Post on 07-Jul-2020
1 Riveredge Nature Center • November - December 2013 • www.riveredgenaturecenter.org
The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts
by Jessica Jens, Executive Director
I believe it’s fair to say our culture is bombarded with competition. From sports to TV reality shows or local business verses big box stores, competition is a way of life for most Americans. Competition can be healthy and can push us forward toward success. But sometimes, as in the case of people working together toward positive change, competition isn’t necessarily the most effective strategy to achieve lasting impact.
I’ve been asked about competition a lot. When I was working with the 4-H program, it was “Jessica, how is 4-H competing against other youth organizations, sports, and clubs?” My response was typically, “What matters to me is that youth find a group/organization where they can feel a sense of belonging and are surrounded by caring adults and peers – wherever it may be -- if that’s 4-H, great!” When I was the director of Upham Woods, a residential environmental education (EE) facility, it was “Jessica, that school district has been going to a different EE Center for years, it’s not nearly as great as Upham, you should try to get them to come here!” My response was “Yes, it would be great for them to come to us, and we’ll tell them our story, but I’m also happy for the students because their administrators support hands-on, outdoor learning -- wherever it may be.” Now, at Riveredge, I’m asked often about the “competition” between nature centers...
(From left to right) Paul DeChant, Lac Lawrann Conservancy
Ken Leinbach, Urban Ecology CenterNathan Smallwood, Schlitz Audubon Center
Kristen Gies, Mequon Nature Preserve Jessica Jens, Riveredge Nature Center
Upcoming Events(see calendar insert for details)
Forty-two undergraduate and graduate students from seven Wisconsin universities and colleges will be conducting oral and poster presentations on a variety of biological topics, including wildlife conservation, restoration and other ecology topics.
Nov.9
Bring the kids for an afternoon with local artists to make those ‘oh-so-special’ handmade gifts for the holidays. Hot chocolate and popcorn - we promise!
Nov.23
It’s the annual Yule Log Dinner at Riveredge! We celebrate the winter solstice that marks the start of the holiday season with carolers, holiday stew and the candle-lit hunt in the woods for the Riveredge yule log.
Dec.6 & 7
Those darn emerald ash borers have caused havoc in the woods. Come watch loggers drop ash trees and use rare Suffolk Punch draft horses to remove them from the sanctuary with little damage to the environment.
Dec.8
Over the river and through the woods in the winter wonderland at Riveredge. We snowshoe with snow, hike otherwise, and bundle-up for both.
Dec.27
Research Symposium ‘Connections in Nature’
Handmade for the Holidays
Yule Log Dinner
Horse Logging Demonstration
Family Snowshoe Hike
Table of Contents
Executive Director’s Message ......................................... 1Environmental Impact of Riveredge ............................. 2Thank You to our Partners, Sponsors, and Corporate Friends ................................................................................ 345th Anniversary Photo Gallery .....................................4Volunteer Opportunities ................................................. 6Development Update ....................................................... 7
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2 Riveredge Nature Center • November - December 2013 • www.riveredgenaturecenter.org
As Riveredge was one of the very first nature centers in the area, many have watched similar facilities appear in our neighboring communities over the past 45 years.
Aristotle, the Greek Philosopher, once said “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” This is certainly true for environmental organizations. Together, we can do so much more than we can do separately. There are over 2 million people in southeast Wisconsin – over 500,000 of those are youth. Can one nature center, can Riveredge, reach all of those people? Can our 380 acres sustain visits by even half of them? Because nature centers are “place-based,” that is, molded around a piece of the natural world they have been entrusted with and sculpted by the needs of their local communities, each one is different. We all use what we have to help inspire, educate, and develop others to care about our environment. Working together allows us the opportunity to share best practices, support one another, and multiply the impacts of our individual work we bring to the environmental preservation table.
In our 45th year, we are drawing attention to this spirit of community at Riveredge. It was a blessing to have the leaders of our neighboring nature centers in attendance at our Farm Dinner in early September. Even though we threw in some good “competition” with a Corn Husking Throw Down, it was a time to embrace one of the philosophies of sustainability – when we all work together, and focus on the sum of our impacts, we will all also succeed individually. Writer and green thinker, Derrick Jensen, once wrote, “We cannot hope to create a sustainable culture with any but sustainable souls.” Certainly something to think about.
Keep Smiling & Get Outside!
Jessica Jens, Executive Director
Riveredge Nature Center’s 380 acre sanctuary is a jewel in the landscape of Ozaukee County. It adds to the vitality of the community by not only providing ongoing recreational opportunities for adults, families and children but it also conducts an enormous amount of ecological services. These services, provided by the natural functions of an ecosystem, deliver products such as clean drinking water, fresh air, and decomposition of wastes. By using computer models and tools developed by the U.S. Forest Service and their collaborators (www.itreetools.org), Riveredge has been able analyze just how much its sanctuary helps to increase air quality in Ozaukee Co.
