Placer Nature Center
Events & NewsNovember 2011

Greetings!  

 

Hope to see you tonight as the  First Friday Lecture Series continues with sustainable agriculture and food safety. See the upcoming events section below for more info. Many thanks to all our docents, volunteers, supporters and members! Without you we wouldn't exist!

 

We are proud to announce that members benefits have been increased!!! Placer Nature Center members will now get in free to partner Science Museums around the world and more local benefits. Read more about the new benefits here!  Memberships are extremely important, as they ensure we can continue delivering programs and help keep our lights on!

 

As the weather cools, it is a perfect time to get out and hike, especially with kids. Visit our Placer County Resource page for links to hiking groups, links to different hiking information and our new tutorial on hiking with kids!


Nature News

Creature Feature: Wild Turkey 

The turkey is one of the most famous birds in North America.  In fact, Benjamin Franklin wanted to make the wild turkey, not the Bald Eagle, the national bird! When the Spanish first found the bird in the Americas more than 400 years ago they brought it back to Europe. The English mistakenly thought it was a bird they called a "turkey" so they gave it the same name. This other bird was actually from Africa, but came to England by way of Turkey. The name stuck even when they realized the birds weren't the same. Read on about habits, turkey talk, snoods, and poults!

 

  

Citizen Science & Stewardship 

Project FeederWatch 
Join the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on Project FeederWatch! Count birds at your feeders in winter and send your tallies to the Lab. By participating, you'll enjoy learning even more about the birds at your feeders. Your observations will help scientists understand what's happening with birds across the U.S. and Canada. Visit the FeederWatch website for bird-feeding tips, blog, bird photos, bird ID help, and instructions on how to participate. The lab does request a small fee to offset the costs of support and materials, including kit with instructions, bird-ID poster, and Winter Bird Highlights publication. Learn more here...  
The lab is also offering a free fold-out wall calendar as an inspiring reminder of how birds brighten all our days. It's also a handy tool for keeping track of the days when you can tally the birds for Project FeederWatch! Get your calendar here!

**** Upcoming Events! ****

- November -

Food Safety & Sustainable Agriculture - First Friday Lecture
Nov. 4, Friday, 7:30pm-9:30pm
* Location:
State Theater, 985 Lincoln Way Auburn, CA 95603

Liz Spence from The Nature Conservancy will present on sustainable landscapes. Her main focus will be the issues with recent litigation involving agriculture and food safety and its detrimental affects on the wildlife and the environment.
Takes place rain or shine!
Members, Students & Roseville residents (with ID) $9/person,
General Admission $12.
Season Pass and bulk ticket discounts available!

Maidu Storytelling - Adventures in Nature!
Nov. 13, Sunday, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Storytelling starts at 1:30 PM
Joyce Bowling, a storyteller of Native American tales, will take families through history and the local Maidu culture. Afterwards Joyce will demonstrate pine needle basket making and the children will get to try making cordage. Docents will be available to talk with families about the nature center's Maidu exhibit and other interactive activities. Come experience the Maidu lifestyle and how the Sierra foothills and woodlands supplied food, shelter, medicine and clothing.
Takes place rain or shine! Make a day out of it and bring a picnic lunch.
Nature Shop open.
Free to members, General Admission is $3/person.

Discover Nature with Young Children: Wonder of Trees
Nov. 16, Thursday, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Early Childhood educators and caregivers will learn how to weave nature themes into all your activities - support reading, math, science and physical exercise. these dynamic two-hour sessions present and demonstrate "nature play" in Early Childhood Education to help build school readiness skills through nature exploration. After learning all about the benefits, you get to use hands-on tools and receive inspirational ideas to facilitate nature study both indoors and out.
Takes place rain or shine at Placer County Office of Education. Certificate of participation, 2 hours of professional growth.
Free program thanks to First 5 partnership.

Avoid the Burn, COMPOST!Green Gardening with the Masters!
Nov. 19, Saturday, 10:00am-12:00pm
Join Master Gardener & Composter Richard Huntley to learn what you can do with all your extra leaves. Yes - you can compost in the winter (especially in Placer County). The benefits of winter composting is that you will have ready to go "Green/Black Gold" for planting in the Spring and be able to handle all those Thanksgiving leftovers! With Winter composting, you won't need to worry about the system drying out or overheating as can happen in the summer. Richard will show you how to prepare your fallen leaves, how to keep it from getting too wet and more!
Takes place rain or shine! Make a day out of it and bring a picnic lunch.
Nature Shop open.
Free to members, General Admission is $7/person.

- December -

Nature Crafts & Ornaments - Adventures in Nature!
Dec. 13, Sunday, 1:00pm-4:00pm
It's time to get crafty! Make winter-time crafts and ornaments for use as decorations both inside and outside the home. Many craft stations will allow kids (and adults) to create projects from examples with guidance from volunteers and staff or create your own masterpiece! Lot's of materials will be on hand such as redwood mini pinecones, branches, rocks, acorns, dried plants, seeds, and even some reclaimed man-made items to help divert "trash" from going to the landfill! This is a great way to have fun and to get the creative juices flowing for sustainable projects and gifts for the winter season - a great way to celebrate nature's bounty even in the middle of winter!
Takes place rain or shine! Make a day out of it and bring a picnic lunch.
Nature Shop open.
Free to members, General Admission is $3/person.
If you wish to update your email preferences or unsubscribe, you can do so through the links at the bottom of this e-mail.  

 

Naturally yours,

 

Placer Nature Center staff
Questions, comments, suggestions? Give us a call!
530-878-6053

Thank you to our 20th Anniversary Sponsor!

 

 Auburn Printers & Integrated Marketing
Quick Links

Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Join Our Mailing List
Proud partner with First 5 Placer

 

Thank you to our

2011-2012 First Friday Lecture supporters!

 

49er Printing & Copy Center

 

Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center

 

Auburn Printers & Integrated Marketing

Special Thanks for on-going support from the following local businesses! 

 

 

   

Dwyer and Company Certified Public Accountant

Special Thanks to the following businesses who have helped us out recently! 

 

REI of Roseville

 

Big O Tires of Auburn

 

Roto-Rooter of Auburn