Leaflet Spring 2018 - The Wellness Edition

Leaflet

The Newsletter of Fontenelle Forest

Spring 2018

fontenelleforest.org

Oak Savanna Restoration

The

Wellness Issue

Raptor Recovery

Education and Activities

Individual Wellness

Learn more about our efforts to maintain a healthy Forest Read about one veteran’s road to mental health recovery through volunteering How can summer camps shape a young person’s character?

Upcoming programs to kick-start spring wellness Explore more at FontenelleForest.org FONTENELLE FOREST |1

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10 Education How summer camps can shape a young person and promote life-long wellness

11 Summer Camps Check out a new camp for teens this year

Contents 12 Member Appreciation

Fontenelle Forest’s Leaflet Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

A week full of our most popular programming exclusively to thank our members

04 06

09 Before and After Photos of Forest transformations thanks to years of land management including thinning, invasive species control and prescribed fire

04 Highlights Upcoming events at the Forest

05 Forest News A busy winter means a vibrant spring

06 Raptor Recovery

10 13 Volunteer Spotlight Shoutout to a great volunteer plus opportunities to volunteer at the Forest

Air Force veteran discovers

14 Calendar

volunteering with injured raptors

Select upcoming programs. View the complete calendar at fontenelleforest.org

08 Stewardship How to make the forest well again after 100+ years of ‘having the flu’’

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Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

Fontenelle Forest 1111 Bellevue Blvd North Bellevue, NE 68005 (402) 731-3140 fontenelleforest.org

Wellness in the Forest

One evening, after a long day at work I stopped in to chat with Julie McKeone, Fontenelle Forest’s long-time yoga instructor. Julie was in the Forest Room. A fire had been started in the grand, stone fireplace and votive candles lined the mantle. Through the windows lining the room I could see the leaves and branches of shagbark hickories gently swaying. I was stressed and felt guilty for walking into a space so peaceful and serene, that is seemed more like a sanctuary than a meeting hall.

Julie welcomed me. We began to talk about how the Forest plays such an important role in our human health and wellbeing. For this month’s Leaflet, I asked Julie to share her important words with you.

What follows is a message from Julie McKeone: “Nature and yoga have a deep connection. This is because being in nature can have a profound impact on our state of being. When nature is paired with the practice of gentle yoga, it can bring a sense of calm and clarity to our busy modern lives, which at times can leave us feeling scattered and depleted.

In the scientific community, studies have shown that both practicing yoga and being in nature can reduce blood pressure. Instead of focusing on our worries about the future

“

We exhale our hands to heart-center in hopes of catching just a little of nature’s grace and bringing it to settle in our own hearts.

Julie McKeone, yoga teacher at Fontenelle Forest

“

T

he winter has brought much sad news of lead poisoning in our state’s eagle population. It has also brought much celebration. We celebrate when we witness the return to health and the release of beautiful avian creatures like the six rough-legged hawks we released at Neale Woods Nature Center in March. Having grown up in North Omaha, an EPA Superfund site, the dangers of lead poisoning hit close to home. This unpleasant parallel reminds me of the important role Fontenelle Forest performs for people as well as the Forest’s flora and fauna.

or thoughts of the past, we become more fully aware of the present moment while among the trees or standing tall in mountain pose. Moving our yoga practice to a natural setting fills our senses and makes us feel even more alive.

Spending time outside year-round also helps us to reconnect with the rhythm and flow of the natural world. Inhaling our arms up overhead, we might catch a glimpse of the sunlight through the trees or a passing butterfly. Then, we exhale our hands to heart-center in hopes of catching just a little of nature’s grace and bringing it to settle in our own hearts.”

Julie couldn’t be more right. When we teach children and adults in the Forest, we are feeding their minds, bodies, and spirits. When we restore the ecological balance of the Forest’s flora and fauna, we are restoring the delicate ecology that we, as humans, depend on for our health and well-being. And, when we rescue, rehabilitate, and successfully release a poisoned eagle into the wild, together, we are acknowledging and contributing to the deeper understanding that all living beings - plant, animal, and human - rely on Fontenelle Forest to thrive.

Merica Whitehall, Executive Director Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Upcoming Highlights

The Forest awakens with a bevy of activity Step into Spring and mark these upcoming events on your calendar. We have something for all ages and interests.

HELP US COUNT FOREST WILDLIFE FOR THE CITY NATURE CHALLENGE SHOW LOVE FOR FONTENELLE FOREST DURING OMAHA GIVES! MAY 23 - CITY-WIDE DAY OF CHARITABLE GIVING Are you aware of the mental and physical benefits of spending time in nature? Well, we need your help to make that experience the best it can be for our 100,000 visitors each year.

Omaha’s 6th annual 24-hour charitable challenge begins at midnight with a minimum $10 donation and hourly drawings and prizes make your donations go further. Schedule your donation to Fontenelle Forest early by clicking here.

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WORKSHOP, ART EXHIBITION, AND ARTIST RECEPTION WITH TODD A. WILLIAMS MAY 1: EXHIBITION OPENS MAY 11: ARTIST RECEPTION MAY 10-12: PAINTING WORKSHOP

Todd A. Williams’ “Legacy of Nebraska” exhibition will visit Fontenelle Forest as the last stop of the Nebraska 150-years of statehood celebration. At the May 11 artist talk, you can meet Mr. Williams and listen to him describe the project. This is the last chance to see these paintings!

