Who We Are We assist our members in

Established in 1968, the As- expanding their knowledge and

sociation is the leading professional skills in using the environment for
group supporting outdoor educa- responsible education purposes.
tion, environment education and in- We act as a unified voice
terpretive services in New York supporting the fields of environmen-
State. tal education, outdoor education, in-
Our membership includes terpretation and outdoor recreation.
classroom teachers, environmental Benefits of Membership
educators, college professors, natu- Annual Conference
ralists, interpreters, youth leaders, Regional Events
administrators, students, parents Publications
and others interested in the out- Awards
doors. Scholarships
Our Goals Membership Fees
We promote public aware- Individual $40.00
ness of the value of outdoor and Family $50.00
environmental education and inter- Retired $30.00
pretation. Student $25.00
We foster a lifelong appre- Affiliate A $45.00
ciation and sense of stewardship to Affiliate B $75.00
enrich curricula and programs. Library $40.00

The New York State Outdoor Education Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit professional organization
dedicated to lifelong learning in and about the outdoors. Outdoor Education is a method which embraces
multiple subject areas, including development of an appreciation of nature and the total environment.
Membership services, in addition to pathways, include the annual conference which provides opportunities
to share and learn, regional activities, annual award presentations and scholarships.

BULK RATE
New York State Outdoor Education Association, Inc. U. S. POSTAGE
418 Merry Road PAID
Amsterdam, NY 12012 PERMIT NO. 39
SOUTHFIELDS, NY
E-mail, [email protected]

Address Correction Requested

 pathways
The official publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association
Fall 2002

Natural Lawn Care

by: George Peters, President South Shore Audubon Society
Reprint of president’s message South Shore Audubon Newsletter

