fontenelle forest's leaflet - november / december 2015

LEAFLETThe Newsletter of Fontenelle Forest

November and December 2015

#SAVETHEOAKSLearn more about our plans to restoreand preserve the Forest’s Oak Savannas

2November and December 2016

As you may have heard, Fontenelle Forest has been awarded a Nebraska Environmental Trust grant to restore oak woodlands and savannas. With these funds, we have increased our staff and obtained necessary equipment. You may also have recently learned that we are gearing up for our prescribed burn season. This year, weather permit-ting, and in future years, there will be a controlled burn in Fontenelle Forest, as well as those planned up at Neale Woods. But why do we feel it’s so important to put fire on the ground?

In order to have a sustainable, healthy ecosystem with a high diversity of native plants and animals, the natural processes or “disturbances” need to be in place, including fire. Large grazers and flooding also played a role in shaping our landscape, but at this point, fire is the most time and cost efficient method to begin to restore our natural systems. Historically, Fontenelle Forest would have had open oak woodlands on the ridges, and on south and west facing slopes. With-out the primary disturbance of fire, fast-growing, shade-tolerant trees such as hackberry and ash have invaded the oak groves. Unfortunately, these trees out-compete the oaks in the absence of fire, preventing young oak trees from growing. As we move forward with our restora-tion efforts, we will begin to see open, breezy spaces on the ridge tops, and a wide variety of native plants and animals. Keep in mind that it took nearly 150 years to get to this point, so it will take some time to restore.

There is a lot of pre-planning that goes on behind the scenes before every burn. Preparatory work takes place, such as thinning the larger mid-story trees to open the canopy, and mechanical removal of large invasive shrubs such as autumn olive and honeysuckle. We also use a technique known as hack and squirt to kill invasive and undesirable trees. This method consists of hacks into the bark to hold herbicide which will kill the tree, but leave it standing, providing habitat and a food source for many animals.

Before we start work on the land, we need to know what we have and where. We are using a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit to map our invasive species, as well as desirable plants and then visually show these features in a geographical information computer system. We track what we have removed, like invasive honeysuckle and what we find, such as bur and red oaks. We are able to plan our management and burn units based on our mapping, and it’s a visual record of work accomplished and what we still have to do.

While the Bellevue Fontenelle Forest property has been receiving publicity about controlled burning and restoration, conservation staff and rangers have been conducting controlled burns up at Neale Woods for 10 years. You can see the evidence of our hard work as you walk along the prairie areas and see new openings where we re-moved invasive shrubs. When you see us out there working, feel free to ask us about what we’re doing – we love what we are doing and are happy to share.

We appreciate all of your support - see you in the forest!

Sincerely,Team Save the Oaks

On the cover: The Constitution Tree in 1917Matt Miller, Restoration Biologist, collects seeds at Camp Brewster

Josh Priester, Chief Ranger at FF, controls a burn at Neale Woods

#SAVETHEOAKS


FOR PROGRAMS REQUIRING REGISTRATION - GO TO FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG

RAPTOR WOODLAND REFUGEOPENING LATE 2015 AT FONTENELLE FOREST


ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE FOR FF MEMBERS OR WITH GENERAL ADMISSION UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Members only, for ages 5-11. Registration Required.

Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. - rain or shine!

Yoga in the ForestJoin us for an hour-long vinyasa style yoga class, surrounded by nature, designed to de-stress and relax you. This class is acces-sible for all levels of yogis, from beginner to experienced, and will feature the sounds of the forest as your soundtrack as you move towards complete wellness. A medi-tative walk will follow the class, ending with tea for those who can stay.

Every Sunday morning 9:00a.m. - 10:30a.m.FFNCLeader: Julie McKeoneWinter Day Camp

Spend the day hiking, playing games, creat-ing art, reading and listening to stories, making new friends, and exploring. Our outdoor activities will depend on the weather but we will be sure to spend some time outside! Please be sure to pack extra socks and mittens in case we get to play in the snow! Pack a lunch and we will bring the snacks. Winter camp is for children currently in 1st through 8th grade. Regis-tration is required.

