness Center’s Nature Photo Club is planning its annual April photo contest. Open to photographers of all ages and abilities, the show is a great time to show off your favorite outdoor photographs. NOW is the time to get ready! Use the cold, gray winter days to prepare your entries. 1. Choose your best photos. 2. Have them blown up to a minimum of 8” x 10”, although larger is better. 3. Purchase (or cut your own) mat to put around the photo(s). 4. Watch future newsletters…or go to the TWC website…to get the Registration Form. There are several categories in the Foto Fest, so choose a variety of nature shots—animals, birds, scenery, etc. One of the most fun aspects of the Club’s contest is that guests viewing the photos choose the winners! Visit http://www.twcnpc.com/foto-fest1.html for more information.

Plan Now for April Nature Foto Fest

I go to the woods to be soothed, and healed and have my senses put in order. John Burroughs

the wilderness center celebrates 50 years!...the wilderness center will hold a brief annual meeting...

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