Mr. Williams will also be offering a three-day plein air painting workshop. Space is limited. Click here to register. Cost is $475.

Members get a $25 discount.

Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

HAVE FUN, BRING THE FAMILY, AND GET DIRTY APRIL 28 Join us for a beautiful Saturday in conjunction with the Omaha STEM Ecosystem and Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium’s City Nature Challenge.

The City Nature Challenge is an opportunity where youth and adults alike are encouraged to go out in their cities and backyards to find, identify and count wildlife. Join us at the Forest to take a count of all the living things in the Forest. Find details at fontenelleforest.org.

June 9-15

Member Appreciation Week

Fontenelle Forest would like to thank our members for making us such an important part of their lives by hosting a week packed full of our most popular member programming‌ just for you!

Members are encouraged to share their love of the Forest with their friends and family. Experience the wonders of the natural world with programs like Canoe the Great Marsh, Evening Yoga on the Plaza, Raptors...Live!, Wild Summer Days, Barre in the Forest, animal encounters, and much, much more!

Each member household can bring one person, free of charge, each day, for the entire week. Please check fontenelleforest.org for an updated list of events and programs. *Contact us about partner/nonprofit rental pricing.

Have your next event at Camp Brewster!

Animal encounters and guided hikes available as an add-on.

Meeting? Retreat? Gathering? Fontenelle Forest has the perfect space in a one-of-a-kind setting.

Located in Bellevue, just minutes from downtown Omaha, the Forest provides a respite from the accelerated pace of city life. It’s the perfect place for a retreat or celebration with beautiful natural scenery and unique spaces that compliment the forest environment.

Pricing: 8 to 5 p.m. $1000

After 5 p.m. $1500

*Members get a discount!

Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Raptor Recovery

Rehabilitation Not just ‘For the Birds’ T

here has always been one particular thing bothering me since the moment I knew that I would be medically retiring from the Air Force. I have a LOT of downtime, and I knew that I would end up receiving a VA disability compensation for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is hard for me to accept because I still don’t feel “disabled”.

I don’t feel like I should receive any compensation for not actively producing a product. Sure, I continue to actively work toward bettering my mental health by taking classes, going to groups, taking medication, and seeing my therapists, but I don’t feel like I deserve any money.

CHARLOTTE One day, I was out at Fontenelle Forest and decided to visit the Raptor Woodland Refuge. It is a small area that houses injured birds of prey that were never able to recover enough for release back into the wild. I visited this area about a half dozen times before and didn’t think anything different this time. On this day, there was a docent teaching people about each bird and giving facts about all the types of raptors in the area.

While I was looking at my favorite of the birds there, Charlotte, a peregrine falcon, the docent came up and started to tell me about her disabilities and her history.

Charlotte used to belong to a group of birds that lived atop the Woodmen Tower in Omaha. She was found injured multiple times, brought to the raptor recovery center, where she would mend from her injuries, and be released back near where she was found. As it turned out, Charlotte suffers from some neurological damage and is mostly blind. She couldn’t even see me from the 6 | FONTENELLE FOREST

Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

5-foot distance where I stood.

The cool thing about Charlotte, though, is that she still contributes in her own way.

She may not be able to live safely in the wild and be a part of our broad ecosystem, but by living where she does, she provides awareness and education to the local human population.

Immediately I thought about volunteering at the Forest. I asked the docent if there were any volunteer opportunities available and he pointed me in the right direction.

THE WEDNESDAY CREW After weeks of talking about it with my wife, we decided it would be a good opportunity for me to both give back and see some parallels between the birds’ situation and my own. The benefits from volunteering while I continued treatment for PTSD would greatly outweigh any additional money that I could bring in from working full-time. With her working, we were in a situation that allowed for me to take time to focus on my recovery.

One day, after leaving the VA, I decided that would be the day that I would turn in a volunteer application.

It was a week later that I received an email from the volunteer coordinator for the Forest’s Raptor Recovery Program. She told me about a group that she takes out every Wednesday morning to the location where the injured birds go through their recovery. We would be there doing chores, which would allow the hired personnel more time to be able to focus on the birds.

It sounded like something that I would be interested in because it would, like I wanted, be actively contributing to something. It would indirectly help the birds in their recovery. The first Wednesday I worked I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t think I would work near

any of the birds, but that was fine. I piled into the van of volunteers and found myself surrounded by people almost twice my age. I felt out of place. These people had all retired and were spending their free time helping. Being “medically retired” from the Air Force I was still able to do more physically than they, so I felt a little like I didn’t really belong there or wouldn’t “fit in.”

I was so wrong. On the drive to the recovery center, I started striking up conversations with different people.

Some wanted to know about my experiences in the military. Some just wanted to know about me and my family. Each of them, though, was happy to be there that morning. That thought still stands out.

At one point on the drive, I kept hearing a noise behind me. Already being anxious I looked around. I was in the back seat and only had boxes behind me, so I didn’t know what could be making that noise. This is when I learned exactly how closely I would be working with the raptors. They informed me that in the loosely closed box behind me was a Red-Tailed Hawk. It was recently injured and we were transporting it to go into rehabilitation.

Wow! A Red-Tailed Hawk less than a foot behind me!

Now that’s cool! When we got to the raptor recovery center, I saw barns, cages, and boxes everywhere.

I met the lady in charge, Betsy Finch, who sees more than 600 injured birds a year and has done so for about 40 years. Talk about somebody with a wealth

of experience and knowledge! She accepted me right away and I started going to work.

