Staff Retreat: Hardware Ranch

Each winter we set aside a day for a staff retreat. It is full of meetings, goal-making, and excellent discussion. In addition to getting down to business, we also make sure that we get out and do something fun and educational. Most of our work days are spent in the office, so it's a great opportunity for us to get out in the fresh air and remember what all of our sweat and blood is for.

From left to right: Josh, Andree', Michael, Carolyn, Sarah, Charice
Photo by Nicole Thomas

This year we were lucky enough to be invited up to Hardware Ranch Wilderness Management Area where we were greeted by our lovely hostess, Marni Lee. Marni is the Assistant Manager of Hardware Ranch and boy did she have a special treat for us! Marni had arranged for us to feed the elk!

Marni estimated there were between 350 and 400 elk at the refuge that day.
Photo by Nicole Thomas

Checking out the horses: Michael, Josh, Sarah, and Charice
Photo by Nicole Thomas

Hardware Ranch was loaned to the state by the federal government in the '40's and was designated as a wildlife management area to help mitigate the herds of elk that were coming down from their mountain ranges into Cache Valley. The idea was to feed the elk at the ranch to keep them from migrating down into the valley during the cold winters to forage off of farmers' supplies of hay and alfalfa in their search for food. The ranch still continues this practice today. Feeding normally begins in December and continues until the middle of February. In fact, the day of our visit was the last day of winter feeding.

Discussing the intricacies of elk feeding: Andree', Sarah, Charice, and Josh
Photo by Nicole Thomas

How does one feed about 400 elk, you ask? Well, it's more simple than you might think. When we arrived, there was a massive metal trailer on skies loaded with giant bales of grass. The trailer hooks up to a big green tractor which pulls the "sleigh" through the massive field where the elk are waiting for their breakfast. Once out in the field, we needed to cut (and collect) the twine holding the bales together. Then, as the tractor pulled us all along, we flaked off one section of grass at a time and pushed it off the end of the trailer, depositing the flakes about every three feet.

Sarah and Josh hooking up the trailer to the tractor, with direction from Marni.
Photo by Nicole Thomas

Andree' flaking grass to feed the elk!
Photo by Nicole Thomas

The elk came to eat with a vengeance. They followed us closely, eager to munch on the new grass, as we continued to flake section by section off of the giant bales, making a long horseshoe across the field. The staff at Hardware Ranch feed the elk daily, usually around 8:00 in the morning. The bales that are used to feed the elk are composed of native grasses that grow on the acreage owned by Hardware Ranch, making it very nutritious and natural food that is easy to digest for the elk. However, as the weather begins to get warmer and the southern slopes of the mountains become less covered with snow, the ranch stops providing free breakfast to the massive herd. Small groups of elk will then split off from the major herd and begin dispersing back up into the hills and higher elevations.

Carolyn and Sarah Flaking Grass
Photo by Andree' Walker Bravo

Here they come!
Photo by Andree' Walker Bravo

During the elk-feeding season, the ranch sells tickets for sleigh rides out onto the field where the elk stay. Giant sleighs filled with student groups, as well as the general public, are pulled by the biggest horses you have ever seen onto the snowy expanse. The tour guides answer questions and teach about the ranch, the elk, and the other wildlife in the area.

School Group Tour
Photo by Nicole Thomas

Lunch Time!
Photo by Andree' Walker Bravo

Sleigh Horse
Photo by Nicole Thomas

After our amazing adventure with Marni, we ate lunch overlooking the refuge while discussing our progress as an organization over the past year and our goals for the upcoming one. It was very invigorating to be in the mountains contemplating our accomplishments since our last staff retreat and brainstorming where our organizational and personal goals could be by the next time this year. Finally, to finish up a day's hard work, we took a brief walk up a snowy road past Hardware Ranch before heading back to Salt Lake.

From left to right: Sarah, Charice, Carolyn, Josh, Nicole, Michael
Photo by Andree' Walker Bravo

From left to right: Sarah, Nicole, Michael, Charice, Carolyn, Josh, Andree'
Photo by Marni Lee

To see more of our staff retreat adventure, check out our Facebook album, A Day at the Ranch! We would also like to thank Marni and the rest of her staff at Hardware Ranch for such a spectacular day - we will never forget it!

Non-Profit Day on the Hill

Last Thursday, USEE partnered with the Utah Nonprofits Association, Utah Afterschool Network, and Utah Cultural Alliance to sponsor "Non-Profit Day on the Hill" where 33 non-profit organizations gathered to speak to legislators.

