Old-Growth Gazette: May 2022
Our mission is to create experiences which connect people with nature, motivate them to lead sustainable lives, and take action to protect wildlife and wild places. We look forward to having you join us on this journey!
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50th Anniversary Free Week
June 28 - July 3, 2022
You're invited! Wesselman Woods will open its gates for free in honor of our 50th anniversary from Tuesday, June 28 - Sunday, July 3 during regular operating hours.
Save the date, grab the sunscreen, and pack your water bottle for a week full of outdoor enjoyment.
Mews News
Ruby-throated hummingbird | Photo: Isaac Morris
Hummingbird Diet
Hummingbirds love visiting flowers for sweet nectar. The nectar is full of sugars and carbs which is great for the quick calories that these little birds need to sustain their speedy lifestyle. However, hummingbirds can't survive on sugars alone, similar to the way that humans can't survive on just soda.
To grow and sustain themselves, hummingbirds need proteins and minerals to complete their diet. Insects, insect eggs, and spiders are all delicious protein packets for hummingbirds. They catch those protein packets by gleaning (plucking off of surfaces) and hawking (snatching in the air).
Because insects and spiders can make up 80% of their diet, hummingbirds are inevitably exposed to neonicotinoids – a group of insecticides used widely on farms and in urban landscapes. Research has shown that imidacloprid, a commonly used neonicotinoid, depress their metabolic rate and can possibly suppress their immune systems. Other groups of important pollinators -including bees- are also negatively impacted by the use of these pesticides.
Eco-Learning
Coming Soon: Nature Play Directors
Wesselman Woods is adding a new position to their team… introducing Nature Play Directors!
A Wesselman Woods Nature Play Director (NPD) is an environmental prodigy between the ages of 5 and 12 who contributes their ideas and votes on the Environmental Education Committee at Wesselman Woods. There will be three NPDs each year. They will collaborate with the Director of Environmental Education to develop educational programs and plans for the Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape, steering Wesselman Woods towards a future that is both fun and sustainable.
By becoming a NPD, they will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, systems-based thinking, and business acumen, ultimately becoming advocates for eco-preneurship and environmental stewardship amongst their peers. They will serve the community as the face of the Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape from Earth Day 2022 until Earth Day 2023. NPDs will be asked to attend WW events and select programs. They will also meet seasonally with the Director of Environmental Education.
Why add this position? Adulthood may confine our minds to societal norms and pressures but children do not conform to any such ideas. They have a natural creative approach to life and offer unique perspectives that adults may overlook. Having NPDs on the Wesselman Woods team would add a new level of creativity and uniqueness to our Environmental Education Department.
Applications coming soon!
If you have any questions about the position, please contact our Director of Environmental Education, Kailene Goldsberry, at 812-479-0771 or via email, kailene@wesselmanwoods.org.
2022 Summer Camps
Summer Camps return to Wesselman Woods in 2022. See the themes and dates below. Register today because seats are filling up fast! Missed out on your camp of choice? Get on the waitlist.
Junior Forest League - Master Naturalist: June 20 – June 24, Ages 9-12
Calling all budding naturalists! At the end of this camp week, campers will have completed the requirements needed to become a certified Junior Indiana Master Naturalist!
Camp Wesselmón: July 11 – July 15, Ages 6-10
“Gotta catch ‘em all at Wesselman Woods!” Come discover real world Pokemon through animal encounters and forest exploration. Each day has a collectible item, along with our Pokedex we will fill out every day.
Camp Creepy: July 25 - July 29, Ages 9-12
They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, oh the oddities of Wesselman Woods! We will explore a wide range of eerie topics, from arachnids and insects to skeletons and scary stories.
Nature News
DENDROCHRONOLOGY (TREE RING SCIENCE) WORKSHOP
with Joe Buck, Owner of Cross Timbers Dendro
Ever wanted to know how old your tree is? Join our dendrochronology workshop and learn how to core and age your trees in your own backyard! Participants will learn the history and importance of dendrochronology, how to physically core a tree, how to mount and sand a core specimen, and view samples under a microscope.
Date/Time: Saturday, July 30 from 9 a.m. – noon
Class Cap: 25
Cost: Each session costs $40 for non-members or $20 for members and individuals who have completed IMN.
For questions, contact WW Director of Natural Resources and Research, Cindy Cifuentes, at cindy@wesselmanwoods.org or 812-479-0771.
ADDITIONAL 2022 COURSES
"What is Climate Change?" with Dr. Paul Doss, University of Southern Indiana Professor of Geology
September 12 from 6 - 9 PMInterpretation Workshop with Susan Fowler
September 19 from 6 - 9 PMEnvironmental Chemistry with Dr. Marilyn Hurst
September 26 from 6 - 9 PM