Friday, July 29, 2011

4-H Environmental Science Day at UCONN

You MUST pre register for this event! I will be taking the truck from school, leaving at 7:30am. I can take 4 students. The first to RSVP can go. You MUST register and have your parents fill out the health form. This is a 4-H event. I will be conducting a workshop for the day. You can either stay and help me or attend the workshops. Either way, you must fill out the forms and submit them to the correct person (4-H staff) by Aug 8th.

Email me for the forms.

4
Avery Point Campus
-H Environmental Science Day at UCONN
August 22, 2011
Schedule
9:15-10:00 Registration
10:00-12:30 Boat Trip 1
10:00-10:50 Workshop 1
11:00-11:50 Workshop 2
12:00-1:30 Lunch & Activity
Available lunch $10.00 additional:
BBQ chicken, Potato Salad, Mac & Cheese,
Cornbread, Soft drink, Cookie
1:30-3:30 Boat Trip 2
1:30-2:30 Workshop 3
2:30-3:20 Workshop 4
3:30-4:00 Ending Activity

Project Oceanology:
During this 2 1/2 hour cruise on Long Island Sound participants will experience marine science at 2 stations on the boat.
STERN:
the guidance of professional marine scientists.
and geological aspects of oceanography. Participants will also explore the basic chemistry of seawater
 
Natural Resources/ Wildlife Biology :
Come learn how to identify Connecticut Waterfowl! Using binoculars, spotting scopes and digital binoculars, 4-H’ers will
explore the skyline and sea side searching for Connecticut birds. Identification techniques, habitat, natural history and migration
will be discussed. If you have your own pair of binoculars, feel free to bring them along! Field guides, spotting scopes and
extra binoculars will be available. (Mrs. Picard)

Herbarium Portraits:
We will go into the environment to collect items & plants from
nature to make our portraits and label the plants. Presented by the Master Gardeners.
Avery Point Salts: We will dye & add fragrance to Epsom salts to create unique bath salts, while talking about observations
about salt, & the plants that grow in salty environments and by the shore. We will also do a de-salinization experiment showing
how through evaporation & condensation we can get fresh water from salt water.. Presented by the Master Gardeners

Tracking Wildlife:
Students will learn how to track wildlife using radio telemetry. (Mr. Picard)

Squid Dissection:
 Learn all you need to know about the biology and anatomy of a squid—presented by Mystic Marine Life
Aquarium

Wired For Wind:
We will be using the 2011 National Science Experiment. In building two types of wind turbines, you will discover what
kind of axis is most effective in harnessing wind. If time allows, you will also find out how blade angles affect the turbine’s
performance.

Roads, Roofs and Run-off:
Nancy Balcom and Syma Ebbin, Connecticut Sea Grant/Extension
What do roads, roofs and run-off have to do with watersheds? Compare how run-off is affected by surface type through
experimentation and calculate the percentage of campus that is developed and how that influences run-off.
*This is only offered in the morning sessions*

EnviroScape Non Point Pollution Model :
We all live in a watershed with water pollution comes from many sources. Nonpoint sources contribute a great deal to the
pollution in our water bodies. The combined affect of pollution from many small sources can have a real impact on the
quality of our shared water resources. In this workshop youths will have a chance to use an Enviroscape to learn about
sources of water pollution and strategize ways to help reduce water pollution.
Explore the biological aspects of oceanography by pulling a trawl net, a plankton net and examining its contents underBOW: Operate instruments and equipment used to study the physical, chemical.

Plant Science Day at CAES in New Haven

I will not  be taking the truck.

Plant Science Day, Wednesday, August 3, 2011
 
lockwood farm
890 Evergreen Avenue, Hamden, CT  06518-2361
¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨
RAIN OR SHINE!
¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨
Doors Open at 9:30 a.m.
Program Begins at 10:00 a.m.
Event 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨
10:00am--Greeting
In Main Tent at 11:20  a.m.
CENTURY FARM AWARD PRESENTATION
Collins Powder Hill Farm, Enfield, CT
SAMUEL W. JOHNSON MEMORIAL LECTURE
Mr. Gregory M. SchaanPresident & Chief Executive Officer, Imperial Nurseries, Inc., Granby, CT
"The Impact of the Nursery Industry on Connecticut's Economy"
¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  Presentations on Research & Technical Demonstrations
10:00 a.m.
TECHNICAL DEMONSTRATION TENT
Mr. Ira J. Kettle, State Apiary Inspector, Department of Entomology
Bekeeping Basics
(15-minute demonstration, repeated twice during the day, 10:00 a.m. & 1:35 p.m.)

