Placer Nature Center
Events & News January 2010
Greetings!
 
February is a busy, busy month! From backyard composting to the marshes of Iraq check out our events below! If you wish to update your email preferences or unsubscribe, you can do so through the links at the bottom of this e-mail.
 
Nature News:

13th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count!
Bird populations are always shifting and changing. "Citizen scientists" help researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how the birds are doing-and how to protect them and the environment we share. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Get a free Pocket Guide to the Sierra Nevada Foothills at the Feb. 13th Worm Farm themed Friends & Family Day! (see below for information about the event) For other local birding events check the Sierra Foothills Audubon Society's calendar.

Auburn's Connection to the Great Garbage Island
Do you know how Auburn is connected to 3.5 million tons of trash floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? If you missed the Placer Sentinel article written by our own Linda Desai, you can read it here!

STOP! Don't throw out that E-Waste!
Did you know that many of the companies who collect e-waste ship unwanted parts overseas to 3rd world countries!? Unfortunately, it's true. Only a select number of materials are worth money, so what gets left over goes to places like Guiyu, China (read the article from CBS news, link is below). To help make sure Placer County's e-waste is getting recycled properly we are partnering with Sims Metal Management, named one of the 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World (2009 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland), to recycle as much E-Waste as we can on:
March 13th at the Gold Country Fairgrounds!

Through a State program created to keep toxic materials out of the landfills and our environment, some of the E-Waste will even raise needed program funds for the Nature Center, the rest will be disassembled and recycled at Sims' local facility in Roseville. True E-Waste recycling usually costs the consumer money (this is why so much is shipped out of the states) but Sims will be doing it for free. Our Board of Directors has recently toured the plant and learned about Sims' operations and are excited to be partnering with them. We'll send out more information soon about what items to bring to the E-Waste Recycling Event!
For now, be sure to highlight March 13th on your calendar!

Read more about how some companies ship toxic materials overseas in the CBS News article and watch the 60 Minutes video here...
Upcoming Events!
 
4th Friday Lecture Series
Friday, February 26
7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
at Unity of Auburn
1212 High St.
Downtown Auburn, 95603


By tank and armed escort, Dr. Michelle Stevens passed through Iraqi roadblocks to be the Keynote speaker in a conference for over 400 Iraqi scientists - representing the brain trusts of the country. Dr. Stevens will explain the human and environmental crises  the marshes are experiencing due to lack of water. In spite of everything, the cities, art, people are flourishing and the will to restore the marshes is strong. Dr. Stevens finds an eerie resemblance of what is happening in Iraq to the wars being waged in our own waterways in California. Read more..
Great for ages 15+
Music starts at 7 PM, lecture at 7:30; after the lecture stay for Q&A, meet & greet the speaker, and raffle!
Students $5, Members $8, General Public $10
Grow Your Own Worm Farm!
Friends & Family Day
Saturday, February 13
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
at PNC

Come and start your own mini worm bin! Get started mulching your own fruit and vegetable scraps as worms make enriched fertilizer for your garden and house plants! This starter kit will grow in a few months time to handle larger and larger quantities of kitchen waste.

Visitors will leave with their own mini worm bin and information and instructions for maintaining them. Add a green habit to your life style and keep the household fruit and vegetable scraps out of the landfill! Drop in anytime from 11-2pm.
Sign-up here to help us plan to have enough supplies!

Read more about worm composting here...

Trails will be open for self-guided trail walk with interpretive brochure.
Great for ages 6+; Nature Shop open
Free to members and children, General Public is $5/adult.
Photography Class for High School Students
Saturday, February 13
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
at PNC


Placer Nature Center is seeking photos to help document the Placer Nature Center trail!

All Placer County High School students (includes Bear River & adults) are encouraged to attend a free class on how to take nature photography given by a professional photographer at PNC. The class will start at 11 AM and will take approximately 90 minutes.