The results of this analysis were astounding! It was found that the sanctuary contributed to improving air quality by storing an estimated 31,700 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) with anadditional storage of 1,050 tons every year, a service valued at more than $636,000. The sanctuary also removes over 6 tons of air pollutants annually (NO2, O3, SO2, and particulate matter), saving the region over $51,700 in air pollution related costs year. The total value of the Riveredge sanctuary’s ecosystem services was valued at more than $687,000.
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Value in Numbers
3 Riveredge Nature Center • November - December 2013 • www.riveredgenaturecenter.org
A.O. SmithBadger Meter
Robert W. Baird & CompanyBMO Harris Bank
Charter Manufacturing Co.Johnson Controls
Levy & Levy Attorneys at LawMidwest Iconic ServicesOlsen’s Piggly Wiggly
U.S. BankWisconsin Energy
Our business friends make great things happen.
Thank you:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS2013-2014
OfficersPresident: Monte Boyer
Past President: Sharon ZieglerVice-President: Ted Neitzke IV
Secretary: Norm LascaTreasurer: Rick Fox
DirectorsNadia BogueBradley Brin
James BrindleyChris Ford
Kathy FargoMike Grisar
Nancy GroatheKorinne Haeffel
Kyle KnopDan KnuthDan Lyons
Jane MooreGaurie Rodman
Mary RozekKathy Schrader
John TurnerLaddie Voslar
Please Recognize...
Our Community Partner
The 45th year of Riveredge is off to a flying start--thanks to friends who have been with us since the beginning and a whole lot of new friends who dove in full bore when asked for cheese or beer or prairie flowers or buffalo or media coverage or sponsorships or good ole’ sweat and tears.
The remarkable outpouring of support was not because we asked nicely or at just the right time – it was in response to the legacy of the dedicated volunteers who launched the Riveredge ‘experiment’ with our first Naturalist and Executive Director Emeritus Andy Larsen 45 years ago. Those of us who spend our days at Riveredge now – staff and volunteers alike – are building upon that legacy to inspire a new generation of naturalists and preservationists. Thank you to the volunteers, donors, farmers, sponsors, and friends who, over the course of five weeks, helped us pull off four new events and the move of Sturgeon Fest to Lake Shore State Park. Here are a few of those who made it happen:
Our Nature Center Partners (Corn Husking Competitors)Paul DeChant, Lac
Lawrann ConservancyKristen Gies, Mequon
Nature PreserveKen Leinbach, Urban
Ecology CenterNathan Smallwood,
Schlitz Audubon Center
Corporate & Foundation SponsorsAntonia FoundationBMO Harris BankLevy & Levy Attorney’s
at LawReBarnValley Hydro ExcavationWest Bend MutualWisconsin DNRWisconsin Energy
Foundation
Farms, Farmers, & all things Food & Drink3 Sheeps Brewing Co.Big Bay Brewing Co.Chameleon BrewingClarene FarmDinners with ClassFarmer Keith and the
Organic Farm at Riveredge
Grandpa’s PlaceHankerson’s Country
Oven BakeryHeidel DairyHerbs & Everlastings
Horny Goat Brewing Co.Indian Summer Honey
FarmJeff’s on MainJeff-Leen FarmLakefront Brewing Co.Lakeview Buffalo Miller Baking CompanyMiller Valley BreweryMilwaukee Brewing Co.Outpost Natural FoodsOrganic ValleyPlymouth Brewing Co.Rare Earth FarmRiverside BreweryRushing Waters FisheriesSaxon Homestead
Creamery Silver Creek Brewing Co.Sprecher Brewing Co. Inc.Stevens Point BrewerySunnyhill AcresTrubmeisters
Homebrew ClubWellspringWitte’s Vegetable Market
The Fabulous Farm Dinner Committee Jerry BergLynne BergschultzLinda BlockBrad BrinBarb GilmoreSue HaislmaierKorinne HaeffelPeter and Sue HitlerBen & Janice Levy Charlie MayhewJane Moore
Jane MontgomeryTom and Kathy Schrader
Auction DonorsDutchland PlasticsBob Fuller & Connie
SquireDaven ClaerboutDon and Barb GilmoreSusan HaleMal and Jill HepburnLou and Ruth JaegerDinners with ClassJim and Mary LavelleBen and Janice LevyOlsen’s Piggly WigglyAugust PeterRiveredge Habitat HealersWe Energies and Mike
Grisar
45th Anniversary in-kind donorsChefs James Jens and
Darcy SonsallaDon’s Tuesday CrewLake Shore State ParkLochen EquipmentMequon Nature PreserveMilwaukee Metropolitan
Sewerage DistrictOzaukee PressRadio MilwaukeeRelics Vintage RentalRiveredge Habitat HealersThose Remarkable
Riveredge Volunteers – every last one of them!