December 30 8:30a.m. - 3:30p.m.FFNCLeader: Jamie Vann Members: $35 Non-members: $60

MUD PIES

NATURE EXPLORERS

YOGA IN THE FOREST

Mud Pies Drop by to explore nature activities with your child. One adult is required for every two children. A different natural science topic is introduced each week through in-teractive stations within “Habitat Hollow”.Check the calendar at fontenelleforest.org to learn the weekly topic. This program is for children ages 5 and younger. Please note: Mud Pies will not meet on November 25 and 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The last Mud Pies for 2015 will be on December 17 due to the holiday season.

Monday - Thursday9:30a.m.-11:30a.m. FFNCLeader: Lindsay Cooley

Nature Explorers: All About TurkeysFor November, the Nature Explorers will learn fun facts about turkeys. Make your own turkey caller to take home and have turkey track snacks. For children ages 5-11, snacks provided. Please dress for the weather. Registration required. Space is limited!

Members Only November 211:00p.m. - 2:30p.m. Camp BrewsterLeader: Kathy Fischer

Nature’s New Year’s Eve Join us as we celebrate the New Year with a family-friendly celebration. We will make our own noisemakers, have a bubble wrap stomp, learn what the animals do for winter, listen to a story or two, go outside for a short hike, and welcome in the year 2016 (at London time - not our time).We will have a snack and toast the New Year with hot cocoa after our outdoor adven-ture. Space is limited, so register soon! Registration is required. For children ages 3-12 and their families.

Members OnlyDecember 31 3:00p.m. - 5:00 p.m.FFNC Members Only Leader: Deborah Woracek

MEMBERS ONLY

WINTER CAMP



Family Sundays in the Forest: Wandering NaturalistHave questions about natural sights and sounds while hiking? Keep an eye out for Wandering Naturalist Sharon Draper as you hike the boardwalk or the trails close to FFNC. She’s ready to answer your ques-tions and give you information about the animals active in our forest right now!

November 15 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m.FFNCLeader: Sharon Draper

Hike All Trails in a Day!Join us to hike all the trails at Fontenelle Forest in one day. You will definitely get your exercise for the day as we will hike nearly 20 miles, but we will also get to see the forest in a new light. We will hike by the Great Marsh, Hidden Lake, and all of the hills and ravines of the beautiful forest in the fall season. Please bring plenty of water, snacks, and a lunch you can eat on the trail. This will be a strenuous day of hiking, so come prepared and do some pre-hiking to get ready. Feel free to join us for the entire day or hike as far as you can and then head back.

November 8 7:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.FFNCLeaders: Adam Ericksonand Heidi Seals

Write in the ForestExplore the sights and sounds of the forest through the lens of writing! Poet, teacher, and Master Naturalist Jeff Lacey will lead you on a walk through the forest, with stops for guided writing along the way. This is a great chance to learn new writing skills and celebrate the forest with your own prose or poetry. This hike will stick primarily to the boardwalk, and all ages are welcome. If the weather doesn’t cooper-ate, an inside walk-and-write activity will be held.

November 14 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m.FFNCLeader: Jeff Lacey

Seniors Understanding Nature: Sites Along the Lewis & Clark National Historic TrailByrony Forbes, of the National Parks Ser-vice, is from the headquarters of the Lewis & Clark Historic National Trail located on Omaha’s Riverfront Drive. She will speak about the sites you can visit along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail. Come join us for an armchair journey across the country.

November 10 9:45a.m. - 11:00a.m.FFNCLeader: Catherine Kuper

Programs are listed in chronological order

PROGRAMS

Bird ClubClub President, Neal Ratzlaff, will take us down memory lane with a presentation of 35mm slides from the collection of Dr. Mary Tremaine. Dr. Tremaine took these bird photos in Churchill, Manitoba and the Sandhills of western Nebraska.

