The Wilderness Center 2013 1

Vol.6 No 7A monthly publication for our Members July 2013

The Wilderness Center Newsletter

Inside:Nature Article...................................p.2New Members...................................p.2Volunteer News........................................p.3Club News.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p.4Program Guide/Reg. Form......InsertEndowment Gifts..............................p.5Tree of Life...................................p.6,7Greenline........................................p.8

Summer Days Enrichment Summer Days is celebrating 25th Anniversary. Summer Days Enrichment has been helping adults inspire their children and grandchildren to learn about nature. In the process, the children inspire the adults with their enthusiasm and interest. It’s a win-win situation. To join us this summer, please see the enclosed program guide.

Volunteer “Thank You” Party Mystery at The Wilderness

Center-Thurs, Aug. 8, 6:30 PM Each year The Wilderness Center hosts an annual Volunteer “Thank You” Party. This year it will be held on Thurs, Aug. 8 at 6:30 PM and the theme is Mystery at The Wilderness Center. You will be busy with clues about the staff and volunteers and can win prizes for the best “team” or for solving the mystery. We will also be presented our Distinguished Service Awards at this time. We will have a meal and dessert for you, so if you have volunteered (even if only one time) this year at The Wilder-ness Center,. Please call 1-877-359-5235 and let us know if you can attend. Please join us and feel free to dress for the occassion!

Thank you to our friends at Heinz North America and at the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation for helping us to move forward with our plans for a children’s nature playscape! From left to right: Joann Ballbach, Barb Vitcosky, Okey Steffy, Joelene Nakum, Jeannie Jones, Liviu Pralea and Athena Manley.

Thank You, Heinz!!!

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Focus Group & Survey Results

Welcome New Members!

Wow! We asked you, our members and also friends to help our Marketing Committee with a focus group and by completing a survey. The average survey gets about a 10% response rate and we received 16%! We had 63.7% members answer the survey and 32.9% non-members answer. I wanted to thank each and every one of you for participating in this survey, and the focus group. You are helping assist us in looking at The Wilderness Center not only today, but also for the next 50 years! This will help us improve our wonderful Nature Center, and also get the message out about land conservation. Here are the top answers to the survey:1. Please choose the issue from the Wilderness Center that is most important to you. Facilities and Hiking Trails 45.7% Family Nature Programs 19.1% Land Conservation 16.0% (althought this is important in everyone’s comments!) School Nature Programs 5.8% Foxfield Preserve 5.2% Other 1.1%2. Please select the statement that describes your most recent interaction with The Wilderness Center Read the Newsletter 36.3% Hiking the Trails 26.4% Visit the Website 12.8% Club Activities & Meetings 11.6% Attend A Special Event 10.3% Visit The Nature Store 10.3%3. Please select all events you have attended at The Wilderness Center Native Plant Sale 44.2% Other (many small activities) 32.5% Enchanted Forest 30.8% Concert Series 20.0% Earth Day/Foto Fest 17.7% Woodcarving Show 15.1% Romantic Moonlight Serenade 13.0% Earthly Delights 7.0%

4. Generally speaking, how would you best describe The Wilderness Center? A Nature Education Center 69.2% A Conservation Organization 11.0% A Place to Observe Wildlife 6.3%5. What are your hobbies and likes? Hiking 81.1% Wildlife Watching 80.0% Learning About Nature 70.1% Gardening 58.5% Reading 58.5% Traveling 54.0% We received so many wonderful comments about TWC being unique with its trails, facilities and progamming. We’re proud of the wonderful comments on the way the volunteers and the staff interact with our visitors. Many comments about how much you love us and a few on how to improve are appreciated.. Again, thank you all so very much for helping us with this survey! We will continue to strive to be the best nature center we can be for you! Vicki L. Shoenfelt, Marketing Director

John & Deb BeldenChristine BinandoRon & Janet CoomesDanny CrawfordSusan DonleyJohn & Barbara GriffinGary & Lisa HellerJohn HricikTim & Erin JeffriesJudi JenkinsKerry & Kathie JonesMonica KlarerJoanne & Rich KlichMarcia MurphyBrittany NussbaumDaniel & Marcie OttoBill & Barb TuttleSteve UppermanJennifer WardDemi & John Wirtz

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Volunteer of the monthEmily Chormann

Thank You, Volunteers!