Marta and I represented USEE and even in the craziness of it all, we were able to speak to 7 different senators and representatives. We made some great contacts with many legislators, some of whom were already familiar with USEE, some were not but were interested to learn more, and a few were very excited about cultivating partnerships with us after the legislative session ends.

The event was featured on the Utah Senate Democrats blog. One of the photos features Marta and I talking to Senator Ben McAdams...well it features the back of our heads at least!

Photo Credit

Congratulations USU Extension 4-H-er

USU Extension 4-Her Torchbearer for 2010 Olympics
Utah State University Extension 4-Her Kelcie Thomas was among 10 teens selected by Coca-Cola to serve as a torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

Thomas' selection was based on her involvement in a community-oriented program showing dedication in the area of balanced living. The Oak City native helped educate over 245,000 elementary school children about healthy eating and exercise habits through her project, "Creating a Healthier You."

Thomas began her 4-H career as a freshman in high school, where she served as teen council secretary, vice president and president. While a junior at Delta High School two years ago, she completed a research paper on childhood obesity and was inspired to start her 4-H/Sterling Scholar project to improve the lives of youths. She was also the Southwest Region 4-H Ambassador. Millard County Extension 4-H leaders, Darlene Scott and Jolene Johnson, nominated Thomas to serve as Olympic Torchbearer.

"Millard County 4-H nominated Kelcie to be an Olympic Torchbearer because of the outstanding qualities and balanced accomplishments of this fine young lady," said Scott. "We are very proud to have Kelcie represent 4-H as a Torchbearer for the Olympic Winter Games. We believe that the values and life skills she has developed through her years in 4-H helped prepare her for this opportunity."

Thomas said the whole thing was a surprise to her.

"I didn't even know that I was nominated, so I was pretty excited when I found out I was selected," said Thomas.

Thomas ran the torch for 300 meters on Jan. 18 through Calgary, Canada, as it is making its way to Vancouver for the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games on Feb. 12. The Olympic Torch Relay will last for 106 days, cover more than 27,000 miles and link more than 1,000 communities and places of interest throughout Canada.

This article was originally published in Utah State University Cooperative Extension's ExtensionNews. Congratulations Kelcie!

Member Highlight: Utah Botanical Center

At the beginning of October, I visited the Utah Botanical Center, which is a Utah State University Extension facility, as well as an Institutional Member of USEE. It is home to research and demonstration projects focused on sustainable living in the Intermountain West and houses an arboretum, the Utah House, and their newest addition, Wetland Discovery Point. Studies of water conservation, horticulture, water quality enhancement, wetland ecology, integrated pest management, urban forestry, agriculture, fish and wildlife, highway enhancement, and storm-water management combine to make the center a living laboratory.

The Utah House

I had never been to the Utah Botanical Center, and I was excited to explore the grounds, but I was mainly there to get a tour of their newly-built Wetland Discovery Point.

I met Mark Larese-Casanova, who is the Education Specialist for the Botanical Center and Chair of the Program Advisory Council Executive Committee at USEE, and he gave me the grand tour. Wetland Discovery Point is a Platinum LEED Certified building and features all kinds of innovative and educational sustainable practices. Every aspect of the building is designed to optimize the energy of the sun from the way the windows are positioned with the roof line in relation to where the sun is throughout the seasons, to the moving solar panels that automatically follow the sun across the sky during the day, like sunflowers, to optimize the amount of sunlight falling on the panels.

View of the Wetland from Wetland Discovery Point

Other features include a giant cistern that captures 90% of the rain and snow that falls on the roof (the other 10% flows back into the ponds), geo-thermal heating systems, and water conservation through the use of low-flow faucets and toilets that conserve 30% more water than other facilities – the water used in the toilets is from the roof’s rain barrel. The building is designed so efficiently that even though the building is equipped with heating and air conditioning, these only need to be used on the very coldest days of winter, or the most sweltering days in the summer.

Even though Wetland Discovery Point is one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in the state, its main purpose is wetlands and water conservation and education. While I was there, the building crew was steadily working on getting the board walks finished. Wetland Discovery Point will be a fabulous place for students of all ages to learn and explore why wetlands are important, collect bugs and water samples right off of the boardwalks, and learn about water and energy conservation. The facility has already hosted a small number of field trips, and Mark is excited to really get the community more involved with the Wetland Discovery Point as the final touches come together. They were finishing up the boardwalks the day I was there:


In conjunction with the Wetland Discovery Point, Mark also showed me the Utah House. Their mission is to demonstrate, educate, and empower the public about new ways of building homes and creating landscapes that promote energy efficiency, water conservation, universal design principles, healthy indoor environments, and the sustainable use of all resources. The Utah House features many great opportunities of how to learn to make your own house more environmentally friendly, whether you are building a new house, or changing some things in an older home. Some of these learning opportunities include different ways to conserve water, both inside the house and out in the yard and garden, as well as solar water heaters, and a green roof on top of the storage shed:


I learned a lot about the both the Utah House and the Wetland Discovery Point on my visit. I learned not only about what the environmental education goals are for these educational facilities, but also learned a little about wetlands and energy and water conservations myself. I will definitely be back, and I encourage you all to head to Kaysville and check out what they have to offer.

