Pathways Summer 2013

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www.nysoea.org 6 0 7 . 5 9 1 . 6 4 2 2

Photo by: Margie Turrin Piermont Marsh, Significant Coastal Fish & Wildlife Habitat

PATHWAYSOfcial Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association Summer 2013
http://www.nysoea.org/http://www.nysoea.org/


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2 Pathways Summer 20132

NYSOEA EXECUTIVE BOARD

President Tim Stanley

VP Administration John Garesch

VP Communication Eric Powers

VP Human Resources

GayLynne Samsonoff

VP Program - Jolene Thompson

Secretary - Meaghan Boice-Green

Treasurer - Elizabeth Van Acker

Ofce - Darleen Lieber

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Eastern - Amanda Ackers &

Natalie Rider

Metro - Jessica Kratz

Sunny Corrao

Northern - Brian DeGroat

Western - Kimberly May &

Caryn Corriere

Central - Benette Whitmore, Ph.D Beth Folta, Ph.D2013 ANNUAL NYSOEA CONFERENCE

MaryLynne Malone

PATHWAYS

Issue Editors

Jessica Kratz

Nichole Gatherer

Graphic Designer

Matthew Fraher

Content Editors

Sarah Conley

Darleen Leiber

Jill Eisenstein

Richard Parisio (Poetry Editor)

Benette Whitmore, Ph. D.

Online Content/

Marketing Manager

Jonathan Duda

Contributing Past Editors

Frank Knight

Snapper Petta

A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENTCICADIAN RHYTHMS.

The recent emergence of millions of 17-year cicadas

crawling out of the ground and then out of their

exoskeletons with red eyes and long wings, has

created quite a buzz --both literally and guratively!

Imagine the terror and excitement of 60 students

from Harlem as they entered not only the forest but

the realm of the cicadas in June. Throw in some

maple looper caterpillars, a few huge carpenter bees... and there was a collective

scream that in a small area drowned out the loud hum of the cicadas. Yet in a

few hours, these same students were holding the insects and looking for them on

the trees, shouting when they found one emerging from its shell. Can a cicada

promote interdisciplinary life-long learning in, for and about the outdoors and

inspire appreciation of the environment by all people? When any teacher takesstudents outside, it is nature that becomes the teacher.

For just over 2.6 of these cicada cycles, NYSOEA has annually planned an event

to remind everyone of the power of outdoor education. This years 45th Annual

NYSOEA Conference-- Bridging History, Outdoor Education and Urbanization for

our Future-- will be held October 24th-27th. It will be a time to share, network

and reinvigorate our spirits, and a time to have our voices heard. Like the

cicadas, we can collectively make a very loud noise! Each of us can emerge and

add to the buzz: 1) Identify a teacher who love teaching their student about

the outdoors and invite them to the conference (a free NYSOEA membership to

rst-time conference attendees). 2) Spread the word through networks such as

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or e-mail. 3) Talk to people about the organizationand conference. 4) Put an advertisement in the conference booklet. 5) Register

early to take advantage of the early-bird registration.

Seventeen years ago, I observed an underprivileged urban girl visiting a farm

she found one cicada more interesting than the farm animals that surrounded

her. As she held that insect in her hands, they seemed to bond. They had each

responded to a rhythm that called them forth. It was as though she understood

that both she and the insect had left the confines of their own worlds to enter a

very different world they were now sharing. Both had been transformed. This

is the power of outdoor education, where a periodical cicada can become an

inspiration for emerging and nding a voice, where insect is teacher.


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3Pathways Summer 2013

Today, more consumers than ever want to lighten the load of

our planet, while providing better nutrition to their families

and to the precious soil. This has been a bountiful year of

Farmers Markets, Seed Swaps, Community Garden harvests,

and CSAs. In 2013, Gardening in Westchester is just as likely

to conjure images of gardeners managing their own crops, as

it is for them to be aesthetically grooming landscapes.