Emily is a College of Wooster Student that has been a Market-ing Intern for The Wilderness Center for several months. Emily is a joy to work with! She is efficient, friendly, thorough and very artistic. Emily has entered all of our special events into local calendars and created beautiful email blasts to go out in Wayne and Stark County about Earth Day, The Native Plant Sale and Romantic Moonlight Serenade. She also updated our media list. We will miss her and appreciate all of the volunteer work she did for us. Thanks, Emily!!!!!

Volunteers Needed For Bridge building

The Wilderness Center is facing several bridge repairs this year and could use skilled volunteers to help us price materials and be on a building crew that would help cut boards, set posts and more when the repairs are ready to be made. If you are skilled and would like to help, please contact Vicki at vicki@wildernesscenter.org.

Snakey Senses

EyesightHow well a snake sees varies among species. Some snakes which rely on sight to hunt like Garter Snakes have large eyes and appear to have fairly clear vision. Pit vipers (like rattlesnakes) can also see in the infrared spectrum. Their pit organs allow them to detect heat sources very ac-curately.HearingSnakes do not have external ear openings, al-though they do have an ear bone. Snakes hear with vibration – sounds travel along the ground and are transferred by muscle and bone to the ear.SmellingSnakes can smell with their noses, but they have developed an alternative method too. Snakes use their tongues to collect particles in the air. These particles are passed to the Jacobson’s organ on the roof of the mouth, which then processes the smell. The forked tongue allows them more ac-curately determine the location of scents.EatingSnakes have specially designed jaws that al-low them to swallow prey much larger that their heads. The lower jaw is made of two parts which can move independently, allowing snakes to work food into their mouths. Because of the unique jaw attachment, snakes can swallow food larger than their heads. Snakes swallow their food whole and don’t chew it. The powerful di-gestive juices can consume the whole animal--bones, fur, feathers, and even teeth. Some snakes are generalists and will eat whatever they find, other specialists have unique adaptations to eat certain types of food.

At its May 2013 monthly meeting, The Wilderness Center Board of Directors reviewed the budget for the upcoming year. It became clear that expenses have risen to outpace current incom-ing membership dollars. For this reason, the Board voted to raise membership fees to offset rising costs. This is the first increase in membership costs since 2001 and is still less than the actual rate of inflation. We are hoping this does not have a negative impact on your support and that you will continue to be a valued member of The Wilderness Center. If you have any questions, or concerns regarding this increase, please feel free to call.

Membership Dues Increase

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Don’t forget “Hiking Extravaganza” is all year!

For registration, please see the Program Guide Insert.

Backpackers/Dayhikers Club

Nature Photo Club

Astronomy Club

Club News

Botanizers Club

Geocaching Club

Makin’ Tracks Family Nature Club

Needle Crafters

Nature Book Discussion Club

The Needle Crafters are meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 10 AM. Come to the next meeting, bring your project and join us!

Bird Club News

The Book Group is taking the summer off.

The Day Hikers and Backpackers club is in full swing for summer. Scheduled events for July are: July 7, Day Hike; Jul 19, 7:30 PM, Club Meeting; Jul 20 or 21, Day Hike; Jul 21-31 (approximate dates) backpacking trip to Sawtooth Mtns in Idaho; Jul 26-28, Canoe trip on the Grand River Updates can be found at www.twchikers.com

May 15-17 eleven Botanizers spent time together on our Hocking Hills trip. We barely got out of the parking lot at Ash Cave, so many flowers! Crockle's Hollow State Nature Preserve always has a lot to see. At Lake Katharine Nature preserve the Umbrella Magnolia was in bloom but deer have destroyed many of the wildflowers we saw years ago. Coming soon: "Pond Walk" Sunday August 4 meet at TWC Interpretive Building 2 PM. Public Welcome. Sandy Smith, Club President

