Thanks for a wonderful Centennial year!

As the year is coming to a close, the Briar Bush Nature Center staff would like to thank everyone for helping us celebrate our Centennial and making it such a great year! We had many volunteers help with events throughout the year, as well as all the regular day-to-day operations they help with. To mark the Centennial, the year was filled with special events to keep the celebration going. We'd like to extend a big thank you to all those who hosted our Centennial events, helped plan them and supported them with donations. We could not have had such a great year without everyone's participation and support.

Best wishes for the new year to all of our Friends!

Bird Seed Sale Price Misprint

Attention!

In the Winter 2009 newsletter there has been a misprint in the bird seed prices. The correct prices are as follows:

Fruit & Berry Buffet (20 lbs.) is $32.40 (members) and $36.00 (non-members)

Peanut Splits (25 lbs.) is $31.95 (members) and $35.50 (non-members)

Safflower (20 lbs.) is $22.05 (members) and $24.50 (non-members)

The Giving Tree

As a non-profit organization, we often look to Friends to support some of our needs. During the holiday season, a "giving tree" is on display in our museum with wish-list items for the coming year posted on ornaments. There are several types of ornaments on the tree, each representing a different cost category for the items. Please look through the list below, and if you are able to provide any of these items (used are okay, as long as in good condition!) the BBNC staff would be greatly appreciative! If you are in the Center, be sure to take a peek! All gift-givers will have their name displayed on a "helping hand" for the rest of the holiday season.

You Choose the Amount (dark blue ornament)

• Grocery store gift cards for summer camp snacks
• Petco gift cards for animal food and supplies
• Michael's gift cards for craft supplies

$1-10 (red stocking ornament)

• Butterfly/insect nets
• Children's nature-themed storybooks
• Large bottles of spray adhesive
• Plastic storage tubs with lids
• Frying pan
  
• Velcro tabs or roll of Velcro
  

$11-25 (light blue ornament)

• Associated Press Style Book
• Two new coffee makers
• Black cardstock for exhibits

$26-50 (indigo ornament)

• Indoor umbrella stand for front entrance

$51-100 (tree-shaped ornament)

• 75 pounds potting soil WITHOUT fertilizer

$100+ (star ornament)

• Koala baby changing table
  

It's Time to Feather Our Nest!

Have a unique holiday shopping experience or buy some special gifts for yourself at Feather Our Nest, Briar Bush Nature Center's annual gala and silent auction. This year's auction features a great assortment of items for any interest or budget. A live auction will end the night with bidding on items such as a Fuji bicycle, a week at golf resort in Georgia and more! During the event, enjoy heavy hors d'oeurves, desserts, drinks and music. Purchase tickets online at www.briarbush.org or call the Center at 215.887.6603.

Thursday, November 13, 2008
Cairnwood Estate
3032 Huntingdon Pike
Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
*valet parking*

Evening Program

5:30 p.m. ~ Gala and silent auction bidding begins
8:00 p.m. ~ Live auction
8:15 p.m. ~ Checkout begins

Don't forget to bring cash or checks for our Pick-a-Prize raffle! Purchase an arm's length of tickets for $20 and try your luck for many items! Look for the red bags in each room and drop in your tickets!

Saw-whet Owl Banding Eco-trip

A group of five owl enthusiasts traveled to the Hidden Valley Banding Station outside Pottsville, PA to participate in the Saw-whet Owl banding program. These tiny owls migrate the most actively on cool, clear nights. Conditions were perfect and we caught 12 owls in five hours! The head of the banding program, Scott Widensaul, chatted the entire time while he went through the techniques used to band, measure and track the owls. Everyone in our group learned so much from Scott and fell completely in love with the little balls of feathers! The following day, we visited Hawk Mountain in hopes of spotting some larger birds of prey as they made the migration south. Unfortunately, the weather was too perfect and the hawks were flying too high in the sky. We did get some excellent views of Turkey Vultures and a quick close-up glimpse of a Sharp-shinned Hawk while sunning ourselves on the rocks at the South Lookout. We will definitely run this trip in the future so I hope to see you there!
~Kristen Facente, Public Programs Coordinator/Environmental Educator

For more background information on owls, a full recount of the trip and explanation of banding procedures, please feel free to come to our Brown Bag Lunch on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at noon. Some snacks and drinks provided; bring lunch. If you can, please RSVP to 215-887-6603.

