Posted on by southforknaturecenter

Rainy Day Training

Dr. Don Culwell
Saturday, March 17, found 13 SFNC docents gathered in the outdoor classroom planning their use of the shelter on a rainy day when they have classes they are leading at SFNC. With coffee cup in hand and peach or blueberry cobbler beside it, the group talked up ideas for leading classes; what is done in a circle or gathering at the end of the pavilion would be different from what might be done out on the trail or in the woods; rainy days will greet activities at South Fork as they have before and we will always be able to have groups at SFNC regardless of the weather! Marc and Suzanne Hirrel demonstrated two activities from their collection of Leopold ideas/plans: one was on the function of trees (done as students play the role of tree parts in a skit-like atmosphere); the other was based around the amount and availability of water on the planet and how it is used.

New tables and benches were set up in the new pavilion. Teaching equipment such as electric cords, large marker boards, clipboards, and an assortment of natural items from the cabin (dry fruits, wood blocks, skulls and bone collections, insect collections, etc.) were available during the planning session . At noon the group packed up and put away the tables and the materials from the cabin and went home to plan for their rainy day activity. One great and profitable day!

Posted on by southforknaturecenter

Riddle Cabin to have Picket Fence

PICKET FENCE IS TO SET OFF THE RIDDLE CABIN

Bob Hartmann, George Baker, and Don Culwell are working to get the fence built “to keep the chickens in and pigs out of the front yard” as might have been the case when Granny Riddle (Almeda Riddle) grew up in the cabin nearly a hundred years ago over on the other side of the Lake at Drasco where Granny’s dad built the home. The logs were milled on SFNC site. Thanks to all involved for their donation of time and effort!

Posted on by southforknaturecenter

FFB Garden Club visit

CULWELL TEACHES TREE IDENTIFICATION AND TAKES A LOOK AT FLOWER STRUCTURE

The Fairfield Bay Garden Club met for lunch at noon and then gathered to see just what winter condition is like for tree identification. Dried, fallen leaves were examined for key features and winter twigs were studied for the characters they show. Dwight Moore’s Trees of Arkansas put out by the Forestry Commission was used to show keys for identification and descriptions of trees on display. Use of a hand lens and a flower diagram brought discussion of the numbers, functions of flower parts and their locations; sexual reproduction does produce variation in the combinations of genes of the two parents which is obvious in a population of one species. This was demonstrated in the materials being studied.

Posted on by southforknaturecenter

Dr. Culwell’s Walk in the Woods

Photo credits: Melissa Graham
Saturday, March 10, twelve folks (half were kids) met in the outdoor classroom/pavilion getting ready for a walk in the woods, the winter woods. Coffee and peach cobbler got the gang in the mood for the woods. But, already on the cool day as the group hit the trail, there were a few flowers poking their heads up; the white trout lily (Erythronium albidum) was in full bloom on the north slope where it decorated the brown, leaf litter; the two leaves of each plant have their top sides colored green with white spots giving it the name trout lily. Rising up from the pair of leaves was the nodding, white flower nearly two inches long of three petals and three sepals tinged with maroon (or tepals as we call them, since the petals and sepals look much the same).

No doubt, the trout lily stole the day, even as lichens (crustose, leafy, and branched ones) stood out in white or pale greenish-blue on the tree trunks and rocks. A few animals let us know we were in their habitat; armadillo dens and uprooted soil told us we were in their home space, black vultures flew high overhead searching for a meal, and spring warblers as well as the resident, feathered folks sang out loudly announcing their presence.

Posted on by southforknaturecenter

School Days

South Fork Nature Center docents and board members visited area Schools in February and March. They hosted luncheons for teachers at Clinton High and Junior High schools and at the entire South Side School district in Bee Branch. We want to thank all the people involved in these visits. Krissi Graham and Julie Nelson served as Liaisons between the schools and the Nature Center and were instrumental in a smooth production of our program in a short window of time. Many docents and friends of SFNC donated the food, and of course their time, making scrumptious desserts for the luncheons.


On February 16th docents, Krissi Graham, Sunnie Ruple, Janet Miron and Program Director, Don Culwell, were on site at Clinton Schools to share information with the teachers and administrators about what is offered out at SFNC. Teachers were served several different Taco Soup recipes along with salad and of course dessert. Don Culwell utilized the time to share with the teachers the types of activities available for the students. It was stressed that SFNC docents stand ready to work with the teachers to create the perfect field-based experience to coordinate with and reinforce classroom learning. Pictures of our new Pavilion were shown. It was emphasized that we now have a secure place to take large numbers of students to get out of the rain. Approximately 25 teachers attended the luncheons held in Clinton Schools.

On March 9th docents Ruth Andre, Krissi Graham, Kay Verboon, Marc Hirrel and board members Leslie Goff, Janet Miron and Don Culwell met at South Side School in Bee Branch to let them know how much we want them to bring their classes to SFNC this spring. A slide show was presented to introduce our Nature Center and then Don Culwell, Janet Miron and Marc Hirrel spoke with the teachers about logistics and the process for scheduling their class visit. We were contacted within a day by teachers ready to set up entire grade level visits. Over 35 teachers and students attended the luncheon. Some of Mrs. Nelson’s EAST students served as support staff for the luncheon busing the tables and managing the trash. Thanks to all who made this a successful outreach for our mission at South Fork Nature Center!

Want us to come and visit your school?
Want to schedule a field trip for your class or organization?

Contact Don Culwell, Programs Director at grf@artelco.com or 501.358.2095

Posted on by southforknaturecenter

FAMN Wind Cleanup

March Came into Arkansas Like a Lion……. and left trees down across the trails!

The Foothills Chapter of Arkansas Master Naturalists showed up at SFNC on March 6th to remove blow-down trees laying across the hiking trails at the nature center. Trail Maintenance Boss, Charles Thompson of FAMN, sent out the call for help in removing the trees. The call was quickly answered by FAMN members Bob Verboon, Larry Fliss and Paul Hugeness and SFNC Docent Bob Hartman. Armed with their saws they made short order of cutting up the three plus trees laying across the trails. Clearing the trails is an endless job at the Nature Center. South Fork Nature Center is extremely thankful for the support from, and partnership with, The Foothills of Arkansas Master Naturalists!