The Utah Botanical Center, Utah House, and Wetland Discovery Point are located at 725 South Sego Lily Drive in Kaysville, Utah. For more information, please visit: http://utahbotanicalcenter.org/.

Wetland Discovery Point

For more pictures from the Utah Botanical Center, visit their Flickr account.

Tracy Aviary Rejoins Ranks of Elite Zoos

USEE Member Tracy Aviary Regains Accreditation from Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Which Had Been Denied in 2006. On September 16 the Aviary announced that it has been granted accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, placing it among the nation's elite zoological facilities.

"The Tracy Aviary is one of the best in the world because it has met the highest standards in the world," said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. "It takes hard work and a sustained commitment to excellence to meet Association of Zoos and Aquariums Accreditation Standards." Aviary leaders were delighted by the decision.

"Obtaining AZA accreditation is an important achievement that will help us to attract and retain excellent staff, raise funds, and diversify our bird collection," said Aviary executive director Tim Brown. "More importantly, it is a seal of approval from leaders in our field that endorses the progress the Aviary has made and our exciting direction for the future."

The AZA denied accreditation to Tracy Aviary in 2006, citing uncertain funding and aging facilities. Since then, Aviary employees have worked diligently to improve and replace outdated exhibits and infrastructure. And in 2008, Salt Lake County voters overwhelmingly passed a $19.6 million bond for improvements at the Aviary, providing a critical showing of community support for the institution.

"The Aviary owes a debt of gratitude to the Utah philanthropic community, Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County governments, and especially the citizens of Salt Lake County," said Brown. "Without their support, the leadership of Davis Mullholand and our fantastic trustees, and the huge and ongoing effort of the Aviary staff, this achievement would not have been possible."

The Aviary applied for accreditation earlier this year. In July, AZA inspectors conducted a rigorous on-site investigation at the Aviary. The inspecting team observed all aspects of the Aviary's operations, including animal care; keeper training; safety for visitors, staff, and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; veterinary programs; financial stability; risk management; and visitor services. Aviary officials then took part in a formal Commission hearing last Sunday in Portland, Oregon, after which the accreditation decision was announced.

Work on the initial bond-funded projects is scheduled to start soon. The Aviary's master plan envisions an "Aviary of the Americas," where visitors can explore themes of migration and propagation, trace the migratory path of birds from Canada to Argentina, and learn about the important role Utah plays in that journey.

"Accreditation is a major achievement, but it's not the end of the story for us," said Brown. "Over the next three years, the Aviary will get better and better. I hope Utahans will visit the Aviary, enjoy the improvements we've already made, and catch a glimpse of our exciting plans for the future."

Take a Break - Lake Blanche

Over Labor Day weekend I finally hiked to Lake Blanche. Lake Blanche is 3 miles up a side canyon up Big Cottonwood Canyon, just below the big S-curves. I regret to say that I have lived in Salt Lake City my entire life and this is the first time I have ventured here. I have been missing out! The trail is incredibly steep, which is part of the reason why I have shied away from it for so long, but it actually wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

The trail is absolutely beautiful and winds mostly through mixed pine and aspen trees. At the top there is steep red rock ridge that runs across the canyon. Lake Blanche is perched just over the ridge and Sundial peak (about another hour and a half to the top) looms above the lake. If you keep hiking west along the ridgeline, there are two smaller lakes beyond Lake Blanche. A small waterfall cascades from Lake Blanche into the first lake, and a slightly larger waterfall comes out of the last, and smallest, lake into the river that runs down the canyon.

As I was hiking up the trail, a few hundred yards from the top of the ridge, a friendly hiker informed me that there were some mountain goats on the cliffs past the smaller lakes. After resting up and eating my lunch, I set off to find them. After exploring for about an hour, I finally found them high on the cliffs above the lakes. Unfortunately, they were too small to see with my camera - so no pictures of them, but I enjoyed watching them bound up and down the cliffs with the greatest of ease - definitely a treat to see.

The trail switches back through many aspen groves.

First view of Lake Blanche

Lake Blanche with Sundial Peak high above.