Good Search for Briar Bush!

Online searches can help us find what we need to know, but they can also help Briar Bush earn money! When you do your next online search, try using Good Search. This is a legitimate webpage that uses the Yahoo search feature (so it's just like going directly to Yahoo and using their web search) but one bonus - it gives us money! On the main page, type Briar Bush Nature Center into the space that asks who you are "good searching" for and then click verify. Our name will be logged and you can begin searching. We get a penny per search, but with everything people look up every day, we could start racking up a few bucks. If you have kids, encourage them to use Good Search when doing research online for school projects too! If you want, you can install Good Search into your current toolbar, but it's not necessary. You can bookmark the website or make it your homepage so that every time you want to search for something online, you can earn BBNC a penny or two. Thanks for the support - we greatly appreciate it!

Great Escape: American Indian Arts Festival

A full van of Great Escapers visited the Rankokus Indian Reservation for its 42nd Semi-Annual American Indian Arts Festival. Representatives from tribes throughout North and South America were present to share their music, crafts, food and culture. Everyone enjoyed perusing the incredible hand-made jewelry, pottery, clothing and other traditional wares. All the while, performers sang, danced, chanted and drummed on the main stage, creating a wonderful and authentic atmosphere. A highlight for most of us was the falconry demonstration in which a Harris hawk chased and caught a lure dragged by a young volunteer. The traditional food was different yet delicious, particularly the three sisters soup, buffalo burgers and fry bread. It was a trip worth repeating!

~Kristen Facente, Public Programs Coordinator/Environmental Educator

Green Hour

Need a great resource when it comes to getting the kids (or yourself!) outdoors for some quality time in nature each day? Try Green Hour. The website focuses on ways of giving kids a "Green Hour" of unstructured play each day for their physical, mental and emotional well-being.

RaptorFest '08

RaptorFest was a hit! Visitors came to Briar Bush on Saturday, Oct. 4 to enjoy raptor-related crafts, dissect owl pellets (balls of feathers/fur/bones that owls regurgitate), see a live presentation of "The Lorax," and the highlight of the day, a live raptor presentation by falconer Mike Dupuy. Check out the slideshow to see Mike and his Harris Hawk (dark brown), Northern Goshawk (white stripe above eyes) and Saker Falcon (brown and white speckled chest).

Come see our new exhibits!

Don't forget that you can visit Briar Bush even on rainy days! Our museum contains over 30 animals and several exhibits and hands-on displays. This month the museum has welcomed two new exhibits:

Find out more about our reptilian friends with our all-new REPTILES exhibit. The exhibit describes what exactly a "reptile" is and some of the unique characteristics of these amazing animals. Visuals include a full shed from ne of Briar Bush's snakes, along with some eggs laid just this year by Ms. Tortellini (Leopard Tortoise) and Colonel Corn (Corn Snake).

Think twice about what you put in your garbage can with the help of our "WHAT'S IN OUR TRASH?" exhibit. The hands-on display breaks down the make-up of what Americans throw away each year, while allowing visitors to practice the art of recycling. Children can also compare their daily lunch to that of the average consumer, and find out about techniques to improve their every day trash output.

Calling all juice drinkers and cookie eaters!

Terracycle, a NJ-based company that makes usable products from items that would otherwise be trash, is teaming up with Nabisco, Kool-Aid, Capri Sun and Honest Kids to offer a recycling fundraiser to non-profit organizations.

Briar Bush has joined the Cookie Wrapper Brigade and the Drink Pouch Brigade to collect and recycle these items. For each drink pouch and cookie wrapper collected, Briar Bush will receive $.02. While it is a small amount alone, it is amazing how many of these items end up in trash cans! Rather than throw them away (especially after lunch or snacks), save them for Briar Bush!

We will have collection bags in the center for cookie wrappers (Oreo, Chips Ahoy, 100 Calorie Packs, etc.) and juice drink pouches (Kool-Aid, Capri Sun, etc.) This does not include candy bar wrappers or juice boxes.

In order to send our collection bags in for a donation, we must collect a minimum of 200 cookie wrappers and 100 drink pouches, so start saving!! This is an easy way to help Briar Bush earn extra funds to support our great community programs.

