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Environmental Federation of New England
E-mail Newsletter
The latest news and events from New England's
top environmental organizations.
VOLUME
II, Issue 17
http://www.GreenForNewEngland.org
September 5, 2001
1 – Down by the
Schoolyard
2 – Walk on Water
3 – Watch Out Emeril
4 – Don't Know Much about Biology?
5 – Land Bonanza
6 – ReBuild It and They Will Come
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1 - Down by the Schoolyard
Everyone remembers the jungle gyms,
seesaws, swingsets, and merry-go-rounds from grade school. Visit a school in
Connecticut, though, and you might find a new addition to the playground -
the "Schoolyard Habitat." These designated "outdoor
classrooms" are part of the School Habitat Network led in part by the
Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA). Teachers use the
schoolyard property to educate kids in an interactive way about their
natural world. Depending on what each individual schoolyard environment has
to offer, children can learn by touching trees, watching a bird in flight,
or observing animal tracks. To find out how easy it is to set up a
Schoolyard Habitat, contact CFPA at 860-346.2372 or visit www.ctwoodlands.org/shn.html.
2 - Walk on Water
Is there a better way to enjoy
"Indian Summer" than paddling in your canoe or kayak on Lake
Champlain? This fall, while the weather is still agreeable, take advantage
of the Paddlers Trail, maintained by the Lake Champlain Committee. The
"trail" follows the perimeter of the 435 square mile lake and
boasts panoramic views of both the Vermont and New York shores. There are
put-ins located on the shores of the lake for paddlers to launch their boats
and campsites available for those adventurous souls who wish to make a
weekend of it. You can obtain information about these service locations by
ordering the Committee's Trail Guidebook and Stewardship Manual. Contact the
Committee at 802-658-1414 or visit their new website at www.lakechamplaincommittee.org.
3 - Watch Out Emeril
Mushrooms, mushrooms everywhere, but
how do you know which are safe to eat? Sign up for one of the Appalachian
Mountain Club's most popular classes, "Wild Mushrooms" and find
out. You and your classmates will foray into local fields and woodlands to
identify and collect edible mushrooms during this workshop held on September
15 and 16 in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The class finishes by
preparing a feast with the collected morsels of goodness. If a plate full of
mushrooms does not whet your appetite, try other AMC workshops in September
such as nature photography, kayaking, first aid, or orienteering. Contact
AMC for registration or more information at 603-466-2727 or visit www.outdoors.org.
4 - Don't Know Much about Biology?
After the long and lazy summer,
September brings with it a renewed interest in doing something productive
with one's free time. And, with all the kids heading back to school, why not
a little education for yourself, too? The Marine Studies Consortium is again
presenting its Marine Biology class for the fall semester. In it, you will
learn the basics of marine life and habitats from the polar regions to the
tropics. Also popular is the Consortium's Water Resources Management course
in which participants receive a comprehensive introduction to the economics
and ecology of water supply and pollution. To register for these or other
courses, contact the Consortium at 781-444-3643 or visit www.brandies.edu/MarineStudies.
5 - Land Bonanza
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) recently
celebrated the addition of 157 acres on the Mousam River estuary to the
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Maine. Previously owned by the
Dwight family, the newly protected land lies near Parsons Beach on the
Mousam River. Its unique mix of pitch pine forests and open fields supports
nesting populations of several declining bird species, including bobolinks,
black-throated green warblers, and scarlet tanagers. The property lies
adjacent to other Refuge holdings along the Mousam River estuary, one of the
principal estuaries that the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge was
created to protect. For more information, contact TPL at 617-367-6200 or
visit www.tpl.org.
6 - ReBuild It, and They Will Come
The Center for Ecological
Technology's ReStore Home Improvement Center is now open for business.
Located in Springfield, MA, the ReStore, a nonprofit enterprise, accepts
donations of quality goods from homeowners who have renovated, retailers who
have extra stock, manufacturers with factory seconds, and municipal
collection centers. These usable items - doors, windows, kitchen
cabinets and lighting fixtures - are sold at a low cost to homeowners and
landlords who can use them. Committed to serving the community, one of the
ReStore's mission is reduce disposal costs and promote the reuse of valuable
materials. The Grand Opening is slated for Friday, September 28 from
noon to 1:00 PM and will be attended by Secretary Bob Durand of the
Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and other federal,
state and local officials. For more information, contact John Majercak
at johnm@cetonline.org.
View the 100-lb Earth-Shaped Cake!
Join us on Wednesday, September 12,
for our official announcement that the Environmental Federation is joining a
new nationwide network for environmental philanthropy. As part of the
"Earth Share" system, our new coalition extends a simple system
for environmental giving across 20 states on behalf of 500 environmental
organizations. The fun begins at noon under the tent at the New England
Aquarium with a two-tiered, globe-topped, 100-lb cake for all to enjoy. If
you are in the area, please stop by - the more the merrier!
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