Rock River Basin August 2010 Update
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Rock River Updates is a listing of events and other items of interest for people in and around the Rock River Basins of Wisconsin. We strive for a once a month mailing. Inclusion is not an endorsement of a program, publication or website. If you have questions about this update or if you have items to be added contact Suzanne Wade at suzanne.wade@ces.uwex.edu .
Important note: Teachers and those working with aquatic animals and plants – be sure you do not give students any animals or plants, especially not crayfish to take home. There is some evidence that the Red Swamp Crayfish, an extremely dangerous invasive species, was released by a teacher or by a student after being used in a science class. No aquatic animals or plants should ever be released into the wild, nor down a storm drain as that goes directly to a stream or lake and is not treated!
Rock River Coalition/UW-Extension Sponsored Events
To receive informational flyers on RRC events email marier@jeffersoncountywi.gov
Summer 2010 Rock River Reflections Newsletter at http://www.rockrivercoalition.org.
August 5 Rain Garden Workshop sponsored by the Rock River Stormwater Group, Beloit City Hall, 6:00 pm. For registration, contact Rebecca Dill at: rdill@biodiverse.org or 773-496-4020. More information at http://www.cleanwaterbrightfuture.org
August 10 Rock River Stormwater Group Meeting. Contact Bill for location at frisbeew@ci.beloit.wi.us
August 18 Wisconsin Water Star Workshop. 12:30-3:30pm, Wisconsin Indianhead Technology College, Rm 208, 2100 Beaser Ave., Ashland. Registration or information, contact Suzanne Wade, Suzanne.wade@ces.uwex.edu; or 920-674-8972. More information on Water Star: http://www.waterstarwisconsin.org.
August 31 Stormwater Educators gathering, 10:00am, UWEX Jefferson County, 864 Collins Rd, Jefferson
Sept 1 Mussel Monitoring Training, 6:00-8:00pm. Will be held in the Rome area south of Sullivan. For information or to register, contact Marie at marier@jeffersoncountywi.gov or 920-674-7297.
Sept 11 Snap Shot Monitoring Day, Contact Ed at ed@rockrivercoalition.org. Everyone is welcome.
Sept 28 Rock River Basin TMDL Public Informational Hearing. 12:30-4:00pm Lake Mills Municipal Building.
Natural Resource Calendar of Events:
July 31 Rock River Sweep updates: Watertown cancelled for this year; Hustisford postponed
Waupun a go for Saturday contact waupunchamber@sbcglobal.net
Janesville and Janesville north also still on for Saturday Afton Park, 8:30am. Wear boots & gloves, and bring long-handled grabbers if you have them. For information Dean Paynter at 289-5672.
For all other clean-ups check http://www.rockriversweep.org for contact information or their facebook page
Aug 7, 2010 – Aug 6, 2011 Sustainability Leadership Graduate Program: Edgewood College, Madison, a project-based program for working professionals, K-12 teachers and administrators. http://www.edgewood.edu/academics/graduate/sustainability/default.aspx
Aug 5 Stateline Area Bike and Pedestrian System Plan: A special Public Open House session will be held 5:00-6:00 pm, Rotary River Center, Beloit. People interested in bicycling, walking, interconnectivity of parks and recreational facilities, encouraged to attend. Info.: Robert Soltau, soltaub@ci.beloit.wi.us; 608-364-6702.
Aug 7 Retain the Rain Workshop: Rain Barrels, Rain Gardens, Drip Irrigation and Native Plants, 12:30pm – 4pm, First Unitarian Society of Madison, 900 University Bay Dr., Madison. $10 . Pre-registration deadline: Aug. 5. More info.: Lisa Johnson, 608-224-3715 or Johnson.lisa@co.dae.wi.us
Aug. 7 Conference and bus tour to highlight Wisconsin’s barn heritage in Green County: A look back at some of the rural icons' architectural roots. Contact Chuck Law, 608-328-9440, chuck.law@uwex.edu or Joe DeRose, 608-264-6512. Registrations due Aug. 3. Bus tour: $10/person. More info.: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/green.
Aug 13 Wisconsin Arborist Association Summer Conference: Mitchell Park, Milwaukee, WI
www.waa-isa.org/calendar_of_events.asp
Aug 14 Shorebirds of Southern Wisconsin: 8:00am depart from the Cub Foods parking lot on the northeast side of Madison, group will go where the shorebirds are in Columbia, Jefferson or Dane counties. Free. To register, contact WWA at 608-250-9971 or by email at register@wisconsinwetlands.org. Bring a scope if you have one.
