Environment DEC
From the October 2003 issue
DEC Rings In Autumn's Arrival
A child's curiosity is satisfied when she
uses a net to find out what plants and
animals live in this pond
DEC recently hosted several special events to celebrate the change of seasons. If you missed the festivities, you can still take part in some of the many activities scheduled at each of DEC's year-round environmental education centers.
Surrounded by foliage
that is just beginning
to change colors, this
group at Stony Kill
is learning about
forest ecology
Stony Kill Farm Harvest Festival, Wappingers Falls
This year's festival theme was "Hudson Valley Harvests - Abundance and Diversity." The festival included a Farmers Market, hayrides, tours of the Stony Kill barns, music, food, candle making, sheep shearing, and crafts for kids. DEC Rangers and Smokey Bear also made appearances. Other activities included a soil conservation puppet show, an archery activity, and displays of locally grown fruits, honey and organic vegetables.
Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve Fall Festival, Cheektowaga
The freshwater aquarium was one of
many interesting exhibits at Reinstein Woods
Families enjoyed a full day of nature activities, food and fun, including wildfire fighting exhibits by DEC Forest Rangers and lessons in Native American culture. Rescued birds from Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation Center were on display. Kids made casts of animal tracks, got an up-close look at pond creatures, and took part in a nature scavenger hunt. Guided tours of the preserve taught visitors about the area's role in Western New York's history.
Five Rivers Center Fall Festival, Delmar
Children swept nets back and forth
across tall grass in order to catch
and observe the types of insects
living there
A huge crowd of over 2,300 visitors reveled in an impressive schedule of wildlife presentations, displays and hands-on activities at the DEC Five Rivers Annual Fall Festival. From live animals to live music, this year's festival offered everything under the sun, including lessons in recycling, stream ecology and birds of prey. Other activities included tours of the gorgeous wildlife garden, a geology exhibit, sunscopes with Albany Area Amateur Astronomers, and live reptiles and amphibians.
State Fair, Syracuse
Environmental Education staff
answered questions such as
"What's the difference
between a bug and an insect?"
The New York State Fair is DEC's largest outreach effort, involving more than 65 staff at 20 stations. DEC emphasizes "active" exhibits and the interaction that is possible at an event such as the fair, where nearly one million visitors seek both entertainment and information.
DEC programs participating in the 2003 New York State Fair offered a blend of old and new for the entertainment of eager fairgoers. The DECALS system enabled visitors to easily buy sporting licenses. Environmental Conservation Officers exhibited "RoboDeer", a remote-controlled decoy that is used to catch poachers. The Conservationist magazine's canoe drawing and tote-bag giveaway for new subscribers brought in many visitors. Other DEC exhibits included: free drinking water, environmental button-making, poster contest, saltwater and freshwater aquariums, information on burn barrels and acid rain, alternative fuel vehicles, hunter safety principles, information about Belleayre Mountain Ski Center as well as camping and hiking opportunities in the Adirondacks and Catskills.
