NWAMN Newsletter
Newsletter of the Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists
Inspiring a Love of Nature | Citizen Scientists | Stewards of Nature | Educating All Ages |
Working to Keep Arkansas
in its Natural State | | |
Table of Contents
- Newsletter Change
- Important Dates in September
- NWAMN Projects Updates
- Eureka Springs
- Woolsey Wet Prairie
- Clean Up on Aisle (Highway) 71 in Bella Vista
- Member Profile: Vicki (and Tim) McGovern
- Know Before You Sow
- Lake Wedington Volunteer Activities Canceled
- Creative Corner
- Poem by Carter Carrigan
- Crow's Cottage by Ebenezer Bowles
- Leadership Committee Survey/Questionnaire
- August Board of Directors Meeting Recap
- Contact Us
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Newsletter Change
In the August newsletter I asked for input on what we could do to improve the newsletter. One change that will be implemented is breaking it into two newsletters each month.
Chapter Newsletter
The first newsletter will be published the 1st of the month and will contain chapter and member news and chapter reports.
Volunteer and Continuing Education Newsletter
The second newsletter will be published mid-month and will be focused on volunteer and continuing education opportunities.
I realize this doubles the number of Newsletter emails but hopefully makes reading it a little easier and allows you to see what you want to see quicker and more conveniently. Please let me what you think of these changes. And let me know if you have any other suggestions.
Thanks to everyone who submitted comments, they are greatly appreciated. | Important Dates in September
Click HERE for the calendar.
September 8 - NWAMN Board of Directors meeting. All are invited. Dave Leisure will send out ZOOM meeting invitation to all members. | NWAMN Projects Updates
Eureka Springs Projects
Native Plant Garden Project: Led by Faith and Mike Shah, is progressing well. The fencing has been installed and some beautiful stonework has been put in place. The project is ongoing with plans for more stone steps and retaining walls.
Bluebird Boxes: One more exciting item to report is the successful use the bluebird boxes that were installed at Lake Leatherwood last year by the Master Naturalist class of 2019. This project was led by Tom and Lisa Edmiston. Alexa reported that 4 out of 5 of the boxes had activity this year, with usually about 4 eggs each.
Mitigation Grant Project: In July, seven Chapter members helped complete the mitigation grant project by placing tree identification markers along the hiking trails. Lilia Beattie and Chris Fischer created a wish list of trees that should be included in a future signage project as part of potential self-guided hiking and nature walks. ($30,000 had been given by the Walton Foundation to repair damage due to building downhill trails and to plant shrubs and trees as well as informational signage along the trails)
Native Plant Garden at Lake Leatherwood: Also in July, Scott Miskiel, NWAMN member and employed by Eureka Springs Parks, asked the ES Chapter for volunteers interested in developing a Native Plant Garden at Lake Leatherwood in partnership with the Parks Department.
There is about an acre available for use in the heart of the public traffic area located across from a children’s playground and bordered by parking areas.
Alexa Pittenger created a rough site map and procured 110 by 20 feet of cardboardfor the first bed. Parks authorized the purchase of 5 (?) truckloads of mulch to cover the cardboard and the first bed is in process.
Six Chapter members met August 4th to begin planning the project. A wish list of projects within the Garden (as well as people and expertise) is being developed: numerous plant beds, budgets and fundraising, signage, interactive displays, structural repair of an historical small pavilion by Parks, picnic area, tree inventory, rain garden, construction of pathways and a small bridge and probably the need for fencing have been identified so far.
|  | Eureka Springs NWAMN work crew on site at Lake Leatherwood | Woolsey Wet Prairie
I met with the staff at the West Fayetteville Wastewater Treatment Plant on August 5th to mark locations for future birdhouses on their property. Four conventional bluebird boxes that have served several generations of families at nearby Woolsey Wet Prairie will be moved to join the SuperGourd grouping.
It is hoped that boxes previously accepted by breeding adults will facilitate the acceptance of the new locations and gourd design for this project.
Three Master Naturalists have volunteered to monitor the birdhouses in Spring, 2021.
The next milestone for the project will be the acquisition of SuperGourds and mounting apparatus with the funds for that purpose by NWAMN.
Birdhouse installation is scheduled before October 1, 2020.