The two smaller lakes west of Lake Blanche.

View down the canyon from the ridge line - the trail goes up this canyon.

Even though it took me way too long to get up there, I'm glad I finally did now rather than later. If you live in the Salt Lake Valley, or close by, I highly recommend this gorgeous excursion.

Take a Break - Snowbird Hike

Several weeks ago USEE received a few Tram tickets for tabling Snowbird's National Get Outdoors Day festival. We took a staff meeting field trip to ride the Tram and hike down from the peak. Here are some pictures from our fun outing:

View of Big Cottonwood Canyon from Snowbird Tram

View from the Snowbird Tram, going up.

From left to right: TJ, Jason, Andree', and Nicole
Picture taken from the top of the Tram at Snowbird

Looking West from the top of the Tram

From left to right: Jason, Andree', and Nicole
Hiking down from the Tram

From left to right: Jason, Andree', and Nicole
Still hiking down, Fun!

A special thank you goes out to T.J. for taking these pictures on this fun day!
Photo credits: All photos are courtesy of T.J. Adamson

The Green Building Center

-by Alaina Caudillo


Earlier this month TJ, Nicole, and I took a trip to The Green Building Center, located at 1952 East 2700 South in the Sugarhouse area. The owner of the Green Building Center, Ashley Patterson, was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful in answering all our questions and giving us a complete tour. The store does a great job utilizing many of the same products they sell such as integrating LED lighting and the use of a solar electric system, a Chili Pepper water heater, and natural lighting fixtures called Sun Pipes. Sun Pipes resemble sky lights, but transfer less of the heat coming from the natural light indoors and they conserve more heat in winter months, all the while providing an incredibly bright lighting option for your home or business. Among other things I observed a solar oven, a few types of wood stoves, and a few alternative water heaters, many of which qualify for tax credits. One of the alternative water heaters was the Chili Pepper, which they use in the store, that notifies you when the hot water from your water heater is warm so you don’t have to run the faucet while waiting for the water to heat up.

I was amazed at the selection of books for sale that can help you get started in choosing the right products for you and your family. This is a great place to find a wealth of different information, along with green products for your next remodel or home- improvement project! Some of the options available at the Green Building Center include reclaimed, FSC certified, sustainably harvested wood as well as cork and bamboo flooring. In addition, the green building center also sells beautifully recycled glass tiles and decorative paints containing zero VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) which can be matched to the color of your choice. The possibilities are endless in terms of choosing a product that will address the issue that is most concerning to the consumer, whether that means ease of use or a certain environmental concern. For example, you can choose an oil based finish for hardwood flooring made from linseed oil, which has more VOC’s but is more absorbable and easier to use, or a water based polyurethane finish that is lower in VOC’s but can be a little harder to use. Another great resource in flooring options is the real linoleum that they carry which is made from linseed oil and pine resin which makes it a biodegradable alternative to the typical “linoleum” that is actually made from vinyl.

It’s easy to improve the aesthetic value of your home as well with sustainably made products. Consider integrating beautiful furnishings and accessories into your design scheme, such as decorative pillows and clay based plasters that add texture and color to your walls. Clay based plaster is a wonderful option for bathroom walls because they naturally absorb some of the water vapor, acting as a mold inhibitor. A great way to improve the years we spend throughout our lifetime asleep is to invest in organic cotton bedding and eco-friendly mattresses made from wool or natural latex. These materials are naturally flame retardant without being processed chemically to provide you with this very important, as well as mandatory, safety quality. So if you are looking to make some greener decisions in your home life make time to check out The Green Building Center, a wonderful local business who would love your support!

USEE at the SLC Farmer's Market

-by Alaina Caudillo

On a beautiful morning this last Saturday, July 18, Jason, Andree’ and I attended the Downtown Farmer’s Market promoting our programs and events. No, we weren’t selling home-grown vegetables. Our goal was to inform teachers, educators, and the public about Environmental Education in Utah. There are many great opportunities to enrich professional development in a variety of ways such as becoming a member with USEE, becoming a Certified Environmental Educator, attending Monthly Green Bag presentations, or signing up for the E-newsletter to stay up to date on Environmental Education events here in Utah. There are many benefits of membership with USEE including discounts on Green bag presentations and our Annual Conference showing your support for Environmental Education and many more.

We also promote and encourage community discussion groups and at the farmers market we highlighted Menu for the Future. Menu for the Future addresses key issues involving our relationship with food examining topics like the history of agriculture in this country, healthy choices, and even global perspective such as hunger and fair trade. You can find USEE, and other non-profits, about half way down 300 West by the dog park and the bicycle collective valet parking in upcoming weeks on the 1st of August and September the 19th.

