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Gov. Dick Environmental Center

Newsletter

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Mt.Gretna, PA Vol. 5 Summer 2010

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Coming Soon: A New View from the Tower

Turning what seems like a wasteland into an attractive meadow is an enormous undertaking. But that is an area in which Dick Brown excels. He has been planting meadows in several localities around Lebanon County, the latest being at Gov. Dick Park in the area of the Tower.

According to Brown the benefits of meadows planted with dozens of native wildflowers and grass species will greatly improve biodiversity in the area. Not only is it a huge attraction for butterflies, birds and mammals, but a pleasure for the eye of visitors as well.

The process of developing a meadow begins with planning, followed by preparation of the soil and finally sowing the seed. Preparation includes removing brush and invasive plants from the meadow site. Seed is collected from established meadows, cleaned and stored for eventual sowing. It takes several years for the plants to mature into well established, blooming flowers.

Working closely with Dick Brown are volunteers Ron Laughlin and Sid Hostetter. Many other volunteers have helped with various aspects of creating the meadow as well. Their time and effort is greatly appreciated.

Park News

The project of erecting deer exclosure fences and planting 15,000 tree seedlings is complete. Obviously it will take many years to see the change but that is part of the forest progression.

The Support committee met to brainstorm ideas for generating income for the Park. Some ideas offered were hosting large events like a Trail race and an Athletic/sports equipment flea market.

Ron Metz is the man responsible for the attractive appearance of the Park grounds around the Environmental Center. He is hired through AARP’s Senior Community Service Employment Program.

Robert Petrovich is adding benches along the edge of the parking lot for his Eagle Scout project. This amphitheater-style program area will be called “Woodpecker Hollow” and will be a great asset to our school programs.

We continue to need workers for the following areas: “Adopt a Trail” program for anyone interested in helping take care of trails on a regular basis. We also have small gardens for adoption. If you are interested in keeping the gardens looking nice and weed free please call the office.

Featured Volunteers

Desiree and Matt McElheny together chair the Trail Committee at Gov. Dick Park. They are actively involved in biking organizations such as SAMBA and bring much expertise to the development and upkeep of our trails. They have organized work crews, trained volunteers in how to properly clear trails, and spent countless hours keeping the trails in good condition.

When not on their bikes, Matt works as an IT specialist at Holy Spirit Hospital and Desiree is a Nurse Practitioner at Hershey Medical Center. Their favorite biking trip was on Porcupine Rim in the Moab Mountains of Utah.

Send Your Children to “Outer Space”

While this may sound a bit radical the concept is a new idea encouraged by progressive parks. Because today’s children have little opportunity to play in the woods, Gov. Dick Park has designated an “Outer Space” area where children can get away from all the electronic gadgets and enjoy free play, observation, discovery in a wooded setting. There are so many rules that say “Don’t do this and don’t do that” but in “Outer Space” children can dig in the dirt, build a stick fort, examine a plant, search for bugs and other critters, or just sit and observe living things around them.

Outer Space is behind the pavilion and between the Horse Shoe Trail and the Interpretive Trail. Parents are responsible for their children; all activities are at their own risk.

Summer Programs in the Park

A schedule of events and programs offered at Gov. Dick Park is available at www.parkatgovernordick.org. All programs will be held at the Environmental Center and are free unless noted otherwise. Registration is required for those programs marked with “RR”. Be sure to mark your calendar for those events you wish to attend.

Fridays 9am The Mt. Gretna Bird Club will continue to meet each Friday to observe and identify birds in the Park.

June 4 7:30 pmLearn to identify Ferns of Lebanon Co with Tom Powers

June 5 9am A Fitness hike led by Diana will be held one Saturday a month. This will be a faster paced hike on a trail to help develop your fitness level.

June 6 2:00 Music on the Porch, which includes Celtic, Blue Grass, and Old Time, will be played three Sundays during the summer months. Anyone is welcome to bring their acoustic instrument and join the group.

June 11 6;30 pm Backpacking 101 A beginner course in the “how-to” of backpacking. The course will include indoor instruction in equipment, what and how to pack, dos and don’ts of backpacking, followed by a 2-3 mile hike on the trails. Bring a backpack if you have one. Course is free, The deadline for registration is June 4 and is limited to 10 people, ages 12 and up. RR

June 12 7:15 pm First Mountain Bike Night Ride sponsored by the Trail Committee. Registration begins at 7:15; the ride begins at 8pm. All riders must be off the Park property by 11:30 pm. This event is for experienced riders only and helmets and forward lighting is required. A fee of $5 per rider is required with funds supporting trail work.

June 19 10am Mission: Discovery “Sense Ability” focuses on sharpening our senses to discover more of the natural world around us. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

June 20 2 pm Video: “Conserving Nature’s Diversity”

June 26 10am Interpreting the Seasons. Take an amble with Audrey to see what makes up the summer season in the forest.

July 11 2 pm Music on the Porch

July 17 11 am Girls Only Teddy Bear Hike. Bring your mom or grandma, a favorite teddy bear, and a packed lunch for a special picnic hike in the woods.

July 24 9am Fitness hike

July 18 2pm Enjoy a presentation on Butterflies: Haunts and Habitats with Fred Habegger. He will includehost plants and how to attract butterflies to your yard

July 24 9 am Fitness hike

July 31 10 am to 1:30 pm Webelos Scouts: Naturalist Badge Workshop. Cost $5/child, RR

August 8 2pm Music on the Porch

August 13 7:30 pm From spring thaw to animals in the snow, Fred Habegger will share slides on nature throughout the Four Seasons.

August 14 10 am Mission: Discovery Program “Finding the Evidence”. We will look for signs of animals in the Park. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

August 27 7:30 pm Tom Powers’ talk and slide show presentation on Snakes of PA will include discussion on PAs snakes as well as the four poisonous snakes found in the US. A live King snake will also make an appearance.

Questions: callthe office 964-3808 or email governordick@hotmail.com.

On this mountain…

-Audrey Manspeaker

Shhhh! Quiet please! The babies are sleeping! Now is the time when the animals of Gov. Dick Park are raising their families, and you may happen to find a young deer, rabbit, baby bird, or other wild animal who may appear to be abandoned. They are not orphans and the parents are always close by. All wildlife must be left alone, for their safety and your own.

Parent animals often leave their young alone while they hunt for food. The babies know to remain very still and quiet, usually in the cover of plants and shrubs, until the parent returns. Sometimes the adult animal will try to draw the attention of potential predators away from their babies while the young ones are hiding. Nature has given baby birds and animals protective coloration called camouflage to help them stay hidden.

It is very common to find baby birds. As the nestlings grow, it can become crowded inside the nest. In addition, the young birds exercise their wings vigorously to get ready to fly, and these two factors can cause them to fall out of the nest. Rest assured that Mamma Bird knows exactly where her fallen nestling is, and she continues to feed it and protect it while it is on the ground. Never bring a baby bird home. It is illegal to take or possess wildlife, and the fine can be as high as $1,500. So this spring, enjoy looking at the wildlife you find and leave them in the wild.

Ways you can contact us:

*Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Gov. Dick

PO Box 161, Mt. Gretna, PA 17064

*3283 Pinch Rd. Mt. Gretna (diagonally across from the State Game Lands parking lot)

*Phone: (717) 964-3808

*Email: governordick@hotmail.com

*Web: www.parkatgovernordick.org