Rick Jones - NWAMN Woolsey Project Coordinator | | |  | Cleanup on Aisle (Highway) 71
Kristi Jacobson and Melissa (Missy) Stratton (both 2020 graduates!!) have started a highway cleanup on Highway 71 in Bella Vista. These two intrepid members saw the condition of 71 and thought "Someone should do something about that." So they took the trash bags by the handles and did their own first cleanup in late July.
Since then, Kristi worked with ARDOT to get a one mile section of 71 assigned to NWAMN! There will be a sign on Highway 71 indicating that NWAMN is responsible for that section of highway. Look in upcoming newsletters to see when the next clean up is scheduled. Kristi has received from ARDOT the Hi-Vis vests and rolls of trash bags.
Here are a couple of photos of Kristi and Missy on their first Cleanup on Aisle (Highway) 71. |  | ONSC Update
The first of three fall work days was successful. Three Master Naturalists helped clear nonnative plants in preparation for a rain garden near the education building. The next two work days will concentrate on trail maintenance so trails are usable for home school and family groups that rent the facilities this autumn. If volunteers cannot make the September 19 or 22 dates they can contact Renee Valentine (renee.valentine@onsc.us) to schedule and work independently of the organized dates. There will be trail maintenance volunteer opportunities in November-dates tobe announced.
The pond on the ONSC campus needs restoration. It has been taken over with cattails and other plants. These need to be removed without the use of heavy equipment since the pond was built using a liner. Mud-loving volunteers please contact Renee.
ONSC is also in need of current photographs of buildings and trails for fundraising and
educational uses. Anyone interested photographers can contact Renee.
With Covid restrictions the Fall focus for ONSC will be serving home school and family groups as well as continuing to rent their facilities for small events and overnight stays through AirbNb.
Ruth Teague
The general fall update from ONSC is that we’re working to make our virtual programs as accessible as possible to teachers and students this fall, including the addition of PowerPoint lesson plans, plus other supporting materials for each of the 8 online courses that we created in the spring. We’re also creating packages that families, homeschool groups, and other visitors can purchase. These will include small-group guided hikes at ONSC, outdoor classes, and custom “build-your-own” virtual or in-person classes for parents/teachers who want to supplement their science curriculum.
We’ll send out updates to everyone as soon as those packages are available on our website. Meanwhile, we’re renting our apartments, cabin, and lodges to families and small groups, so feel free to spread the word that guests are welcome to come enjoy a relaxed, secluded get-away at ONSC this fall.
Rose Brown |  | Member Profile
Vicki (and Tim) McGovern
Hello caretakers of the earth. I am Vicki McGovern, a brand new master naturalist. We all share many interests, but, two goals-to restore balance and revere all life. I have been a wildlife rehabilitator for 30 years {small scale]. It started when my tiny son found a baby rabbit and said'"Mom, please don't let the Easter bunny die."
My vocation was to be a teacher of science and art. Instead, I have been a student of what others know and see. The richest experiences have come through the eyes of my children. Simple compassion for the smallest bug. They laid on the ground to eat the newest asparagus. The tears that came when animals were released to the wild.
I heard the voice of my six foot tall great grandmother call me to adopt the indigenous peoples' philosophy of a thankful existence never disturbing or taking too much from the earth. I want my hands in dirt, gardening or making pottery.
We live in a small house with land that needed restoration. Now the circle begins. Tim and I live here, release the rescued babies here. The recovering land is an endless source of wonder. I cannot stop taking photos. The master naturalist training pointed me in the right direction with experts, facts and the whimsey of Mother Nature's adaptations.
Master naturalist training has helped me heal my injured land and my heart's desire to stop hurting the earth. I feel positive. Lastly I have never met a raccoon or possum I did not love.
Vicki McGovern |  |  | Photos by Vicki and Tim McGovern | Know Before You Sow
By now you have likely heard about the seed packets being delivered, unsolicited, to many states around the country. As Master Naturalists we are always excited to put another seed in the ground, especially when they are free!!
But we should always look at seeds from an unknown origin with a skeptical eye and ensure we can determine the origin and suitability of the seeds before committing time, soil, water and toil.
| Lake Wedington
Kathy Mason wants everyone to know that due to covid-19 concerns all volunteer work at Lake Wedington is CANCELED until further notice. | Early morning fishing at Lake Atalanta photo by Michele Warsaw | Eb Bowles, 2019 Washington County, is the editor of a very informative journal about the natural world called Crow’s Cottage. Below are some synopses of articles in the current editions. You can read the articles by following the links to the pertinent journal.
