January 14, 2009
- Using Resources Wisely
- Family Fun
- Upcoming DEC Events
- Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
- Capital District - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center
- Adirondacks - Adirondack Park Agency Visitors Interpretive Centers at Newcomb and Paul Smiths
- Central New York - Rogers Environmental Education Center
- Western New York - Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
Using Resources Wisely
What would you do if there wasn't electricity to turn on the lights when it was dark, keep us warm in the winter or keep food from spoiling in the refrigerator? Most of the energy we use every day comes from coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power, which are all non-renewable sources.
Non-renewable sources are those that we can't recreate after we use it all up. Renewable sources are those that can be replaced or renewed naturally, like solar, wind and geothermal energy, biomass and hydropower. Non-renewable energy sources are limited, and using too much of them can cause problems for the environmental health of the planet, causing air pollution, climate change and water pollution. Water is another resource that is not in endless supply. People, plants and animals need water to survive. So how can you do your part to conserve our precious resources? Be a wise resource user!
Here are some tips that every member of your family can use:
-Turn off lights when you leave the room.
-Read a book for half an hour instead of watching a television show. And if you do watch tv, turn it off when you leave the room.
-When it is bright in the daytime, use the light from the sun instead of turning on a lamp.
-Don't leave doors open when the heat is on.
-Don't leave water dripping from the faucet.
-Decide what you want from the refrigerator before you open the door! (Try recording how many times a day you open the refrigerator and for how long each time.)
-Have a "sandwich night" every once in a while instead of cooking.
-Plant some deciduous trees and shrubs near your house to block the sun in the summer and allow the sun to warm the house in the winter.
-Schedule a family game night when the television stays off.
-Want more ideas on how to save energy? Check DEC's Green Living - Save Energy and Water web page and visit the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority website.
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Family Fun
Water Waster
Are you a water waster? Try this experiment to find out: brush your teeth with the water running. At the same time, have another person fill an empty one-quart milk container with running water while you brush. Record how many quarts are filled up-multiply that by the number of people in the family. Double that number (since you brush your teeth twice a day) and you will find out how many quarts of water you can save by turning off the water when you brush your teeth! For example: 2 quart containers x 4 family members x 2 brushings each = 16 quarts of water a day. When you are finished, don't dump the water down the drain-use it instead to water your houseplants.
Where Did All the Water Go?
Turning off the water when you brush your teeth is just one way to save this limited resource. On a rainy day when you are looking for something to do, get out a notebook and a pen. Use the following common usage amounts to determine how much water your family uses in a day.
-Using water from a tap (brushing teeth, rinsing dishes, drinking water): 1.5 gallons a minute
-Doing laundry: 30-35 gallons per wash cycle
-Running the dishwasher: 25 gallons per cycle
-Taking a shower: 2.5 gallons a minute
-Flushing the toilet: 3.5 gallons per flush
Make a chart for each person in the family and record their water usage for one day. See where there are similarities and where there are differences. What does your household use the most water for? What are some creative ways that you can cut back on your water usage? After you put your water conservation ideas to use for a few months, record the information again. How did your family "measure" up?
Things are Heating Up
It seems like winter in New York lasts forever-in fact, we use some source of heat in our homes the majority of the year. Try this experiment to see how different materials conduct heat differently: gather a plastic cup, a foam cup and a metal soup can, all around the same size. You will also need sheets of paper, plastic wrap, masking tape, three thermometers and a measuring cup. Wrap six sheets of paper around each of the cups and secure the paper tightly with masking tape. Use a measuring cup to fill all the containers with the same amount of warm water. Place a thermometer in each container. Record the temperature in each container, and then tightly cover each with plastic wrap, keeping the thermometer in place. Leave them side by side, and test the temperature every five minutes for 20 minutes. Which container heated up more quickly?
Check out Conservationist for Kids for more information and activities!
Upcoming DEC Events
Hudson Valley
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
Park Cleanup and Conservation Day in Beacon
Saturday, January 17 at 2:00 PM
In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., take part in a community conservation day in Beacon (location to be announced), followed by a visit to Stony Kill and a family craft inspired by Dr. King's famous "I have a dream ..." speech. Call 845-831-8780 ext. 300 for more information.
Winter Wildlife Tracks and Traces
Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 PM
Join a Stony Kill naturalist and become a "track detective." Find out which animals are active in the winter and hunt for evidence of their presence in the woods at Stony Kill. We'll make our own tracks with snowshoes (available for loan, free of charge, for the program), snow conditions permitting. Call 845-831-8780, ext. 300 to pre-register.