I NEVER THOUGHT I’D ENJOY SCRAPING POOP THAT MUCH The first day I worked I wiped down plastic cages that were covered in bird poop and scrubbed rugs that were covered in, oh so much more, bird poop. A lot of the work was simplified with borax and a pressure washer, but there was still scrubbing to be done. All of the volunteers were happy and talkative. None of them complained once about what they were doing.

They legitimately enjoyed each other’s company and being able to help. That stood out to me. At the end of the day, they all asked what I thought of it and the only thing that came to mind was, “I never thought I’d enjoy scraping up bird poop that much.” I meant it. I genuinely enjoyed being there.

All in all, I am so glad that my wife talked me into doing the types of things that I’m doing. I have so much motivation and energy after working with those people, and I haven’t once felt like I didn’t belong there.

- Jeremiah David Jones, volunteer and veteran Follow more of Jeremiah’s story at www.myrecovery27.blog Read the Omaha World-Herald front-page story about Jeremiah at omaha.com Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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New partnerships that benefit the land

Stewardship

Fontenelle Forest has some exciting partnership opportunities on the horizon, just in time for spring burn season. We will participate in both the Loess Hills Cooperative Burn Week (LHCBW) and the Great Plains Fire Tour. Click here for more information.

BEHIND IMAGE Autumn Olive, an invasive species at Neale Woods.

Why take time to burn off-site of Fontenelle Forest? Partners such as The Nature Conservancy, Iowa County Conservation Boards, and the U.S. Forest Service need to achieve fire management objectives and extra personnel and resources are needed on a larger scale. We are but a few of the folks reaching out to help our friends during Burn Week.

These controlled burns will take place on selected burn units in Loess Hills of Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska, including Neale Woods.

When the Forest has the flu

We are also very excited to be a host site for The Great Plains Fire Tour.

This is a unique experience where ten wildland firefighters from Spain, Michigan, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska spend three days each in Midwestern states, assisting groups like us with prescribed fire.

What are we doing to make the Forest well again?

Can a forest get the flu?

This past winter was categorized as a “severe flu season,” based on the number of reported cases (Nebraska Health and Human Services 2017-2018 Surveillance Report). As we know, the human body functions as a whole system, all the parts operate to stay alive and healthy. Once the body’s immune system is compromised, diseases can infect the body. Symptoms such as a runny nose, high fever, or sneezing are indicators that the body is becoming ill.

As ecologists, we also think about biological systems (the Forest) as a large organism that operates similarly to the human body. If our Forest’s immune system is impaired, because of lack of fire or lack of management, symptoms arise like invasion by nonnative species, erosion, and declining plant diversity.

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Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

Invasive species are just one indicator that our Forest’s immune system is compromised.

Invasive species in our Forest: • Displace our native plants and animals and decrease quality of understory plant community • Decrease our ability to conduct controlled burns which help the forests and woodlands • Degrade our wetlands, streams, and marshes like the silver carp in our Wetlands • Decrease our land values and costs Fontenelle Forest time and money • Cause soil erosion • Have a negative impact on tourism and enjoyment of hikers • Reduce revenues for nature centers that own natural areas

Before

After Signs of Restoration in the Forest ABOVE Before thinning and opening up the canopy along the third loop of the boardwalk, you could hardly see a view of the Missouri River.

Before

After

LEFT After thinning around the Constitution Tree, you can see how many other oak trees are now visible.

As you can see, invasive species aren’t the actual problem but symptoms of a larger, underlying illness.

fire, grazing and flooding were eliminated and thus began the onset of the “flu” for our Forests. Without management, the symptoms of illness became worse and worse. Small efforts to treat the symptoms were implemented, but the underlying illness was never addressed on an ecosystem-wide basis. Until now.

So how do we treat the cause of our illness instead of reacting to symptoms? Should we give the Forest a flu shot? Restoration ecologists use management treatments such as controlled burning, grazing, and other disturbances that the entire ecosystem evolved with over the millennia. Our native oak trees “grew up” with fire, grazing and flooding events and over time, have become adapted to these extremes.

With a multi-faceted management approach that includes controlled burning, thinning (opening the forest canopy to allow sunlight to reach the forest floor), and treating invasive species, we can begin to reverse the trend of declining forest health. By giving our native flowers, grasses, and oaks a fighting chance at reaching full health, we can eventually restore our healthy Forest’s immune system.

During and after European settlement of this region,

- Jeanine Lackey, Director of Land Stewardship

For more information on the impacts, you can visit the US Fish and Wildlife Invasive Species website.

Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Education

What summer camps can do for a child’s mental wellness Though spring is just upon us, in the Education Department our minds are already turning towards the array of programming that we will be putting together for the summer season. Much of our energy goes into planning and leading summer camps for students of all ages. This is where our education staff and the young people they work with get to really shine.

When a young person comes to the Forest for summer camp, there are a few things that are givens: They will have fun. They will get dirty. They will learn about the natural world.

What is harder to measure before the experience is how life-changing their time in the Forest may be.

Research is showing more and more correlations between time in nature and improved moods in adolescents; that contact with nature can reduce negative emotions associated with stress and enhance positive emotions; and that experiences in nature have been shown to lead to improvements in confidence, social interactions, cognitive development, academic achievement, and emotional well-being.

That all sounds great, but what does this really mean?