Please empty any crumbs from cookie wrappers, as well as remove the straw from drink pouches. Terracycle is asking that drink pouches be cut across the bottom (not bottom of front or back panel, but the section between them) and rinsed.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Join us for RaptorFest!

October is Raptor Month! Join in the fun and sign up for a great FREE adventure!

Saturday, October 4 ~ 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

9 a.m.-9:45 a.m. "Backyard Birding" Bring your binoculars and take a birding walk through BBNC trails with Wild Bird Center's Marsha Pearson. Light morning refreshments available. Please register in advance.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. "All About Raptors" Enjoy crafts, exhibits and other activities, all reptor-related. Some of the fun will include dissecting owl pellets, making puppets, measuring wingspans and much more!

11 a.m.-12 p.m. "Live Animal Presentation" The highlight of the day will be a live bird presentation by the Academy of Natural Sciences. See raptors up close and get answers to all your raptor questions!

12:15-12:45 p.m. "The Lorax" Participate in a living version of "The Lorax," the famous Dr. Seuss tale about the importance of protecting habitats.

***Registration is required for "Backyard Birding" and recommended for the other activities. Call BBNC at 215.887.6603.***

BBNC in the community

It's the season for festivals and Briar Bush will have PR tables at many of them! Our PR tables are always a hit with all the need-to-know information for parents and activities for the kids - sometimes one of the famous Briar Bush critters even makes an appearance. Knowledgable volunteers and staff are available to answer and programming or general information questions you might have.

This fall, look for us at the following events:
*Saturday, September 20 @ Macy's
*Friday, September 26 @ Upper Moreland Primary School
*Saturday, September 27 @ Glenside Street Fair (11-3)
*Saturday, September 27 @ Sisters of Holy Redeemer Children's Fair (12-5)
*Saturday, September 27 @ Roslyn Car Show (3:30-8)
*Sunday, September 28 @ Sisters of Holy Redeemer Children's Fair (12-5)

Help make our wishes come true!

As a non-profit organization, "luxury items" often fall to the bottom of our purchasing list, and it is through the help of our Friends and other supporters that we are able to get some of the items we want or need. Here is the most recent "wish list" of items that could help our programs and daily operations at Briar Bush:

• 75 lbs of potting soil without fertilizer
• Habba Mist reptile cage misting system
  
• Umbrella stand
• Baby changing table for the restroom
• Most recent version of Quickbooks software
• Large plastic exercise wheel for the chinchilla
• Butterfly/insect nets
• Toddler-sized tables with chairs (2-3 sets)
• Toddler-sized step stool
• Collapsible stool with railing (for getting into BBNC van)
• Camera tripod
• A level for building exhibits

Looking Back: 100 Years Potluck and Annual Meeting

Tuesday, September 9 was the annual meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush. Prior to the business meeting portion of the evening, friends old and new shared a potluck dinner together at Briar Bush. To help celebrate our one hundred years of history, David Rowland of the Old York Road Historical Society presented a brief history of the Abington Township area back to when it was mostly farmland, and brought photos. Dr. Leigh Altadonna, Assistant Superintendant of Abington Schools and FOBB Board Member, grew up visiting Florence Griscom with his sister and recounted the days spent learning about birds, nature and life from Mrs. Griscom. He gave the audience insight of what was happening from the 1950s through 1975. Dede Long, Executive Director of BBNC, picked up from there and carried us into today and even a peek at the future. Next year, Briar Bush will be creating another 5-year strategic plan, which will be an important guiding tool in our future, as Long is retiring in 2010 after 30+ years with the Center. The evening ended with the business meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush. This year, four members will be leaving the Board of Directors after fulfilling their terms, and a fifth has resigned after being called into active duty in the United States Army. Members who have completed six years of Board service must remain off the Board for one year before returning. All staff members gave a brief summary of the activities that have been filling their days since last year's meeting.