Aug 14 Better Lawns & Gutters Tour: Learn about rain gardens, rain barrels, native plantings and more at the 2010 Better Lawns & Gutters Tour to be held in McFarland, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tour map available at Information Center at Brandt Park. Come see simple, yet beautiful landscape solutions. www.danewaters.com
Aug 16-17 Family Level Macroinvertebrate Identification Training: A portion of 2-day training is outdoors with time in the classroom. Space limited to 24. Register: Contact Carol Olson, Trees for Tomorrow, carol@treesfortomorrow.com or (715) 479-6456. Fee: $25 (non-refundable).
Aug 21 Creative Madison Beach Garden Design Day: 9:00 am at Vilas Beach by the Clean Vilas Beach Coalition, help design the Biofiltration Display Garden which will pump water from Lake Wingra through a solar pump into a series of pools and terraces being filtered before going back into the swimming area. CleanVilasBeachCoalition@gmail.com
Aug 28 DNR Wildlife Stamp Event: 3:00-5:00 pm. Stamp design contests held annually to select artwork that appears on turkey, waterfowl and pheasant stamps. Hosted at Leopold Center, Baraboo, WI , followed by a public exhibition of over 55 artwork pieces by artists from across the state. Free, open to public. www.aldoleopold.org
Sept 12 Birding at Zeloski Marsh, Trip #64 sponsored by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. Details here
Sept 13-29 DNR Urban Forestry Fall Workshops: Tree pruning basics offered throughout state, featuring indoor instruction on pruning fundamentals and outdoor instruction and demonstration. Registration info. on DNR urban forestry website (www.urban-forestry.com. Newsletter available: http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/uf/resources/ufnwsltr.htm
Sept 13 – Dec 3
Fundamentals of Environmental Education, Making EE Relevant for Culturally Diverse Audiences: Online fall course offered by EETAP & UW-Stevens Point. Registration deadline: August 13. More information: http://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/index.aspx
Sept 18 Leopold Center Annual Volunteer Day: 9:15-11:30 pm, with lunch provided. Help with a work project to beautify the center, and listen to a speaker.
Sept 18 Train Ride into Tiffany Bottoms Wildlife Area: 9:30am – 3:00pm Buffalo County. Download registration form here. Ride in an antique open-air train eight miles into the Tiffany Wildlife Area, which includes parts of the recently designated Lower Chippewa River Delta Wetland Gem
Sept 20 -Nov 19 Leadership Development in Natural Resources: Strategic Planning and Implementation: Online fall course offered by EETAP & Univ. of WI-Stevens Point. Registration deadline: August 13.. Info.: http://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/index.aspx
Sept 27 Call for Papers Niagara Escarpment Conference: Now available by contacting Niagara@escarpmentnetwork.org or www.escarpmentnetwork.org. Questions: efowler@talrpc.org
Sept 27 Rocks & Revenue: A Symposium on Geo-Tourism and the Niagara Escarpment: 8:30 am-4:00 pm, UW-Fox Valley, James W. Perry Hall, 1478 Midway Rd, Menasha, WI. Learn what the Escarpment has to offer in terms of local and regional tourism and economic development. Registration fees apply.
Oct 7 Wisconsin Arborist Association Fall Seminar: Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI. Check this site later for more information: http://waa-isa.org/calendar_of_events.asp
Oct 14 European Hiking Trails, Rock Trail Coalition Meeting, JOBS Center, 6:30 pm, room D&E. Info.: http://rocktrail.wordpress.com/
Oct 21 Wisconsin Wetland Association 2010 Annual Meeting 6:30-9:30 pm at the UW-Arboretum, McKay Visitor’s Center in Madison.
Nov 2–5 Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association Annual Conference: Convention Center, La Crosse, WIwww.wpraweb.org/education.htm
Nov 13 Women in Horticulture 2010 Conference: Milwaukee, WI, 414-727-1818 or info@melindamyers.com
Dec 2 Long Distance Cycling: Rock Trail Coalition Meeting, JOBS Center, 6:30 pm room D&E. Info.: http://rocktrail.wordpress.com/
2011
Jan 30–Feb 1 DNR/WAA Annual Urban Forestry Conference and Trade Show: Hotel Sierra/KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI www.waa-isa.org/calendar_of_events.asp
ORGANIZATIONS WITH MULTIPLE OFFERINGS
Check out their websites for full schedule
Niagara Escarpment Resource Network, www.escarpmentnetwork.org
Woodland School Spring Courses detailed course descriptions Info: Alanna Koshollek,
Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg, www.riveredge.us
Friends of Cherokee Marsh, Madison. Visit www.CherokeeMarsh.org or contact info@cherokeemarsh.org
Horicon Marsh International Education Center www.horiconmarsh.org
Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee, www.urbanecologycenter.org
Aldo Leopold Foundation, Baraboo, tours@aldoleopold.org or www.aldoleopold.org
UW Madison Arboretum, Madison, www.uwarboretum.org, info@uwarboretum.org
Madison Audubon Society, Inc., Madison, www.madisonaudubon.org masoffice@mailbag.com
Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Custer, WI. www.the-mrea.org chris@the-mrea.org or
Wisconsin Wetlands Association, Madison, Laura.england@wisconsinwetlands.org, www.wisconsinwetlands.org
Grants/Awards/Contests (K-12 entries are in the K-12 section below)
2011 Urban Forestry Grant Program: WI DNR Urban Forestry Program provides cost share grants ($1,000-$25,000) on a competitive basis to support urban forestry projects. “Intent to Apply” form must be completed and returned by Sept. 3, 2010. Deadline for submitting a completed grant application is Oct. 1, 2010. For form and info.: :http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/UF/grants/
Websites of Interest
How You Can Help Wildlife Impacted By Oil Spill: The National Wildlife Federation Web site is featuring news stories, information, photographs, and actions individuals can take to help with wildlife impacted by the oil spill.