Our summer camps provide the opportunity for young people to push themselves beyond what they believe to be their limits. Maybe they have never canoed before.

Maybe this is their first time expected to spend the entire day outside, in the sunshine, looking for insects.

Maybe they have never been asked to lead a group

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Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

through a hike or activity, and are afraid of being lost.

Having experiences in a supportive environment, with naturalists who are both familiar to the students and are familiar with the environment, campers feel an ability to trust themselves and to try new things. Just by being active in the outdoors, they are tapping in to a sense of identity that may often be ignored or stifled in a classroom environment.

Building with branches, working together on an natural engineering project, creating a piece of artwork with natural materials‌all of these things unleash a flurry of positive emotions for campers and allow them to express themselves creatively and collaboratively.

This year we are especially excited to introduce our Leadership Camp and Junior Counselor Training. This 4-day camp provides the chance for teens to build important leadership skills through their experiences, and to put those skills into practice as Junior Counselors.

We are looking to help build the future stewards of our lands, one experience in nature at a time.

- Elizabeth Chalen, Director of Education* *After the eight years she has spent as an educator, naturalist, and director, Elizabeth Chalen’s last day at the Forest was March 30. We owe a debt of gratitude to Elizabeth for the tens of thousands of lives inspired to care for nature through her work and leadership.

2018 Summer Camps Enjoy a wild summer just minutes from downtown Omaha.

The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.” — Plato At Fontenelle Forest, we believe that today’s children are tomorrow’s stewards. Our camps offer a vital connection with the forests, prairies and wetlands that children often only learn about through books or television. We are excited to offer another summer of amazing experiences here at Fontenelle Forest.

Through games, activities and time to explore, we will provide the framework for a life-long love for the natural world. Our summer day camps feature science based learning through play taught by our year-round professional educators. Our staff is committed to providing your child with high quality, positive experiences.

We’re excited to offer outdoor opportunities for children of all ages. One camp we are excited about this year is our Leadership/Junior Counselor Training Camp for high school students:

Leadership / Junior Counselor Training Ages 14 to 17 Would you love to become a Camp Counselor and help us teach kids about nature? If so, you have an incredible opportunity to join our Education Team and become a Junior Counselor this summer!

During this four-day training you will learn valuable leadership skills and gain great experience in the field of

Environmental Education.

After completing this fun and challenging training you will be able to sign up as a Junior Counselor for the summer!

NEW LEADERSH IP CAMP FOR TEEN S! MAY 29 – JUNE 1 8-3 @ WETLAND S LEARNING CEN TER INCL

Get the full experience of canoeing, hiking, camping, campfire cooking, and UDES ONE OVER NIGHT wilderness awareness practices. Learn what it REGISTER BY M takes to build relationships, AY FOR A DISCOUN communicate clearly, and T! have tons of fun learning new camp songs and outdoor games. By the end, you will have the tools you need to become not just an excellent Junior Counselor, but an effective leader in all other aspects of your life!

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This camp provides the necessary training for Junior Counselors to sign up for a minimum of 2 separate weeks of camp to act as a leader and role model to young campers and a helper for the Counselors running the camp. This will be where all of your skills are put into practice! Camps run from 8:30am-3:00pm each day. A few camps have an overnight option.

Each session is limited to 16 JCs. Camp T-shirt and dinner/ breakfast for the overnight will be provided. Junior Counselors bring their own lunches. Separate packing list will be provided for the overnight portion of this camp.

Explore more at FontenelleForest.org FONTENELLE FOREST | 11 Find all Summer Day Camps at fontenelleforest.org/camps

Forest News

A look back at a wild winter DONATIONS FROM FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS Thank you to everyone who contributed more than $2,225 to our fundraiser for this muchneeded EDTA to treat eagles and other birds of prey for lead poisoning.

These new bottles were made available because of YOU and your family and friends who also helped share this effort!

LEAD POISON MEDICATION

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

FLOODPLAIN EXHIBIT AND UPCOMING PHOTO WORKSHOP The first exhibition in the Baright Gallery Artist Series this year featured images from the Missouri River Floodplain by conservation photographer Alex Wiles. While May brings a new exhibition from renowned painter Todd A. Williams, you can join Mr. Wiles on a photo workshop in The Wetlands April 14. Regardless of your skill level, he will work with you to get the best picture out of your camera. Mr. Wiles will also lead a NE Science Fest lecture about nature photography April 22 at 2 p.m. Register for both at fontenelleforest.org.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARN IN THE FOREST Each year, our education staff get to work with students, Pre-K through 8th grade, at nine area Archdiocese Schools. These field trips are provided to the schools at no cost, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, and serve over 2700 students each year.

FLOODPLAIN EXHIBITION ART OPENING PLUS MORE TO COME FROM ALEX WILES

NEW RELATIONSHIP SPARKED WITH UNL This past fall, Fontenelle Forest and Dr. Dirac Twidwell of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) and his Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment students entered into a research partnership. The purpose of the class partnership was to identify gaps in Fontenelle Forest’s prescribed fire interpretive messages and their delivery. Go to fontenelleforest.org for a full blog on the research findings.

UNL FIRE RESEARCH

GRAD STUDENTS CONDUCT FIRE RESEARCH AT FONTENELLE FOREST

CATHOLIC SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS THANK YOU TO OUR DONOR FOR OFFERING THESE EXPERIENCES 12 | FONTENELLE FOREST

Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

Volunteer

Highlight

Fontenelle Forest is preparing for a new addition to the Raptor Woodland Refuge. With the $350,000 donation from Chip Davis, Grammy award-winning founder and creator of Mannheim Steamroller, Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor Woodland Refuge will add a Bald Eagle mew. This will be the first time a Bald Eagle, America’s national bird, will be on display to the public at Fontenelle Forest as an education ambassador.

“This is an exciting next stage for the Raptor Woodland Refuge and Fontenelle Forest,” said Merica Whitehall, executive director. “This will be a place where many people have their very first interaction with this symbol that is deeply important in so many cultural traditions, the Bald Eagle.”

Fontenelle Forest currently houses 14 birds of prey in the Raptor Woodland Refuge, all of whom moved offsite to the Raptor Recovery Center while the new Chip Davis Eagle Mew is built.

After the mew is finished in mid-spring, the process begins for obtaining the particular Bald Eagle who will reside there.

“We work with so many injured eagles at our Raptor Recovery Center that the public never gets to see. Now, an eagle who cannot be released back to the wild can educate the next generation,’ said Denise Lewis, Director of Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor Recovery Program.

Ann Kramer has been a volunteer with Fontenelle Forest since retiring from ConAgra and now works with the Development Department.

In Anne’s time with the Forest she has performed the following volunteer duties: • Membership mailings • Database entry • Corporate sponsorship coordination We are grateful every day to see Ann walking into the building, as we all see her as a support for the whole team, working quietly behind the scenes to keep membership and fundraising efforts moving.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The volunteer Land Stewardship crew meets on selected Saturdays mornings to work on various projects. Lunch and camaraderie are provided!

Upcoming dates April 14, May 5, June 2 Interested in joining our volunteer Land Stewardship crew? Contact Josh Preister at jpreister@fontenelleforest.org or give us a call at 402-731-3140.

To thank you for all of your help and support, our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon has been re-scheduled for Saturday, September 22.

Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Regular Programming Mud Pies This drop-in-and-play program encourages interaction between adult and child. Each week, a natural science topic is explored through activities, free play, and a guided walk. Discover the joy of sharing nature with your child!

Mondays Thursdays

9:30 - 11:30 AM Ages 5 & younger

*UNTIL MAY 31

Wild Summer Days Every child should experience the magic of holding a snail or smelling a wildflower, alongside a special adult in their life. Connect your child to nature by experiencing it together at this a dropin program for hands-on learning and screen-free play indoors and out.

MondaysWednesdays

Family Sundays in the Forest

Most Sunday Afternoons

Join a Fontenelle Forest educator most Sunday afternoons at 1:00 PM for Family Sundays in the Forest. Each week presents a new topic, from wildflower walks, history hikes, and plenty more for all seasons. All activities are family friendly and designed to both educate and entertain.

Home School Science Discoveries This program introduces students to a different natural science topic each month. The content is matched to the Next Generation Science Standards and focuses on interaction and inquiry.

Registration is required. Space is limited.

Seniors Understanding Nature (SUN) Many seniors grew up in a time when nature was a big part of everyday life; SUN programs enhance that experience. Join us to learn about a different topic every month. Refreshments are served for the presentation, and a nature walk follows for all who are interested.

For ages 11 and under

*BEGINS JUNE 4

1:00 - 3:00 PM

First Monday & Tuesday of Each Month For ages 5 - 11

Check our website for times and details

2nd Tuesday of Each Month 9:45 - 11:30 AM

Yoga in the Forest Join us for an hour-long Vinyasa style yoga class, surrounded by nature, designed to de-stress and relax you. This class is for all levels, from beginner to experienced, and will feature the sounds of the forest as your soundtrack. A meditative walk will follow, ending with tea for those who can stay.

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Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

Sunday Mornings

9:00 - 10:30 AM & Wednesday

Evenings

6:00 - 7:00 PM

Calendar Highlights April 7

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM AT THE NATURE CENTER

Short April 14 & April 28 Interview 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM AT CAMP BREWSTER

Short April 22 11:30 AM Interview - 1:00 PM AT THE NATURE CENTER

May 11 6:00 PM AT THE NATURE CENTER

Raptors...Live!

It’s all about hawks today! Come, photograph, learn about, and greet a hawk eyeball to eyeball at this special edition of Raptors...Live! While our Raptor Woodland Refuge is closed while we build a new home for a Bald Eagle, we want you to have the opportunity to connect with these incredible birds.

Fontenelle Forest Book Club: The Hidden Life of Trees Join us at the Forest for an informal gathering as we share this fascinating and enlightening book. People can share ideas and inspirations from the book, learn something new, and meet like-minded spirits. Come for the discussion. Stay for a hike.

Opera Omaha ONE Festival Concert: Environmental Dialogue Opera Omaha and the International Contemporary Ensemble create a musical dialogue with nature by curating a sequence of Oliveros music that draws attention to the expressive potential of the sounds around us.

More info at ONEfestivalOmaha.org

Todd A. WilliamsForest Artist Talk Fontenelle

At this artist talk, you can meet Mr. Williams and listen to him describe the project, where he painted at least one scene from each of Nebraska’s 93 counties. We will display several of these paintings in this highly-curated mini-showing as part of the Nebraska 150 anniversary celebration.

