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A newsletter for friends and membersHill of Friends of Mosquito Hill, Inc. | Summer 2021

Our Mission The Friends of Mosquito Hill (FOMH) The Dog Days of Summer support, promote and Mike Hibbard, Director enhance Mosquito Hill Nature Center. The time period from early July to the That’s not the case at all. The term Dog (MHNC) We realize middle of August is often referred to as Days of Summer came to represent the this mission through the Dog Days of Summer. Have you ever 20 days before and 20 days after the volunteerism, wondered where the term came from alignment of Sirius with the sun—from fundraising and our and what it has to do with dogs? about July 3 to August 11 according to shared passion for the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Many people today use the phrase to nature. mean the hot, humid days not fit for a “Dog Days are approaching; you must, dog, or the weather in which dogs go therefore, make both hay and haste while mad. Originally, the phrase had nothing the Sun shines, for when old Sirius takes to do with dogs or even with the sultry command of the weather, he is such an days of summer. Instead, it turns out, unsteady, crazy dog, there is no dependence Follow Mosquito Hill upon him.” the dog days refer to the Dog Star, also Nature Center! –The Old Farmer’s Almanac, 1817 known as Sirius, and its position in the night sky. The name “Sirius” stems from While this period is typically the hottest ancient Greek word seírios, meaning stretch of summer, the heat is not due “scorching”. Sirius, a blue giant star to any added radiation from Sirius, or Facebook: www.facebook.com/ that’s twice the size of the sun and 25 anything else for that matter. The heat mosquitohillnaturecenter times brighter, is the chief star in the of summer is simply a direct result of Twitter: @mosquitohill constellation Canis Major, also known Earth’s tilt. During summer, the sun’s Instagram: as the Great Dog. rays hit the northern hemisphere at mosquitohillnaturecenter a more direct angle, and for a longer Sirius was thought to be responsible for period of time throughout the day. summer’s hot days. Each year, on July 23, it rises and sets in conjunction with Although hot, steamy days are not for Published by the sun in certain latitudes. Because the everyone, we take consolation in the fact Friends of Mosquito star is so bright, ancient Romans believed that the Dog Days of Summer ARE great Hill, Inc. it actually gave off heat and added to the for jumping in a lake, tomatoes and a sun’s warmth, seemingly accounting for cold brew. Cheers! New London, WI the long stretch of oppressive weather. Photo "Summer Fun" by gfpeck | creativecommons.org www.mosquitohill.org Birthday Parties at Mosquito Hill!

What’s included? weeks before the party with the • Personalized Invitations balance due on the day of the Within a week of scheduling event. your party, we will send you How do I schedule a party? themed invitations to send to your child’s friends. They will Party Time! Contact us by calling 920-779- include directions to MHNC and 6433 or emailing mary.swifka@ suggestions for how to dress for A sample schedule for a birthday outagamie.org at least three outdoor activities. party at MHNC (tailored to your weeks in advance. Parties may • Outdoor Hike group to be age appropriate): be held Tuesdays – Sundays led by a Mosquito Hill naturalist between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM Hour 1: Staff Led • Indoor Craft depending on staff and facility led by MHNC staff • Arrival and welcome availability. • Party Ware • Outdoor hike led by a Mosquito What is your role? We’ll provide cups, plates, Hill naturalist napkins and utensils if you Send invitations to party guests. • Indoor craft led by MHNC staff choose to use them. Provide refreshments such as cake and ice cream if you like. • Wolf River Lodge (2 hours) Hour 2: Guest Led We ask that you bring at least You will have access to the Wolf • Refreshments (if you choose to one adult for every 10 children River Lodge 30 minutes before provide them) and 30 minutes after the party. to help supervise. • Indoor exploration on your own • Food Storage (supervised by your adults) Choose your party theme: You will also have access to a Nature Detectives, Pond Study refrigerator and freezer. • Gift opening Safari, Insect Investigations, How much does it cost? • Outdoor exploration of the Outdoor Survival or Wisconsin property and/or Playscape Animals. The fee is $150 for up to 10 (supervised by your adults) children (including the birthday We are excited about this new child). There is a $5 per child fee • Goodie bags provided by MHNC adventure and look forward to for each additional child above 10 and distributed by the birthday hosting many parties. with a maximum of 20 children child to his/her guests total. A $50 deposit is due three Photo by Angelia’s Photography | creativecommons.org 2 | View from the Hill | Summer 2021 Naturalist’s Corner

