PHOTO: ED TOEREK
THE INSIDER’S SCOOP M E M B E R U P D AT E
C O N S E R VA N C Y F O R C V N P
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From Student to Instructor: The Road Back to CVNP You are inspiring future environmental leaders. Today, Kelsey loves inspiring other children. “We plant a seed to think about the environment and why it’s important,” she said. “We help the kids develop a love for nature and build a connection with the earth.” Kelsey tells a story about a Cleveland scholarship student who was intrigued by her job as a teaching intern. “He kept asking me about college and how to get a cool job like mine,” she remembers. “He was so curious about how to get into the environmental education field.” During an especially memorable class about the history of the Cuyahoga River watershed, Kelsey’s students had a great discussion about environmental change in CVNP.
Once a student at the CVEEC herself, intern Kelsey Lipp now hopes to inspire other children to careers in environmental science. Here, she takes a “selfie” with her students and a turtle they discovered.
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t’s thanks to you that children can be inspired to careers in science, outdoor leadership, and environmental education. Just take Kelsey Lipp’s story. Fifteen years ago, fifth-grader Kelsey Lipp arrived at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center (CVEEC). She spent a week hiking, doing science experiments, and learning about nature in her national park. At the end of the program, Kelsey had discovered a new passion: environmental science. A decade and a half later, Kelsey is a now field instructor intern at the CVEEC, which is operated by the Conservancy in partnership with the National Park Service. She attributes much of her interest in environmental issues to her fifth-grade trip in the national park.
“They were making connections to today’s environment and how human industry has affected the watershed,” said Kelsey. “They talked a lot about sustainability. They even said ‘It’s up to us to change it!’” Next year, Kelsey will be staying on at the CVEEC as a second-year administrative intern. Afterward, she hopes to continue inspiring others as an environmental educator. Thank you for being a member of the Conservancy and paving the way for the next generation of park stewards!
“A lot of what I do stems from that experience,” she said. “It really stands out in my mind and sparked my interest in science.” After returning from the CVEEC, Kelsey joined the science club at her school and eventually became a leader in the outdoor club, leading trips throughout high school and college at Colorado State University. After college, Kelsey decided to join the staff of the CVEEC to inspire other children— just like the interns did for her more than a decade ago.
Kelsey Lipp ( far right) as a fifth-grader at the CVEEC—where her passion for science and environmental education began.
PHOTO: NPS/DJ REISER
Children dance to the music and meet new friends during a popular Music in the Meadow concert.
Music in the Meadow: A Community Tradition For a decade, you’ve helped bring families to CVNP for an evening of live, outdoor music.
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magine: It’s mid-summer. The weather’s warm, and the sun is lazily setting. Along with other families, students, and retirees, you’re relaxing in Howe Meadow as you enjoy live music in your national park. This scene has taken place every summer since 2005 as part of CVNP’s Music in the Meadow series, co-managed by the Conservancy. With your help, we bring
local artists to the stage to play many different styles of music—from folk and bluegrass to zydeco and blues. Music in the Meadow has always been a free program, thanks to donations from Conservancy members like you. As a result, the series draws a diverse audience from around the Cleveland and Akron area, including many families. For some concert attendees, it’s the first time
PHOTO: NPS/DJ REISER
they’ve visited Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Last year, more than 2,000 people came to Music in the Meadow concerts. One of the most popular returning acts this year is Carlos Jones & the PLUS Band, which usually brings over 1,000 people to the national park for a rousing concert— dancing included. Music in the Meadow is a great example of the close partnership between the National Park Service and the Conservancy. Together, our staff members make each concert a fantastic event for all our guests, from the moment they arrive for games on the lawn to the time they leave, toes still tapping. We strive to make Music in the Meadow a unique experience that’s not only about music: It’s about feeling the sunshine on your skin, hearing the rustle of the oak trees overhead, and enjoying the company of family and friends in your gorgeous national park.
Each month during the summer, Music in the Meadow draws hundreds—sometimes thousands—of people from around the Cleveland-Akron area, some of whom are visiting CVNP for the first time.