April 14 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM AT OMAHA MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN AT THE CAPITOL DISTRICT

Short April 28 Interview 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM AT NEALE WOODS

April 22 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM AT THE NATURE CENTER

May 10 - 12 Short 9:00 A.M. Interview - 4:00 P.M. AT THE WETLANDS LEARNING CENTER REGISTER ONLINE

Feather Our Nest Join the Fontenelle Forest Guild downtown for our largest fundraising event of the year - Feather Our Nest!

Celebrate and support our education, conservation, and recreation programs.

Enjoy dinner, drinks, and live music.

Bid on a unique auction item! Purchase tickets at featherournest.org

Constellation Walk & Viewing Walk on the trail at Neale Woods until it is dark enough to view constellations in the sky. Our hike leader will point out different constellations and answer questions. The moon will be dim, making for better viewing. Dress for weather. The program will be canceled if sky is more than 25% cloudy.

Nebraska Science Fest Lecture Photographer Alex Wiles will discuss his photography project “Floodplain: A Clear View of Life in the Big Muddy,” where he photographed the flora and fauna that live in and near the Missouri River. He will talk about the species he photographed and his process for making such stunning images.

Plein Air Painting Workshop Learn to paint “en plein air” with renowned artist Todd A. Williams during a three-day workshop in The Wetlands. Mr. Williams depicts natural landmarks such as Chimney Rock, great waterways and wide-open prairies, wildlife and native species in his work.

Registration required. Space is limited.

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION DISCOUNT THROUGH MAY 1 VISIT FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG/camps Read more about summer camps on Page 10-11.

Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Calendar Highlights May 12

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM AT THE NATURE CENTER

Native Plant Sale Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and Fontenelle Forest have teamed up to promote the use of native plants in landscaping and horticulture uses.

Using native plants minimizes the spread of invasive species into the Forest where removal and control are costly and time consuming.

May 23

Omaha Gives!

ALL DAY

Omaha’s 6th annual 24-hour charitable challenge begins at midnight. Support Fontenelle Forest, one of the oldest nonprofits in the Omaha Metro, which serves more than 40,000 school students, 600+ birds of prey and 100,000 visitors each year. Schedule your donation early at OmahaGives.org

June 9 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM AT THE NATURE CENTER AGES 18+

June 17

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM AT THE NATURE CENTER

Shinrin-Yoku Hike Also known as forest therapy, forest bathing, or forest medicine, we will be taking a slow walk in the woods and taking in our surroundings through our senses. This practice has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood.

Wear shoes for a hike on the trails.

More at natureandforesttherapy.org.

Father’s Day Blood Drive Treat your dad to a FREE day at the Forest and a $5 Scooters gift card!

Anyone who donates blood to the Red Cross on Father’s Day will receive free admission to the Forest (or a rain-check pass if you prefer) and a gift card for Scooters Coffee! This is a perfect activity to share with your dad, or donate blood yourself and give him the gift card!

May 13

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM AT THE NATURE CENTER

Begins May 29

June 9-15 DAILY AT THE NATURE CENTER

June 27

6:00 PM -9:00 PM AT THE WETLANDS LEARNING CENTER

High Tea & Talons Enjoy Mother’s Day with us at the Forest, and some of our greatest educational ambassadors - our birds of prey! At this event, you will enjoy a tea party with small pastries. We will bring in raptors and talk about their specific species while you enjoy your high tea. Fancy dress is encouraged. Registration required. $5 for members / $15 for non-members.

Summer Camps begin

From Grands and Me Summer Camps, where grandparents attend the day camp with their grandchild, to Leadership/ Junior Counselor Camp for teens, plenty of adventures await for your children of all ages. Register before May 1, for a $5 discount on registration. Later registrations may have limited t-shirt size options.

Member Appreciation Week Experience the wonders of the natural world with programs like Canoe the Great Marsh, Evening Yoga on the Plaza, Raptors...Live!, Wild Summer Days, Barre in the Forest, animal encounters, and more! Each member household can bring one person, free of charge, each day of the week. Check FontenelleForest.org for updates.

Canoe the Great Marsh: Full Moon Owl Encounter Explore the great marsh and its amazing array of wildlife! We’ll encounter a live owl, then head out on the water in canoes. We will listen and watch for wild owls while observing the full strawberry moon rise into the air and cast it’s reflection on the water.

SUMMER HOURS BEGIN MAY 28! MON-FRI 8-7, WEEKENDS 8-5 FOR COMPLETE PROGRAM LISTINGS, VISIT FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG Find more online like our Wildflower Hike, Pond Dipping, Edible Plant Identification, Dream Catcher workshop,Spring Spring NightEdition Hikes and many more experiences for all ages and abilities.

2018: Wellness

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2018 Summer Day Camps

Your children will enjoy a wild summer at Fontenelle Forest, just minutes from downtown Omaha.

@FONTENELLEFOREST

@FONTENELLE4EST

FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG

@FONTENELLEFOREST

Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Welcome “The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.” — Plato At Fontenelle Forest, we believe that today’s children are tomorrow’s stewards. Our camps offer a vital connection with the forests, prairies and wetlands that children often only learn about through books or television. We are excited to offer another summer of amazing experiences here at Fontenelle Forest.

Through games, activities and time to explore, we will provide the framework for a life-long love for the natural world.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Our summer day camps feature science based learning through play taught by our year-round professional educators. Our staff is committed to providing your child with high quality, positive experiences. We’re excited to offer outdoor opportunities for children of all ages. One camp we are excited about this year is our Leadership/Junior Counselor Training Camp for high school students.