The American lawn as we know it - lush green, though that might be better for the environment, I don’t
weed free, and neatly crew-cut - is increasingly under think it is necessary.
attack by environmentalists, health care professionals, What we do need to do is eliminate the use of
and others. Their criticism is directed at the pervasive hazardous pesticides and weed killers. Chemical fer-
use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and weed killers tilizers can be replaced by organic ones that are avail-
needed to maintain a “perfect lawn.” able. The rate of fertilization, regardless of type, should
Another major concern is that vast quantities also be reduced. Less fertilizer results in slower growth
of water are required to keep millions of acres of lawn and in grass that requires less-frequent mowing. Grass
green. Increasing demands for water by a growing whose growth has not been excessively accelerated by
population have already forced many communi- heavy fertilization is also better able to with-
ties to limit or even prohibit lawn water- stand drought. There are nonchemical (or-
ing. ganic) weed killers that can replace the
Environmentalist note that chemicals, and natural insecticides that
lawn chemicals threaten under- are less virulent and persistent than
ground water supplies and that those more commonly used.
runoff pollutes our streams. Of course, you can grow a rea-
Health care professionals are sonably attractive lawn with-
concerned about long-term out using any weed killers at
effects on people, especially all. This requires tolerance
pregnant women and chil- (appreciation) of the dandeli-
dren. Children who spend a ons, violets, and other small
lot of time playing on lawns wildflowers (“weeds”)that
are especially vulnerable. happily bloom in an
Birds have already been unpoisoned lawn. Years ago, I
identified as victims of lawn pes- scoffed at such a thought advanced
ticides. Ward B. Stone of the New by a pioneer environmentally oriented
York State Department of Environmental horticulturist. However, her influence re-
Conservation says “Birds dying on lawns from pesti- sulted in my discovering beauty in those “weeds” in-
cides are a strong warning of the potential risks these stead of dismissing them as the “enemy.”
chemicals pose to people and pets. As a wildlife pa- Finally, the lawn “problem” can be amelio-
thologist, I see firsthand the carnage caused by unnec- rated by reducing the amount of turf and replacing it
essary use of lawn and garden pesticides.” with plantings of trees, shrubs, and perennials. The
Does that mean that we should give up our use of plant materials indigenous to an area is desir
lawns and let our properties “return to nature”? Al- Continued on page 5
 NYSOEA Reflections....
by: Heather Chadwick
Executive Board
In 2000 when I started my term as the world today other factors are in-
President President of the New York State Out- creasingly impacting programs. Li-
Foster Portsline door Education Association neither I, ability, risk management and secu-
nor anyone could have foreseen the rity issues have been brought to the
VP Administration changes and challenges that the world forefront, from transportation issues
Kathy Ambrosini was about to experience. On 9-11 we regarding 15 passenger vans to staff
were all forced to reexamine our pri- hiring and screening practices. These
VP Communication orities, re-focus on those areas of our and other challenges will need to be
MaryLynne Malone lives that we really cherish which en- addressed, new industry standards
abled us to gain new perspective and and norms will be set, organizations
VP Human Resources insights. During this past year it has will adjust there operating systems
Tom Vitti been interesting not only to see how so that outdoor education programs
the value and importance of Outdoor can stay viable in today’s world.
VP Program Education experiences has strength- Things change quickly today
Frank Benenati ened in this difficult time, but also to and NYSOEA, as an organization
observe how parents, teachers and ad- needs to position itself so that our
Secretary ministrators seem even more deter- members can network effectively,
Sue Williams mined that children are provided with pool resources and experiences
first hand experiences exploring the when it comes to addressing issues.
Treasurer natural world. It is fortunate that atti- While looking through some “not so
tudes toward such programs have been old” NYSOEA files I came across a
so strong and positive because there file labeled “The World Wide Web”.
Regional Directors are many challenges facing the outdoor It included an article from 1995 ex-
Jim D'Angelo, Central education world today. plaining what this “new” technology
Tara Feeney, Eastern The field of outdoor education might be able to do, who will use it
Elaine Young, Metro has always been in able to adapt to new and how it will change the world. In
Jack Sheltmire, Northern trends and initiatives in education. In such a short time this medium is used
Mary Anna Russo, Western
pathways (ISSN 1077-5110) is published Materials Submissions
2003 Conference four times a year by the New York State Anyone interested in contributing to
Committee Chairs Outdoor Education Association and is pathways is encouraged to submit ma-
mailed to NYSOEA members. Opinions ex- terial to the NYSOEA pathways c/o
John Stowell pressed by contributors are theirs solely and MaryLynne Malone, P.O. Box 39,
Tom Smith not necessarily those of the Editorial Board Southfields, NY 10975 or E-mail
of pathways or of NYSOEA. Advertise- [email protected]. Materials
Office Services ments included in pathways should not be should be typed. Please include a short
George Steele interpreted as endorsement of the product(s) biographical section about the author of
418 Merry Road, by NYSOEA. the article. References cited in the ar-
Amsterdam, NY 12010 ticle should be listed at
518-842-0501 Office Advertising in pathways the end of the ar-
518-842-1646 Fax pathways welcomes advertisements which ticle, APA style.
E-mail [email protected] will be of interest to the membership of
NYSOEA. If you have a product, service,
equipment, resources, programs, etc. that
you would like to share with our member-
ship via an advertisement, please contact
MaryLynne Malone (914) 351-2967.

2
 Featured Speakers
Vicki Cobb
Vicki Cobb is the well known author of 2003 Conference
more than eighty highly entertaining Site Information
nonfiction books for children. Cobb’s
lighthearted approach to hands-on science
has become her trademark for getting kids
involved in experiences that create real
learning.

Dr. Susan Flader

Susan Flader is professor of history at the
University of Missouri-Columbia, where she
teaches American and world environmental
history. She has published several books and
numerous articles on the career and thought
of Aldo Leopold, including Thinking Like a
Mountain and The River of the Mother of God.

David Middleton Villa Roma Resort

David is a full-time professional nature Callicoon, NY
photographer, writer and naturalist. He has (845) 887-4880
produced several books including: Ancient www.villaroma.com
Forest, The New Key to Ecuador and the
Galapagos and The Nature of America.
More than an outdoor photographer and
naturalist, David is a gifted and enthusiastic
teacher who truly enjoys sharing his experiences and
expertise with people.