Guided Nature Walks
10:00 AM every Saturday
Join a Stony Kill naturalist and explore trails and habitats together. Meet at the Manor House for this family-friendly program. Walks generally take one to one-and-one-half hours. Hikes will be on snowshoes if there is enough snow cover.
Capital Region
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Starry Night Sky Watch
Friday, January 16 at 7:00 PM
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers will be here with telescopes. Hot chocolate available indoors.
Woodpeckers
Saturday, January 17 at 9:00 AM
Join us for a field study of common "hammerheads" as we discuss woodpecker lifestyles.
Exploring Your Watershed
Saturday, January 17 at 2:00 PM
A fun family program of activities and games that will help you learn about water quality.
Groundhog Day
Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 AM
Discover more about this holiday and the celebrated rodent, and take a walk to look for signs of groundhogs.
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center
Owl Prowl
Friday, January 16 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM
The breeding season for barred owls, great-horned owls and screech owls occurs in mid-winter during some of the coldest months of the year. Cost: $2 per person/$5 per family. Please call 518-456-0655 to register.
Discover the Pine Bush: Winter Wonderland
Sunday, January 18 and Sunday, January 25 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Come join us on a journey to discover the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, the best example of an inland pine barrens. Cost: $2 per person/$5 per family. Please call 518-456-0655 to register.
Adirondacks
Adirondack Park Agency Newcomb Visitors Center
Chilly Ski & Snowshoe Festival
Saturday, January 17 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Join us for a festive day of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on our beautiful trails. The festival includes a snowshoe scavenger hunt and a variety of children's activities.
Family! Feed the Birds
Saturday, January 24 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Give your feathered friends a helping hand this winter. Join us as we put together some tasty delights that you can take home and put out for the birds in your backyard. Call (518) 582-2000 to register. Cost: $5/family, $3/API member family.
Adirondack Park Agency Paul Smiths Visitors Center
Chilly Ski & Snowshoe Festival
Saturday, January 17 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Cross-country skiing, snowshoe walks, free snowshoe rentals, children's activities, learn-to-ski workshops, ski-waxing clinic, chili-cooking contest, and the 4th Invitational Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Eating Contest.
Tracking on the Trails
Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
The winter woods provide a wonderful canvas for revealing the stories in the snow. Join the fun as we follow tracks on the trails. Call (518) 327-3000 to register.
Snowshoes and Smores
Saturday, January 24 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
After spending some time snowshoeing on the trails with a naturalist, relax by a campfire and make a smore to enjoy. Call (518) 327-3000 to register. Donations are accepted for smore materials.
Central New York
Rogers Environmental Education Center
Snowshoe at Brookfield
Saturday, January 17 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Snowshoe with us in Charles Baker State Forest, a diverse area that offers many scenic and historic sights. If there is not enough snow, this will be a hike. Call to register: 607-674-4017.
Snowshoe at Adams Farm
Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 AM
Join us as we snowshoe the trails of Adams Farm, discovering the many tracks and traces of animals in winter. We will provide snowshoes and interesting facts about winter ecology. If there is not enough snow, this will be a hike. Call to register: 607-674-4017.
Western New York
Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959.
Knee-High Naturalists
Thursday, January 15 at 10:00 AM
This hour-long indoor session will feature a variety of activities such as stories, games and crafts, and will end with a snack. For children ages three to five and their caregivers. Participants must sign up for the entire series (January 15 and 29 and February 12 and 26). There is a materials fee of $6.00 per child for Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve members or $10 per child for non-members.
After-School Escape
Thursday, January 15 and January 22 at 4:00 PM
Enjoy a fun outdoor experience to encourage children to play and interact with the natural world. For kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and their caregivers. No registration required.
Tracks and Traces
Saturday, January 17 at 10:30 AM
Signs of wildlife are all around, if you just know where to look. Learn how to read the "stories" animals leave behind in winter. We will use snowshoes if there is enough snow. Snowshoe rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members.
Winter Wardrobe
Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 AM
Choosing the right winter clothing will help you enjoy nature in even the coldest winters. For adults and children ages eight and older.
Cross-Country Ski Tour
Sunday, January 25 at 2:00 PM
Get some fresh air and great exercise! Bring your own skis or rent a pair (limited sizes). Ski rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members.