Registration for our 2018 Summer Day Camps begins on February 1st.

Register by May 1st to save $5 per camper!

Important Information Cancellation policy: A $40 administrative fee will be assessed for all cancellations within two weeks of the start of each camp

To register, visit us online at:

Questions?

fontenelleforest.org/camps

Contact us at camps@fontenelleforest.org

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Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

Index

Grands & Me

5 Ages 4 - 8 / 8 - 12 with adult

Give your grandchild wonderful memories of special times with you in the great outdoors. Campers will learn about nature through games, hikes, animal visitors, and more.

Ages 5 - 8

6

From wildlife veterinarians to engineers to studying the animals of Fontenelle Forest, everyone will find an amazing learning adventure this summer.

Ages 9 - 12

8

Hike, canoe, build, nagvigate and more! Campers will have a chance to spend more time honing their science skills as they enjoy a week of exciting expeditions, activities and games.

Ages 12 - 14 10

A great opportunity for our oldest campers to continue to learn about the natural world. Prepare for adventure like you’ve never had before as we get off the beaten path to track animals and learn the secrets of the Forest!

Lauritzen Gardens 10 Partnership Camp

This summer we are excited to partner with Lauritzen Gardens for a camp unlike any other. Monday and Tuesday, campers will meet at the Forest to begin their journey and then finish out the week at Lauritzen.

Ages 14 - 17 11

Learn valuable leadership skills and gain great experience in the field of Environmental Education. After completing this fun and challenging training you will be able to sign up as a Junior Counselor for the summer!

Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

Grands & Me ages 4 to 8 with adult

ages 8 to 12 with adult

Insect Investigations

Powerful Pollinators

Bring your favorite grandchild/grandchildren to enjoy playing with nature. Camper teams will discover the amazing number of insects who make their homes in the forest and prairies around Camp Brewster. Buggy crafts and activities will give a new understanding of the importance of insects!

Bring your favorite grandchild/grandchildren to search for pollinators in the prairie! Camp Brewster is home to butterflies, birds and bees, all working together to keep plants thriving.

Pollinators come in all shapes and sizes, and Camper teams will discover the importance of these sometimes tiny creatures through games, crafts and explorations!

Each session is limited to 12 teams. Snacks are provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

Each session is limited to 12 teams. Snacks are provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

June 18 and 19

June 21 and 22

9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster Lodge

9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster Lodge

OR

OR

July 2 and 3

July 5 and 6

9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster Lodge

9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster Lodge

Cost: $105 for members $170 for non-members

Cost: $105 for members $170 for non-members

Register by May 1st and save $5 per camper Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Discoverers Ages 5 to 8

preschool ages 4 and 5

Junior Wildlife Veterinarian The forest is full of critters of all sizes! Come learn what it takes to care for wild animals in this fun-filled camp. From raptors to rabbits, we will explore the world of being a wildlife veterinarian. Campers will get a behind-thescenes tour of Raptor Woodland Refuge and our animal care center, and will learn how to help injured and orphaned animals around their home! Of course, we will spend time searching the forest for healthy animals too!

Each session is limited to 24 campers. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

June 4 - 8 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center OR

July 23 - 27 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center Cost: $245 for members $310 for non-members

Register online at fontenelleforest.org/camps 22 | FONTENELLE FOREST

Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

Creatures of the Night When night falls in the forest, a whole host of animals begin their day, often unseen by humans. During this camp, we will explore the amazing world of nocturnal creatures who spend their days sleeping in the forest, and fill the nights with activity. From crickets to bats, owls to rats, no nocturnal creature will be left behind!

Each session is limited to 24 campers. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

June 11 - 15 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center Cost: $245 for members $310 for non-members

ages 8 to 12 with adult

Advanced Grands & Me

Paws, Claws, Talons, and Tails!

Nature’s Engineers

Ever wonder why a rabbit has such big ears? Or how an owl flies silently to catch its prey? This camp will uncover the secret lives of animals in the Forest, and all the special tools and adaptations they have to help them survive.

Nature’s engineers are hard at work again, creating structures of amazing complexity!

From Robin’s nest to Beaver’s dam, the amazing creations of nature are all around the forest.

Campers will learn to create their own shelters and structures with nature as their guide!

Each session is limited to 24 campers. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

Each session is limited to 24 campers. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

June 25 - 29

July 16 - 20

8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster

8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster

Cost: $245 for members $310 for non-members

Cost: $245 for members $310 for non-members

Wild Spirits Camp Wild spirits unite! Join us as we feed our wild spirits outside: eating wild weeds, playing wilderness awareness games, and exploring. We will learn to identify the forest and prairie plants most commonly seen as sources of food, medicine and wild crafting, and will search high and low for other wild creatures of the land, water and sky! Each session is limited to 24 campers.

Snacks provided, Campers bring their own lunches.

July 9-13 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster

Cost: $245 for members $310 for non-members Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Ages 9 to 12 Wilderness Hiking

Challenge Camp

Have you ever wanted to be an explorer like Leif Erickson, Meriwether Lewis, or Sacajawea?

Join us this summer as we set off hiking and exploring some of Fontenelle Forest’s trails that most people never see. Spend your mornings on the trails and your afternoons honing your skills as an explorer, through wilderness awareness activities and games. Adventure awaits!

Looking for an extra challenge this summer?