For information on how you can be involved or start a discussion group with other interested citizens, contact USEE @ (801) 328-1549 or sign up for the E-newsletter:

USEE Visits the Great Salt Lake Institute

Photo: Issac Hall sampling from a paddle board in the GSL

By: T.J. Adamson (USEE Intern)

Do the brine shrimp really look like Sea Monkeys? How does the Great Salt Lake harness sunlight? How much salt is really in the Great Salt Lake?

Once a month, the USEE staff has been visiting various organizations around the community that are involved with environmental education. The goal is to keep in touch with our connections, learn more about their operations, tour their facility, and discuss ways that we can help each other out. For this month’s field trip we checked out the Great Salt Lake Institute (GSLI). Andree, Nicole, Alaina and I meet with the coordinator Jaimi Butler. Jaimi received a college degree studying brine shrimp and birds. After working at the brine shrimp factory, she now in charge of operating the GSLI and is involved with many projects. We sat down with her as she told us all about their work and what they are doing.

The Great Salt Lake Institute, not to be confused with Friends of Great Salt Lake, is fairly new and located in the heart of Westminster College. They are funded by a verity of grants and receive much of their support form the college. GSLI’s mission is to be dedicated to education, research, and stewardship of the unique ecology and history of the Great Salt Lake. They are not an advocacy group, rather an educational institution that furthers research and creates public awareness. Their goal is to provide a better understanding of the GSL and its relationship to ecology and the environment. GSLI seeks partnerships with public and private groups such as colleges, universities, industry, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to engage in collaborative research efforts.

The GSLI is also working to promote science and environmental education of K-12 students by encouraging student and teacher involvement. They provide lesson plans and project opportunities to educators and link many of the research activities to current curriculum. This is a great resource for any teacher or non-formal educator. Their website offers a wonderful database of free lesson plans, activities, and projects that are open to anyone interested in teaching or learning about the Great Salt Lake. Their website provides a wide selection of lesson plans that are included in following categories: “Land Form Lessons”, “Lake Effect Lessons”, “Brine Shrimp Lessons”, “Salinity Lessons”, “Sand Lessons”, “Lake Lessons”, “Water Lessons”, “Salt Lessons”, “Ecosystem Lessons”, “Tributaries of the Great Salt Lake”, and “Seasons Lessons”. As a free resource, I would defiantly check it out. Visit www.GreatSaltLakeInstitue.org and click on the Outreach tab, then the gsl lesson plans tab.

Students of Westminster College also play an active roll. GSLI provides many opportunities for undergraduate research and scholarships in working with the GSLI. The director of the GSLI Bonnie Baxter, PhD, and Associate Director Brian Avery, PhD are both professors at the college that teach in the science and biology departments. Throughout the years, they have focused much of their research towards studying the Great Salt Lake. Currently, they teach and mentor undergraduate students interested in biological science and ecosystems.

Currently, Jaimi is putting the final arraignments together for the “Camp Great Salt Lake” summer camp. This three day camp is designed to give high school students a “true” college experience. Participants stay in the dorms and spend a few days as scientists. On the first day, students travel to the lake and take a tour on paddle boats that are fully equipped with of research equipment. They collect samples and learn about the many functions of the lake. Day two is spent in a lab at Westminster where they conduct basic experiments with their findings. On the final day they revisit the lake to see and apply what they have learned. The summer camp is open to high school students that are at least fifteen years of age and five teachers. It runs from July 12th through the 14th and cost students $150 and the teachers are paid. Scholarships are available for the students that attend. To apply, visit their website at www.GreatSaltLakeInstitue.org or contact Jaimi at jbutler@westministercollege.edu.

We learned a lot about the Great Salt Lake Institute. If you are interested in participating in or contributing to their studies, they have a free membership directory available online. You can also keep informed by becoming a fan on their Facebook page. For more information or follow their contact information provided below or visit their website where you will find a wealth of information, resources, a blog, and upcoming events.

The Great Salt Lake Institute
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
www.GreatSaltLakeInstitue.org

Coordinator: Jaimi Butler
jbutler@westministercollege.edu.
Director: Bonnie Baxter, PhD
bbaxter@westminstercollege.edu
Associate Director: Brian Avery, PhD
bavery@westminstercollege.edu

All in a Day's Work (or so...)

I have been spending the last couple of weeks revamping USEE's Utah Project for Excellence in Environmental Education web page. I'm happy to say that instead of a webpage, USEE now hosts an entire section dedicated to the project. All of the reports, documents, and presentations are up!