Naturalist’s Corner Property Projects Update Adam Brandt, Park Ranger

There is never a shortage of projects on our 441-acre We would also like to thank two scouts who recently nature center. We would like to take a moment and wrapped up their Eagle Scout projects to benefit update you on some of the larger projects that are MHNC. Logan Zahn raised money and helped turn currently in the works at Mosquito Hill Nature Center the lower east field into an oak savanna planting. (MHNC). This project includes two new interpretive signs, the purchase and planting of several bur and swamp On April 2 and 13, we closed trails to conduct prescribed white oak trees, and the purchase and planting of burns. A prescribed burn is an intentionally started, native prairie seeds. controlled fire that helps to maintain open habitats like prairies and savannas by eliminating woody Foster Friedrich raised money, built and installed 26 vegetation and can also be helpful in controlling wood duck nesting boxes on the property. The boxes invasive species. replaced old, worn out boxes and have been placed on poles instead of high up in trees. The new placement Fox Valley Technical College’s Wildland Fire crew allows for easier monitoring and maintenance and helped to burn roughly 23 acres of the property, aligns with up-to-date recommendations from the mostly on the south side of the hill, including the national Wood Duck Society. main prairie planting. We are excited to continue Finally, we are grateful for the numerous volunteers working with the FVTC crew in the future. We invite who dedicated so much time and energy to make all of you to watch as the charred areas rebound splendidly these projects possible. If you are interested in getting with many flowers and healthy plant life. involved in future property projects, please contact In 2020, we received some generous donations to me at [email protected] or 920.968.2438. remodel the bird feeding area outside the main building. Led by volunteer Faith Schlaeppi, work started during the summer and will be completed this summer. The area includes a new pond, bird feeding posts, native flower and shrub species, and a wildlife viewing blind that can hold the whole family. We hope you can find some time to relax and watch the birds with us.

As you hike the trails this summer, you may start to notice some new signs popping up. Friends of Mosquito Hill (FOMH) is working with nature center staff to make and install new wayfinding kiosks off the parking lot, maps at trail intersections and trail markers along the way. This is part of an effort to make the property and trails more user friendly. Thank you FOMH!

View from the Hill | Summer 2021 | 3 MOSQUITO HILL NATURE CENTER

Calendar MOSQUITO HILL of NATURE CENTER Events www.mosquitohill.com

Please note: Outagamie County will continue requiring limited program enrollment Snakes of Mosquito Hill Nature Center and social distancing practices into early July. Advance registration and payment are Saturday, June 26 required for all programs. To register, please call us first (920.779.6433). You may 1:00 – 2:00 PM either pay over the phone with a credit card, or mail your check payable to MHNC. To Snakes aren’t just awesome reptiles, they’re check on the status of a program, visit www.mosquitohill.com or our Facebook page. also very beneficial for the environment as many of them eat rodents or insects that are overabundant in an area. Snakes are Spring Mini Portrait Tyke Hike also on the menu for many raptors and mammals. Of the 21 snake species found in Sessions with Gregory Wednesdays, June 16, July 21 Wisconsin, 14 of them are considered rare T Photography & August 18 and listed as endangered, threatened or Saturday, June 12 9:30 – 10:30 AM of special concern. Join naturalist Jessica 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM Miller and volunteer (and snake enthusiast) Come out and explore who lives on the Ben Scott as they introduce you to the Photographer Greg Prellwitz is scheduling nature center property during our slower- snakes that make MHNC their home. mini portrait sessions at MHNC. Scenic paced, family-friendly Tyke Hikes. Each of $6/person or $10/household. Registration photo areas will be used around the the hikes (3 in total) will focus on a specific and payment due June 20. interpretive building with easy access from animal that is abundant at that time. We’ll the parking lot. 20-minute sessions will be learn about the animal, hike to the habitat scheduled. Investigating Insects where it lives and see that animal in action. Your fee of $65 includes 5 high resolution Wednesday, July 7, 1:00 – 2:00 PM edited images. A portion of the proceeds $6/person or $10/household. Registration There are millions of insects on the planet, support MHNC. Call MHNC in advance to and payment due ASAP. and Mosquito Hill Nature Center is home to several thousand species. Join naturalist schedule your time. Jessica Miller as she takes you on an insect Water Wonders journey around the nature center grounds in search of insects in a variety of vastly Froggie Went a Saturday, June 19 different habitats and explains why they Courtin’ 9:30 – 10:30 AM are so cool! Saturday, June 12 Ask any student their favorite $6/person or $10/household. Registration 1:00 – 2:00 PM part of a Mosquito Hill field trip and they’ll and payment due July 1. Did you know that male frogs sing to tell you it’s the pond study. Families will captivate the hearts of female frogs? Join spend the time with naturalist Mary Bluebird Banding naturalist Jessica Miller as she introduces Swifka checking out our ponds for the Saturday, July 17 you to Wisconsin’s native frogs. We’ll learn oodles of animals that live there. From 9:00 – 11:00 AM how to identify the frogs at Mosquito ducks and herons to turtles and frogs to Who wouldn’t want to get up Hill Nature Center by their physical close and personal with a baby bird? Join crazy whirligigs and huge diving beetles characteristics and calls, which will be naturalist Adam Brandt to learn all about with their sharp pincers, our ponds are followed by a hike on the property to bluebirds. A brief informational session locate frog habitat and listen for “froggies- a wonderful, water-full place to spend a will include information about proper installation of nest boxes and what is a-singing.” summer morning. involved in monitoring boxes throughout $6/person or $10/household. Registration $6/person or $10/household. Registration the summer. Afterwards, Adam will lead and payment due ASAP. and payment due June 16. participants along part of the MHNC