Migration this year, as usual, was stupendous! TWC Bird-ers that made the trek to western Lake Erie Black Swamp region, totaled as many as 26 species of warblers in just one weekend, along with lots of other migrants for a total spe-cies count of 136! Now we will be going out to find nesting species of which The Center has many. Acadian Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Green Heron, just to name a few. Every season brings something new. TWC Bird Club will be holding their annual picnic the third Saturday in July after the birdwalk and brunch. If you have an interest in birds and are curious about what we do, it would be a good time to join us and find out. Just call The Center and ask for Vicki and she can give you the details. Until next month–May you always hear the whisper of wings…

The Geocache Club held it’s bi-monthly chat on May 23 at Newt’s Place in Navarre. Good friends, good chatting and good food! We had 22 cachers in attendance! Good to see the cachers we know and nice to meet some new ones. Thanks to Newt’s for allowing us to have our chat and thanks to Dave and Darla Gourley for hosting! Our next chat will be in July. Plans are in the works for our fall October Geofest. The date for the event is Saturday, October 19 in the Prairie Shelter. Watch geocaching.com for details on chats and our events. For info on the club, comments or suggestions, please e-mail Rita at axetowax@yahoo.com

There will not be a Family Nature Club Meeting in July. Look for the upcoming schedule.

At our July 27th meeting Greg Miller will present a program on outdoor photography. Greg was one of the birders featured in the non-fiction book The Big Year by Mark Obmascik. In 2011 the book was the inspiration for the movie of the same name. Greg will share stories of birding, his beautiful photographs, and tips for outdoor photography. The program is free and open to the public. A short business meeting will start at 9:30 AM followed by Greg’s presentation. The shoot-ing topic for July is, of course, ”Birds!”

Summer is here and so is the Milky Way with all its splen-dor. Our home galaxy is a wonderful thing to look at with the naked eye or binoculars. Numerous nebula and star clusters are easy to spot from The Wilderness Center. Saturn is still visible in the evening sky at sunset for viewing. Join the astronomy club on the first Friday of each month, 8 PM, for a planetarium show and Public Star Watch. We will explore the celestial wonders of the Milky Way and Saturn in the night sky. Astronomy Apps for Android and Apple will be discussed at the July meeting. Astronomy club meetings are held at 7:30 PM on the last Friday of each month. If it is clear, we will be using the observatory. All members of The Wilder-ness Center are invited to our club meetings, share our love of the night sky, and learn about some cool Apps! Check our web site at www.twcac.org for current news and like us on our new Facebook page.

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Endowment Gifts

Ecopreneurism Defined

The Wilderness Center will Celebrate 50 years in 2014!!!!

Next year is a BIG year for The Wilderness Center. We are also asking you to send us stories, pictures, and videos of memories of The Wilderness Center. Please share these memories with us! Bring them to The Wilderness Center on your next trip, or mail them to: 50 Years! The Wilderness Center, P.O. Box 202, Wilmot, OH 44689-0202.

Rick Fligor & Kathy WeckbacherMr. & Mrs. Howard HartzogEdwin HawkMary KirkpatrickGordon & Margaret MaupinAlan PoormanRobert Shadle

The Wilderness Center has long sought creative ways to fund its mission. In doing so, TWC created a new paradigm for its fund development efforts. In addition to seeking charitable donations, TWC ventured into nature-focused, social entre-preneurism, deemed ecopreneurism. Entrepreneurs typically measure performance in profit and return, but ecopreneurs also take into account a positive return to environment. TWC’s first delved into ecopreneurism when it began offering trips to some of the world’s most beautiful and ecologically diverse locations. Intended as low-impact and small scale alternatives to standard commercial tourism, TWC’s eco-tours educate travelers, provide funds for the organization, enrich relationships with our supporters and benefit the economic de-velopment of the communities visited. Mitigation banking is the restoration, creation, enhancement, or preservation of a wetland, stream, or habitat conservation area which offsets expected adverse impacts to similar nearby ecosystems. Mitigation banking has been a profitable endeavor on TWC’s Brewster Wetlands. We are currently working with the state to establish a second bank on our Falcon Flats property. We hope that this venture may yield additional income for TWC, while allowing us to continue our restoration work. In 2008 TWC became the first conservation organization in the U.S. to join the growing natural burial movement and open a nature preserve cemetery. Foxfield Preserve is an innovative approach to land preservation and conserves natural resources, while reconnecting families to the earth. In addition to providing funding for our programs, Foxfield Preserve serves to create deeper connections and engagement with TWC. TWC Consulting Forestry provides complete, professional forest management and timber marketing services to land owners across the state of Ohio. With an environmentally-sound approach to timber harvest focused on improving woodland health, TWC’s forester forwards the mission of the Center while providing a needed service to landowners. With an eye toward the future, TWC Consulting Forestry is working to establish a green certification service and is planning for the possibility of carbon sequestration. TWC also operates a revolving land fund to purchase a key parcel for another organization or government agency. When the other organization is able to raise the funds, it repurchases the land. The revolving land fund has benefited Camp Tus-cazoar, Beech Creek Botanical Gardens and Nature Preserve and Stark Parks. TWC’s ecopreneurial ventures have positively impressed funders by demonstrating the Center as a viable and sound invest-ment. Using creativity and ingenuity, we will continue to look for ways of pursuing and promoting TWC’s mission while generating needed revenue doing it! Barb Vitcosky, Development Director