New York State Outdoor Education Association

36th Annual Conference

~ The Nature of New York ~

A Natural History Celebration
October 23 - 26, 2003
Villa Roma Resort - Callicoon, NY
Workshops specific to New York native flora & fauna

11
 2003 Annual Conference~
A Look Around Villa Roma

The Villa Roma Resort and Conference Center will once again be
the site of our annual conference on October 23-26, 2003. It is located in
a beautiful valley near Callicoon. To the untrained eye it may appear as
just another resort in the Catskills, but some of us found the natural sur-
rounding to be special. I took a walk to get away from the buildings,
people and many facilities provided by Villa Roam. I needed to get fresh
air and discovery what few take the time to explore. Within minutes I was
in a mature hemlock forests, walking along a swift flowing stream, look-
ing across a pond and scanning open fields that called me to return early
the next morning. Upon my return I watched 7 white- tailed deer and
came within 40 yards of a young snorting buck. Our program chair Cheryl How still the form
Winship and conference co-chair Tom Smith both had like experiences as
we unexpectedly crossed paths and combed the resort surrounding for of bird in flight
potential workshop sites. hovering over
The planning stages for the 2003 conference are well under way.
If interested in assisting with this event or becoming involved with the the wind swept
conference committee please contact Tom Smith ([email protected]) dune.
or John Stowell ([email protected]). For workshop infor-
mation please contact Cheryl Winship (cwinship How pure in motive
@museumhudsonhighlands.org or Laura Carey ([email protected]. -
state.ny.us)
The committee has set a goal of sending all of you a 2003 conference hunger born
booklet in May. How swift indeed
Program highlights include keynote speaker, author of non fiction
children’s books, Vicki Cobb and featured speakers, naturalist and pho- How true in form
tographer, David Middleton and professor and author, Susan Fladder.
Keep an eye out for detailed descriptions of these speakers in future is-
sues of PATHWAYS. Sharon Kennetty-
Please contact us for conference brochures and up to date infor- Cohen
mation on the October 23-26, 2003 event. Help us pass the word to
educators, classroom teachers, administrators, scout and civic group lead- 10/26/02
ers, fish and game clubs and other outdoor enthusiasts. We want to pro-
vide professionals with a conference that will knock their hiking boots
off!

John Stowell Tom Smith

(845) 265-3773 (845) 896-5910
[email protected] [email protected]

10
in normal course of business and education and yet In the two years I served as President many vol-
organizations such as ours are still trying to realize unteers put hours of work and dedication into provid-
how it has and will continue to change, not our mis- ing a foundations from which the organizations can
sion, but how we achieve it. How do we effectively move forward. With the leadership of our new Presi-
utilize what is available today without competing or dent, Foster Portzline, I am confident that NYSOEA
repeating other services or resources that are widely will continue to successfully meet its mission.
available. This question which has evoked much dis-
cussion among members of the NYSOEA board. Heather Chadwick, Past President
In such a short time the internet has changed
the way we work and communicate. It has both ad-
vantages and disadvantages but it’s not going away.
My hope is that while utilizing this wonderful technol-
ogy that we, as an organization do not loose what
people have so long cherished. Balancing the efficient
use of technology with quality professional and per-
sonal relationships, which develop over time, will not
be easy. The mission of NYSOEA has long been
achieved through networking, mentoring, trainings and
workshops, debates over issues and current events.
Finding the balance will not be easy but crucial so out-
door educators can reap the rewards of membership
of NYSOEA for the next 35 years and beyond.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP!

by: Foster Portzline

Now that I am president of the Education Center - a resident center in the Catskill
New York State Outdoor Edu- Mountains; and Rocky River Nature Center - a day-
cation Association I look back visit center within the Cleveland Metroparks in Ohio. I
at the steps that have led me to ve co-led backpack, canoe, and bicycle adventure trips
this point. My story may have for teens. For four summers I directed Camp DeBruce
some similarities to yours. I grew - a N.Y.S.D.E.C. co-ed camp for 12-14 year olds. Now
up on a small farm in the Finger I m in a unique position - for the past 17 years I have
Lakes Region of New York State. been the Outdoor Education/Science Specialist for a
Through my parents and scouting I learned about the K-6 elementary school in Newburgh, NY. Teaching sci-
out-of-doors. I attended SUNY Cortland and got my ence lessons outdoors enables me
undergraduate degree in Nature Recreation and Inter- to motivate students to learn
pretation with a Minor in Biology. (The Raquette Lake about the world in which they
Field Campus experiences were probably the most live. Our family enjoys many
memorable.) My Outdoor Education experiences have outdoor hobbies including hik-
been varied. I ve taught at Frost Valley Environmental ing, camping, canoeing, and
3
 cross-country skiing. My wife
Debbie and I are our son
Gideon s Cub Scout leaders. We
hope, among other things, to in-
still a love of the outdoors in
our scouts.
My first step with NYSOEA began
when I attended the 1980 conference at Swan Lake.
Twenty-two years later, I have attended every con-
ference except one. You might say that I was hooked
from the start! Involvement in the Association has “As a pediatrician I
progressed as follows: as an undergraduate I was a urge all parents to re-
gopher ...setting up rooms and schlepping AV equip- duce pesticide use as
ment at conferences. Later, I was promoted to off- much as possible , espe-
site transportation. This impressive position had me
cially lawn services.
directing bus and car traffic leaving a parking lot in
Warrensburg. I ve continued to help out at confer- Children’s health is
ences, and lead workshops. I served 5 years on the more important than a
Executive Board, and co-chaired the 94 and 97 con- few weeds.”
ferences. This past year found me back on the Board Phil Landrigan, M.D.
as President- Elect, and I now have the honor of lead- Director of the Center
ing as President.
for Children’s Health
The New York State Outdoor Education As-
sociation is a not-for-profit professional organization and Environment,
dedicated to life-long learning in, for, and about the Mount Sinai School of
outdoors. Our membership includes classroom teach- Medicine
ers, environmental educators, college professors, natu-
ralists, interpreters, youth leaders, administrators, stu-
dents, parents and others interested in the outdoors.
We have a rich history, and a diverse membership. I
wonder how many thousands of people we impact!
NYSOEA is as vibrant as the volunteers who make it
run. I want to thank everyone who gives time and tal-
ents to enrich us all. The more we contribute the more
we accomplish! Are you ready to TAKE THE NEXT
STEP? Here are a few suggestions where you can help:
bring a friend to the conference; ask how you can help
at the conference; lead a workshop; join a conference
committee; write a Pathways article; nominate some-
one for an award; join the Executive Board; consider
saying Yes, I ll help. even though you are very busy;
and if you are not asked, but know your skills may be
useful, please let us know!
In conclusion, I look forward to serving you
as President of NYSOEA. I am excited about the pos-
sibilities that these next two years bring. I am asking
you, please....TAKE THE NEXT STEP!
4
 Source: U.S. Forest Service and Encarta
Encyclopedia --About Falling Leaves
During the spring and summer, a tree’s leaves serve as food facto- Activity
ries. Inside the leaves, the cells that make the food contain a pigment Story time
called chlorophyll. It is the chlorophyll that gives the leaves their green Tell the stu-
color. Chlorophyll absorbs energy from the sun and uses it to transform dents the fol-
carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates (such as starch and sugar) lowing Native
that the tree can use for food. Leaves also contain other pigments such as American legend about why the
yellow and orange. However, most of the year these pigments are hidden leaves change color:
by the large amount of chlorophyll.
In the fall the days get shorter and the nights get cooler. Food ”A long time ago, celestial hunters
production slows down and eventually stops. As a result, the chlorophyll killed the Great Bear (constellation,
breaks down. When the green pigments start decreasing in the leaves, the includes the Big Dipper) during the
yellow and orange colors become visible. fall. The dying bear’s blood dripped
During these colder months, other chemical changes can occur in from the sky and painted the leaves
the leaves to cause the formation of additional pigments. Warm sunny red. Afterwards, while the hunters
days and cool nights (with temperatures below 45 degrees F) favor bril- were cooking the bear meat, some
liant red colors. On a warm day, a lot of sugar is made in the leaves, but of the fat splattered and painted the
the cool nights prevent the sugars from exiting the leaves. A red pigment rest of the leaves yellow.”
is formed from those trapped sugars.
The amount of color may vary from tree to tree or even within a Discuss with the students how this
tree. Those parts that receive more sunlight may turn red, while the shaded explanation differs from the scien-
parts may turn yellow. The degree of color in a tree may also vary each tific one. Have them consider how
year depending on the weather. this legend might reflect things that
are important to the Native Ameri-
A sample of some trees and the colors their leaves turn:
cans’ way of life. (constellations
Yellow: birch, hickory, tulip poplar were important indicators of sea-
Brownish: many oaks sons; the bear was an important food
Purple: dogwoods, sumac source; fall was an important time
Red: maples, sweetgum, red oak for hunting and preparing the meat
for the winter.) As an extension,
have the students to create their own
legends as to why leaves change
color in the fall.
For various tribal interpretations:

http://www.parentcouncil.com/
seasonal/autumn99.htm
http://www.4yi.com/1999/
1018fall/
http:www.homeschoollearning.com/
hsc/unit_09-21-01.html
http://www.prairienet.org/upd/
tipsoctober2001.html
9
 Seasonal changes cause area trees to burst into brilliant colors
By ERIC FOSSELL The Herald-Dispatch

“Tis that time of year again leaf cells also may contain other pig- oak, red oak, scarlet oak, sumac
for autumn to be ablaze in glorious ments. These pigments account for and sassafras.
color. the color of autumn leaves. Among
the pigments found in leaves are yel- Autumn weather conditions favor-
Fall foliage should be at its ing the most brilliant colors are
peak this week throughout the Tri- low xanthophylls, yellowish-orange
carotenes, and red and purple antho- warm sunny days and cool, but not
State, according to information from freezing, nights. A few hard frosts
the U.S. Forest Service. Higher el- cyanins. Leaves also may contain
tannins, which give them a golden- can cause the leaves to wither more
evations of West Virginia and else- quickly and drop to the ground. The
where in the Mid-Atlantic region are yellow color in autumn.
degree of color also may vary from
past peak, but could still be worth Like chlorophyll, xantho- tree to tree.
checking out. phylls and carotenes are contained Leaves directly exposed to
How does nature consis- in tiny granules in some leaf cells. the sun may turn red, while those
tently put on such a dazzling show Although these pigments are present on the shady side of the same tree
each fall, despite adverse conditions throughout the leaf”s lifetime, their or other trees, may be yellow. When
such as this year”s drought? colors are usually masked by the there is mainly warm, cloudy and
green of chlorophyll. In the autumn,
Most folks assume that old rainy weather in the fall, the leaves
however, chlorophyll production de-
Jack Frost is responsible for changes may have less red coloration.
creases, and the yellow and orange
in leaf color, but not so. Many leaves pigments become visible in the Although the chemical pro-
begin to turn before frost occurs. leaves. Eventually all pigment pro- cesses responsible for changes in
The change in coloring is the result duction stops, and the leaves turn leaf color are extremely complex,
of complex chemical processes that brown. perhaps an even more colorful ex-
take place in the tree as the seasons planation came from American In-
change. Unlike xanthophylls and
carotenes, anthocyanins are not con- dians.
During spring and summer, tained in granules but are dissolved According to Native
a food-making process takes place in the liquid part of leaf cells. In some American myth, hunters in the
in the leaf in cells containing the pig- plants, such as coleus and red cab- heavens killed the Great Bear in
ment chlorophyll. This gives the leaf bage, anthocyanins are always autumn and its blood dripped over
its green color. The chlorophyll ab- present, giving the leaves a reddish
sorbs energy from sunlight and uses or purplish color. Earth”s forests, coloring some of
it in transforming carbon dioxide and the leaves red. As the hunters
water to carbohydrates, such as sug- In other plants, anthocyanins cooked the meat, fat dripped from
ars and starch. are not present throughout the life
of the leaf, but are produced only the heavens and colored some of
Like hibernating wildlife, under certain conditions. In oak and the leaves yellow.
trees begin to shut down their sys- maple leaves, for example, sugar ac-
tems for winter. Food nutrients cumulates in autumn, especially dur-
move slowly out of the leaves and ing cool nights. This accumulation
into the tree”s branches, trunk and is believed to result in the formation
roots. To ensure survival the tree of anthocyanins and the production
sheds its leaves to prepare for the of vivid colors in the leaves.
deep freeze ahead.
The autumn foliage of trees
In the fall, the decrease in intensity with mostly yellow colors include
and shorter hours of sunlight and the aspen, birch, hickory, white ash,
cooler temperatures cause the leaves black oak, striped maple, American
to stop their food-making process. elm, beech, yellow poplar, mountain
The chlorophyll breaks down, the holly and willow.
green color disappears and the yel-
lowish colors or pigments already in Trees with red or scarlet
the leaf become visible. leaves in autumn are silver maple,
mountain maple, red maple, dog-
In addition to chlorophyll, wood, sweet gum, black gum, white
8
able, since they are adapted to the climate and are generally less prone to disease and insect damage.
Native plants are also better able to withstand drought and other climatic extremes. Such plantings help
replace the habitat that was destroyed by human development.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County in Plainview (718- 454-0900) is an excellent
source of information on gardening with drought-resistant plants (Xeriscaping). Information on lawn care
without pesticides is available at
For more information on wildlife plantings and native plants:
The Bird Garden by Stephen W. Kress ( 1995)
Bird Gardens by Brooklyn Botanic Garden (1998)
Songbirds in Your Garden by John K. Terres (1994)
Gardening with Wildlife (National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Program)
Long Island Native Plants for Landscaping: A Source Book by Karen Blumer
(1990; out of print but in libraries)
“Learn How to Garden for Birds and Other Wildlife” at (articles that appeared in
Audubon since 1998)