Members OnlyNovember 5 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m.CBLeader: Rick Schmid

November Campfire Program: The Night Sky - Moon & ConstellationsFrom civilizations long ago to the present day, the celestial bodies of the night sky have long been a source of fascination and wonder! Join us for fun facts, stories, and legends about about the moon and stars - and help us sing a traditional camp song or two. Bring your blanket and a buddy as we enjoy an outdoor evening warmed by the glow of a campfire. Since the ground will be cold to sit on, folding chairs are encour-aged. Bring a mug for hot cocoa after the stories.

November 6 7:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.CBLeaders: Tracy Van Zeeand Tad Leeper

Family Sundays in the Forest: Wandering NaturalistsKeep a sharp eye out as you walk today, and you may find Wandering Naturalists Bonnie and Ingrid. Track them down on the boardwalk or one of the beautiful trails close to the FFNC. You may even learn something new about snapping turtles in the process!

November 1 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m.FFNCLeaders: Ingrid Johnson and Bonnie Newman

Bird Banding at Aksarben AquariumGet a people’s-eye-view of our feathered friends as we capture live birds, “tag” them with tiny light-weight leg bands and release them back into the wild. Drop by any time between 9:00am and 11:00am and stay as little or as long as you like. All ages are welcome, and anyone who wishes to may touch a live bird.

November 7 9:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.Schramm Park SRA near GretnaLeader: Rick Schmid


ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE FOR FF MEMBERS OR WITH GENERAL ADMISSION UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Observe the Night Sky:Meteors and ConstellationsPerfectly timed with the new moon and the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, this evening of observation will give you more than a glimpse into the wonders of our galaxy and beyond. Teacher Naturalist Bob Fuchs will help you find constella-tions, and you may see a shooting star (me-teor) every minute. Bring your binoculars to see deep sky objects like star clusters and galaxies. Dress for the weather. All ages are welcome. A porta-potty is avail-able.

December 11 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.Neale Woods Leader: Bob Fuchs

Going Wild with GingerbreadCome to the lodge at Camp Brewster. Use your imagination to create a ginger-bread cabin complete with wildlife in your snow covered yard. Dress for the weather as this activity includes a short walk through the winter woods and prairie. $10 per child - includes all supplies needed to make a gingerbread house. Parents, grandparents, etc. are welcome and encouraged to join in their child’s fun. Registration is required. Space is limited, so register soon!

December 19 Four sessions 9:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m.11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.CBLeader: Kate Murphy

Family Sundays in the Forest: Cold-Weather CreaturesThe shortest day of the year is almost here, and winter has nearly officially begun. Join Sharon Draper in the nature center before or after your hike, and find out how our cold-weather creatures survive these frosty days and long nights.

December 20 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m.FFNCLeader: Sharon Draper

Silent Night HikeLate autumn at the Forest Wetlands is a time of many seasonal changes. Join us on a silent night hike along the Great Marsh as we explore nature’s ‘borderlands’ and the many transitions that take place around the wetlands habitat. Ages 12 and older. Please wear appropriate hiking footwear and warm clothing.

November 19 7:00p.m. - 8:30p.m.WLCLeader: Sharon Draper

December Campfire Program: Nature in WinterWhile Fontenelle Forest appears to be sleeping during the winter season, it is actually quite AWAKE and very much ALIVE! Join us for stories, songs and fun facts about animal tracks, snowflakes, hibernation and other prominent aspects of nature in winter. Bring your blanket and a buddy as we enjoy an outdoor evening warmed by the glow of a campfire. Since the ground will be cold to sit on, folding chairs are encouraged. Bring a mug for hot cocoa after the campfire.

December 4 7:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.CBLeaders: Tracy Van Zeeand Tad Leeper

Bird Banding at Aksarben AquariumGet a people’s-eye-view of our feathered friends as we capture live birds, “tag” them with tiny light-weight leg bands and release them back into the wild. Drop by any time between 9:00am and 11:00am and stay as little or as long as you like. All ages are welcome, and anyone who wishes to may touch a live bird.