Click HERE to see Eb's current edition of Crow's Cottage where he discusses Surprise (aka Resurrection) Lillies, the Texas Star among a host of other topics of interest to Master Naturalists.
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Leadership Committee Survey/Questionnaire
The Leadership Committee (Jasmine Dorn, Jane Foster, Lynne Hehr, Dave Leisure, Trish Redus, Deb Shoemaker) sent out a survey to the membership on August 18th asking all members to respond no later than August 31st. The LC has begun the process of identifying those in our chapter who have an interest to serve in a leadership capacity in our chapter activities.
This survey will help the chapter to give you opportunities of serving in ways and places that match your interests and desires. Also attached to the survey email were some "position descriptions." These will help inform everyone about the responsibilities of various positions within our chapter.
An informational ZOOM session was conducted August 27th to answer questions from the members about the survey. Approximately 21 members attended the call.
Dave mentioned that a survey had been sent to the Board to ask about the Board members intentions with respect to remaining on the board in 2021. Based on the results of that Board survey the LC will review peoples' surveys for those members who have the interest and skillset to fill the Board positions being vacated as well as committee and other operational positions. As of 8/29 62 responses had been received.
| August NWAMN Board of Directors Meeting
Board Meeting held via ZOOM
Click HERE for the link to the Youtube video of the Board meeting.
Board Members Present:
Carrie Byron, Jane Foster, Rose Gergerich, Charlotte Harper, Lynne Hehr, Denise Klinger, Jim Klinger, Cheryl Larson, Dave Leisure, Kathy Mason, JB Portillo, Deb Shoemaker, Paul Springer, Tom Waggoner
Board Members Not Present:
Lilia Beattie, Ken French
Dave's Fun Fact(s):
- Adult Hummingbirds weight less than a nickel
- They have "W" shaped tongues which have hairs that allow them "drink" nectar
- Those tongues can lick 10-15 times a second
- They have no sense of smell but good eyesight
- Of course, the only bird capable of multi-directional flight
- Lifespan is typically 5 years
- Heart rate of 20-30 beats per second
Organization Chart
Dave discussed the Organization Chart that was developed by the Strategic Planning Committee and how committees are starting to develop and the need for NWAMN members to check out the opportunities that exist for all the membership to get involved in the operation of the organization.
Several committees will be formed and in search of members, but at this time JB Portillo is in need of some members for the Finance Committee.
Awards/Recognition
Dave relayed conversations he has had with Steve Sampers about awards and recognitions. At this time, paper certificates of achievement will only be printed upon request. In addition, the board approved $1,600 for the purchase of Dragonfly Pins. These pins will be given at various levels of volunteer hours.
Johnelle and JB Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center
We were so fortunate to have the new Director of the AGFC Nature Center, Schelly Corry, spend 45 minutes with us. She brings vast experience to the position and she is a Master Naturalist in Texas and is looking VERY forward to working with NWAMN as the center gets ready for opening the weekend before Thanksgiving.
NWAMN will host the AMN State Meeting in 2022. And it is never to soon to start planning for an event of this magnitude, so keep an eye open for upcoming opportunities to get involved in that planning.
Leadership Committee
A Leadership Committee has been formed consisting of Dave Leisure, Lynne Hehr, Jane Foster, Deb Shoemaker, Trish Redus, and Jasmine Dorn. The LC has been very active and has sent to all current Board members a survey inquiring about if they will be remaining on the board in 2021 among other items.
In addition, the LC sent out a survey to the general membership inquiring about volunteer interests of the membership. Please make sure to complete that survey as soon as you can.
2021 NIT Class
The class coordinators met and have decided to preemptively plan for the 2021 NIT class to be held via ZOOM.
| Contact Us
2020 Board of Directors | | Lilia Beattie
Carrie Byron
Jane Foster
Ken French
Rose Gergerich
Charlotte Harper
Lynne Hehr
Denise Klinger
Jim Klinger
Cheryl Larson
Dave Leisure
Kathy Mason
JB Portillo
Deb Shoemaker
Paul Springer
Tom Waggoner |
| Curriculum
Public Relations
Board Secretary
Western Corridor
Native Plants
Eastern Corridor
President-Elect
Interpretation
Volunteer Coordinator
Webmaster
President
Lake Wedington
Treasurer
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State Representative
Membership |
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