“Pesticides pose
health risks, even
when used and ap-
plied in full compli-
ance with manufac- “Birds dying on lawns from pesti-
turers’ recommen- cides are a strong warning of the
dations and legal potential risks these chemicals pose
requirements.” to people and pets. As a wildlife
Elliot Spizer pathologist, I see firsthand the car-
New York State At- nage caused by the unnecessary
torney General use of lawn and garden pesticides.”
Ward B. Stone
Wildlife Pathologist, New York
State Department of Environmental
Conservation

5
Ilion, NY... New York State Conservation
Council, Inc. President Howard Cushing
and Education Chairperson Linda Coffin
presented the Conservation Educator of the
year Award to George Steele of Amsterdam,
New York. The award was presented during the New
York State Conservation Council’s (NYSCC) 69th
Annual Convention on September 20, 2002.
The New York State Conservation Council
held its annual convention at the Ramada Inn in
Oriskany, NY from September 20-21st. The high-
light of this meeting was the presentation of special
awards to outstanding conservationists from across
New York State on Friday evening September 20th.
The NYSCC is an independent group of sportsman/
conservationists, who have long maintained the
premise that we are all partners in preserving and pro- times. In fact some say he still is a lad at heart.
tecting our natural heritage. The impact that our The variety of topics and areas of the northeast
choices today will have on future generations is very he visited this year alone exhibits his vitality on almost
important. For that reason it is appropriate that the all aspects of outdoor education. As on nominator
New York State Conservation Council selected Mr. expressed...he is so adaptable and knowledgeable, you
Steele for this very prestigious award. can give him a topic and within a few minutes he
NYSCC President Cushing had this to say, can give you an idea of an activity, show you how to
“Mr. Steele represents a person who has been a do that activity, provide you with information on
champion for our natural resources. He has pro- where to find that activity and relay information on
vided the seed for growth through his example. He ways to augment that topic with a song, a reading
remains a catalyst for his students of all ages to and a hands-on “get dirty” energetic manner that
learn from nature. Cooperation is one of the key others can discover the answer to the topic. His trav-
words, for which his teachings are based. He has a els can take him to Bristol New Hampshire, back to
desire to make the outdoors a comfortable environ- the Adirondacks to provide insight to the NYSCC
ment for all” Workshop, back the next day to Westport Connecticut
Mr. Steele, as an independent environmental/ and then back to the Guilderland School District for
outdoor education consultant, has been working with something more.
a wide range of programs including children’s sum- George Steele has been involved in numerous
mer camps, museums, nature centers, outdoor edu- bird checklist projects, is a past president of the NYS
cation centers, state agencies, libraries and schools Outdoor Education Association, Inc. currently serving
throughout the northeast. Prior to 1992, before start- to provide the organization office services. He has
ing on a free-lance career which takes him through- worked cooperatively with Cornell and various other
out the state and northeast, Mr. Steele worked with agencies to develop training programs. He continues
the NYSDEC in the environmental education divi- involvement in an ongoing science education program