The reasons for this shift toward local food sourcing are

plentiful. For many consumers, local food is about food

justice, and connecting us with that which feeds us. Since

2008, InterGenerate has provided Westchester residents

with opportunities to join community gardens and harvest

fresh produce for both their families and for the Food Bank

of Westchester. InterGenerates founders, Peggy Clarke and

Roseann Rutherford wanted to address many facets of food

justice: access to fresh (i.e., unprocessed) food, labor rights

for farm workers (all those who work in the food industry),

local resourcing to reduce stress on the earth, and the ethical

treatment of animals. InterGenerate founded four community

gardens in Northern Westchester, including a Giving Garden,

which supplies the Food Bank of Westchester.

RECONNECTING WITH THAT WHICH FEEDS USLOCAL FOOD SOURCING IN WESTCHESTER COUNTYBy Jacqueline Mooney-OBrien, InterGenerate Educator

To further the mission of local food sourcing, InterGenerate

opened a Heritage Egg Co-op at John Jay Homestead in 2011

Although Backyard Chickens have become vastly popular

many Westchester County villages have prohibitive zoning

regulations and do not foster hen ownership. For many

residents, this cooperative provides an alternative way to

participate in hen ownership. Using a weekly shift co-op

model, participating families rotate hen caregiving and

harvesting. On average, each shift member takes home about

a dozen eggs each week over the course of the year. Benets

of participating in this co-op experience go way beyond the

nutrition of the egg. Participants are eager to reconnect with

food sourcing, and enthusiastic about having their children

care for the animals that provide them with important

nutrition. While the membership is small, the Egg Co-op has

reached thousands of people, strengthening community ties

while taking one step toward building a more sustainable

food system, says Katherine Moreau, founder of the Egg Co-

op with InterGenerate.

photo by Jacqueline Mooney-OBrien

photo by Jacqueline Mooney-OBrien


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As an outreach project, the InterGenerate Heritage Egg Co-

op provides educational access to a domesticated member of

our food system by hosting camper groups throughout the

summer. Campers create memorable experiences during

their visits, learn about hen caregiving, the nutrition of

eggs and the role they play in our food system, how hens

contribute to the ecosystem of the farm (tick control and

fertilizer) and most of all, enjoy the animal interaction and

enrichment they provide the hens during the visits. Led by

many InterGenerate volunteers, campers interact with hens

and help with caregiver tasks. Campers receive an orientation

on hen hygiene, help harvest eggs, refresh nesting boxes and

feed hens fresh produce treats.

A resource, activity, and a craft table provide alternative ways

to extend the hands-on experience. Campers have access to

illustrated books and posters regarding chicken breeds and

the life cycle of chickens. An educational poster details the

ovaries and course the eggs take moving through and out of

the body. Drawing paper and writing utensils are available to

campers who want to sketch the John Jay Homestead hens.

Outreach leaders facilitate inquiry-based discussions about

sustainability, food systems, hen care, and nutrition. Campers

are delighted to participate in this hands-on experience

InterGenerate is very appreciative of the Friends of John

Jay Homestead for the encouragement theyve provided as

they continue to expand the educational outreach of the

InterGenerate Heritage Egg Co-op experience.

For more information about InterGenerate or to join one of

their programs visit

www.intergenerate.ning.comor call 914.232.8072.

2012 coop drawing by Mt. Kisco Boys & Girls Club camper named Rebecca.
http://www.intergenerate.ning.com/http://www.intergenerate.ning.com/


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Each major storm of 2011 and 2012 changed the forest

landscape of the Northeast from the top down in just one day.

But something else has been changing the same landscape

for years from the bottom up-- just as signicantly, and much

more slowly.

Recently I spoke with a few experts who voiced unanimous

concern that the health of the forests in the Northeast is

declining. They agreed that, in general terms, a healthy forest

is one that supports several layers of diverse, native trees

and shrubs of different ages. The larger, old-growth trees

spread a canopy over the top, sheltering an emerging forest

of seedlings and saplings, which over time will replace them.

Shrubs such as Mountain laurel and wildowers like Trillium,

Ladys slipper and Jack-in-the-Pulpit thrive in the understory.