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Tree of Life

Foxfield MeetingSat., July 20, PM

Staff will discuss natural burial at Foxfield, nature preserve cemetery management, restoration of the site and more. Attendees will have an op-portunity to ask questions in a relaxed, small-group setting. If you plan to walk Foxfield Preserve’s trails, be sure to wear suitable shoes and cloth-ing. If you can’t attend a presentation, personal tours of the Preserve are available by appointment. Contact Sara Starr at foxfield@wilderness-center.org.

May Tree of Life

In memory of Vic Baker Bob & Marilyn KellmanIn memory of Marjorie Bartholomew Kathleen & Sarah TatarskyIn loving memory of Mrs. Joyce Battershell Deltin HogueIn memory of Robert "Bob" Biddle Bryan & Jan WeblerIn memory of Nancy Joan Blair Ralph & Mary RegulaIn memory of William Campolieto Kim Caldwell & Don PappIn memory of James Castile Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of William Thompson "Bill" Cheney Larry & Tootie MillionIn memory of Edward Farris Marty & Marilyn KuboffIn memory of James Fehn Bob & Angie DascoIn memory of Dean Fisk Caroline Starkey & Edward StavroffIn memory of Your Beloved Glacier Betty & BrodieIn memory of Lillian "Lil" Gossard Sheri & Jeff BredigerIn memory of Roger Griffith Judy & Mick KerryIn celebration of the life of Dale W. Harter Marianne & Bob GoodingIn memory of Sue Hartwick Lheeta TalbottIn memory of Bertram F. Hassler Kathy RogersIn memory of Helen Jones Larry & Tootie Million

In memory of Mona Attar Khates Ted, Kathy & Julia LockmyerIn memory of Beverly Kost Larry & Tootie MillionIn memory of Joe Kubik Ms. Rebecca CaseIn memory of Elizabeth Lash Roxie & Dick BaderIn memory of Dick Latham Ed & Nancy HareIn memory of Cathy LeDonne Larry & Kathie EverhardIn memory of Jung Min Lee, M.D. Pat Ferguson & FamilyIn memory of Dad/Grandpa Mickey McMann Chuck Booth & Mindy Dixon In memory of Maddie Renee Moritz Larry & Sarah ReedIn memory of Elizabeth A. Mowery Joy TaylorIn memory of Larry Newton Dave & Kathy RogersIn memory of Robert "Bob" Oakes Buster & Birdie MetcalfIn memory of Rella Mae Potts, Our friend & neighbor for life! Tom & Barb HamiltonIn loving memory of Larry Price Wayne & Daphne TrentIn memory of Dominick T. Rex Bill & Ann BrothersIn memory of Howard Savage Julie MartinIn memory of Richard "Wayne" Swank Buster & Birdie MetcalfIn memory of Delbert Sweebe Pastor Ken & Cindy FergusonIn memory of Uncle Bill Talbott Sister-in-Law Lheeta and Nieces Lynn, Kathy, Mary (Mike)In memory of William E. Trolio Earl & Pat Haren

In memory of Melvin W. Vanfossen Mark, Pam & Ali NatoliIn memory of Robert E. Weber Russ & Marge FurneyIn memory of Woody & Sharon Weeks Lorrie MurphyIn loving memory of Winston - a great cat Patsy & Chuck SlowikowskiIn memory of Paul Zink Sonia Y. Meck

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When the Moon Hits Your Eye…It must be The Wilderness Center’s2013 Earthly Delights Celebration!