Urban Ecology CenterWisconsin Public Radio
Off to a Flying Start
4 Riveredge Nature Center • November - December 2013 • www.riveredgenaturecenter.org
Thank you for
5 Riveredge Nature Center • November - December 2013 • www.riveredgenaturecenter.org
joining us!
6 Riveredge Nature Center • November - December 2013 • www.riveredgenaturecenter.org
BE A VOLUNTEER ! November
Handmade for the Holidays - November 23rd 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Assist local artists and crafters as they share their talents with families. No artistic skill needed, just the ability to work with children and follow directions.
JanuaryCelebrate Winter - January 25th 12 – 4pm
Help with games and outdoor activities, such as a sledding hill and snowball toss. We also need help with refreshments and crafts.
Please call or email Pat Fox-Schindler @ 262-375-2715 or volunteers@riveredge.us
with questions or to volunteer.
Handmade for the Holidays
2012
Habitat HealerTuesdays 9am – Noon
Gather with fellow nature lovers
to help restore and maintain the
sanctuary by removing invasives
species, collecting seeds, planting
and much more.
Teacher Naturalist
Join our teacher naturalist community and share you love of nature with future generations by leading weekday school field trips. Training provided.
Interpretive NaturalistLead hikes, activities and educational programs for adults and children on weekends and week nights. Training provided.
Scout Program Naturalist
Our Girl and Boy Scout programs are growing rapidly in popularity.
We need more naturalists that enjoy working with the scouts on various programs to help them with badge
work. Training provided.
Desk VolunteerAnswer phones, greet people and check out
items from our book/gift store. Bring your
homework and study when you’re not busy.
Great activity to volunteer with a friend; we
have a computer with internet for your use.
We especially need help on Saturday,
mornings and afternoons, and Sunday
afternoons.
Citizen Scientist
From birds to frogs to butterflies
to grasshoppers, Riveredge
participates in a number of
annual counts and surveys
throughout the year.
No experience necessary.
7 Riveredge Nature Center • November - December 2013 • www.riveredgenaturecenter.org
DEVELOPMENT
Michael DellegrazioDonna BenderBernard and Catherine BerntsonMichael and Joyce CaldwellMarlene ChristensenKevin and Linda CowanDance Trance D.C.Thomas and Colleen DennisonJoe and Dottie DorrSandra and Edward DowneyRobert Dries, Jr. and Jeanne DriesMark and Lori EbbertDale and Mary EricksonDr. Daniel GarciaGary and Barbara GermundsenThomas J. GoldingJames and Ruth GollnickFrank GrahekLinda and Bob GrossDawn and Michael HalloranJerry and Laura HenningBrian HuglenMark and Gayle HuglenVirgil and Jeanette IvieThomas and Lucille Keagy
Welcome! NEW MEMBERS8/1/13 - 9/30/13Rochelle Berndt and Bonnie SchaeferStephanie EgnerCourtney HaggertyMarilyn K. Haroldson and FamilyMargaret HuaJoelle JrolfSara LampJosh and Jessica LoppnowKyle Ressler and Julie MauleScott NehringColleen PedersenJason and Rachel PokornyRuth and Steve Prochaska
Please call Julia at 262-375-2715 if you would like more information or would like to schedule a meeting to discuss your plans to join the Maple Leaf Legacy Society.
Maple Leaf Legacy Society
George Affeldt, JrJean Ansay
Anonymous (6)Doug and Mary Bockstiegel
Carolyn Kenney Carter & Richard Carter
Noel Cutright & Kate RedmondFred (deceased) and Mary Dohmen
Hal and Patti Emch Jr.Pat Fairchild
Don and Barb GilmoreJames Huston
Peter and Sue HitlerDavid R. (deceased) and Beverly
A. Hotchkiss TrustGustav (deceased) and Bernice
JanssenWilliam and Charlotte Johnson
Lenore Juvan (deceased)Ronald and Kathleen Kabitzke
Bob and Nan KohlsNorm and Judy Lasca
Joan Marie LauxPeg Lewis
The Maple Leaf Legacy Society is a special group of individuals committed to leaving a legacy of leadership and responsibility to future generations by
including Riveredge Nature Center in their estate plans.