A healthy forest makes for a healthy watershed. The roots of

trees lter water and slow its ow; they hold and stabilize

the soil. The canopy of a forest cools the water below and the

plants sequester harmful pollutants. Without healthy forests,

there is more soil erosion, the water gets warmer (so holds

less oxygen), and the entire ecosystem changes. An unhealthy

forest can lead to an unhealthy watershed.

by Jill Eisenstein

What has been changing the forest? Well, for one, the white

tailed deer. Deer are as natural as a snowstorm, only more

subtle. Essentially extirpated from New York in the early

1900s, they are now munching their way through the forest

undergrowth, through farm crops and through landscape

plantings. Here in New York, their population now tops 1.25

million. The suburban matrix provides the perfect habitat for

hungry deer. Fragmented forest and yardscapes offer the idea

edges for browsing, and according to maps produced by The

Nature Conservancy, the matrix is more pronounced in this

area than anywhere else in the Boston/NYC/LI corridor. In the

absence of natural predators such as wolves and mountainlions, the herd suffers fewer losses. Plus a growing number

of large landowners, interested in exclusion and privacy, post

their land to keep hunters away. And thousands of us provide

a year-round nutritional buffet with landscaped trees and

shrubs. Together these elements provide deer with plenty of

protection and food, perfect conditions for herd growth. Any

population that is not restricted in some way grows at an

increasingly accelerated rate.

Deer are beautiful, but how much is too much of a good thing?


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According to Kevin Clarke, deer

expert at the NYS Department

of Environmental Conservation,

its when deer numbers reach a

higher level than are culturally

tolerable - in other words, when

human activities and deer activities

constantly collide. He said that the DECestimates that deer densities range

from 25 to 50 per square mile in Putnam

and Dutchess Counties. In much of

Westchester, population densities are even

higher. The county devised a taskforce and

spent over two years studying the problem.

After publishing their nal report in 2008, they

implemented an adaptive deer management program

(controlled hunting) to reduce deer populations. In

NYS, annual estimates of deer damage, including

damages to cars, agricultural crops, the timber

industry, and landscape plantings, are in the millions

of dollars.

What has attracted attention more recently,

however, is the impact of deer on forest biodiversity

and ecology. Lasdon Park in Westchester has had

a deer exclosure area for more than 15 years, and the

differences on either side of its fence are astounding. Deer

prefer the seedlings of hard woods such as maples, oaks,

and ashes, and love Trillium, wild violets, and other delicate

native wildowers. However, these types of food resources

have been greatly diminished, and under pressure to nd

food, deer will eat almost anything within reach. Where deer

are too numerous, over-browsing has led to open, park-like

understory areas known as deer savannahs. In some places,

the only evidence of spring is unfurling ddleheads (deer

dont eat ferns and the ferns actually inhibit the growth of

tree seedlings) and greening Japanese barberry and stilt grass.

Some hardwoods are not regenerating because the seedlings

are being browsed to the ground. According to Ted Kozlowski,

Certied Watershed Forester and Patterson Environmental

Conservation Inspector, this is not what the world should

look like! The loss of native understory plants negatively

impacts songbirds, as well as species such as the wood

thrush, woodcock, ruffed grouse, indigo bunting, blue-spotted

salamander, the New England cottontail, and others. Besides

loss of biodiversity, less vegetation means more soil erosion

(fewer roots to hold the soil), and lower water quality in the

watersheds. Recognizing this, the DEP opened its watershed

properties to deer hunting two years ago.

Overabundant deer contribute to declining forest health. But

alas, when you pull on one thread in nature, you nd it attached

to many others. Nature refuses to be compartmentalized;

one thing is never just one thing

Its all about relationships --

chemicals and compounds

systems and food webs. The

forests are in trouble, but

deer are only a part of the

problem. Also culpable are

invasive plants-- many invadethe forests as birds and animals

drop seeds from landscape plants

such as Burning bush (Euonymus)

Japanese barberry (Berberis), Orienta

bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)and

Multiora rose (Rosa multiora). Add to that

exotic insects and tree diseases (wooly adelgid

chestnut blight, gypsy moth to name a

few), poor land practices, climate change

earthworms, acid rain and the already-

mentioned fragmentation of forests.

