The Prairie Sage Winter 2013 Welcome, Kristofer Johnson! Volunteer Day We are delighted to welcome Our October Volunteer Day was a great success. We were Kristofer Johnson as the new thrilled to have 24 people participate in the two-hour work director of Spring Creek day (photo below). Volunteers collected prairie plant seeds to Prairie Audubon Center. be replanted next spring. They also cut down invasive trees in His background in botany, the prairie uplands. (See related prairie management story on landscape architecture, and page 5.) The trees were treated to prevent their regrowth. land planning provides a great set of skills for our Another Volunteer Day will be scheduled for next spring. important work. For information about this or any other upcoming volunteer event, contact Chris Thody at [email protected] or call Kristofer states, “I am thrilled us at 402/797-2301. You can also check our Web site for to be joining Spring Creek events at www.springcreekprairie.org. Thank you to all of our Prairie and look forward wonderful volunteers! to meeting all of the dedicated people involved in its success. I am very excited to further engage the community This project was made possible to be involved with SCP and to build on your previous by a TogetherGreen Innovation accomplishments. Thank you in advance for your assistance Grant provided through an alliance as we continue our efforts for tallgrass prairie conservation.” between National Audubon Society and Toyota. Kristofer and his wife, Dori Johnson, moved back to Kristofer’s hometown of Lincoln from Salt Lake City, Utah. Dori works in the University of Nebraska’s Office of Research and Economic Development. If you would like to receive The Prairie Sage by e-mail, notify us at [email protected] or call 402/797-2301. Audubon Centers Among Top Sites The Center for Great Plains Studies at the University of The CGPS listed Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary, along with the Nebraska has named Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center Crane Trust, among the top 10 ecotourism sites in the region, as one of the top 50 ecotourism sites in the Great Plains. To for their conservation and education missions regarding the obtain the list, specialists were asked to identify the sites that Platte River and the sandhill crane migration. offered the “best, most powerful environmental experience and/or the ones that are ecologically the most important.” Hello Prairie Folks! FROM THE DIRECTOR I am so pleased to introduce our new Greetings! I am thrilled to introduce of private and public clients with director, Kristofer Johnson. He comes myself as Spring Creek Prairie Audubon preservation of environmental integrity. to us with all kinds of experience and Center’s new director. I am originally I believe this background, coupled with enthusiasm to help take our prairie from Lincoln and now after being away my operations management experience conservation efforts to a new level. for nearly 20 years, I am excited to be and a strong interest in working with back among friends, family, and familiar students of all ages to understand the Thanks to all of you who helped with a surroundings. More importantly, I landscape in novel ways, will lead to a busy fall season! Please stop in and say have the pleasure of working at this very successful future. “hi” when you visit. incredible place on education programs and habitat projects that represent a Now that you know a little about me, Sincerely, positive impact on our community. I would love to know more about all of you. As donors, volunteers, and I come here with a bachelor’s degree in supporters of Spring Creek Prairie, you botany from the University of Wyoming are critically important to our efforts. I Executive Director, Audubon Nebraska where I concentrated on broader plant invite you to call me directly or come ecology and landscape processes. I then out to the Center to meet in person. I Looking for a Place to pursued a graduate degree in landscape welcome the opportunity to discuss the Host an Event? architecture from the University future of tallgrass prairie education and of Illinois, which added a layer of conservation with you. Thank you for Remember Spring Creek Prairie design and land use policy to my your generosity and hard work. when planning business meetings, environmental education. Throughout wedding and anniversary receptions, my professional career, I have focused Best regards, and other get-togethers. on large-scale planning projects that strike a balance between the interests Kristofer Johnson, Director Five Years of Prairie Immersion by Deb Hauswald, Education Coordinator Five years and nearly 6,600 fourth The teacher evaluations and thank- grade students, each spending more you letters from students we received than three hours investigating, indicate the prairie is on its way to exploring, and reflecting in tallgrass an even better conservation future. prairie, have moved the mission Here are a few quotes from the teacher of Spring Creek Prairie Audubon evaluations: Center forward in exponential ways. “Very science-oriented. Kids were This year, the nearly 1,400 students investigating, recording and measuring, that visited between the end of making conjectures — simply fabulous! August and the middle of October They are volunteer Discovery Leaders I’ve taught a long time and have been marveled at the colors of the season, Sue Block, Emilie Ellingson, Ingrid on dozens of field trips. This is by far at the adaptations of the prairie plants Kirst, Gracie Morris, Jane Reinkordt, the best one…Thank You!” to the drought, and at the diversity of Dana Schmidt, Patty Spitzer, and invertebrates they captured using sweep Ruthie Stearns, and staff persons “Well done by professionals. Absolutely nets. A jeweler’s loupe, a new tool added Ben Mullarkey, Amy Plettner, Kevin perfect.” this year, allowed students to experience Poague, and Chris Thody. and appreciate a variety of plants up “The most valuable aspect of this field close and personal. Finally, thanks to the volunteers who trip was the hands-on experience for helped staff our building during tours: students — real life. Thanks for your Thanks to all the folks that helped make Bill and Trudy Adams, Bill Edwards, hard work in keeping our tallgrass these very positive outcomes possible. Edith Meints, and Rob Wikel. prairie ecosystem protected!” 2 The Prairie Sage Programs Details at www.springcreekprairie.org. Register by e-mail ([email protected]) or 402/797-2301. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Class sizes limited. Payment collected on day of program; checks and credit cards accepted. Groundhog Tales In Search of a Season: A Spring Treasure Hunt Saturday, February 2 9:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Sunday, March 24 1:00-4:00 p.m. Start the celebration of the groundhog with a short introduction to groundhog facts and folklore followed by a Starting every 20 minutes, teams of two to ten participants hike to the most promising places on the prairie where one will be outfitted with a treasure map and clues to search for may grace us with an appearance (or not!). Hot chocolate will hidden treasure chests along the trail. At each chest they will be served at the Center afterward. use observation skills and special equipment to investigate the $5/person. Register by Feb. 1. sights and sounds of the prairie, and discover the subtle and sometimes elusive treasures of spring. $15/team. Each team must have at least one adult. Teams must preregister for a Warming Up to Winter Bugs scheduled starting time by March 22. Saturday, February 9 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Using magnifiers, microscopes, and mindful techniques, Make an Apple Basket adult/child teams will probe through leaf litter and rotten logs Saturday, April 27 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. to discover a variety of spineless wonders wiling away the winter. Activities Back by popular demand, local artist and basket weaver Judy include a short hike and an indoor Hart will facilitate a hands-on apple basket weaving workshop. investigation session. This program is The apple basket pattern uses spoke construction featuring appropriate for grades K through 6 and a double bottom, continuous weave and a 12” round white designed for adult/child teams of 2 or oak swing handle with ears. The basket measures 12 inches in 3. $6/adult and $4/child 12 and under. diameter and 7 inches in height. Register by Feb. 8. The workshop will be fun and informative for beginners and veteran basket weavers alike. All supplies will be provided, but Writing Shapes and Patterns in Nature participants should bring their own 3-5 gallon bucket, pruners Saturday, February 16 1:00-3:30 p.m. or plant clippers if available, and their own lunch — coffee and tea will be provided. Pre-registration is required for this Learn new ways of looking at and understanding the natural popular class. $50/person. world. Using a jeweler’s loupe with indoor and outdoor activities, participants will learn to recognize and identify the basic shapes and patterns that reoccur in nature, and see how Once Upon A Prairie Wind Kite Fly this knowledge can help make sense of what may seem like a Sunday, April 28 1:00-4:00 p.m. chaotic system. Later, participants will use analogy and other easy, playful techniques to record their impressions. The wide-open expanse of Spring Creek Prairie makes for a perfect place to fly kites, and all ages Local author Amy Plettner will co-facilitate this program are welcome to come out and try their skills.