Great Escape - Buildings of Fairmount Park

It is amazing how a person can live his or her entire life in the same area and not discover all the wonderful places hidden just off the beaten path or, in the case of the buildings of Fairmount Park, and Fairmount Park Water Works Interpretive Center, standing in plain sight! A small but interested group of our members toured Strawberry Mansion and Woodford, two of the seven historic homes in Fairmount Park that are now maintained by different public and private groups. Extremely knowledgeable docents led us through the very different homes, detailing the history of the structures, their builders and various owners, current furnishings and so much more. We enjoyed lunch at Rembrandt's Restuarant near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, then dropped by the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center. Beneath the beautiful building that houses the historic water works is an informative and interactive museum suitable for kids and adults. Truly, all Philadelphians should spend an hour visiting this fascinating (and free!) museum.

Summer camp already seems like a distant memory at Briar Bush and the focus has moved to our school-year programs. Our Children's Series programs and Home School have already started and ACORN is soon to follow, with BBNC educators visiting Abington schools to teach nature-based lessons. This year's programs have been restructured around various nature themes to give kids an excellent on-going experience for this year and beyond. New to our Children's Series is an infant sign language class for 0-2 year olds with an adult. Infants will learn signs for words and concepts in nature from guest educator Katy Abbott as they explore the museum and trails. "No School? Cool!" has also made a return this year, with exciting field trips during days when school is closed but work is not. Please be sure to check the program schedules on our website at www.briarbush.org or in your newsletter.

Tonight is the annual meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush (7:15 p.m.) following a potluck dinner (5:30 p.m.) and a historical presentation (6:30 p.m.).

Great Escape: Leaming's Run Gardens

Kristen Facente accompanied seven garden and hummingbird enthusiasts to Leaming’s Run Gardens in Avalon, NJ for a guided tour and lunch. Our guide, Greg, was not only the entire gardening staff but also the son of the gardens’ owners. He knew each garden inside and out and shared his gardening secrets with us. During the walk, he also explained the history of the land and its original owners, and how it came to be in his family’s possession. While we sat in the shade and enjoyed his stories, hummingbirds darted around Cardinal Flowers not 10 feet in front of us. We learned that hummingbird feeders are actually very detrimental to the ‘hummers’ (for a number of reasons) and several of our group vowed to take their feeders down immediately! The gardens are also home to a wide variety of chickens and other fowl, which Greg breeds and cares for. After the tour, the group wandered on their own through the rest of the gardens. We enjoyed the gardens so much, by the time we sat down at Chef Ted’s Off-Shore Grill for lunch, everyone was starving! Lunch was very good, though, and worth the wait.

If you missed out on Leaming's Run Gardens, be sure to check the Briar Flyer or the schedule of events on www.briarbush.org for upcoming Great Escapes!

BBNC digs Philly!

BBNC has been featured on the website digphilly.com! The article features upcoming events, a little history and why BBNC is such a special place in the area.

Enjoy! (<-- That link will take you directly to our article.)

Earth Skills: July 28 - August 1

Monday: Water Day

Today we got to explore the aquatic world. Mark Fallon, Senior Naturalist, and Camp Aide Oceana led campers for a Briar Bush pond study in the morning, then traveled to nearby Baederwood Park to discover what lives in the headwaters of Tookany Creek. Finally, campers imitated the frogs, fish and other creatures they found by swimming and jumping in Crestmont Pool.

Some of the highlights: We caught and released frogs, tadpoles, backswimmers, a diving beetle, water striders, leeches, mayfly nymphs and daphnia at the pond. Campers used a key to identify organisms. In the creek, we found more (and bigger) water striders, which camper Robert nicknamed “skimmers.” We caught some small fish, and a large and small crayfish. We also found some natural clay deposits and learned that people can make bowls from natural materials. Campers played Nature Expedition in the creek and got points for finding creatures, helping each other and picking up trash. They lost points for going too far ahead or throwing rocks. The final score: 1,600 points!!!

Along the way, campers learned to identify Poison Ivy (and stay away from it!) and Jewelweed, a medicinal plant that can help stop the itching of bug bites and Poison Ivy. Mark also taught them about another risk of summer in the woods: yellow-jackets. These wasps nest in the ground and old logs. Campers learned that if anyone got stung, they should all run toward the nearest building or vehicle. This was a lesson that came in handy on Tuesday…

Tuesday: Shelter, Tools and Fire

Educator Jeff Moore used his extensive knowledge of Stone Age technology to show campers how to build a shelter out of woodland materials today. While in the woods at Briar Bush, camper Sammy found another shelter- a yellow-jacket nest! Because everyone had learned what to do, Sammy only got one sting and no one else was hurt – except maybe some of the ears of the other Briar Bush visitors when all the campers were yelling, “Bees! Run!”

