Announcements & Items of Interest

On May 28 and 29 of Memorial Day weekend 2010, The Nature Museum will premier the Pale Blue Dot. An adventure in learning for people of all ages, the Pale Blue Dot will showcase disparate voices and artistry on a variety of topics related to nature, science, and the environment - all designed to connect a wider group of people to the natural world and to their role in maintaining its good health.

Watch this stunning 6 minute video for views of the Pale Blue Dot and take a trip from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space...

It was the renowned scientist and astronomer Carl Sagan, who, upon seeing a photograph of Earth taken by Voyager 1 from a distance of 3.7 billion miles, described it as a "pale blue dot." Said Sagan, "That's here, that's home, that's us.... This distant image of our tiny world...underscores our responsibility...to preserve and cherish that pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known." We are delighted that his widow, Ann Druyan, has granted permission to The Nature Museum to use his description as the name of our event.

Weekend festivities will begin with a Friday night opening bash. The keynote speaker will be Jeffrey Hollender, founder and CEO of Seventh Generation, a Burlington, Vermont-based, self-declared "socially responsible" company. The company provides an extensive line of safe and environmentally-responsible household products for a healthy home and states it has for the past 20 years "been at the forefront of a cultural change in consumer behavior and business ethics."

Saturday will be a day full of outstanding speakers, hands-on activities, thought-provoking exhibits, art installations, musical performances, and fresh local food. The schedule will include different programs and activities especially created for children, teens, and adults.

A huge undertaking for The Nature Museum, this multi-dimensional event has the potential to attract and inform many new visitors at the Museum and surrounding area on May 28 and 29, 2010. Accordingly we have a wide variety of volunteer needs and opportunities. If you are an organization or individual interested in participating to help make this event a regional success, please contact the Museum at 802-843-2111 and help us spread the word.

Please check our website for more details as the inaugural date approaches. This will be an experience you and your family will not want to miss.

The Necessary Battle against Invasives

In a previous newsletter we focused on the very real threats to the forest products industry (fuel, lumbering, and maple sugar production, etc.) from invasive insects - specifically the Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorn Beetle, and the Wooly Adelgid - and why people should not bring firewood from more than 50 miles away or from other states into Vermont. Here we focus on invasive plants and why people need to control them.

One look at omnipresent Japanese knotweed flowering whitely beside roads and rivers makes it clear that Vermont has a serious problem with those unwanted aliens. And if you think that insects are the only threat to treasured sugar maples, think again. Norway maple are hardier, more salt tolerant, more prolific, and their seeds less desirable to wildlife. They are not as valuable for production of what might be called the "elixir of the gods" for which Vermont is so famous, their colors are not as beautiful, and their form is uglier, with an often distinctive thick lower limb that throws off the tree's symmetry. Moreover they are crowding sugar maples out.

Vermont, already coping with Buckthorn, various honeysuckles (for example: bush and vine), and other invasive plants, is just a few years behind the next alien explosion by Japanese barberry, burning bush (winged euonymus), and, yes, Norway maple. Those plants are here, and one year their numbers will explode. We need to stop them now.

Several factors distinguish non-native invasive plants and make them a threat to the native species we value and upon which wildlife depends for sustenance and overwintering habitats. The exotic species are incredibly hardy, exceedingly adaptable (to soils, light, water, salt, etc.), and prolific; have no natural enemies, no checks and balances, so vigorously displace more desirable plantings; frequently create a monoculture and exude a chemical into the soil that deters other plants; and can fool wildlife into laying eggs on the similar plant, often with deadly consequences. The classic example of that last situation is of the Monarch Butterfly, which depends upon the milkweed plant for nourishment to young. When invasive black swallow-wort is present, the female often lays her eggs on that plant by mistake (even though the invasive's pod is much smaller and narrower than the milkweed's), and when the young hatch, the caterpillars die because they do not have the proper nourishment.

To learn more about invasive plants in Vermont, go to http://vtinvasiveplants.org or www.nature.org/vermont. You can find information there on identification and control that will enable you to control these plants on your own property and motivate you to support local efforts to control these invaders on public lands.

The Vermont Invasive Exotic Species Committee and The Nature Conservancy [TNC] are collecting data to make the case that Japanese Barberry, burning bush, and Norway maple should be added to the quarantine list that prevents their sale in the state. They are looking for documentation of wild places (hedgerows, forests, fields, river banks, wetlands, etc.) on either public or private lands where these plants have naturalized. They are urging scores of citizens to complete a report form and submit it before the end of October. The form is on both websites and is another way individuals can help protect biological diversity.

Meanwhile, if you learn of a plant that has berries enjoyed widely by birds, reproduces quickly, grows in almost any condition, and has no enemies, chances are you are looking at a present or future invasive. Anyone interested in participating in a workday that will include some invasive removal, along with other trail maintenance, is invited to join Museum habitat efforts at the Village Park and other locations. Check the program listings to see if one will fit your schedule.

NEW! Starting January 1, 2010, regular Museum programs (not camps, fundraisers, or programs for which the Museum has additional expenses) will be free to Museum members! We are trying this experiment for a year. So please make sure you are a current member, bring your card along, and take advantage of our programs.

Nature Drawing Open House
Dates: All January and February weekends.
Donation: Members free; non-members Museum admission

Every weekend different creatures - maybe even an extinct bird! - from the Museum's collections will sit still for you to draw. Bring the family or come for quiet time alone. We will supply paper, pencils, and clipboards. You may take your work or display it at our Annual Community Nature Art Show opening on February 27

Tracking Wild Animals
Date: Thursday, January 14
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Place: Meet at the Springfield Public Library, 43 Main Street
Donation: Free

Museum Naturalists will help you become a Nature Detective and read the "stories" animals leave in the snow, sand, and mud. Co-sponsored by the Museum, Springfield Library, Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society, and partially funded by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

Botanical Drawing: Nature Up Close
Date: Saturday, January 16
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Ages: 8 and up
Donation: Members free; non-members $15

This nature-drawing course is designed for amateurs who want to practice and hone their drawing skills and for beginners who want to learn the basics of a skill that could become a lifetime hobby or profession. The class will include drawing from fresh specimens, items from our collections, and photographs, and focus on botanical sketching, scientific drawing, and techniques to heighten observation skills, coupled with individual instruction. Instructor Betsy Bennett Stacey, Director of Education, has a degree in Studio Art and has taught courses in nature journaling, beginning watercolor, and beginning drawing.

Nature Art and Games
Date: Tuesday, January 19
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Ages: 6 - 12
Donation: Member $25; non-member $35
• Pre-registration required

Join Museum Naturalists for a fun day exploring nature through science and art. Make animal sculptures from recycled wire and then play animal-themed games. Bring lunch, snack, and water.

Mighty Acorns Preschool Explorers Club
Date: Wednesday, January 20
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Ages: 3 - 5
Donation: Members free; non-members $7 (prices are for all participating children)
• Pre-registration requested

This monthly fun-filled program for preschoolers and their caregivers offers hands-on activities to foster creativity and connect children more closely to the natural world. Participants will explore the outdoors, visit different habitats, and enjoy museum resources through exhibits, puppet shows, and dramatic play.