Hiking, exploring, canoeing, fishing and other challenges of immeasurable size await the campers who join in on this adventure.

Each session is limited to 24 campers. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

June 4 - 8 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Wetlands Learning Center Cost: $245 for members $310 for non-members

The fun doesn’t end there! Pack your bags on Thursday as the adventure continues with an overnight experience in the Wetlands! Night hikes and the early morning sunrise will give campers a deeper understanding of all the amazing things the wetlands has to offer.

Each session is limited to 18 campers. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches. A separate packing list will be provided for the overnight portion.

June 11 - 15 includes overnight on Thursday 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Wetlands Learning Center OR

July 30 - August 3 includes overnight on Thursday 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Wetlands Learning Center

Register online at fontenelleforest.org/camps 24 | FONTENELLE FOREST

Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

Cost: $275 for members $340 for non-members

Star Gazers: People of the Past

Canoe Camp

This new camp weaves together the stories of the land and the sky. For thousands of years, people have made their homes on the land that is now called Fontenelle Forest. The sky they looked up at is the same one that we see now.

From prehistoric peoples to Lewis and Clark and the following fur traders, we will uncover the stories held within the land. Turning to the sky, we will learn how to harness the sun’s energy, and how to read the patterns that unravel the stories in the stars.

Each session is limited to 18 campers. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

July 16 - 20

Experience the wetlands in a whole new way‌ by canoe! Canoe Camp is for campers who have never tried canoeing before, as well as those who want to get more practice. Campers will spend time exploring the Great Marsh and have a chance to practice team building skills through fun games and water activities.

Each session is limited to 18 campers. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

June 25-29 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Wetlands Learning Center OR

July 23 - 27

8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Wetlands Learning Center

8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Wetlands Learning Center

Cost: $245 for members $310 for non-members

Cost: $245 for members $310 for non-members

Creativity Camp This is a camp where creativity and nature collide! This camp is for all those who love to be creative, no matter what prior experience you have. We’ll explore the forest and let it inspire us to write, draw, paint and more. Come enjoy the great outdoors with fun games and activities that will inspire you to create something wonderful! Each session is limited to 18 campers. Snacks provided, campers bring their own lunches.

July 9 - 13 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center

Cost: $245 for members $310 for non-members Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Ages 12 to 14

Lauritzen Gardens Partnership Camp

Adventure Camp

Earth Defenders

Are you ready to set your course for adventure?

The wetlands hold countless stories waiting to be discovered, and we will explore every log, hollow and waterway to find them all! Campers will spend the week learning basic wilderness survival practices, canoeing the Great Marsh and preparing for the ultimate undertaking—an overnighter at Fontenelle Forest complete with dinner over the campfire!

This summer we are excited to partner with Lauritzen Gardens for a camp unlike any other.

Monday and Tuesday, campers will meet at the Forest to begin their explorations and then finish out the week at Lauritzen.

Each session is limited to 14 campers. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches. A separate packing list will be provided for the overnight portion of this camp.

June 18 - 22 includes overnight on Thursday 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Wetlands Learning Center Cost: $275 for members $340 for non-members

Earn an Earth Defender badge for completing this camp! Participants will discover ways that they can help to keep the earth healthy and become a defender of the planet. Campers will learn all about recycling, how to reuse products from home to create new items such as bird feeders and so much more about how they can help to keep the planet healthy.

Each session is limited to 20 campers per age group. Snacks provided. Campers bring their own lunches.

Registration is through Lauritzen Gardens, www.lauritzengardens.org 5-8 years and 9-12 years:

June 11 and 12 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster Acorn Lodge OR 5-8 years and 9-12 years:

June 25 and 26 26 | FONTENELLE FOREST

Spring 2018: Wellness Edition

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster Acorn Lodge

Ages 14 to 17 Leadership/ Junior Counselor Training Would you love to become a Camp Counselor and help us teach kids about nature? Are you between the ages of 14 and 17? If so, you have an incredible opportunity to join our Education Team and become a Junior Counselor this summer!

During this four-day training you will learn valuable leadership skills and gain great experience in the field of Environmental Education. After completing this fun and challenging training you will be able to sign up as a Junior Counselor for the summer! Get the full experience of canoeing, hiking, camping, campfire cooking, and wilderness awareness practices. Learn what it takes to build relationships, communicate clearly, and have tons of fun learning new camp songs and outdoor games. By the end of the program, you will have the tools you need to become not just an excellent Junior Counselor, but an effective leader in all other aspects of your life!

This camp provides the necessary training for Junior Counselors to sign up for a minimum of 2 separate weeks of camp to act as a leader and role model to young campers and a helper for the Counselors running the camp. This will be where all of your skills are put into practice! Camps run from 8:30am3:00pm each day. A few camps have an overnight option.

Each session is limited to 16 JCs. Camp T-shirt and dinner/breakfast for the overnight will be provided. Junior Counselors bring their own lunches.

Separate packing list will be provided for the overnight portion of this camp.

May 29 - June 1 includes overnight on Thursday 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Camp Brewster Lodge Cost: $200 for members $265 for non-members

Register by May 1st and save $5 per camper Explore more at FontenelleForest.org

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Short Interview

Register online at fontenelleforest.org/camps See you this summer!

Fontenelle Forest 1111 Bellevue Blvd N Bellevue NE 68005 fontenelleforest.org 28 | FONTENELLE FOREST

Spring 2018: Wellness Edition