Campers also got to see where many Stone Age people found shelter: in caves. Jeff led them through the Briar Bush replica cave and talked about why a cave makes such a great shelter and the earliest known art form: cave paintings. Campers did some of their own arts & crafts today, too: they made necklaces with slate pendants. Jake decided he would try to replace his tooth with his new slate pendant.

Things really heated up when Jeff showed campers how some Stone Age people made friction fires. The tinder was a bit too moist to get a flame, but Juan really got the knack of that fire bow! Charlie, John and Grant worked as a team to try to get their fire tools working. Elizabeth and Victoria found a cicada and told everyone all about them – those two know a lot about nature!

Wednesday: Wissahickon wandering and bugs galore!

Campers set out in the van with Mark to explore the Andorra section of Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley Park. We started with a bug hunt and found only two kinds of bugs in the ball field, but eight in the meadow thicket nearby. From the old burn area that had become a meadow, we could see the other side of the valley and all the campers knew that to find the creek, all we had to do was hike downhill.

Mark knew about another interesting Nature Center right nearby: Fairmount Park Commission’s Andorra Environmental Education Center, fondly known as “The Tree House.” Back when it was the home of the family that ran a large tree and shrub nursery on the grounds, the back porch actually had a huge chestnut growing right through the roof! The staff at the Tree House was very friendly and let all our campers look at the historic photos of the house when the tree still stood in the back porch.

Mark had one last trick up his sleeve, and drove the 20 minutes back toward Abington to Lorimer Park, where there was a big butterfly garden and a great creek to explore! Campers discover Yellow-Lined Salamanders, lots of Crane Fly Larvae, and Robert even spotted our first and only snake. No one believed him at first, and we went upstream for a bit to build dams and catch salamanders, but, sure enough, when we came back to the same spot, other campers started screaming! Mark identified the little snake as a baby Northern Water Snake, a non-venomous snake often killed because people think it is a Cottonmouth, Water Moccasin or other poisonous species. We finished the day with a dip in a deep poll of Pennypack creek. What an adventure!

Thursday: Clam Shell Knives and Animal Tracking

Campers got into the groove first thing in the morning by cutting grooves into clam shells. Making clam shell serrated knives was the order of the day. Jeff made three examples of prehistoric ulu knives still used by Eskimo and Inuit peoples today. After lunch, campers got their feet (and hands) dirty, learning about tracks that animals leave behind.

The absolute highlight of camp however, was roasting marshmallows over open flames. Campers selected their own sticks while taking a short foray around the center. For some strange reason, Grant’s marshmallows kept bursting into flames! Everyone seemed to love the sticky goo, except for Jeff, who had to clean up the bottoms of his sneakers after the campers left for the day.

Friday: Nature’s Shopping Trip and Stone Knapping

Stream crossings gone badly should have been the theme for this day’s activity. Campers took a trip to Peace Valley Nature Center and walked the outer trail loop. While taking White Oak Crossing, campers had to forge the stream, which had swelled due to a previous storm. Even though Jeff and Oceana helped campers “rock hop” across the stream, one at a time, and everyone got across safely, there were still two casualties.

Grant’s shoe became a raft and floated a hundred feet downstream before marooning itself on a sandbar. Charlie’s water bottle also jumped ship and is probably somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean by now. Too bad you didn’t put a note in the bottle, Charlie!

After lunch, Jeff showed how to use pressure flakers to shape and sharpen the edge of stones and campers practiced on small slate stones. Just before the end of camp, Jeff handed out pieces of obsidian glass and campers flaked the edges to make a Stone Age knife before going home.

Picture this!