I just finished putting the final touches and posted it all this afternoon. Please have a look and let us know what you think:

Utah Project for Excellence in Environmental Education

We are still in the process of compiling the final report and the executive summary for the Utah Project for Excellence in Environmental Education. Until then, we hope that you can find the information (and there's a lot of it) that is already posted.

Hand Feed Birds: Update from Tracy Aviary

Nose-to-Beak Encounter - Now Open at the Tracy Aviary!

Tracy Aviary announces the public re-opening of Amazon Adventure, the Aviary's interactive feeding exhibit featuring one of the Amazon Basin's most adventurous and engaging birds, the Sun Conure. A delightful, intimate experience, the Sun Conure feeding is sure to be a sell-out summer hit.

Sun Conures are native to savannas and coastal forests and the Amazon Basin in South America. Social and active, Sun Conures regularly flock in groups of up to 30. In Tracy Aviary's Amazon Adventure enclosure, these medium-size (up to 12 inches) members of the parrot family flock right to hand to feed on chunks of apple and squawk at each other, entertaining and delighting children and adults alike.

Tracy Aviary is currently pursuing a strategic initiative and a newly completed master plan will change the Aviary as the community has known it. With support from Salt Lake County voters last year in the form of a $20 million bond to remodel and expand their facilities, Tracy Aviary's theme of migration will trace the migratory path of birds from the southern tip of Argentina to Alaska and back, highlighting the importance Utah plays in that journey. All areas of the Aviary will take on an educational focus and bring your visit to the Aviary to a new level of fun and interest.

An exemplary exhibit of the "Aviary of the Americas," Amazon Adventure offers daily interactions for eight persons at each of the five feedings: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Angela Rumel at 801-596-8500 x 108

Frary Peak and Oolitic Sand

Over the weekend a friend of mine and I went for a hike out on Antelope Island. We decided that it was a perfect day to try the highest point on the island, Frary Peak. The hike is about 8 miles round trip and provides many beautiful views of all sides of the lake. We were pretty tired after the trek up to the 6,600 ft peak (a climb of over 2,000 vertical feet from the trail head), so as we were driving home we decided to head over to the other side of the island for a quick wade in the lake.

View from the top of Frary Peak (looking South)
We didn't have a camera, but this is similar to what we saw.
Photo Credit

I had never swam in the Great Salt Lake before, which seems kind of strange since I've lived here all my life. It was good to get that checked off the list. As we were there wading in the water, my friend was telling me about the sand on the beach.

It's called oolitic sand, and it's apparently fairly unique. It's only found in a few other places around the planet and is different from regular sand in the fact that it is smooth and rounded, while regular sand is very angular. Oolitic sand at the Great Salt Lake is unique because it is not mineral fragments that were washed down from higher ground like sand in most places, but was formed within the Great Salt Lake:

"An oolite has a shell of concentric layers of calcium carbonate that precipitated around a nucleus or central core. The nucleus is usually a tiny brine shrimp fecal pellet or a mineral fragment. Oolites form in shallow, wave-agitated water, rolling along the lake bottom and gradually accumulating more and more layers." - Utah Geological Survey

Photo Credit

Governor's Medal for Science and Technology

Congratulations to USEE Member and environmental education enthusiast Bonnie Bourgeous for receiving the Governor's Medal for Science and Technology in Education!

Bonnie was one of eight Utahans to receive the Governor's Medal for Science and Teachnology. Bonnie is an AP Biology Teacher at Clearfield High School and received the award for her innovative approach to teaching science by using hands-on activities and by incorporating technology into her lesson plans whenever possible. Bonnie has been using Guitar Hero and heart rate monitors, as well as bringing in cow hearts and lungs for the students to dissect, to teach them about the respiratory system. Congrats Bonnie and keep up the good work!

You can view the whole article here: www.standard.net

Al Gore Visits LDS Church Leaders

The Salt Lake Tribune reported today that Al Gore visited with LDS church leaders for 30 minutes on Thursday to discus climate change and answer questions.  

Byron Daynes, a political scientist at church-owned Brigham Young University, called it "a good sign." A scholar of the American presidency and the environment, he said it is valuable for leaders to discuss "a major problem we all have."

"It's a good time for any[one] to be hearing this message --- and certainly those in charge of 13 million people," Daynes added.

He had no comment on the likelihood that Gore's visit would shift the church's stance on climate change.

But he concluded, "We'll hear about it in [LDS General] Conference, if it makes any difference or not." 

Birdhouse Competition

The Ogden Nature Center is calling for entries for their annual birdhouse competition:

Let you creativity take flight! Ogden Nature Center's 16th Annual Birdhouse Contest and Exhibit is "For the Birds."

Start building! Nature lovers, craftspeople, builders, artists, designers, and others who give a hoot about birds are invited to enter their hard crafted birdhouses in the 16th Annual Birdhouse Competition and Exhibit. Entries will be received Monday, March 30 through Saturday, April 4 at the Ogden Nature Center. All ages are encouraged to enter up to two creations, and there is no entry fee.

Stoke your creativity and bring in your finest birdhouse be it whimsical, beautiful, practical, functional, artistic, or magical. Please be sure your birdhouse can last through the summer weather. The exhibit will be on display outdoors April 18 through August 31, 2009, so visitors to the Nature Center can be inspired by these backyard habitats.

All birdhouses must be on a post and ready to "plant." Entries must be original works and will be judged by an interdisciplinary jury. Winners will receive awards at a reception and awards presentation on Thursday, April 16 at 5:30 pm.

Registration forms and full contest detail are available online at www.ogdennaturecenter.org, or at the Ogden Nature Center's Visitor Center:

966 West 12th Street
Ogden, UT 84404

For more information, please call the nature center at 801-621-7595. The exhibit's main sponsors are the Utah Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

A Sense of Wonder

Yesterday I was fortunate to be asked to be involved with a panel discussion about instilling "A Sense of Wonder" in children at the Ogden Nature Center. We had a lovely time talking about our experiences, why we choose to get into the field of Environmental Education, and our backgrounds working with children and adults. It was very inspiring and motivating to be with so many other people who value nature and nature experiences and the enthusiasm was contagious.


Kathi Stopher of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was also on the panel and shared a great article by Rachel Carson called "Help Your Child to Wonder" which was published in the Ladies Home Companion in 1956. Click here to access the article.

Also, if you are interested in other activities coming up pertaining to "A Sense of Wonder", keep reading to see what's planned for The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge this weekend!

On Saturday, March 21, 10:30-3:00, Bear River Refuge will celebrating Women's History Month with an event titled, "A Sense of Wonder". The day honors Rachel Carson and her work, writings, and teaching about our natural world. It will be a day featuring activities for the family and culminating in a screening of her biographical film of the same title.

A Day of Activities to Instill the Sense of Wonder in Children: Saturday, March 21, 10:30-3:00

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
“Engaging Kids in Nature”
Join DeAnn Lester, Naturalist/Educator and other staff for an exploration of the wetland landscape and making organic art - Explore the out-of-doors with spring scavenger hunts and MORE!

1:00 pm – 1:30 p.m.
“Meet Des-Ta-Te”
Meet “Des-ta-te, the Live Eagle” and DaLyn Erickson from Ogden Nature Center, as she tells the story of Bald Eagles and their journey back from the threat of extinction.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
“Sense of Wonder Film”
Special Sneak Preview - Based on the life and writings of Rachel Carson, this moving film tells the story of a woman’s love for the natural world and her fight to defend it.

For more info contact Kathi at kathi_stopher@fws.gov.

Be Safe and Have Fun: The Importance of Being Prepard in the Wilderness

Being prepared in the wilderness is something that comes up frequently, whether it's posted on a trail head sign, being touted by forest rangers, or on the news when Search and Rescue had to pull someone off the mountain. Being prepared when hiking, camping, or doing other activities in the back country is not only a safety issue, but it also determines how the experience unfolds.

A few weeks ago Jason, Mark (Chair of the USEE Programs Advisory Council), and I went down to Cedar City to do some outreach and for a Focus Group meeting we had in the area. Our meeting got out early and we had some extra time, so we decided that it would be great to do a little exploration in Color Country. Little did we know, we were (or at least especially I was) extremely unprepared. We had plenty of water and warm clothes, but in Cedar City it was a beautifully sunny day. There sky was free of clouds and the weather was the warmest I've felt since September.

We decided to try Kolob Canyons. The scenery is picturesque and classically Southern Utah. What we didn't anticipate, however, was the amount of snow there would be on the trails. Cedar City was so gorgeously warm, with no snow to be found, but as we ascended the road to the trail head, the snow kept getting deeper. Mark was smart enough to bring along some gaiters to cover his shoes and pants and had a fine time. Jason had some boots that went up pretty high on his ankles, and seemed to do okay in the deep snow. I, on the other hand, had my hiking boots (which are really more like shoes rather than boots) and not-warm-enough socks. I am also considerably shorter than Mark and Jason.

Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park
Photo Courtesy of Mark Larese-Casanova

The snow was 3 feet or more deep. There had been a snowshoer on the trail recently before us, so we opted to follow in his tracks. The scenery was beautiful. There's nothing quite like snow gracing the steep walls of the red rock canyons. I had a hard time following the guys as the snow was from my knees to almost my hips every step of the way. We trudged along, laughing at our unpreparedness, telling stories of similar times when we'd been unprepared, and listening to Mark tell us of his encounters with mountain lions. Inevitably, my shoe got stuck deep in the snow. I stood there on one foot bending, flailing, and reaching into the hole where my shoe was lodged, my face mashed against the melting snow as I stretched down, all the while the snow packing into my empty boot. My socks, shoes, and pants were soaked and we were all tired from wading through the crunchy, sinking snow. We decided to head back. I gather that the whole excursion was barely longer than a mile, if even that.

Canyon Overlook
Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park
Photo Courtesy of Mark Larese-Casanova

The canyon was breathtaking, and the event itself was even fun, but mostly the whole situation was quite comical. What's the lesson I learned that day? Just because it's warm in the valley and Zions National Park is in the "desert" doesn't mean that it will be snow-free and dry. A little preparation and planning would have changed the whole experience. Snowshoes, anyone?

Mark, doing fine with his gaiters, and Nicole struggling to keep her balance in the snow.
Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park
Photo Courtesy of Jason Taylor

1st Photo: Pinyon Pines and Snowshoe Hare Tracks, Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park. Photo Courtesy of Jason Taylor.

Take a Break! -- Utah Scenery

This slide show was one of the first features on Green Fork. Photos from the slide show were submitted by USEE's institutional members as well as USEE staff. The slide show usually resides at the bottom of the blog, but in light of our new look we wanted to bring it to the top today as a highlight for all of our new readers. Enjoy!



If you have any pictures you would like to submit for the "Take a Break!" series, please send them to nicole@usee.org and we would be happy to put them in future slide shows.

Frozen Shut

This morning I got up for work, saw all the snow outside and realized that I needed to get out there a little early in order to clear off and dig out my car so I could get to work on time. So, 20 minutes before I usually leave, I put on some boots and gloves and began chipping away at all the ice.

This challenge proved to be more than I was bargaining for. First of all, the locks on my car doors were frozen. Trying to unlock the driver's side door, I bent my key. Oops. Well, I got the lock undone at least. But then the door was frozen shut. And I mean really frozen shut. As in I was afraid of breaking the door handle off by trying to get the door open. Since my ice scraper was inside the car, I couldn't use it to chip away the ice around the door. I tried the trunk. Surprisingly, this lock was relatively easy to unlock and the trunk opened with only a little bit of force. Fortunately, my little civic has seats that can be folded down so I could crawl through to the cab and open the door from the inside. (This works really nicely if your doors are frozen shut!) I had to make several trips in and out of the trunk as the doors were so solidly frozen that I had to chip away ice from the outside and then try pushing from the inside. The ice was very thick so once I got the door open, I finally started sweeping off the snow and chipping at the ice.

Then my car wouldn't start because my key was bent so badly that it didn't quite go into the ignition all of the way. Go back inside, find a hammer, flatten the key, hope it works because it's the only one I've got. Come back outside, get the car to start. Whew! This extravaganza made me 15 minutes late for work, so it was a good thing I went out there as early as I did.

In the heat of the moment I was thinking to myself, "there has to be a trick. An easier way to get into your car when the locks and doors are frozen." I found out that one trick for frozen locks is to use a lighter or a match to heat the key (make sure you wear a glove when holding the key...don't burn your fingers). When the heated key is inserted into the lock, in warms up the lock and melts the ice crystals. Usually this only needs to be done once, but if the lock is really frozen, try it a couple of times in a row. I'll have to give this one a try and spare my key from bending so much. Another way is to just press your thumb up against the lock. The heat from your body is usually just enough to transfer in the lock and get some of the ice inside to loosen up.

There were several different ways that I found to get frozen doors open from bringing out a blow dryer to buying a commercial deicer. I think my original way, though a bit labor intensive, was the most eco-and-wallet-friendly. Another suggestion that I found is to get inside your car and turn on the defrost. Apparently the heater will loosen the ice on the rubber lining connecting your door to the rest of the car. I'm too much of a fan of this one either because with all of the air quality problems we have in this valley, I try not to let my car idle and "warm up" while I'm scraping off ice. It's bad for the environment and I don't think it's all that good for your car either. And honestly, my car never warms up that fast. My car warms up at the same distance from my home if I start it when I'm scraping or if I start it when I'm leaving. So, my advice is if you can get into you car through any door or through the trunk, open the frozen door from the inside and use the leverage of your body to crack the ice, rather than pulling on the door handle.

Photo Credit