November 27 9:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.Schramm Park SRA near GretnaLeader: Rick Schmid

December 5-9 Fontenelle Forest Deer Hunt Nature Center and Riverview Boardwalk open. All other trails closed. These managed hunts are designed to control the deer population.

Seniors Understanding Nature: Fire and IceAlex Wiles, Animal Care Specialist, con-tinues to explore the world with a trip to Costa Rica, working with the leatherback sea turtles. He will also share memories of his trip to Iceland.

December 8 9:45a.m. - 11:00a.m.FFNCLeader: Catherine Kuper

November 20-22 Neale Woods trails closed for annual deer hunt. These managed hunts are designed to control the deer population.

Fontenelle Forest Photography ClubMembers will enjoy a presentation on flash photography.

Members Only November19 7:00 p.m.FFNC

Fontenelle Forest Photography ClubFor December, the Photography Club will have a Holiday Pot Luck and share a slide-show of members’ favorite photographs of the year.

Members Only December 17 7:00 p.m.FFNC

Raptors.. Live!This is your opportunity to come visit us and meet our amazing raptors! See and learn about these fascinating owl, hawk, and falcon wildlife ambassadors; photo-graphs are encouraged.

December 13 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m.FFNCLeader(s): Denise Lewis



NOVEMBER DECEMBERYoga in the ForestFamily Sundays: Wandering Naturalists Members Only: Bird Club

Campfire Program: The Night Sky

Bird Banding at Aksarben Aquarium

Hike All Trails in One Day Yoga in the Forest

Seniors Understanding Nature (SUN)

Write in the Forest

Yoga in the ForestFamily Sundays: Wandering Naturalist

Silent Night HikeFontenelle Forest Photography Club

Neale Woods Trails Closed

Neale Woods Trails ClosedMembers Only: Nature Explorers

Neale Woods Trails ClosedYoga in the Forest

Bird Banding at Aksarben Aquarium

Yoga in the Forest

Campfire Program: Nature in Winter

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center and Riverview Boardwalk Open - All other trails closed

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center and Riverview Boardwalk Open - All other trails closedYoga in the Forest


Fontenelle Forest Nature Center and Riverview Boardwalk Open - All other trails closedSeniors Understanding Nature (SUN)


Observe the Night Sky (at Neale Woods)

Yoga in the Forest

Fontenelle Forest Photography Club

Going Wild with Gingerbread

Yoga in the ForestFamily Sundays: Cold Weather Creatures

Yoga in the Forest

Members Only: Nature’s New Years Eve

AT A GLANCE

1

5

6

7

8

10

14

15

19

20

21

22

27

29

4

5

6

7

8

9

11

13

17

19

20

27

31

Mud Pies meets Monday - Thursday mornings for children ages 5 and younger. Please note: Mud Pies will not meet on November 25 and 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The last Mud Pies for 2015 will be on December 17 due to the holiday season.

1111 Bellevue Blvd. NorthBellevue, NE 68005

www.fontenelleforest.org

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center1111 Bellevue Boulevard North, Bellevue, NE 68005

• Hours: Open daily, 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Closed December 25 & January 1

• Trails open dawn to dusk for FF members. Non-mem-

bers admitted before close have trail access until dusk

Admission: Fontenelle Forest members FreeOne Day Membership $7 Adult | $6 Senior (62+)| $5 Child (2-17)

Phone: 402.731.3140 Email: [email protected] Web: fontenelleforest.org Find us on:

GENERAL INFORMATION

Neale Woods14323 Edith Marie Avenue, Omaha, NE 68112• Trails open year round, dawn to dusk

• Nature center CLOSED for renovation

Admission:Fontenelle Forest members FreeOne Day Membership $5 Adult | $4 Senior (62+) | $3 Child (2-17)

fontenelle forest's leaflet - november / december 2015

Documents