John and Lynne KoppWayne and Lois KruegerKurzweil / IntellitoolsDennis and Mary LafaiveRobert and Doris LaitinenFrank and Lise LombardoMichael B. LombardoLisa MurrayDavid and Diane NaumanJohn and Alisa NorquistBarbara OrtenKevin and Jacquelyn PapeDavid and Kristin PapkeNial and Karen PetersonHeather Porterfi eldLynda PriceMelanie QuallMichael and Therese SamelsonDorothy SchmidtLinda SchulteisJames and Judy SchwengelJohn and Patricia SmithPaul and Brenda SternKathleen K. ThieleSally WardMarilyn WrolstadGlenn Yurske
Roy M. RaderArt RetzlaffMatthew and Nickole SargentMelissa SchaschwaryStephen ScholzKristin StoddardAndrew and Abbe TaddyKimberly TenerelliKatheryn VanDerVelde-MoonLorraine WaddellRick WagnerKelly and Christopher Wood
Rex Borgenhagen(stugeon project)Lynne BerendsenCarolyn BoatmanPatricia BoatmanColleen Boatman-KatchenagoCarolann BorganhagenGay Lynn and Sky BorgenhagenNaomi BorgenhagenErin Borgenhagen-EdeAllen and Cheryl BuchholzKevin and Julie Dixon-SeidlDorothea and Eric EdeKristin EdeNadine EernisseDanny KernsCarol LaFrance
Ryan LepiankaCheryl LesniakLarry and Kathy McBainGary MonroeAshlee NelsonLora PaskoCynthia SamonteMichelle StarcherLynn ThiermannJohn and Kathy TholenKent TholenScott TholenWendy WalshGlenn and Kathleen WaltersKathleen WettengelDave Zoerb
Yves LaFranceCarol P. Raasch
MEMORIALS8/1/13 - 9/30/13
Benjamin BreckeCaregivers of the Good Hope LaboratoryHeather Taylor and Gale WeickeltRichard and Janice Tyler
Dan Burkett (bluebird trail)Joan Burkett
Tom TuttleHarold Emch, Jr. and Patti Emch
Clay HahnDonald and Barbara Gilmore
Doug WinquistDonald and Barbara Gilmore
Susan StowersDonald and Barbara Gilmore
Kathryn ReuterMary Iwen
Mark TorinusLori Steinbach
Sally LewisAl and Claudette Moll
Janet MontgomeryJane Moore
Alice and Tim NixonDan RamboJoan SchilkeLinda Short
Lori Steinbach William James Taylor
Thora VervorenR. Douglas and Sharon Ziegler
It seems that all remarkable ventures get their start with a small group of passionate people. The same is true of Riveredge. And now, 45 years into this grand experiment, you, too, are a Riveredge ambassador. Your volunteer time and financial contributions make possible the education of more than 10,000 children who visit the sanctuary every year, opportunities for families to discover the joy of play in the natural world, and research partnerships to preserve habitat for endangered wildlife and curb the spread of destructive invasives.
Please consider a gift, above your membership, to support the Riveredge Annual Fund. Membership only funds 5% of our annual costs. The balance is funded by grants, program revenue, endowment interest, and your donations.
Share your passion for the natural world--for environmental education, citizen science, and the conservation of native Wisconsin--to develop the next generation of nature lovers and preservationists and continue the Riveredge legacy of discovery.
Here are a few examples of how your support of the annual fund makes a difference:
$45 provides one trail sign$145 provides bus transportation for a school field trip$250 provides a summer camp scholarship$500 provides hands-on youth and family programs$1,000 clears Ash trees affected by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer$5,000 sponsors a partnering school
You may send a gift by mail with the enclosed envelope or call Julia at 262-375-2715.
NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDNewburg, WIPermit No. 1
Physical Address:4458 County Hwy YSaukville, WI 53080
Mailing Address:PO Box 26Newburg, WI 53060-0026
riveredge@riveredge.uswww.riveredgenaturecenter.org
May
/Jun
e 2013
* Handmade for the Holidays: Saturday, November 23* Yule Log Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7* Celebrate Winter: Saturday, January 25
Calendar design by local artist Lynne Bergschultz
Save the Date!
* Membership now includes free programs for kids and adults!
* The new All-Access Membership means you’ll enjoy even more
* Regular programs every Saturday at 10am and 1pm
RIVEREDGENATURECENTER
Celebrating45 years 1968 - 2013
Educate Today. Preserve Tomorrow.
HIKING TRAILS Open daily from
dawn to dusk
VISITOR CENTER Monday - Friday
8am to 5pm
Saturday9am to 4pm
SundayNoon to 4pm
262-375-2715262-375-2714 (Fax)