You are invited to join The Wilderness Center and 2013 Earthly Delight Celebration Chairs, Chuck & Judy Kraus in honoring Steve & Lisa Gregory and Gordon Maupin at Gervasi Vineyard on Thursday, September 19, 2013. You and your guests will be surprised and delighted as you experience an Italian Street Festival at Gervasi’s outdoor pavilion. Stroll among the silent auction tents while enjoying the best in Italian cuisine and delectable desserts. Take part or simply marvel in the many unique street performances you’re sure to see during the evening!

Gold SponsorsDon & Shirley Buehler

Silver SponsorsBruner-Cox LLP

Bronze SponsorsBuehler’s Food Markets

Merrill Lynch, Canton OfficeRichard J. & Nancy K. Pryce

Seaman CorporationWheeling Lake Erie Railway Company

ContributorsCain BMW, Inc. Chuck & Judy KrausCanton Palace Theatre "Let It Shine" Personal Training/Sue StewartCanton Symphony Orchestra Quality Inn Gettysburg Motor LodgeConcorde Health & Wellness Spring Hill Historic Home, Inc.Cottage Draperies & Interiors/Anna Marie Mavrakis Stan Hywet Hall and GardensCustom Fireplace Shop The Belden Brick CompanyDennison Railroad Depot Museum The Inn At Brandywine FallsJ & K Subway, Inc. The Ohio Light OperaK-9 Hairstyles The Players Guild TheatreKempthorn Motors, Inc. University of Mount Union Alumni Office

For more information about Earthly Delights reservations or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Barb Vitcosky at barb@wildernesscenter.org or by calling (330) 359-5235 x20.

That’s Amore!

One of our supporters stepped up with a commitment to strengthen our efforts to bring people closer to nature by offering a two-to-one match for all 2013 Annual Fund contributions up to a total of $50,000! Thanks to their generosity, the deadline for the two-to-one match has been extended to July 31, 2013! I hope you’ll take a moment right now to get out your checkbook or credit card so The Wilderness Center can take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Secure online donations to our Annual Campaign can now be made online by vis-iting www.wildernesscenter.org or may be sent to: 2013 Annual Campaign, The Wilderness Center, P.O. Box 202, Wilmot, OH 44689

Annual Fund Deadline Extended!

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Date Mailed: June 21, 2013

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDDATABASE MARKETING

INC

P O BOX 202WILMOT OH 44689-0202Contains Dated MaterialPlease Do Not Delay

Greenline

Wilderness Center

Join Us On:

Thank You Annual Campaign Donors!!!

Pizza Box MysteryIs that pizza box recyclable? It is if you don’t put

pizza in it. What makes it not recyclable is the grease and cheese the cardboard soaks up. That

grease and fat doesn’t mix with water so you can’t make more product with it. The best thing you can do is cut out the greasy part and recycle the rest.

Jim & Cathie AdamsAnonymousLynne BallbachRon BarickmanDick & Sandy BeeryClyde & Wanda BrechbulerMary C. BrownAnonymousHoward & Jo Anne ByersRuth Ann CarnahanStanton ColeTim & Margaret CottonJeff & Kelly DaflerSarah H. DouglasJoanne FoxJean Fritz

Judy GerberPam GoudyMartha J. GrayNick & Christy HarpMrs. Charles A. Heller, JrAnonymousJim Jelinek AnonymousDavid LockshinJames E LongRobert & Mary Lou LongNorman LoweMyron MartierRoseMarie MaugerGordon & Margaret MaupinKim McCarthy

AnonymousCynthia R NorrisJoan PetkoDaniel L. PittsonRalph and Mary RegulaRev. & Mrs. Ralph RickseckerRuth RoanJudith SaboBetty K. SchulerCalvin SimpsonMary StrukelMarchelle SuppanSarah TipkaBarb VitcoskyR. Leonard WallaceMaria Zombory-Zsendovics