BBNC photos are now available online! Follow the link below to find photos from 2008 summer camps.

summer camp pictures

Regal Moth Caterpillar

Yesterday afternoon, a neighbor stopped by with a fascinating creature - a regal moth caterpillar, also known as the hickory horned devil. These caterpillars are 12.5 - 14 cm in length, and as an adult moth have a wingspan of 9.5 - 15.5 cm. The caterpillar burrows for pupation, so it was a rare treat to see this since its size indicated that it was ready for that stage. *scroll down for pictures!*

*Please remember that Briar Bush is not licensed to accept injured or abandoned wildlife. If you find an animal that needs help, please contact one of the following centers:

AARK Wildlife Rehab. & Education Center, Inc.
107 Twining Bridge Road
Newtown, PA 18940
215-968-4963

Schuylkill Wildlife Rehab Center
304 Port Royal Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
215-482-8217

A look back at 100 years: FOBB annual meeting and potluck

On Tuesday, September 9, gather with “Friends” to share a traditional potluck dinner and look back at the history of the Abington area. Members of the Old York Road Historical Society will provide photos, stories and more. Learn about Quaker couple, Everett and Florence Griscom, who moved to Abington in 1908 and shared their knowledge and love of nature with children and adults for over 50 years. See what Abington looked like when Willow Grove was a park with trees instead of a shopping mall. Following the presentation, you may choose to stay for the Annual Meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush and election of new board members. Please RSVP by August 26. Potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. at Briar Bush. The cost is $5/adult and $3/child under 10 – please bring a dish that serves 10 people. In order to accurately plan for the evening, please contact us to determine what type of dish to bring.

Watery Worlds - July 7-11

Nature was definitely in on the deal as Watery Worlds debuted at Briar Bush with a…splash…as campers completed experiments and craft projects learning about the water cycle. Nature did some teaching of its own, while dousing the campers with a thick coat of rain! The rest of the week was just as wet as campers explored the watershed of Baederwood Creek. The highlights of the day included catching salamanders and crayfish, and crawling through some adventurous tunnels. I could see the light bulbs pop on as students explored the concepts of watersheds, while getting a little wet of course. The exploration continued as Wednesday brought “Froggin’,” a definite camp favorite! Fauna big and small could not escape from our master “froggers.” On Thursday, the campers chased “Drippy” the raindrop on his path out to sea. Along the way, we visited Wissahickon Creek, the Schuylkill River and finally the Delaware River. Campers spent the whole day exploring a tidal habitat and all the incredible things it leaves behind. Finally, we ended the week by “searching for Drippy” at the Adventure Aquarium. The sharks were amazing and I even faced my fears and touched a jellyfish! The campers had an amazing and adventurous week filled with informative fun. I had a great time with all my water-loving campers and hope to be even wetter next year!

~Stephanie Sadlon, Curriculum Specialist/Environmental Educator

Help make our wishes come true!

As a non-profit organization, "luxury items" often fall to the bottom of our purchasing list, and it is through the help of our Friends and other supporters that we are able to get some of the items we want or need. Here is the most recent "wish list" of items that could help our programs and daily operations at Briar Bush:

• Umbrella stand
• Baby changing table for the restroom
• Most recent version of Quickbooks software
• Large plastic exercise wheel for the chinchilla
• Butterfly/insect nets
• Super glue
• Toddler-sized tables with chairs (2-3 sets)
• Toddler-sized step stool
• Collapsible stool with railing (for getting into BBNC van)
• Camera tripod
• A level for building exhibits
  

Remember that as a 501(c)(3) organization, your donation to us will be tax-deductible.

Critter Care - June 23-27

I don’t know who had more fun this week – the campers or myself and the Camp Aides! Animals are my first love, so I was very excited to spend an entire week with 12 3^rd-6^th graders who shared my passion. Over the week, I hoped to show the campers how much fun “working” with animals can be, drive home the difference between pets and wild animals and, of course, give them a great nature-based summer camp experience.

On the first day, the campers, Camp Aides Phil and Sophia, and I introduced ourselves and shared stories about our pets. Some of the campers told of their desire to work with animals “when they grow up.” We also met all of the Briar Bush animals and learned about their histories. A guest speaker from the Schuykill Wildlife Rehabilitation Center spoke with the children about the difficult but rewarding job of rehabilitating injured or abandoned wild animals. He brought four non-releasable birds of prey, including an Eastern Screech Owl and a Black Vulture, which we were able to view up close. The campers impressed me with their previous knowledge and deep interest as they asked appropriate questions and remained calm around the excited wild birds. After lunch, we visited the Perkiomenville SPCA, which houses unwanted or confiscated dogs, cats, small mammals and large animals such as horses and sheep. Many of the campers had brought donations of towels, canned food, newspapers and toys for the animals and it was obvious that the SPCA staff was grateful. Even though some of the animals’ stories were very sad, the campers remained upbeat and excited because they understood that the hard work of the SPCA staff helps pets have a second chance. Our tour guide impressed upon the children the fact that they should always do the research before getting a pet – something that we advocate at Briar Bush as well.