10:20 a.m.
MAIN TENT
Dr. Chris T. Maier, Entomologist, Department of Entomology
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: Another Harmful Invasive Insect from Asisa

10:50 a.m.MAIN TENT
Dr. Victoria L. Smith, Deputy State Entomologist, Department of E
ntomology
Healthy Plants—Healthy Business: Support of the Green Industry by Inspection

11:05 a.m.TECHNICAL DEMONSTRATION TENT
Dr. Gale E. Ridge, Entomologist, Department of Entomology
Introduction to Bed Bugs, Self-Protection and Management
(20-minute demonstration, repeated twice during the day, 11:05 a.m. & 2:05 p.m.)

11:20 a.m.
MAIN TENT
Introductions, Award Presentations, Century Farm Award, and The Samuel W. Johnson Memorial Lecture

1:20 p.m.MAIN TENT
Dr. Abigail A. Maynard, Horticulturalist, Department of Forestry and Horticulture
The Experiment Station’s New Crops Program

1:35 p.m.TECHNICAL DEMONSTRATION TENT
Mr. Ira J. Kettle, State Apiary Inspector, Department of Entomology
Beekeeping Basics
(20-minute demonstration, repeated twice during the day, 10:00 a.m. & 1:35 p.m.)

1:50 p.m.MAIN TENT
Dr. Goudarz Molaei, Medical Entomologist, Department of Environmental Sciences
To Bite or Not to Bite: Mosquitoes and Transmission of West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Viruses in Connecticut

2:05 p.m.TECHNICAL DEMONSTRATION TENT
Dr. Gale E. Ridge, Entomologist, Department of Entomology
Introduction to Bed Bugs, Self-Protection and Management
(20-minute demonstration, repeated twice during the day, 11:05 a.m. & 2:05 p.m.)
¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨
Pesticide Credit Tour
12:15pm-1:15pm  Pesticide Credit Tour, Dr. Robert E. Marra 
If you are interested in obtaining pesticide credits you must sign-in at the registration desk between 9:30am-10:00am, and sign-out to pick up pesticide credit forms between 2:45pm- 4:00pm.
¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨
Connecticut Pesticide Credits
Connecticut Pesticide credits will be offered for attending Plant Science Day.  If you are interested in obtaining pesticide credits, you must sign-in at the registration desk at the start of the day, between 9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., collect signatures for the talks, demonstration, and tours you attended, and sign-out to pick up your pesticide credit form between 2:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Connecticut Pesticide credits offered:4.25 credits in ALL supervisor categories and ALL private applicator (PA) categories.

Event 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Barn Displays ¨ 80 Field Plots and Exhibits ¨ Technical Demonstrations
Plant Diagnosis 
¨ Insect Identification ¨ Questions Answered ¨ Passport for Children Lockwood Farm Walking Tours ¨ Connecticut Pesticide Credits Offered

¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨
¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨  ¨

Monday, July 25, 2011

Extracting Honey!

 Mr. Picard showing Ag-Ed students what "capped" cells look like in a frame from the hive.
 Using a hot knife to cut the caps off the cells to expose the honey so it can be spun out with the metal extractor on the right.



SAE Project: Ag Education

I need someone to create a 3-D model of CT forest history. If you are interested, email me. This is a long term project and could provide you with a significant amount of hours! The model will be used to teach 9th graders about CT habitat history and its impact on wildlife in their field biology class.

Friday, July 15, 2011

It's time to make honey!

On July 19th at 9 am (SAE Tuesday 9-12) we will be "making" honey. In reality, the bees made the honey and we will be spinning it out of the frame. Come help out! We will be in the Ag Ed shop.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Studying trees?

Become an expert at identifying trees!

Pictures of trees: https://picasaweb.google.com/106910872547037926922/Dendrology#

UNH will help: http://extension.unh.edu/Forestry/ID_trees.htm

SAE Idea
Create a tree identification walk around your neighborhood, school, park, etc and draw a map to go along with it. If you create something similar to the one published on this website: http://www.law.uconn.edu/content/specimen-trees-campus you can get SAE hours for it! Good luck!!

Goose Banding with CT DEP

Lesson: Wear boots!

DEP Wildlife Biologist herd Canada geese into netting.

Volunteers hold and transport geese to banding station.


Students demonstrating the safest way to restrain geese. Holding their wings back and keeping the beek and feet away from their body.

Preparing to flip the goose over for banding.

Determining the sex of the bird.

There were four gosslins at our last stop!




Securing a leg band on the goose.

Securing a neck band on the goose.

Releasing banded geese back to their habitat.

Steven, Meg and Steph had a great time. We learned to bring a change of clothes and a pair of boots when goose banding. Moral of the story: In order to pursue a career as a wildlife biologist, you must be prepared to get your boots wet and your hands dirty.

P.S. Goose feces stains clothes but it was well worth it!