There is good news! Individuals have ways

they can help the forest get or stay healthy

Since more than 80% of New Yorks nearly 19 million acres

of forest are held in private ownership, landowners have a

huge ability to impact forest health. Landowners can plant

native landscape plants instead of invasives, and can help

eliminate invasive plants. In the right numbers, deer can

actually help, too...Mile-a-Minute vine and Euonymus are on

their menu. In some places, deer exclusion fences are being

installed, and/or hunting is being encouraged (landowners

can allow limited hunting on private property; check with

the DEC on how) to help reduce deer densities and hopefully

help forest regeneration. Ted recommends that landowners

avail themselves of the free information and help available

from the NYC Watershed Agricultural Council and the DEC

foresters, as well as Cornell Cooperative Extension.

All of us who enjoy the outdoors want clean water, a healthy

diverse landscape and abundant wildlife for ourselves and

the next generations. We need to be aware of the signs of poor

forest health, learn about what plants belong in the forest

and what may be harmful. What can we do? We can denitely

change planting practices, manage the forest on our own

properties, and encourage healthy forest regeneration. Watch

for local programs for homeowners.

Special thanks to Dan Aitchison, Curator of Wildlife for Westchester

County Parks; Bill Harding, Executive Director, NYS Dept. of State;

Ted Kozlowski, Certied Watershed Forester; and Kevin Clarke,

DEC, for their invaluable information, expertise, and insight.


7/15


Pok-O-MacCready is many things to many people. Ask a

former summer camper and it is the greatest camp in the

universe with giant color wars-type games, High Peaks

hiking, lake swimming, and horseback riding. Ask teacher

liaisons who attend with their classes during the school year

and it is a place to see students excel in new environments.

Ask those same students and theyll say it is the place with

the fun ropes in the trees where they learned how to worktogether as a team. No matter who you ask, the Pok-O-

MacCready Outdoor Education Center is a place that gives

children an experience seldom found within the walls of a

traditional school.

The Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center sits on 350

acres of privately owned land in the northeastern corner of

the Adirondack State Park. Its size, proximity to both the

High Peaks and Lake Champlain, and talented staff allow

it to provide a wide range of activities and classes for the

AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT:

Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education CenterBy Brian DeGroat, Director Pok-O-McCready Education Centeralmost two thousand students who visit annually. These

activities encompass four main categories: Teambuilding

High Adventure, Natural Sciences and Living History. With

over forty classes aligned with the New York State Learning

Standards, PMOEC can dovetail nicely with the various goals

teachers set for their particular trip. Groups in the fall tend

to focus on Teambuilding with the Low Ropes and Teams

Courses in order to build bonds for the remainder of theschool year. Winter groups focus on ice climbing, winte

survival, and cross country skiing to force students outside o

their comfort zone and build condence. In the spring, many

groups offer options in all four categories to give the students

a reward for a job well done during the rest of the school year

Scattered throughout the seasons, French Canadian schools

travel south to give their immersion classes a totally English

experience. By remaining exible and offering customizable

scheduling, PMOEC is able to serve groups of all ages for many


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different purposes, including professional retreats, leadership

conferences, and training for college Residence Advisors.

Pok-O is also a lovely spot for weddings!

Although different people use Pok-Os services for a variety

of activities, The Centers main mission is to create and

encourage a sense of awe in the presence of nature, to

promote teamwork, communication, and tolerance, to build

self-condence, and to nurture self-worth for students of all

ages. This is brought about by a strong emphasis on both

experiential and environmental education. The circular

low-ropes course presents a very unique opportunity for

development and has been described as one of the most

creative in-house designs.

Teamwork and communication are also a driving force

behind PMOECs community involvement. As part of a small

rural community, Pok-O has sought to establish partnerships

with local farms, schools, and museums in order to promote

community programs and local businesses. One highligh

from the past year includes working with Tupper Lakes Wild

Center and the New York State Maple Producers Association

to provide Maple Syrup Education Seminars. PMOEC also

provides a free lecture series in the winter on topics ranging

from Bears in the Adirondacks to an Agricultural History o

the Champlain Valley to a workshop with writer/illustrator

Steven Kellogg. By establishing ties with other organizationsPok-O has been able to stretch its resources and create a

higher level of programming.


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10/15


RAMBLINGS

FROM

REDH

ILL

bySnapperPetta

Christmas, or perhaps Hanukah

Halloweenan anxiously awaited birthdayall are special days in the life of a child. Each

spring, I too have a date to look forward to.

Its the day I sit quietly on a low ridge in the

woods just off of Raquette Lake. Ostensibly,

my job is to catch wayward students as they

navigate an orienteering course. Keeping

them from wandering into a confusing

morass of boggy wetness is my professional

goal, but actually I have a secret personal

agenda. This will be the day for my annual

Seton Watch.

Named for Ernest Thompson Seton, an

early 20th century naturalist, this activity of

intentional sitting, while quietly observing

your surroundings, allows a person to

experience what one small location in nature

has to offer. In my case, this spot is found near

a lichen encrusted boulder. Set in amongst a

mixture of pines, balsam r, emerging maples

and decaying beeches, the small elevation

allows for breezes blowing in off the lake

to surround me as they stir. By returning

year after year, an intimacy has developed

between me and this space; one that allows

for quiet reection, familiarity and discovery.

Arriving by mid-morning, I spend a few

moments cleaning up winters debris.

Typically my rst task is to pitch a tarp

against the projected rains. Then, nestled

under the protective nylon, I silently watch

for whatever is waiting to reveal itself. It

takes a few minutes before Im really relaxed,

attuned to the site and open to what it wants

to present. Seen out of the corner of my eye,

subtle movement gives away the presence of

a chickadee as it its from perch to perch. In

the distance what sounds like a small steam

engine pinpoints the location of a male ruffed

grouse as it fans his tail, drumming against a

log in its ancient courting ritual, calling out

for a mate.

Around mid day an almost silent drizzle announces

itself, settling lightly on the tarp. As the rain picks up inintensity all animal life tucks itself in for the duration

of this storm. Secret hiding places become known as

I watch chipmunks dive for cover while red squirrels

scamper upward disappearing under the protection

of overhanging spruce limbs. Soon all I hear is the

thumping of raindrops. My visibility into the woods is

clouded by moisture and the day cools sharply. Zipping

my vest to trap body warmth, I settle in to enjoy lunch

accompanied by the weathers syncopation overhead.

Eventually the rain subsides. With the view no longe

obscured, all attention is drawn again to my surroundingsSuddenly an aural outburst booms out behind me. What

can only be described as a forceful inside out sneeze

signals that a deer has discovered my hiding spot. Slowly

I rise, looking directly at the doe. Eyes locked on each

other, we watch for a sign indicating there is no danger

to be feared from either quarter. Momentarily her ears

twitch; she nervously snorts again. Seconds later the doe

bounds off into the woods, white tailing, waving like a

surrender ag to our encounter. Almost as quickly as

it began, our time together is over, leaving me with an

indelible memory.

As with all good things, my time in the woods eventually

ends. The small hand held radio I have alerts me tha

our students are all back from their time on the course

safe and accounted for. Reluctantly I leave my specia

place, knowing it will be another twelve months before

I will enjoy it again. Taking one last look at the ridge

realize how fortunate I am to have this day in the woods

each spring. While I understand how incredibly lucky

I am to have this opportunity, you too can have one of

your own. A wilderness setting isnt required to gain the

benets of a Seton Watch. Only time and the willingness

to sit alone for a while in a quiet setting are required

Observing a winter bird feeder, sitting along a park trail

or gazing over a sand dune; all will allow you the privilege

to look deeper into your chosen spot. What you discove

might amaze you, exciting you to come back again and

again.

Until next time, may all your rambles lead you to new

and exciting places.

SETON WATCH


11/15


Such was my mantra as I helped to plan the Rockland

County summer AmeriCorps training. They need to know

the Hudson. Each summer the County employs a group of

young people to do environmental community service andeducation. The goal of the training is to connect the crew

to potential summer sites, to the overall County and its

resources. While there were no sites actually focused on the

Hudson River I held fast to the second training goal. To me

the Hudson is the Countys biggest resource, so while learning

about storm water run off, rst aid, Rockland history, waste

management and effective communication is denitely

important, spending a day at the river is essential. Fortunately

for me, I had an ally in the AmeriCorps Project Coordinator,

Kathy Galione.

THEY NEED TO KNOW THE HUDSONby Margie Turrin

Like many counties along the Hudson River one entire border

of Rockland lines the waterfront. However in Rockland our

triangular shape means fully a third of our border hugs

the river, and as a result the river holds vast quantities ofRocklands wildlife, unique habitats and its early history

Much of Rocklands river border is irreplaceable habitat

including four zones that have been designated by the

Department of State as Signicant Coastal Fish and Wildlife

Habitat. Each contributes to why this stretch of the Hudson

and Rockland County, are so special, providing an important

opportunity for environmental education.

AmeriCorps team members identifying their catch


12/15


Iona Island Marsh is a large undeveloped

tidal freshwater-brackish marsh. A

designated bird sanctuary it hosts large

raptors such as bald eagles, northern

harrier and osprey, while the wetlands

provide rich spawning and nursery habitat

for both freshwater and migratory sh.

Haverstraw Bay, at 6 miles across, is

the widest stretch of the Hudson River,and provides large expanses of shallow

estuarine habitat used as nursery areas for

both migratory sh of the Hudson and the

eastern seaboard. Here we nd juvenile

Atlantic Sturgeon putting on their rst

few dozen inches of length, and Shortnose

Sturgeon passing the winters.

Hook Mountain is a towering stretch of the Palisades Sill that

rises directly from the rivers edge, providing an excellent

viewpoint for observing migratory birds.

Piermont Marsh dates to older than 7000 years and spans

more than 1000 acres. The only large undeveloped brackish

marsh in the Hudson it hosts a rich abundance and diversity

of wildlife and fish.

With over 30 young adults participating in the training we

developed a group of AmeriCorps topic experts to lead small

groups during the day. Each station had a focus. One examined

the uniqueness of Rocklands waterfront zones, tting them

into the wider estuary. A chemistry team measured dissolved

oxygen, pH and salinity levels to predict the health of the

water. The physical team examined tides, currents andweather, while the shing group tugged a seine net through

the water, collecting hogchoker, white perch, striped bass,

Atlantic silverside, mummichog, herring and blue crab.

The Atlantic silverside conrmed the salty inuence of the

Atlantic Ocean at our sampling site.

Our nal group examined sediments lining the bottom of the

river, connecting them to our local history. Small sections

of brick reminded us of more than 40 brick factories that

once operated in Rockland. Bits of slag tied to the iron

manufacturing from the now closed mines of Rocklands

Harriman Park. Pieces of coal linked to steamboats that ranbetween Rocklands waterfront and New York City bringing

day-trippers to the Palisades Park in the early 20thcentury.

The day was a powerful reminder that the Hudson is a great

teaching tool, providing opportunities for training young

adults and exciting them about environmental education

while offering a local twist.

Bibliography & Resources

Signicant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitats, Department of

State, Ofce of Communities & Waterfronts, New York State.

http://www.dos.ny.gov/communitieswaterfronts/consistency/

scfwhabitats.html

Rockland County AmeriCorps

http://rocklandgov.com/departments/youth-bureau/

rockland-county-americorps/

Using a navigation mpa to discuss Rocklands Waterfront habita
http://www.dos.ny.gov/communitieswaterfronts/consistency/scfwhabitats.htmlhttp://www.dos.ny.gov/communitieswaterfronts/consistency/scfwhabitats.htmlhttp://rocklandgov.com/departments/youth-bureau/rockland-county-americorps/http://rocklandgov.com/departments/youth-bureau/rockland-county-americorps/http://rocklandgov.com/departments/youth-bureau/rockland-county-americorps/http://rocklandgov.com/departments/youth-bureau/rockland-county-americorps/http://www.dos.ny.gov/communitieswaterfronts/consistency/scfwhabitats.htmlhttp://www.dos.ny.gov/communitieswaterfronts/consistency/scfwhabitats.html


13/15


Seasonal Book Review

Are there Canada geese on your childrens little league eld?