Tuesday was spent at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. We began with a behind-the-scenes tour of their Live Animal Center, home to over 100 animals. The campers saw volunteers feeding, cleaning and providing enrichment for the animals and asked how old they had to be to volunteer there! Again, our tour guide was impressed by the campers’ knowledge and interest. During lunch we chatted about why so many unwanted pets end up in places like the Academy and which ones were our favorites. Then, we toured the rest of the museum – the campers sifted for shark teeth at “Outside In,” crawled and walked like dinosaurs, and watched butterflies hatch and land on them in the Butterfly House.

n Wednesday, campers met a zookeeper and learned how to care for exotic species at the Elmwood Park Zoo. Our speaker asked the campers to act out animal injuries and then think like a veterinarian to diagnose ailments. She gave everyone a list of which animals make the “best” and “worst” pets – they got a kick out of the fact that many of their campers pets were listed under the “proceed with caution” heading. I allowed the campers to explore the zoo at their own pace (as long as they could see one of the three adults) and they really took their time, read the posted information and asked pointed questions about many of the animals. The favorite exhibit by far was the prairie dogs and the campers were fascinated to learn that wild ferrets feed almost exclusively on the little rodents. Our afternoon visit to the pool was refreshing and fun for everyone.

After three days of structured programs, we spent our entire visit to the Adventure Aquarium exploring on our own. If you have never been to the Adventure Aquarium, I highly recommend it – it is a darn cool place! Campers touched sharks, rays and jellyfish, talked with scuba divers through a foot of glass, and learned that hippos are graceful swimmers. The campers impressed me again with their ability to see the sights while staying together as a group. Back at Briar Bush, we got our hands and feet very dirty as we completed a pond study. Based on the insects that the campers found living in the pond, they decided that it is a healthy ecosystem with good water quality. They were as interested in the insects and snails they caught as the frogs and tadpoles.

On the last day, campers put into practice everything they had learned over the week as they took care of Briar Bush’s resident animals. We divided into groups for a little competition – which group could work together as a team to first decide what each of their animals needed in terms of daily care and then provide it for them? In the end, it was a three way tie – each group went above and beyond anything I had imagined and I told them any one of them could help with animal care any time they wanted! They truly had fun and took pride in providing excellent care for their favorite Briar Bush critters. In the afternoon, we built stick forts in the woods for animals to use as temporary shelters and talked about other ways to help local wild animals. We ended the week with a trip to the pool, lots of hugs and promises to come visit the Briar Bush animals again.

~Kristen Facente, Summer Camp Coordinator/Environmental Educator

Itty Bitty Briars (June 3-6)

Since the Briar Blog didn't make its debut until after BBNC summer camps had already started, we will be posting highlights of camps that took place earlier this summer. If your child was in a camp that isn't on the Briar Blog yet, please check back soon!

Itty Bitty Briars – June 3-6

The first camp of the 2008 season was Itty Bitty Briars (IBB), a 1.5 hour camp for 11 two to three-year-olds and their favorite adult. Parents were not just observing – they got down in the dirt too, connecting with their kids and learning alongside them. Each day, campers visited a different part of their local environment, using their entire bodies to explore and experience.

We began the week by warming up our body part that we needed to explore nature – eyes, ears, nose, mouth and fingers. The little ones were very brave and reached into mystery bags where the discovered snake skins, feathers, antlers, mushrooms and much more. Outside we played “Eye Spy,” listened for bird sounds to imitate and smelled all the brightly colored flowers. We snacked on things from nature (fruit, veggies and water) and chatted about our favorite things to do in nature. After snack we met the Corn Snake and learned that snakes smell with their tongue, feel with their belly and can’t taste their food.

During “Creepy Crawly” day, campers and parents met our resident millipedes, tarantula and hissing cockroaches. Everyone enjoyed counting the animals’ legs (although we didn’t get much past 10 legs on the millipede), eyes and antenna. