March/April 2015
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Penn Dixie Chronicle A newsletter of the Penn Dixie Paleontological Outdoor Education Center Hamburg Natural History Society Founded to Protect and Promote Education March/April 2015 about our Natural Resources Volume 23, No.2 MARCH PROGRAMS HELP SEND A CHILD TO A SCIENCE SUMMER DAY CAMP! Every child deserves a chance to attend summer science camp and have the opportunity to enjoy new experiences. Unfortunately, there are many children in our area for whom attending summer camp is not an option because of financial limitations. Penn Dixie would like to change that for 10 deserving girls and boys, 8-12 years old, by taking part in the United Way’s Buffalo Niagara’s Day of Giving “Spring It On 24-hour Give-a-Thon” from 8 a.m. March 19 to 8 a.m. March 20. The goal is to raise $1,800, which would allow 10 children to attend one of Penn Dixie’s three one-week-long camps: “Science Adventure Camp”, “Dinosaurs, Fossils and Nature” and “Summer Science Safari” which are held during July and August. The Dinosaur camp will have children experiencing Penn Dixie and Evangola State Park for two days and Past & Present Rock Shop one day. The Summer Science Safari children will experience Penn Dixie and Evangola State Park for two days and Reinstein Woods Nature Center for one day. Dates and program information are available at www.penndixie.org. In these camps, children learn about the natural sciences through hands-on programs, investigations, inquiry, and dis- covery, which will foster their creativity, teach them about the world of science that surrounds them, improve their social interaction, and give them a chance to make lifelong friendships. To accomplish this goal we need your donation, so please take part in the ‘Spring It On’. Make a donation and help us send these 10 children to an educational and fun-filled experience they will remember all their lives. The link to make a donation is http://www.springiton.org/penndixie. Thank you for your support! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PENN DIXIE EXHIBIT AT UNIVERSITY DAY OF SCOUTING Penn Dixie will have an exhibit at the Greater Niagara Frontier Council University Day of Scouting on Sat- urday, March 7, 2015, from 9 am-2 pm at the Erie County Community College North Campus. Penn Dixie will be promoting programs, events, and Scout programs to Boy Scouts, Webelos, Cub Scouts, and their leaders. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PENN DIXIE EXHIBIT WILL BE AT THE BUFFALO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY’S 47th ANNUAL GEM-MINERAL-FOSSIL SHOW MARCH 21-22 The Penn Dixie will display fossils, program information, the fossil dig for children, and astronomy information at the Buffalo Geological Society’s 47th Annual GEM-MINERAL-FOSSIL SHOW on Saturday, March 21 from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, March 22, 10 am to 5 pm in the Market and Grange Buildings at the Erie County Fairgrounds. The theme of the show is FLUORITE: ‘FACES OF A CRYSTAL’. There will be minerals, fossils, and other geological speci- mens on display, along with demonstrations, dealers in minerals, fossils, jewelry, beads, gems and more. The famous Mini-Mine for children and Grandpa’s Corner doing crafts will also be available. Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc., P.O. Box 772, Hamburg, New York 14075 (716)627-4560 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PENN DIXIE PROGRAMS The Penn Dixie Site Volunteer Training Session is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2015, from 8:30 AM to 12 Noon in the Gateway Executive Office auditorium at 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell. Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg, a non-profit educational organization, provides programs and events in fossil collecting, geology, astronomy, birding, wetland investigations and studies, and the natural sciences, is currently recruiting enthusiastic and responsible individuals to help support on-site and off-site programs. This could be your perfect opportunity if you… • Want to make a difference in your community. • Are looking for a hands-on volunteer organization. • Have three or four hours available each month. • Need to fulfill community service hours. • Are seeking teaching or mentoring opportunities. As the demand for programs continues, the need for additional volunteers also increases. This is a great opportunity to introduce children and adults to the world of natural sciences available in our region. Families from over 41 states, Washington, D.C., and 14 countries visited Penn Dixie in 2014. Penn Dixie has a variety of programs, exhibits, and events that suc- ceed through the volunteer efforts of individuals, groups, students, scouts, Robin Harris, Rick Batt & Linda Bastedo seniors and retirees. Public days and programs are available for schools, helping introduce Penn Dixie to children and scouts, families, individuals, physically and mentally challenged, and visi- adults at the Erie, PA, Gem- Mineral-Fossil tors from around the world. Over 4,100 feet of paved trails provide access Show for wheel chairs, walkers, strollers, and wagons for visitors, along with a bridge connecting the northern and northeastern trail sections on the site. In 2014, 460 events reached over 123,792 children and adults. Visit the Penn Dixie website: www.penndixie.org for information on the volunteer program. Reserve a spot in the Penn Dixie training session: (716) 627-4560. Pre-registration is requested to have sufficient train- ing booklets available. Free for Penn Dixie members. Non-members are $30/person. Students and adults of all back- grounds are welcome! You can make a difference! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four Worlds, One Country: A look Into the diverse Treasures of Ecuador” Penn Dixie is pleased to have Abigail LaPlaca, of the University of Buffalo, speak on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at 7 PM in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Of- fice, 3556 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell, NY 14219. Ms. LaPlaca had a great opportunity to spend a semester in Ecuador and South America for her Undergraduate Program at UB. The wonders of the Andes Mountains, the Amazon rain- forest, the coastal region, and the Galapagos Islands come together on a tiny piece of South America. Come travel to zero degrees latitude and learn about the incredible features of Ecuador and Peru! We will look into the fantastic geographical and ecological diversity of these areas, the accomplishments and cultural rich- ness of the Incans and other indigenous peoples, and the intere sting chemistry of ancient and modern cultures brought together in their societies today! Ms. LaPlaca’s illustrated presentation is open to the public – including children, families, students, scouts, and groups are welcome. No pre-registrations are required. $5 per person and Penn Dixie members are free. Visit the website www.penndixie.org or call (716) 627-4560 for ad- ditional information and directions. Penn Dixie membership and program information will be available at all the lectures. Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc., P.O. Box 772, Hamburg, New York 14075 (716)627-4560 PENN DIXIE PENN DIXIE WILL BE OPEN FOR EXHIBIT WILL BE SPRING BREAK MARCH 28-APRIL 12 AT THE HAMBURG FOR FOSSIL COLLECTING & CHAMBER OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS COMMERCE TRADE FAIR ON Penn Dixie will be open on March 28-April 12 for fossil collecting Mon.-Sat, 9 am-5 pm & Sun. 10 am-5pm, but MARCH 27th will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 5. During Easter Penn Dixie will be a sponsor and have an exhibit in the Break there are six different Spring into Nature programs Hamburg Chamber of Commerce Trade Fair on Friday, being offered, a different program each day the week be- March 27, 2015, from 1-8 PM in the Grange Building at the fore Easter and the week after. On Saturday, April 4, there Erie County Fairgrounds. Penn Dixie will have fossils on will be an Easter Egg Hunt for children. All these programs display, program information, and the fossil dig for children. are available on the website www. This trade Fair will be featuring over 40 HCC businesses. penndixie.org or by calling (716) There is FREE parking and FREE admission for all. 627-4560 to request information to be sent. The Spring Into Nature ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ programs require pre-registration which may be done by calling (716) PENN DIXIE EXHIBIT AT TOWN OF 627-4560. EVANS ENVIRONMENTAL DAY ON ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARCH 28 Penn Dixie will have an exhibit at the Town of Evans Envi- TELESCOPES WILL FOCUS ON ronmental Day on Saturday, March 28, 2015, from 9 am-5 MARS, VENUS AND A VARIETY OF pm in the Evans Volunteer Fire Department on Rt. 5 in Evans. Program information and the fossil dig for children CONSTELLATIONS IN THE PENN will be available. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DIXIE SKIES ON MARCH 28th Telescopes will be scanning the skies at the Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg, NY, on Saturday, March 28, 2015, beginning at 7:30 PM. Telescopes, with filters, will be available to view sun- spots and solar flares before sunset. After dark, telescopes will focus on the Penn Dixie Skies to view Mars and Venus in the west, the Pleiades M45 (7 sisters) in the southwest, and famous Orion’s Nebula M42. a Half moon will be to the right of Cancers Bee Hive cluster M44 and the bright planet Jupiter to its left, the Winter Triangle in the south, and the Spring Triangle rising in the east, and a variety of other constellations. Two 16-inch, one 14-inch, and two 8-inch telescopes will be available for viewing. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own telescopes, if they like. This is also a good opportunity to learn about the variety of telescopes available before making a purchase. If anyone has questions about how to operate their per- sonal telescope, they are welcome to bring it and the Penn Dixie astronomers will help them learn how to operate it.