Your membership ensures that Music in the Meadow can remain free to all. Thank you for supporting our mission to connect people with their national park through nature, culture, and music!
Blazing New Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park Soon, you’ll be exploring new mountain bike trails and a new section on Furnace Run!
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ith your membership gift, you give the Conservancy and National Park Service (NPS) the resources to preserve and enhance CVNP’s trails. It’s thanks to you that future generations will be able to experience a world-class trail system in the Cuyahoga Valley. This year, construction is scheduled to begin for several new CVNP trail projects. The biggest project is a new system of mountain biking trails for you to explore— the first in our national park! Over the next several years, a system of off-road bicycle and hiking trails will be added to the eastern edge of CVNP. The first 2.3-mile portion of the trail is scheduled to begin construction this year, with the next 6-mile phase to begin in 2016.
PHOTO: ©SUE SIMENC
Look for Virginia bluebells on Furnace Run trail, where a new loop connected to the Everett Covered Bridge trailhead will be added. connecting the Conservancy’s Hines Hill campus to the Stanford House, with access to the Towpath in the Village of Boston.
This spring, park staff is getting ready to “pin flag” the bike trail, marking its path every five to 15 feet. Pin flagging takes place after the route has already been approved but before construction has begun.
All of these projects are made possible thanks to your gifts. With your gifts, you are supporting trail crews and Conservancy staff as they work side-by-side to create new trails.
The other two trail projects this year are smaller in scale but still exciting: a new loop on Furnace Run Trail and a trail
The trails of our national park are the primary way you can experience its treasures. Thank you for helping us sustain, improve, and expand more than 100 miles of trails in the Cuyahoga Valley.
You’re also helping the Conservancy gain major grant funding. Earlier this year, we secured a $249,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support CVNP trail projects.
PHOTO: NPS
During pin-flagging, trail crews use special tools to measure the angle of slope. These measurements help them create a smooth trail that minimizes erosion.
PHOTOS: NPS
Trail crews check out mountain bike trail routes in preparation for pin flagging and construction later this year.
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M E M B E R U P D AT E F O R :
Thanks! YOU, OUR MEMBERS for all that you do to protect and preserve Cuyahoga Valley National Park! CASCADE AUTO GROUP for outstanding support as the Conservancy’s Corporate Partner.
AUTO GROUP
DISCOUNT DRUG MART for assisting with our annual e-recycling event for the past eight years. THE CVEEC INTERNS for dedicating 10 months of their lives to eat, sleep, and breathe environmental education. THIRSTY DOG BREWING CO. for providing craft-brewed beer at Conservancy events for over 15 years.
JANCIE NEWHOUSE for giving 1,000 hours of her time to assist CVEEC chefs in providing thousands of students three healthful, environmentally-conscious, and kid-friendly meals a day. AUDIO TECHNICA for generously sponsoring Music in the Meadow for nine years. EVERYTHING TENTED for donating a tent to the spring Flap Jack and Jill race. HEIDELBERG DISTRIBUTING COMPANY for being a lead sponsor of Topography for six years. NORTH COAST LITHO for designing and printing our gorgeous Topography invitations for four years.
OUR OFFICE VOLUNTEERS—Nanci DiBianca, Sara Curtis, Ann & Gerry Findlan, Marilee Gaar, Joan Greenberg, Jan Jorgenson, Mary Phillips, Rita Sappenfield, Sue Simenc, Randy Stolitza, and Cris Yehle—for keeping the Conservancy offices humming. HENRY GULICH for his handy help around our Trail Mix stores, the CVEEC, the Stanford House, and the Conservancy’s offices. MARCUS THOMAS for marketing advice and tremendous support of Conservancy initiatives.
THE OHIO HORSEMAN’S COUNCIL for donations and volunteer support for CVNP trail projects.
OUR DEDICATED BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS for devoting time to support the Conservancy’s vision for the park. Our growth is due in part to your commitment, good thinking, and financial support.
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND PARENT VOLUNTEERS for helping make trips to the CVEEC possible for their students.
ALL 5,700 CVNP VOLUNTEERS who plant trees, sweep trails, monitor butterflies and birds, assist visitors, restore native habitat, and much, much more.