Unless otherwise noted, advance registration and payment are required. Call 920.779.6433 or email [email protected]. 4 | View from the Hill | Summer 2021 bluebird trail and take a look inside a few the clinic. Early registration is strongly leader Matthew Normansell of Eden Wild boxes to check on the status of young birds recommended. Scouts must be 14 years old Food. and band a few along the way. by the time of the clinic. The clinic facilitator $5/person, free for all WMS members. $8/person, $12/household. Registration and is MHNC director Mike Hibbard. Registration required by September 1. payment due July 10. $25/scout. Registration and payment due August 1.

Monarch Testing and Tagging for Beginners Wednesday, August 25 12:30 – 2:30 PM Every fall, millions of monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains make their way Build a Cast Concrete Outdoor down to the Transvolcanic Mountains in Table Central Mexico where they overwinter. And every fall, hundreds of thousands of Saturday & Sunday, July 24 & 25 tags are purchased to place on migrating Saturday 9:00 AM – Noon & monarchs to help scientists answer many Sunday 1:00 – 4:00 PM questions about their migration pattern. Build a durable 17” x 34” cast concrete-top Join naturalist Jessica Miller as she explains table with cedar base. All materials and the basics behind one of the coolest instruction from director Mike Hibbard phenomenon on Earth: monarch migration. are provided for this two-day workshop. In addition, each participant will have the Woodworking and masonry experience opportunity to assist with tagging, testing are helpful but not necessary. Some basic Become a Junior and releasing a butterfly. hand tools will be required, but extra tools will be available to borrow if you don’t have $6/person or $10/household. Registration Naturalist! them. Space is limited so register early. and payment due August 14. $200/table. Registration and payment are The Junior Naturalist program will due July 9. officially begin this summer once Newstar Astronomy our interpretive building opens to Friday, August 27 the public! Nuisance Animals 8:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday, August 15 One of the most compelling Our staff will help you check out 1:00 – 2:30 PM and alluring things about the universe is a backpack filled with field guides the sheer size of it all. The heavens display Why do certain animals seem and other useful items that will to drive us crazy? Do squirrels chew just the spectacular power and mystery of to make you mad? Why do raccoons eat things not seen anywhere on this planet. help you to complete an activity your trash? Join naturalist Adam Brandt Newstar member, Curtis Dachelet, will booklet for either the uplands or and explore the answers to these and demonstrate the immense size of the solar lowlands area of the property. other questions related to animal “pests” system, galaxies, and nebula found in our many of us deal with in and around our Wisconsin summer nighttime sky, and will Once completed, a staff naturalist homes. There will be helpful tips for safely also introduce you to things in the sky will sign the booklet and reward expelling or, hopefully, coexisting with that are “hidden in plain sight”. Outdoor you with your very own badge of some common nuisance animals. stargazing will follow, weather permitting. honor: A special MHNC Junior $6/person or $10/household. Registration $6/person, $4/students, seniors, FOMH. Naturalist button adorned with and payment due August 11. Walk-ins welcome, but advance registration our mascot “Buzz”. This activity is appreciated. appropriate for children ages 5-12. Environmental Science Merit Badge Clinic Fungi and Wild Saturday, August 21 Edibles Foray (tentative) 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday, September 4 Boy Scouts will explore all aspects of 10:00 AM the natural environment and learn how Join us and the Wisconsin Mycological to protect our natural resources. This is Society (WMS) for this magical event! We an intensive workshop and several will venture around the property in search assignments need to be completed before of mushrooms and other edibles with foray

View from the Hill | Summer 2021 | 5 View From The Hill Library Receives Much Needed Facelift is published four times per year by Friends of Mosquito Cathy Yurk, MHNC Volunteer Hill, Inc. New London, WI Did you know that Mosquito Hill you check out. Bring the books back to www.mosquitohill.org Nature Center has a nature library? the office when you are finished with Well, we do! The past few weeks them. Board: volunteers have been thinning the Ron Gedemer, Weyauwega inventory of old titles, spring cleaning We would like our library to grow and Jennifer Goggins, Appleton and organizing the remaining books, remain up to date, so we welcome any Area School District so that our library will be ready for you new or current nature books that you C. J. Johnson, Grant Thornton, to visit when we open to the public in would like to donate. Appleton July. Corey Knepfel, Edward Jones, With summer and warm weather just New London Our books range from nature guides around the corner, feel free to visit Nicholas Maravolo, Emeritus (birds, trees, wildflowers, mammals, our library with your family - maybe Professor, Lawrence University, even make this part of your weekend Appleton etc.) to geology, astronomy, herbs, weather and more. We even have routine by checking out some books Rebecca McClone, Donaldson’s and enjoying a hike on our trails. Gourmet & Gifts, Hortonville books to help you enjoy our Wisconsin Happy hiking and happy reading! Tammy Vanevenhoven, winters! We have a young readers' Advanced Physical Therapy, section and a variety of books with New London ideas of things you can do with your Dave Wuebben, Hortonville, children in the great outdoors. FOMH Board President Maybe you would like to borrow one of Address Correspondence To: our field guides or some of our story Friends of Mosquito Hill books to read to your kids or grandkids. N3880 Rogers Road New London WI 54961 You are welcome to check out books by 920.779.6433 just bringing your selections to the www.mosquitohill.org office where one of our staff will help

Interpretive Building Hours: Tuesday-Friday: Wish List 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: New Members • Donation of $1,000 to 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We extend our welcome to the purchase water bottle filling

following who recently joined station for the interpretive Staff: building Loren Dieck, Director, Friends of Mosquito Hill. Outagamie County Parks • Lumber or gift cards to repair - Sandra Field the garden shed (see staff for Mike Hibbard, Director/ - Laura Rapp Naturalist details) - Vicky Tietz Jessica Miller, Assistant • 30”x72” Plastic topped folding Naturalist - Sue Vater-Olsen tables Mary Swifka, Staff Assistant - Joanne Wiegert - Peg Zagzebski • Gift cards, any denomination, Adam Brandt, Park Ranger Friends of Mosquito Hill, Inc. to CHS Larsen Coop, Festival Foods, New London Building Newsletter: relies heavily on membership dues to power their organization. Supply, Tractor Supply Co. Editors - Pat Brown, Ginny (all New London), Fleet Farm, Buschke, Dana Hartel, Deb Please consider a contribution Kwik Trip, Menards, Michaels, Mentzel, Mary Swifka to support their environmental or Petco Layout & Design - Jayne education mission. See page 8 Thielen Frazier for a membership form or visit • All donations are tax- NEW Printing, Appleton mosquitohill.com and click on the deductible. Your generosity is Outlook Graphics, Neenah “Donate” page. Thanks! appreciated!

6 | View from the Hill | Summer 2021 Volunteer “Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” Voice ~ Lewis Grizzard Meet Our Volunteers Corey Knepfel “I moved to New London four years ago, and my love for the outdoors has grown since moving here. Mosquito Hill’s trails and diverse landscape are a great escape and provide a quiet place to enjoy nature and clear your head. I look forward to helping the nature center in any way that I can as a volunteer and member of the community.”

Barb Baumgartner “For the past 18 years, MHNC has been my second home. My first job was gardening; first in Butterfly House, then in the other gardens. I also worked in the office. Working in these surroundings, I became more aware of the sounds of MHNC: children chattering and laughing, birds singing and also silence. It became therapeutic to be at the center. Some of my best experiences were working with staff at big events. The staff was always thankful and appreciative of what volunteers do for the center. I would encourage anyone to volunteer at whatever they feel is right for them.” A Note to Our Volunteers

As MHNC staff looks forward to opening our interpretive building in July, we also look forward to reconnecting with YOU, our volunteers! During the past year, a few of you have been tapped to help us with projects that allowed for social distancing: newsletter editing from home, mowing and gardening to name a few. Now as we return to typical operations and increase the number of events and classes and projects, we’ll be contacting many of you for your assistance.

If you recall, we rolled out a new online program in 2019 to help us manage our volunteer database. Many current volunteers logged on to Volgistics to create an account right away. People new to volunteering are pointed to Volgistics as their first step in becoming a MHNC volunteer. If you haven’t created an account yet, or you don’t feel comfortable doing so, or if you have unreliable internet service, don’t worry. We will be contacting you by mail and asking you to fill out a paper application to return to us. We will enter your contact information manually. We will also ask you how you would like to be contacted when we are looking for volunteer help: phone, email or through the website.

Many thanks to all of you who keep this place humming. We extend our gratitude to all of you who give of yourselves in support of our mission.

View from the Hill | Summer 2021 | 7 Friends of Mosquito Hill, Inc. NONPROFIT ORG. Mosquito Hill Nature Center U.S. POSTAGE N3880 Rogers Rd. • New London, WI 54961 PAID 920.779.6433 APPLETON, WI www.mosquitohill.org (Friends of Mosquito Hill) PERMIT NO. 46 www.mosquitohill.com (Mosquito Hill Nature Center)

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