sion, serving as the camp director for one of the envi- for talented and gifted students in an eight county area
ronmental education summer camps, to directing the surrounding Albany called the BOCES Young Schol-
entire programs at all the camps. He also worked as ars program.
a wildlife technician in the Endangered Species Unit. Joining George for the evening’s presentation
Most of all, George prides himself on his in- was his wife Anita Sanchez.
volvement with the boy scouts from a lad to current
6
 A New Way to Bird Fall Foliage Celebration
A great new teacher tool
& family bird activity Chlorophyll gives most plants their verdant hues. Sunny
days and crisp nights trigger the breakdown of cells at the
The Taconic Outdoor Edu- base of the leafs stem causing chlorophyll to decompose. Other
cation Center has created a pigments——carotenoids and anthocyanins——surface in the
unique tool to help teach plant”s leaves. The result is our autumnal display of colors in
birding skills to children and adults. the canopies of city streets, rural woodlots, and forested hill-
All About Birds solves the one big chal- sides. Trees with higher concentrations of carotenoids (beech,
lenge faced by all educators – how to iden- birch, and willow) display colors of yellow and gold. Antho-
tify moving birds using binoculars. cyanins predominate in leaves of maples and sumac providing
vivid red and orange colors. Factors such as soil nutrients,
The colorful, weather and fade resistant, rainfall, temperature, and disease cause variations in colors
life sized birds can be placed outdoors in within a species or geographic region. Call the NY Fall Foli-
their natural environment. Without need- age Hotline 1-800-225-5697.
ing to focus on moving targets, students The following Web sites will allow you to study and explore
easily learn how to use binoculars. Both local fall foliage treasures (A SEL Web site, http://
student and teacher can observe a chicka- ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/sel/general/foliage.html,
dee, cardinal and woodpecker side contains these and other foliage links).
by side. The teacher can help ev-
Anthocyanins: A Colorful Class of Compounds
eryone compare and contrast
http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/Journal/Issues/1997/Oct/
the species, and assist the stu-
abs1176A.html
dents in referring to a field
(J. Chem. Educ. 1997,Vol. 74, No. 10, p. 1176A, SEL Per
guide to practice identifying
QD1 .J93)
birds.
Chemical of the Week: The Chemistry of Autumn Colors
The supporting curriculum and field guide http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/fallcolr/
is an excellent resource. It allows the fallcolr.html
teacher to focus on content information Fall Color in the Eastern United States
and related observation. It insures suc- http://www.ncnatural.com/Parkway/Fall-Colors.html
cess for all age levels. (links to Fall Color Finder) http://ncnatural.com/wildflwr/
fall/idguide.html
All About Birds includes a 28 page cur-
riculum activity guide, Peterson First Fall Foliage Guide
Guide and 12 color life sized birds. http://www.10000inns.com/fall_foliage.htm
New York Fall Foliage Report
For further information, contact http://www.empire.state.ny.us/tourism/foliage/
the Taconic Outdoor Education Preserve Colorful Beauty of Autumn Leaves
Center at 75 Mountain Lau- http://www.tri-cityherald.com/HOME/GARDEN/
rel Lane, Cold Spring, NY garden10272.html
10516 (845)265-3773.
RoundTheBend’s Fall Foliage in Upstate New York
http://www.roundthebend.com/nysfoli.html
(includes Greater Niagara Region and the Chautauqua/
Allegany Region)
—Fred Stoss
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