Secrets of the Athens Dome
Date: Thursday, January 21
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Place: Meet at the Homestead Barn Room, opposite The Old Tavern in Grafton
Donation: Free

Naturalist Bob Anderson is working with other environmentalists to preserve the property. His PowerPoint presentation will show a rare and endangered plant on the property and the many other plants, animals, wetlands, and geologic features that make this historic area, which may have trails extended from Athens to Grafton, such an important piece for conservation and public education. Call the Tavern 802-843-2231 for dinner beforehand.

Astronomy Night
Date: Friday, January 22
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Place: Meet at Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center, 783 Townshend Road
Donation: Museum and SoVerA members free; non-member adults $10, children 18 and under $5, family maximum $25

A 45-minute SoVerA (Southern Vermont Astronomy) talk will be followed by a star party, if the sky is clear enough. Local amateur astronomers will share their telescopes to help us look deep into space.

Winter Wild Athens Dome Hike
Date: Sunday, January 24
Time: 1:00 - 3:30 PM
Place: Meet at the Museum to carpool
Donation: Museum and Pinnacle members free; non-members $10.
• Pre-registration required

Naturalist Bob Anderson will lead a moderately strenuous two-mile hike to search for moose and other animals and plants that thrive in this pristine environment. The hike up Mount Mitchell will reveal great views of Mount Ascutney. Bring snack and water. Co-sponsored by Pinnacle Association.

400 Million Years: The Geology of Windham County
Date: Wednesday, January 27
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Place: Meet at the Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster Street, Bellows Fall, VT
Donation: Free

From plate tectonics to glacial Lake Hitchcock, geologist Roger Haydock will present a program about the ancient history of our corner of the Earth. Co-sponsored by the Museum, Rockingham Library, Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society, and partially funded by TransCanada Corporation.

Herbal Tincture Making
Date: Saturday, January 30
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Minimum participants: 6
Donation: Members $25; non-members $35
• Pre-registration required by January 25

Learn the basics of tincture making, including alcohol, glycerin, and vinegar tinctures. Take away a handout revealing how to make tinctures at home. Start a tincture in class to take, shake, keep in a cool dark place, and later decant, filter, and use. Taught by Dr. Laura Senes, a Naturopathic Physician who practices in Saxtons River, VT, and teaches at the Community College of Vermont.

Wildlife Tracking Open House
Date: February 6 and 7
Time: Saturday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM and Sunday 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Donation: Members free; non-members Museum admission

Special hands-on exhibits, activities, and specimens will reveal how to be a tracker. After preparing, search Village Park trails to see what you can find. On Saturday, weather permitting, we'll have a naturalist-led tracking hike. Call ahead to learn the time of the hike and to register for it.

Great Backyard Bird Count
Date: Friday - Monday, February 12 - 15

Families, novice birders, or experts can count birds for as much time as they wish in their backyard, local parks, or wildlife refuges. Last year participants turned in more than 93,600 checklists online, creating the continent's largest instant snapshot of bird populations ever recorded. Visit www.birdcount.org or email gbbs@acornell.edu or citizenscience @audubon.org for information.

5th Annual Seed Celebration & Seed Exchange
Date: Saturday, February 13
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Place: Meet at Gilsum Community Center and Elementary School, Route 10, Gilsum Village, NH5

The Sustainability Project will offer information on local foods and farm initiatives, and how to plan your garden. Featured workshops this year include "Bee Keeping" with John Solomonides and "Make Food Your Medicine" with Alisa Andrews. This family-friendly event offers children's activities, a cafe featuring homemade soups, and hardy seeds for sale. For more information, visit www.emersonbrookforest.org.

Birding in Texas
Date: Wednesday, February 17
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Place: Meet at Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster Street, Bellows Fall, VT

Chris Petrak from South Newfane, VT, writes a weekly column for the Brattleboro Reformer on birds, birdwatching, and birdwatchers. His lecture will include photographs of native birds and their habitats from his birding adventures in Texas. Co-sponsored by the Museum, Rockingham Library, Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society, and partially funded by TransCanada Corporation.

Mighty Acorns Preschool Explorers Club
Date: Wednesday, February 24
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Ages: 3 - 5
Donation: Members free; non-members $7 (prices are for participating children)
• Pre-registration requested

See January 20 program

Adventures of an Amateur Archeologist in Alaska and Vermont
Date: Thursday, February 25
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Place: Meet at Springfield Public Library, 43 Main Street

From the Polar TREC program and life in Barrow, Alaska to the Green Mountains of Vermont, Chester teacher Frank Kelley will reveal his experiences learning about archaeology, native people, arctic science, and the challenges of becoming a writer and photographer. All ages are welcome for this interactive program. Co-sponsored by the Museum, Springfield Library, Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society, and partially funded by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

Astronomy Night
Date: Friday, February 26
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Place: Meet at Grafton Ponds, 763 Townshend Road in Grafton
Donation: Museum and SoVerA members free; non-member adults $10, children 12 and under $5, family maximum $25.

See January 22 program.

Opening of 6th Annual Community Nature Art Show
Date: Saturday, February 27

See works by area residents. You'll be amazed at their talents. Exhibit ends April 24. See the "Call for submissions" for more information.

Owl Detectives
Date: Tuesday, March 2
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Ages: 8 - 14
Donation: Members $25; non-members $35
Maximum: 15

We will investigate owls in our collection, their differences, and adaptations that make them such successful hunters. We'll dissect owl pellets, reconstruct them to identify what each owl actually ate, and use our new ELMO projector to examine the tiny bones and differences between bird feathers. We'll hike into owl habitat, search for signs, and learn to hoot to call them in. Bring lunch, snack, and water.

Influences of Third World Sustainable Agriculture on My First World Garden
Date: Thursday, March 4
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Place: Meet at the Homestead Barn Room opposite The Old Tavern
Donation: Members free; non-members $5

Enjoy images from Leigh Merinoff's field visits to sustainable gardens and journey through rural Africa, China, and the Americas. Leigh will discuss subsistence and sustainable agricultural procedures she encountered and their influence on her own development as a gardener and farmer, including agro-forestry, livestock, and inter-cropping techniques. Participants may sample different honey she collected from a dozen African and European beehives. Call the Tavern 802-843-2231 for dinner beforehand.

Snowshoe Trek to Mollie Beattie State Park and Historic Howeville
Date: Saturday, March 6
Time: 10:00 AM - Noon
Place: Meet at Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center, 783 Townshend Road
Donation: Members free; non-member Adult $10, children 18 and under $5, family maximum $25
• Pre-registration preferred

Depending on weather conditions, we will hike or snowshoe through a diverse habitats on this Naturalist-led exploration looking for winter wildlife signs. Bring snack and water. Co-sponsored by the Museum and Grafton Ponds.

Bookbinding Workshop: Pop-Up Books
Date: Saturday, March 13
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Snow Date April 2)
Place: Springfield, VT
Donation: Members $65; non-members $75; prices include materials
Minimum: 10
Maximum: 15
• Pre-registration required

Join Susan Bonthron of Otter Pond Bindery for this practical and inspiring workshop to integrate book arts into curricula. Build two books that could be recreated with students and that feature animals and plants "popping" out of their habitat with room for additional information about the species or habitat. Participating teachers will receive a certificate of completion for 7 hours.