The class starts with a sit-down workshop to learn how to photograph nature and then continues on a walk on the nature trail for some hands-on experience. Be sure to bring your camera! All camera types are acceptable and encouraged. Class participants are encouraged to enter the contest but it is not a requirement to attend the class. Winning photographs will be displayed at the April Art Walk at the Old Library Artist Studios as well as receive prizes. For contest details, please download a flyer!

The deadline for final submission to the contest is March 12th, 2010
Wonderful Wigglers!
Our Day Outside
Free class for Tots, Preschoolers & their Families!
Saturday, February 20
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
at PNC

Explore, wiggle, sing, hike, do crafts and more with your 0-5 year old child. This special class engages the family in strategies to use nature play to aid in your child's physical, mental and emotional development. Class made possible by a grant from Placer First 5.
*Spanish interpreter is always in attendance!
Read more here about this series...
The workshop is a free event brought to you in partnership with the Placer First 5.
with Don Machholz
Saturday, February 20
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
at PNC

Learn about the basics of astronomy from a world-renowned comet hunter! You will also get to practice your new skills by searching the night sky using a telescope! Each Star class varies as to what heavenly bodies you will see!

$6 per person
Registration, tickets and more information...
Learn to Compost!
Free Green Gardening Workshop Series
with local Placer Master Gardeners
Saturday, February 27
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
at PNC

Turn your trash into black gold! Never buy another bag of soil or fertilizer - turn your yard waste and kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost. This workshop will provide you with all the information you need to start your own environmentally and budget friendly compost bin. You will be able to see different methods of composting and bin styles, in addition to learning how to feed your soil now to benefit your flowers and vegetables in the coming growing season.

Great for ages 8+; Free
The workshop is a free event brought to you in partnership with the UCCE Placer County Master Gardeners.
Give a Day, Get a Day! Opportunity Update
Volunteer with us - do good, feel good and have double the fun when you get a FREE Disneyland or Disney World ticket!

Current Projects:
  • Digital Video - Someone to convert VHS to digital video (YouTube size). Initial meeting will be at the Placer Nature Center, work can be done at home.
  • Data Entry - To be done at the Nature Center.
  • Wiki Guru - Help us start an internal wiki to help us keep track of all our grants and information that is included in the applications. Initial meeting at Placer Nature Center, work can be done at home.
  • Truck & Trailer - We have access to a tractor, we just need to get it here (approx. 8 miles away). Could be done during the week or on a weekend. Preferably on one of these dates: (any time) 02/12, 02/15, 02/18, 02/20, (before 10 AM) 02/21
We're working on developing new family opportunities also and will send those out when ready! If you have previous experience in one of  the above projects and would like to help out -please email Traci, [email protected] or call (530) 878-6053 between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM.
Naturally yours,
 
Founders Leslie and Linda, and all the docents, volunteers, and everyone at Placer Nature Center!
Questions, comments, suggestions? Give us a call!
530-878-6053
Upcoming Events!
Mesopotamian Marshes
Worm Farm
Photography Class
Our Day Outside
Stars for Friends & Family
Learn to Compost!
Give a Day, Get a Day!
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Special Thanks to our 4th Friday Lecture Series Partners!

Without them, we wouldn't be able to bring the lecture series to the community each year!

Be sure to let them know you how much you appreciate their support!

Bank of the West

PG & E

Gold Country Media and Auburn Journal


Marion Friedman


49er Printing
& Copy Center

(530) 885-2481
11806 Kemper Rd
Auburn, CA 95603


Unity of Auburn
(530) 888-6489
1212 High Street
Auburn, CA 95603

Partnership Opportunities Available!

If you think your business could share the benefits of partnering with Placer Nature Center at our E-Waste Event (03/13/10) or at our Green & Blue Ball (04/24/11) give us a call!

The Nature Center is looking for both in-kind and financial support.

Email Megan or call (530) 878-6053 between the hours of 9 AM-4 PM