Have you been noticing an increase in the deer population

in your community? Has your bird feeder attracted pests

along with backyard guests? If your answer to any of these

questions is yes, you are in good company and will enjoy andgain a lot of insight from reading Nature Wars.

Offering detailed explanations to the questions we as outdoor

educators are asked, or ask ourselves, Nature Wars lls in

important gaps in our understanding of human-wildlife

interactions and the causes and effects of our current

state of reforested sprawl. Entire chapters are devoted to

deer, Canada geese, turkeys, bear, and beaver, offering case

studies and cautionary tales from other municipalities in

matters such as deer management and the culling of Canada

geese. With historical background and illustrative examples

such as the change in sentiment and practice following USAirways Flight 1549 Miracle on the Hudson, Sterba provides

a comprehensive, insightful read that you will want to

come back to as a reference. This well-researched book is

thoroughly indexed and has an extensive bibliography. While

dense with information, Nature Wars is sprinkled with the wit

of a seasoned journalist and does not become dull.

Nature Wars:

The Incredible Story of How Wildlife Comebacks

Turned Backyards into BattlegroundsBy Jim Sterba

Hardcover: 343 pages

Publisher: Crown, 2012

ISBN-10: 0307341968

ISBN-13: 978-0307341969

The book is available in hardcover at amazon.com,local booksellers, and in museum gift shops. It is also

available as a paperback and a Kindle eBook.

The nal section of the book, Denatured Life, delves deeply

into the origins and causes of our disconnect with wildlife

He shows how Disney movies and other media have tamed

and personied our perceptions of wildlife. He illustrates

how parallel industries have developed to make money off

our feeding of wild animals: pet food industries encourage

us to feed songbirds (aka backyard guests), and pest contro

companies remove the larger wildlife the food often attracts

Sterba illustrates how our current situation came to be. He

also shows how attitudes and practices can shift and evolveFor instance, the movement towards good and local food

has brought some people back to farming, beekeeping, and

hunting in the communities where they live. Sterba concludes

with the need for human oversight in forest management

and it involves reconnecting people to their ecosystems- and

getting people outdoors!


14/15


by Kimberly Ma


15/15

ADVERTISING IN PATHWAYSPATHWAYSwelcomes advertisements which will be

of interest to the membership of NYSOEA. If you have

a product, service, equipment, resource, program, etc.

that you would like to share with our membership via

an advertisement, we can receive it through any of the

following ways.

Email: [email protected]

Fax: (607) 753-5982

Mail: Darleen M. LieberRef: Pathways Advertisement / Article

SUNY Cortland RPLS Dept.

PO Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045

Materials should be typed. Please include a short

biographical section about the author of the article.

References cited in the article should be listed at the end of

the article, APA style.

(ISSN 1077-5100) PATHWAYS is published four times a

year by the New York State Outdoor Education Associationand is emailed to NYSOEA members. Opinions expressed

by contributors are theirs solely and not necessarily

those of the Editorial Board of PATHWAYS or of NYSOEA.

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INVITATION FOR ARTICLES AND NEWS.The PATHWAYS team is always eager to hear from members

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will be attempting a new digital layout in the coming

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in New Yorks Historic Capital Region

Workshop presenters are sought to ll theWorkshop presenters are sought to ll the

impressive schedule of programs highlighng:impressive schedule of programs highlighng:

Outdoor Education and the Common CoreThe Nature of New York

Sustainability: Preserving Our FutureHistory Shapes Our Environmental World View

Urban Outdoor Education

OFFOFF--SITESITE

PROGRAMSPROGRAMS

FEATUREDFEATURED

SPEAKERS ANDSPEAKERS AND

PERFORMERSPERFORMERS

Joe BruchacJoe Bruchac

Donald Knaack,Donald Knaack,

The JunkmanThe Junkman

John WaldmanJohn Waldman

To submit a workshop proposal, visit the 2013 Conference page at:To submit a workshop proposal, visit the 2013 Conference page at:

www.NYSOEA.orgwww.NYSOEA.org

Or contact our conference commiee at:Or contact our conference commiee at:

[email protected]@nysoea.org
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

Documents

Pathways Summer 2013