Mighty Acorns Preschool Explorers Club
Date: Wednesday, March 17
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Ages: 3 - 5
Donation: Members free; non-members $7 (prices are for participating children)
• Pre-registration requested

See January 20 program

Wildlife Rehabilitation
Date: Wednesday, March 17
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Place: Meet at Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT

Experienced Wildlife Rehabilitator Fred Homer will share his stories about caring for a wide variety of birds. Co-sponsored by the Museum, Rockingham Library, Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society, and partially funded by Trans-Canada Corporation.

The Rush to Save a Thrush: Conservation of The Bicknell's Thrush
Date: Thursday, March 25
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Place: Meet at Springfield Public Library, 43 Main Street

Chris Rimmer from The Vermont Center for Ecostudies will lead this informative program about the Bicknell's Thrush, a land bird species of highest conservation concern in North America. The species is at risk from a variety of threats to its breeding habitats, including recreational development, telecommunication construction, wind-power development, acidic precipitation, mercury deposition, and climatic warming. Co-sponsored by the Museum, Springfield Library, Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society, and partially funded by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

Astronomy Night
Date: Friday, March 26
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Place: Meet at Grafton Ponds, 763 Townshend Road in Grafton
Donation: Museum and SoVerA members free; non-member adults $10, children 12 and under $5, family maximum $25.

See January 22 program.

Wilderness First Aid Course
Date: Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Place: Meet at the Student Conservation Association Campus in North Charlestown, NH
Donation: Members $170; non-members $195
• Pre-registration required

Fast-paced and hands-on, this two-day course covers wilderness medicine topics for people who travel, work, and play in the outdoors. The course is pre-approved by the American Camping Association, US Forest Service, and other government agencies. Can be used for wilderness medicine recertification by those with previous training. Contact Doug Caum for information or registration: dcaum@juno.com or 802-952-9239.

Vermont Maple Sugarmakers Official Open House
Date: Sunday, March 28
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM

The Ninth Annual Vermont Maple Open House Weekend will be held at sugarhouses throughout Vermont on March 26-28. For information, visit www.vermontmaple.org. Activities may differ at each sugarhouse but usually will include the opportunity to watch maple syrup being made and to sample maple products.

Save the Date: May 28-29, 2010

Mark Your Calendar! The Museum will premier a new event on Memorial Day Weekend 2010. We have received permission from Ann Druyan, widow of acclaimed astronomist Carl Sagan, to use her husband's famous description of our planet as the name for our new event: Pale Blue Dot. Here are Carl Sagan's words about a photo taken of the Earth by Voyager 1 as it ventured farther into space.

We succeeded in taking that picture [from deep space], and, if you look at it, you see a dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever lived, lived out their lives.... The earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. This distant image of our tiny world...underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly and compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish that pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.

Our mission at the Nature Museum is to connect a wider group of people to the science, beauty, and wonder of the natural world and to their role in maintaining its good health. "Pale Blue Dot: Voices for a Small Planet" is part of our strategy to accomplish this goal. This two-day event will feature a top-notch list of speakers, workshops, artists, installations, exhibits with food, and festivities galore. The schedule will include different programs and activities especially created for children, teens, and adults. If you are an organization or individual interested in participating to make in this event a regional success, please contact the Museum and help us spread the word. Look for more details as the inaugural date approaches. It will be an experience that you and your family will not want to miss.

In September The Nature Museum began doubling its presence at the three elementary schools in Springfield, Vermont. Regular science lessons in all 31 classes, K-5, will augment Museum nature programs.

Five classes of fourth graders started the eighth year of the Connecticut River Watershed Program and are looking forward to receiving salmon eggs in late January or early February from the White River Fish Hatchery in Bethel, VT. The students will maintain three chilled aquariums in which the tiny eggs will hatch and grow into 1.5-inch "fry." Students will study and document each stage of salmon development, release the fry into the Black River in mid-May, and then go to the Springweather Nature Area to plant trees along the river's edge. The trees will help stabilize the riverbanks, provide habitat for wildlife, and keep the water cooler for its aquatic inhabitants. "We planted a forest!" whispered one student last May after completing her highly anticipated day of Community Service.

Other classes are studying everything from local woodland ecosystems to the universe. Students have looked at local trees, seeds, and different soils, as well as the wide world of insects. Third graders recently completed a unit on the solar system, and first graders are now learning about solids and liquids.

Due to construction at Elm and at Union, access to the woods at both schools has been temporarily restricted. The good news is that each school community will have the opportunity to design new nature trails and outdoor classrooms next year. The Nature Museum is eager to help with that process.

Teaching Teachers

Naturally drawn to nature, children enjoy investigating it and learning by experience. By building upon their attraction to the wild and the creatures that dwell therein and by directing and honing their abilities to observe, record, experiment, and draw conclusions, children can improve their ability to apply the same techniques to other aspects of their school and personal lives. These techniques can make the learning process easier, more personal, and more meaningful. In addition, children quickly realize that learning opportunities are around them all the time and are fun. This transforming place-based education process is one the Museum has used for years. For over three years it also has shared its philosophy, expertise, and practical techniques for application with teachers in two summer Teacher Institutes funded by the Wellborn Ecology Fund, which is part of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

This past summer Museum Director of Education Betsy Stacey led two more of our well-known teacher-training courses - aided by Betsy Owen, part-time Museum staff and Science Education Coordinator for the Springfield Schools; Lynn Morgan, Naturalist Educator at the Museum; Sage Maurer, Museum Summer Intern and student at Antioch New England Graduate School; and visiting experts Michael Caduto, storyteller and naturalist extraordinaire, and Susan Bonthron, educator and bookbinder of Otter Pond Bindery. Paramount to the successful instruction in these sessions for the teachers is their direct and personal outdoor experience in a rural setting, unlike the standard classroom, coupled with scheduled free time for quiet meditation, writing, and the opportunity to interact and converse informally with other teachers.

This summer's 21 participants - 18 women and 3 men - included teachers for grades 1 through 8, three librarians, and a woman who works with blind students throughout Southeastern Vermont. The educators came from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands; Ohio; Lebanon and Newport, NH; and Springfield, Thetford, South Royalton, East Montpelier, and Hartland, VT. Nine attended the Nature Journaling Institute in Grafton, and 12 attended the Nature Writing Institute at Moose Mountain Lodge in Etna, NH.

Most teachers at the Nature Journaling Institute truly loved the beaver lesson; they visited Skip Lisle's beautiful beaver pond and learned to incorporate the ecological history of beavers in their lesson. Nature Writers enjoyed the combination of science, writing, and art. They had a chance to collect live insects, frogs, and tadpoles and write poetry and scientific essays about them. Attendees at both Institutes enjoyed the food and lodging and valued the chance to work on their own journaling and writing skills while acquiring effective, tangible, interdisciplinary activities for their classrooms.

The Nature Museum has an excellent reputation for high-quality programs that teach meaningful ways to retain and develop information and learning techniques. Evaluations from these two courses reinforce that reputation.

Some Teacher Comments about the Institute Workshops:

"This course opened me up to the importance of connecting to nature through emotion and helping kids learn by connecting content to emotion."

"There is a great emphasis on writing in our school. This course will help me encourage children to take risks, to still themselves, to observe AND to write. This is one of the most useful workshops I have taken in my career. Thanks so much."

Museum Advocates are those curious individuals who love going to museums in their leisure time - but where do Museum Advocates come from? And do they have childhood experiences that are similar?

To find out, last summer we asked 110 Museum Advocates in their 20s and 30s to tell us about their earliest childhood museum memories, and then coded those memories to look for patterns. Additionally, this spring we gathered 501 early museum memories of museum professionals (one from a study of science museum employees, the other from a survey of New England Museum Association members). While museum professionals are different than the general public, what we found generally reinforced the findings from our 110 Museum Advocates....

Common Themes

For all 611 respondents, the mean, median, and mode of earliest museum memories is age seven. Seven (give or take a year) appears to be a particularly "sticky" time when memories are being made and retained, and museums have the power to create those memories.

For about 2/3 of respondents, memories include one or both parents.

Although some individuals specifically mentioned their mom or dad, generally respondents referred to parents or family, implying both parents. Given that our research indicates about a third of moms visit museums with their spouses, this also implies that dad may be rather important to raising new generations of Museum Advocates....

For about _ of respondents, however, earliest memories were of school field trips, with no mention of any parent. We were heartened to see this as we were initially afraid we would see a pattern that Museum Advocacy was almost exclusively handed down from parent to child. Instead, there is a clear path for youngsters to become engaged with museums regardless of the engagement of their parent...through school field trips. School field trips appear to be incredibly important not only to learning and visitation in the short-term, but also for the long-term sustainability of museums and to create a strong pipeline of museum professionals. So we are increasingly troubled not only by the cuts in field trips by school districts, but also in the number of museums that are discontinuing field trip programming.

What They See Is Important

And when it comes to those early memories, what they see may actually be more important than what they do. About a third of early memories came from natural history museums alone, a disproportionate number, indicating that natural history museums may have a disproportionate impact on the creation of young Museum Advocates. Additionally, art museums and history-based showed up at high rates. Why these types of museums? Memories tended to be of large-scale, static exhibits that promote internal activity and imagination. Dioramas, dollhouses, suits of armor, dinosaurs, period rooms. Objects and exhibits that tend to be highly narrative appeared time and time again. One of our favorite memories clearly illustrates how a static object can spark internal cognitive activity: "[I was] maybe 4 years old and running around under the huge whale....I pretended I was swimming with him - and we were friends."

Other museum types do not appear in as many memories. At first we thought age might be the issue, in that older Museum Advocates were young children before large numbers of children's museums and science centers, in particular, were around. But when we control for age and only look at respondents in their 20s and 30s, still these types of museums do not show up at nearly the rate of other types. The only exception? Overall, current employees (of all ages) of science centers were more likely to remember visits to science centers.

The low incidence of children's museums is relatively easy to explain.

Many families stop going to children's museums when they feel their oldest child has started to grow out of it, typically around age five or six...and before that magic age of seven. So a smaller incidence makes sense. The low incidence of science centers is a puzzle, however, though a few more details may shed some light on this, and give us paths of inquiry for future research.

First, the memories from these types of museums are less detailed from natural history, history, and art museums. Memories tend to be less vivid, more concise. A typical one might be "went to the science center with my class." Quite a difference. At this time, we are postulating that the different narrative quality of the exhibits may be key to this difference.

The second thing we noticed is that, overall, hands-on experiences were in very short supply in the collected memories, even, again, when we controlled for age and only looked at younger adults. Overall, fewer than five percent of memories included a hands-on activity. And, of course, children's museums and science centers are highly hands-on.

Does this mean hands-on activities are not as important as traditional, static, artifact-based exhibits? Not at all. Hands-on activities have been shown to be a tremendously valuable learning format. Just, for whatever reason, they are not as memorable. We would suggest that museums continue to offer both types of experiences as they provide different, but equally important, learning opportunities. Besides, parents of young children view hands-on activities as absolutely essential for a visit. No question. They expect them.

These results are, as mentioned earlier, only preliminary, and just scratch the surface of what we think is a very rich vein of future research.

Summarized from an August 2009 article in Museum Audience Insight E-News with permission from authors Susie Wilkening and James Chung, who have just published a new book entitled Life Stages of the Museum Visitor: Building Engagement Over a Lifetime. If you would like to share your early museum memories and help the authors with their research, email Susie Wilkening at Susie@reachadvisors.com.

Unique holiday wreaths by Melissa Gullotti, top, and by the mother-and-daughter team of Stevie Hudson and Jamie Freitas.

Fall Highlights
In the last three months we initiated two new program fundraisers for the Museum and its members and visitors. The first Fairy Houses Tour in Vermont attracted scores of people from around the Northeast. In our first holiday wreath workshop people selected items from a massive array of natural materials and then decorated a totally personal evergreen wreath. We will repeat both popular events in 2010. The experiences inspired people to examine nature closely and appreciate its beauties, and introduced new people to the Museum and its educational programs.

Other unusual programs included a silversmithing demonstration by Catherine Cannnon of Rupert, VT, who created a silver pendant featuring part of an actual butterfly wing. The heirloom apple-tasting session at Alyson's Orchards in Walpole, NH, introduced people to delicious old varieties and movements to protect them. A tour of her property by Liisa Kissel introduced participants to lesser-known trees hardy to the area. For the first time, Museum staff and volunteers participated in the Annual Source-to-the-Sea Cleanup along the Connecticut River by clearing a section below the Fish Ladder and Visitor's Center in Bellows Falls; we will plan to tackle that section again next year. A fascinating "36 Miles of Trouble Hike" of the West River Railroad's track beds (along with a visit to the restored South Londonderry railroad station) opened a door to new trail and railroad enthusiasts, so we are searching for more of these old track trails. If you can reveal some of those natural and historic features, please let us know.

Grants
A grant from the Grafton Fund of the Windham Foundation permitted us to purchase an ELMO projector and a large screen that will be permanently mounted in our Program Room. These items will allow a closer investigation of nature with group discussion of the details. Another Windham grant has funded some small digital screens that will allow us to interpret and expand some of our larger dioramas and displays with additional, new information. We are working on enhancements to the beaver diorama and the mine. If anyone has the equipment and ability to film beavers in action, please let us know. We would like to add actual beaver videos to the new information.

Interns
Three students from Antioch New England Graduate School in Keene, NH, will help the Museum expand its educational programs and exhibits this winter. Demonstrating appreciation for the Museum's productive educational efforts and its positive impact in the region, two of our interns are returning for a second 150-hour commitment! We are delighted to have the enthusiastic and skilled help of all of these women.

Sage Maurer will continue to work in education by focusing on creating signs and informational packets for our garden and writing for our upcoming blog that will augment our Nature Journaling classes for educators. Jennifer Bowman will continue to work on the exhibits at The Fish Ladder and Watershed Visitor's Center in Bellows Falls. She plans to create murals, a binder of local wildlife information, and many additional interactive exhibits to engage future Fish Ladder visitors.

New intern Leigh Reynolds is pursuing a Master's degree in elementary education with a focus on environmental education. She will dedicate 300 hours by shadowing our educators and then teaching camps and both public and school programs. She also will correlate our school programs with State of Vermont education standards and create curricula to help students understand inquiry-based science more thoroughly.

Thank You to Sue Nostrand
Sue Nostrand of Chester is leaving the Museum's Board of Directors after 17 loyal and active years when she also taught programs and was the Coordinator for the Museum's Second Nature Shop. Staff and Board Members appreciate her remarkably positive attitude, naturalist experience, passion for educating young people, and her practical, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable help. We will miss weekly contact with her, but are very glad she will continue to volunteer to help educate children and adults. She is a volunteer extraordinaire!

Apart from the elimination of trees that comes from development, acid rain, and global warming, the greatest immediate threats to the forest products industry (fuel, lumbering, and maple sugar production, etc.) come from invasive insects: specifically the Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorn Beetle, and the Wooly Adelgid. The adelgid is already in Vermont. The Asian Longhorn Beetle is 50 miles away in Worcester, MA, where it devastated 65 square miles, and the Emerald Ash Borer is 30 miles away from the Vermont border in Quebec, Canada. All are on the move, and global warming is diminishing the cold’s lethal effect on them. Therefore residents and visitors are urged NOT to transport any diseased wood and NOT to move any firewood more than 50 miles. Instead, buy local firewood. These insects could have a devastating effect on Vermont and other New England forests.

The target of the Emerald Ash Borer is obvious, and combined ash species make ash the tenth most common tree in Vermont. This powerful, tiny insect killed more than 40 million trees in Michigan because it heads straight to the cambium layer of the trees…the business layer. You can see its serpentine munching meanderings, which quickly girdle the tree, under the bark. Not so obvious to the eye as the much larger Asian Longhorn Beetle, the borer has a distinctive dark green color. Also distinctive are its exit holes, which look like a capital D, about 1/8” wide, lying on its back. The Asian Longhorn Beetle, on the other hand, prefers maples, although it will attack birches, elms, horsechestnuts, willows and, occasionally, ashes, Euro-pean mountain ash, London plane tree, mimosa, and poplars. The only good points about this enemy are that it is big and distinctive, and it works more slowly than the Ash Borer because it burrows into the heartwood of the trees and not the more important cambium layer. The larva is huge. The shiny beetle’s exterior looks like black patent leather with clear white spots even on its antennae. Its larval exit holes are round and about _ inch in diameter. When found, the adult beetle should be put in a jar and frozen. Then call toll free 866-702-9938. The infested trees will need to be removed, chipped, and burned swiftly.

The Wooly Adelgid was noticed in Vermont in 2007. It infects hemlocks, which are Vermont’s seventh most common tree. Hemlocks help with deer cover in winter, provide bank stabilization and prevent sedimentation of waterways, aid water quality by filtering pollutants and nutrients, and help fish populations by shading and cooling streams. Emissible oil spray in the early spring helps smother the insects and doesn’t hurt the plants. Serious cases of infestation might require insecticides, but whole forests are impossible to control, so early detection is essential. Some scientists believe the insect is spread by birds, as well as by wind and transportation of infected wood items, and are suggesting that any birdfeeders or birdhouses be positioned at least 100’ away from any hemlock trees, especially those that are already infected.

Citizen scientists and interested individuals are being trained and urged to be on the lookout for these insects. Report sightings to the Vermont Forest Biology Laboratory at 802-241-3609. For more information visit www.emeraldashborer.info, www.aphis.usda.gov, www.saveourhemlocks.org, www.anr.state.vt.us.

To see a series of humorous videos about a most serious pest, visit www.dontmovefirewood.org and especially “The Emerson Family Goes Camping.” You also can pick up ID cards and free informative fliers on these dangerous insects at the Museum.

Chris Sherwin of Sherwin Art Glass Street in Bellows Falls, VT, will display paperweights and other works January 9 through February 20. Chris apprenticed with Simon Pierce, Inc., in Vermont before moving to California to learn iridescent and torchworking techniques from "masters of the trade" at Orient & Flume Art Glass. He returned to New England in 2005 and opened his studio at 33 Bridge Street. His design ideas come from the beauty he finds in Nature, as well as from family, friends, and studio visitors. When designing a piece, his goal is to allow the decoration or floral pattern to dictate the form of the piece so as to provide harmony between the two. Find Chris at his studio by chance or appointment. Contact him www.sherwinartglass.com for information on glass-blowing demonstrations.

Visions of Nature

Chauncey Cable's Birdcarvings

Chancey Cable carved birds for over 50 years. The Museum will display his work during March and April as part of the Community Nature Art Exhibit. Mr. Cable's son, Jack Cable of Chester, has brought us his father's work to honor the man who carved birds up until his death at age 94. A DVD entitled "Birdcarving for Beginners" is about the work of Chauncey Cable and will be shown with the display.

Best Birthday Present Ever!

Starting from the time their friend Ed Ruck found the owl in their Vermont woods, Jay and Valerie Jackman of Plymouth worked determinedly to have the magnificent bird professionally mounted and displayed in a fitting cabinet that would provide a stunning new diorama that would be unveiled at the Museum's Birthday Party.

Under the Museum's permit, Jay had Wilderness Taxidermy of Chester begin mounting the owl with wings outspread. Jay then secured the artistry of master painter Richard Emery of Weathersfield, who had painted diorama backgrounds before for Jay, and stunning wormy butternut for the cabinet from Thomas Peck of Andover. Wood in hand, Jay began constructing the case, planing and gouging the wood by hand to form the cabinet and cornice. While the owl was being prepared and drying, Richard began painting the background and making rocks and other items to form the foreground. Meanwhile Jay was coordinating other contributors: Valerie Jackman for help with staining and foreground supplies; Paul Putnam of Chester for help with delivery; Acrylic Design of North Springfield for a donation of the "glass" front; and Jeffrey Rubin of Plymouth for financial support. Upon hearing about the project, Kevin O'Donnell of Chester gave a donation toward the Museum's taxidermy expense.

As a result, the Museum -- at very little cost -- was able to obtain a superb owl in a most beautiful display case to add to the Museum's comprehensive owl collection displayed on the first floor. The Museum thanks all involved. Because of their talents and generosity, they performed a near miracle in a matter of weeks, and now all future Museum visitors will enjoy the same surprise!

Members can visit the Museum and see new monthly exhibits at no cost and can choose from many free or discounted programs throughout the year, in addition to other benefits, such as receiving advance notice of programs, camps, and special events. For more program information, make sure to check the Events section of the Newsletter, or call 802-843-2111.

Announcements & Items of Interest

Nature Museum is Twenty!

The Museum’s 20th Birthday party on May 23 was a wonderful gift to the community — a true jubilation with balloons, bubbles, and a gigantic leaping logo cake with ice cream. Around 250 guests, many of whom were first–time visitors to both Grafton and the Museum — came out on a glorious day to participate in a variety of fun, free activities at the Museum and around the town. The Chapel was packed for Troy Wunderle’s Big Top Bubble Blast with adults and children fascinated by the engaging circus performer, his amazing bubbles, and the obvious joy of young participants from the audience.

Later in the afternoon The Junkman, aka Donald Knack, gave everyone a new appreciation for found objects and their extended value in music. He then filled the White Church stage with percussionists of all ages who made music on recycled detergent bottles, hub caps, pots, window shutters, and other “junk” as they rhythmically sang about saving water and recycling. In between events, families picnicked on the Museum’s lawn, enjoyed games in the garden, and toured the collections.

Museum Board and staff thank all the many volunteers and businesses who gave their time and energy to help make the party such a stupendous success.

First Vermont Fairy Houses Tour At The Nature Museum at Grafton

Saturday, September 26, 11-4
Sunday, September 27, 1-4

• Get ready for the first Fairy Houses Tour in Vermont with Tracy Kane!
• Get inspired with books from our 2009 Reading List!
• Start collecting your own natural materials to help build a house.
• Take the tour and see houses and villages made by many different individuals, groups, and businesses.
• Meet Tracy Kane, get her autograph, and learn more about these special places.
• Then make your own house to display at the Museum Village.

Enjoy this fun for all ages!

More Details!

View from the Board

As we celebrate the Museum’s 20th birthday we look back at the visionary people whose strong determination and clear direction brought about the creation of our organization. We owe a debt of gratitude to our founders Don Clark and Sue Hadden. From the beginning Don and Sue’s focus was to foster scientific wonder, beauty, and delight in New England’s earth, sea, and skies. This tireless dynamic duo used Don’s extensive personal collections as the foundation for the Museum’s displays and opened the original Museum above the Grafton Town Hall in 1989. Under the guidance of Don and Sue, and with the help of a committed board, the Museum began offering educational programs. So successful were their offerings that within ten years the Museum had already outgrown its home.

Once again hard work and clear purpose paid off as the visionary Board took a leap of faith and initiated a successful capital campaign to purchase the Grafton Grange as the Museum’s new residence. After extensive remodeling the Nature Museum opened in 1999 in its present location on Townshend Road. Over the last decade the Museum’s collections and educational programs have continually expanded. In 2008 we presented over 400 programs in 40 towns and touched the lives of almost 10,000 participants. This is a history of which we can be very proud. It is also good to remind ourselves that our beloved little Museum began with two dedicated individuals coming together with a passion for a common purpose. We certainly have cause for gratitude and for celebration, and celebrate we didl!

• By Bonnie Caruthers

Moths are often maligned as the pesky flyers around the porch light or, worse, closet and pantry marauders. True, most moths do fly at night or hide themselves away in dark places. However, our focus here is on a different group of moths altogether. Unlike butterflies and other moths, these moths won’t flit from flower to flower because they do not eat — at least not in their short adult life. These interesting flyers have no mouthparts as adults and are all about reproduction.

What are these creatures of the night that have a wingspan the breadth of a man’s hand, with colors and markings that rival those of many butterflies? What are these neighbors of the night that demand no nourishment, no sustenance? They are wild silk moths!

If you have been fortunate enough to see one or more of these lovely insects, it is not a sight you will soon forget. Due to their large size, some can be confused with our indigenous small brown bat. The most common natives to New England are the luna, polyphemus, promethea, io and cecropia moths. They are all of the family Saturniidae, which includes the largest in the world, the Atlas moth, hailing from Asia with a wingspan of up to one foot! The cecropia is the largest moth in North America — sometimes attaining a wingspan exceeding six inches. It is also well known in its larval, or caterpillar, stage due to its enormous size and colorful knobs (or tubercles) that adorn its blue-green body.

I am in my eleventh season of spending intimate time with these extraordinary creatures. I am there as they emerge from their wintered-over cocoons. I place my female moths out to attract wild males for mating, collect a handful of the hundreds of eggs each will produce, and raise the tiny caterpillars right from the egg. They feed for 5-8 weeks all summer — mostly on a selection of trees and shrubs in various habitats — as they grow to two to over four inches, are smooth to spiny, or are decorated with what seems like bells and whistles! I then watch in awe as they magically spin their silken robes for a long winter slumber once again. Of the 100-300 eggs these creatures can deposit, barely 2% will make it to the adult moth. They struggle with both natural and human-induced causes of decline. As caterpillars, they are prey to parasitoid wasps and flies and can succumb to a variety of diseases — bacterial, fungal and viral. Some are meals for birds, and in their pupal stage they are often found in fall, winter or spring by hungry mammals. Habitat degradation and pesticides also take a toll.

Nature’s checks and balances have somehow managed to keep plenty of these winged wonders among us. But there is now a new and serious threat. It is a tachnid fly, which was introduced in the early 1900s to control gypsy moths. The fly now attacks hundreds of hosts in three different insect orders — including Lepidoptera. Our native Saturniid caterpillars' size and feeding habits make them ideal marks for this multi- generational fly, which inserts its larvae directly into its host. Research is being done, but alas, few have adequate funding and resources.

There is not much we can do about the natural and non- native impacts, but individually each of us can take action to help these insects’ overall survival through their stages.

• Bonnie J. Caruthers is a naturalist, freelance nature photographer, and writer living in Walpole, NH. She frequently speaks on Backyard Pollina- tor Conservation, Wild Silk Moths and Native & Invasive Plants. For some up-close moth encounters, visit her photo exhibit at Strand Style Studio, upstairs at 55 Village Square in Bellows Falls, VT, through September. Or come to her program at the Museum on Friday, July 10 at 10:00 AM.

How You Can Help Gentle Giants ~ Tips from Bonnie Caruthers

• While some moths winter over as eggs on stems, the luna, polyphemus and io moths spin their cocoons that range from tight and hard to papery and then fall to the ground. These may end up in the compost pile or garbage when you rake and toss. If you can resist having a spotless yard, you may have more night flyers the following summer. Also you may not be destroying the overwintering chrysalises of butterfly pollinators, such as spicebush swallowtails.

• Some moths burrow into the ground and remain as "naked" pupae all winter. If you unearth one while digging, gently replace it.

• Avoid the urge to seek and destroy every crawly that nibbles on a leaf! Often the bigger it is, the more it may seem creepy; yet it may just be one of our Gentle Giants.

• Minimize or stop your use of pesticides.

Polyphemus moth. Copyright © Bonnie J. Caruthers

Cecropia Caterpillar. Copyright © Bonnie J. Caruthers

• By Rick Enser

…It’s easy to ignore the myriad organisms on which we depend. Most are small, unnoticeable creatures that we label as pests. But as we support local farmers and seek to sustain ourselves from our own gardens, we must remember that our endeavors would not be possible without pollinators…

Pollination is the essential reproductive strategy of the world’s more than 240,000 flowering plants – at least three-quarters rely on an animal to conduct the necessary transfer of pollen. The best-known pollinator is the honey bee (Apis melifera), which effectively pollinates more than 100 commercially-grown crops in North America….But the honey bee is not alone, and is not even native to this continent. For the millennia prior to the bee’s introduction, pollination was performed by a multitude of native insects, including solitary bees, wasps, flies, beetles, moths, butterflies, and thrips, as well as birds and a few mammals.

Honey bees were first introduced to North America at the Virginia colony in the early 1600s. Beekeeping moved slowly north, arriving in Vermont around 1720. At first, bees were kept in makeshift hives and allowed to gather and hoard their honey supply. In the fall, keepers would kill the bees with a sulfur gas and destroy the hive to collect the honey, hoping they would find wild swarms and restock in the spring.

In 1862, modern apiculture was born when L.L. Langstroth developed the movable-frame, top-bar hive. By permitting access to the hive’s interior, honey could be collected without destroying the occupants. Beekeeping flourished, and by 1900 Vermont and Maine led New England in honey production.

In 1947, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated there were 5.9 million colonies in the United States, but by 2005 that number had dropped to 2.4 million. Much of the decline has been attributed to the Varroa mite, a tiny parasite that lays its eggs in comb cells so its young can feed on the developing bee larvae. An infected hive will fail within one or two years.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) gained media coverage in 2006, when some large beekeeping operations in the U.S. reported losses as high as 80% of their hives. Many causes have been suggested for CCD, including…genetically-modified crops, malnutrition, and use of synthetic pesticides….Experts are now saying that CCD is more likely caused by a combination of factors that stress and weaken a colony to the point of collapse. Among these stressors are malnutrition, long-distance transport of hives, Varroa mites, viral infections, other diseases (such as American Foul Brood), and the use of chemicals to control these pathogens.

According to Steve Parise, the VT State Apiculturist, CCD has not yet been reported in Vermont. “The decline of honey bees,” he reports, “has not been as evident here, and the number of beekeepers [about 1,600] and annual production of honey [500,000 pounds] has remained fairly constant the past few years.” This brighter picture speaks to good hive husbandry practiced by many VT beekeepers, most of whom keep fewer than five hives. Also, many have adopted an organic approach that, in Ross Conrad’s view, “reduces stress on the bees, and is why organic beekeepers seem to be faring better during these times of such devastating losses elsewhere.”

Still, Vermont’s beekeepers must remain diligent in protecting themselves from losses caused by Varroa mites...many keepers are breeding their own replacement stock with bees resistant to mite and viral problems…

Although honey bees are faring relatively well in Vermont, there is growing concern about wild pollinators. There are 49 species of bumble bees in the United States (18 in Vermont), and some have become commercially important because they function as “buzz-pollinators” – a bee that literally vibrates pollen grains from the anthers of certain flowers, including cranberry, blueberry, tomato, and cucumber. As an alternative to honey bees (which do not buzz-pollinate), several bumble bees are imported and managed for crop production, most notably greenhouse-cultivated tomatoes. However, imported bumble bees often escape to the wild, where they can potentially infect native populations with pathogens that arise in confined colonies. As a result, several species of native bumble bees have suffered significant declines.

In 2007, the National Academy of Sciences warned that “pollinator decline is one form of global change that has a credible potential to alter the shape and structure of the terrestrial world.” Landowners throughout Vermont can improve habitat for native pollinators by doing three basic things.

First, provide a diversity and abundance of pollen and nectar sources by planting flowers that bloom at different times during the growing season…Native or naturalized plants are best, since they have adapted to local growing conditions and native pollinators have evolved along with them.

Second, provide quality nesting sites. Because many native bees nest in soil, provide patches of bare ground adjacent to crop fields and gardens…. For guidelines for constructing nest boxes (and selecting beneficial plants) see the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation website, www.xerces.org.

Third, cut back or eliminate the use of pesticides. If chemicals are deemed necessary, choose ones that directly target specific weeds or pests, and make sure application methods reduce drift into natural habitats and are used at night, when bees are inactive. The Natural Resource Conservation Service’s website, www.nrcs.usda.gov, offers guidance on how to improve pollinator habitat through such actions as the creation of hedgerows and wildflower meadows.

Homeowners can also learn to tolerate weeds along property edges and allow old fields to repopulate with weeds and wildflowers. Simple measures like these will help perpetuate healthy populations of beneficial insects and ensure that the pollination services they perform in Vermont will continue to enhance our local food production for years to come.

The Museum is seeking donations – perhaps in honor or memory of a special person or event – to fund four items in time for the Museum’s Birthday Party on May 23.

• 3 unique 5’ indoor benches with arms @ $300 each
• 1 mystery specimen now at the taxidermist @ $350

Anyone interested in discovering more about the items or funding them should call Lillian Willis at the Museum.

New Mountain Lion Sighting at the Museum:“Catamount”

Slate Carving by Frank Mather

Gift of Peggy Blumenthal and Doug Murray, 2009

When Doug Murray and Peggy Blumenthal went to the annual Kings Mountain Art Fair in California in 2003, a carved slate sculpture of a Catamount immediately caught their attention because of then-recent “sightings” in and around Grafton, as well as the diorama at the top of the Museum stairs.  When the artist revealed the slate had come from Pawlet, Vermont, the couple purchased the work with an eye toward giving it to the Museum.  Upon moving from their Eastman Road house in Grafton, they donated the work to the Museum and then sent this information about the sculptor.

The Catamount’s artist Frank Mather was born and raised on the East Coast and learned his sense of craftsmanship and respect for natural materials from his father, a master woodworker.  Mather began sculpting in college and, following graduation in 1967, moved to the San Francisco Bay Area.  The inspiration to carve directly in slate came from exposure to low-relief stone carvings during a hiking trip to Nepal in 1972, so he developed the techniques and hand tools necessary to accomplish the elegant lines and fine detail in his work.

Mather’s original carving was created by hand from a single piece of slate, a durable, weather-resistant stone that could allow his unique carving to be placed outdoors.  All colors are the natural colors of the slate itself.

The Museum is delighted to have this artistic interpretation of a most impressive, once-native species. Thank you, Doug and Peggy!

Spring has sprung, and new life is blossoming at the Museum, literally! Director of Education Betsy Bennett Stacey has returned from maternity leave, so visitors occasionally may glimpse charming Mackenzie Claire Stacey, born on February 7, 2009. Other recent new additions involve exhibits, programs, and the building itself.

Exhibits. A most appropriate stone sculpture arrived (see Catamount article), and plans call for a mystery specimen to be unveiled at the Museum's Birthday Party on May 23. Meanwhile we are negotiating with artists and collectors to have a new artistic exhibit and/or collection every month or two. These exhibits will complement our permanent collections, seasonal displays, and featured programs. For instance, fishing season opened in April, so we have insect, amphibian, and fish exhibits on display. Rotating every two weeks now through fall, there also will be one or more live amphibians or reptiles visiting the Museum. Starting in May, courtesy of Dick Warren, honey bees once again will be visible in an enclosed hive on the second floor. An article on those insects, vital to farming and sustainable agriculture, is in this newsletter.

Programs. Starting in May a new monthly series of guided hikes for women will take place, in different locations in Vermont and New Hampshire and with different leaders, on the second Tuesday of each month from 9:30-11 AM. If men wish such a hike, let us know. We also are aiming for one weekend hike a month for families and individuals. We welcome your suggestions for locations and leaders.

Our renowned summer Nature Journaling/Writing Institutes for educators will continue again this year. Interested teachers may go online to get information or call Betsy Stacey. And because it isn't just through writing that people interpret and learn from nature, the Museum is offering free to visitors sketching pads and pencils that they may use in the Museum or gardens and then return to the desk. Our birds hold still enough for people of all ages to draw and compare them! Other still-life wildlife may be brought from our archives upon advance request.

Creations inspired by nature will continue with the Museum's hosting of the first Fairy House Tour to be held in Vermont! Watch for more information about the tour on September 26 and 27, when participants can meet Fairy House books author Tracy Kane.

Building. We've brought benches into the Museum to make people comfortable when discussing a diorama or exhibit, and are working on securing some seating created out of Vermont wood by a Vermont woodworker. We're making changes to the Museum's exhibits, entrance area, and to the Second Nature Shop, which has new merchandise for sale and now has items and books sorted by topic.

New Mission Statement. The Museum's 2009 Mission reflects its work in hands-on, place-based environmental education for people of all ages through its school, library, and public programs; hikes; workshops; teacher and volunteer training sessions; and exhibits at the Museum and at the Fish Ladder facility on the Connecticut River in Bellows Falls.

The Nature Museum is a regional resource for nature, science, and environmental education in the Vermont and New Hampshire communities of the Connecticut River Valley. The Museum provides information and experiences which engage and enlighten its audiences and inspire stewardship of the natural world.

Come visit often. Hope to see you at the Museum's Birthday Party on May 23, if not before!

Many people don’t realize that the Museum regularly adds or rotates special exhibits that relate to the seasons or special topics of interest.  We also have an amazing number of specimens, mounts, and information in our archives that we use for school and public programs and that may be put out upon advance request.  While we have many supplies, we would also like to augment our resources to further inform, delight, and inspire our visitors.  We know that some members have, or know of others who have, appropriate exhibits that are display ready and that the collectors may be eager to share their interest by loaning them temporarily to the museum.  While exhibit space is limited, we would like to feature a different loaned exhibit each month or two and publicize them so people have additional reasons to visit the Museum on a regular basis.

Here are some special topics on which we seek small exhibits that are already mounted or framed for display.   Please note that some displays more appropriately may include more of specimens or pictures.

• Dragonflies and damselflies
• Spiders, fleas, and other insects
• Wasps and bees, their food, homes, habitats
• Flowers that are good, and not good, for honey
• Wool or other fabric dyed from native flowers or berries identified by pictures and names
• Herbarium collections of ferns; local herbs, shrubs, trees
• Caterpillars, what they eat, cocoons, and resultant butterflies
• Different breeds of sheep, cows, chickens, pigs and their special value
• Historical photos:  area landscapes then/now
• Amphibians
• Bird feathers
• Heirloom apples
• Mushrooms and fungi
• Berries edible, and poisonous
• Gems
• Arrowheads and rocks/they come from
• Invasive plants
• Artistic works interpret nature

If you have another idea or source of an exhibit you would like to see mounted, please contact the Museum.  We’d love to hear from you!

Summer's Here!

Members can visit the Museum and see new monthly exhibits at no cost and can choose from many free or discounted programs throughout the year, in addition to other benefits, such as receiving advance notice of programs, camps, and special events. For more program information, make sure to check the Events section of the Newsletter, or call 802-843-2111. Summer camps are filling up fast, so register quickly!

New Museum Director

On January 19, 2009, Lillian Willis of Chester, VT, and Ridgefield, CT, became The Nature Museum’s new Executive Director. She has extensive experience in communications, environmental education, volunteer recruitment, and nonprofit management. She is a past Program and Volunteer Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy’s 1756-acre Devil’s Den Preserve, Director of Communications and Marketing for a Connecticut Girl Scout Council, and Copy Editor for The Viking Press.

Her extensive volunteer work includes positions as a founding member and president of three nonprofits: the Six Town River Board, which trained adults to teach river ecology to fourth graders in six towns in Fairfield County; the Discovery Center, a nature center without walls; and the Norwalk River Watershed Association (NRWA). Accomplishments for NRWA included establishing an interconnecting trail system within towns in the watershed and securing and managing an EPA grant for a project that created a model septic system ordinance for the state of Connecticut, as well as other publications for the general public that educate citizens and businesses on ways to responsibly manage their properties to improve water quality and protect natural resources. She served for many years on the Ridgefield Conservation Commission/Flood & Erosion Control Board and then was elected to the Planning & Zoning Commission/Inland Wetlands Board. A Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor, she has been the advisor on over 25 Eagle Scout projects – all have been concerned with trail or bridge projects on open-space parcels.

Lillian has received numerous awards for her environmental work – principally for habitat restoration, public education, and creation of the very first public Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day held in Connecticut. An avid gardener, she has received awards from the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut and the Garden Club of America for her conservation and historic preservation efforts, as well as the Catherine Beattie Award for horticultural excellence. Her most recent honor was the first Weir Farm Palette Award from the National Park Service at the Weir Farm National Historic Site for her programming partnership with NPS, work on the adjoining NRWA trail system, and workday efforts to remove invasive plants. She also is the co-author of a cookbook and The River Book.

Lillian is “well aware of the challenges and opportunities facing nonprofits in today’s economic climate, but this small museum is incredibly imaginative and forward thinking, and bursting with potential. Its accomplishments at the Grafton location, at the Bellows Falls Fish Ladder facility, and through the 400 school, library, and public programs the Museum mounted last year to service 40 communities in Vermont and New Hampshire are very impressive. I look forward to introducing more people to the Museum’s excellent programs, enhancing its facility, engaging more volunteers and members, and expanding the Museum’s influence as a regional environmental resource.”

Museum President Laurie Danforth said, “The entire Board is delighted to have Lillian on board. With her environmental knowledge, boundless energy, infectious enthusiasm, and can-do attitude, we know that the Museum is in good hands.”

View from the Board

As we celebrate the Museum’s 20th birthday we look back at the visionary people whose strong determination and clear direction brought about the creation of our organization. We owe a debt of gratitude to our founders Don Clark and Sue Hadden. From the beginning Don and Sue’s focus was to foster scientific wonder, beauty, and delight in New England’s earth, sea, and skies. This tireless dynamic duo used Don’s extensive personal collections as the foundation for the Museum’s displays and opened the original Museum above the Grafton Town Hall in 1989. Under the guidance of Don and Sue, and with the help of a committed board, the Museum began offering educational programs. So successful were their offerings that within ten years the Museum had already outgrown its home.

Once again hard work and clear purpose paid off as the visionary Board took a leap of faith and initiated a successful capital campaign to purchase the Grafton Grange as the Museum’s new residence. After extensive remodeling the Nature Museum opened in 1999 in its present location on Townshend Road. Over the last decade the Museum’s collections and educational programs have continually expanded. In 2008 we presented over 400 programs in 40 towns and touched the lives of almost 10,000 participants. This is a history of which we can be very proud. It is also good to remind ourselves that our beloved little Museum began with two dedicated individuals coming together with a passion for a common purpose. We certainly have cause for gratitude and for celebration, and celebrate we didl!

If you haven’t seen it already, the staff and the board highly recommend this TV series that you can now find on DVD to purchase or to rent. This gorgeous and inspirational 11 part series was more than 5 years in the making. This DVD will amaze viewers with never-before-seen animal behaviors, startling views of locations captured by cameras for the first time, and unprecedented high-definition production techniques. Award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver is the series narrator.