http://www.nwf.org/Home/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conserva...
Fitchburg Community Rain Garden: 39 minute video shows the construction of Fitchburg's Community Rain Garden planted by Fitchburg staff, AmeriCorps volunteers, local Girl Scout Troop and other Fitchburg volunteers,
http://city-fitchburg-wi.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=263
Better Lawns & Gutters Tour 2009: http://city-fitchburg-wi.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=277 - 42 minute video highlights 5 of the 9 sites for the 2009 Dane County Better Lawns & Gutters Tour. Fitchburg Community Garden served as the Tour Information Center.
Publications
Building Environmentally Sustainable Communities: A Framework for Inclusivity: Examines relationship between U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's dual goals of encouraging sustainable communities. http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412088-environmen...
Wisconsin Urban & Community Forests newsletter is now available electronically: Info.: http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/uf
Guidelines for Municipal Emerald Ash Borer Plans: visit the Emerald Ash Borer Toolkit for Wisconsin Communities, Section 2.b., at www.dnr.state.wi.us/forestry/uf/eab/filesTOC.asp.
Job Openings
Search for Executive Director: To lead the forestry education project in Milwaukee County (the facility will be called the Forest Exploration Center). Info.: http://jobs-spanopratt.icims.com/jobs/1235/job, or Kirsten Held
Div. of Forestry, WDNR, (608) 264-6036 or Kirsten.Held@Wisconsin.gov
Miscellaneous
Yahara CLEAN public input opportunity: After a public information meeting, July 21 at Warner Park Community Center, a presentation from the meeting and detailed listing of the policy options are posted on Yahara Lakes Legacy Partnership website: http://yaharawatershed.org/ Public input/comments will be accepted through August 15.
K-12 Teachers and Students
Aug 12 Will Steger Foundation 5th Annual Summer Institute for Climate Change Education: St. Paul, Minnesota, 8:30-4:30 pm, University of Minnesota Continuing Education & Conference Center. Registration open for 100 onsite participants and an unlimited number of participants for our online webinar. http://www.willstegerfoundation.org
Oct 28-30 WAEE Fall Conference 2010: Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI. Check out www.waee.org. for more info. and call for presenters coming soon!
Climate Change Resources for the Classroom: Teachers' Domain Web site has climate change teaching resources for classroom (5th grade and up), Complete free, brief registration, click on "Special Collections" link (left-side), choose "Curriculum Topics and Themes, and exploring the Climate Change and Global Warming" collection. http://www.teachersdomain.org/
Leopold School Watershed Tour: http://city-fitchburg-wi.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=259: 29 minute video documenting a visit this spring with the 3rd grade class from Leopold School on Post Road.
Need Information on the Oil Spill? NAAEE's EE-Link Web site has many new resources on the oil spill listed: curriculum for K-12 classrooms, news, real-time map links, background, government agencies' response, and more. http://eelink.net/pages/Oil+Spill
How to Talk to Kids About Oil Spill: Ranger Rick program from National Wildlife Federation offers suggestions on how to talk to young people about the Gulf oil spill. Addresses age-appropriate discussions, how to diffuse fear, and encourage participation. http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Parents-and-Ed...
Flying WILD Educator Resources on Gulf Oil Spill: To help bird educators find useful information for their classrooms about the Gulf oil spill and birds, visit: http://www.flyingwild.org/resources/gulfoilspillre...
Young Voices on Climate Change: Short films feature inspiring young people age 9-19 taking action and finding solutions to the global warming crisis by reducing the carbon footprint of their homes, schools, communities, and states. http://youngvoicesonclimatechange.com/climate-chan...
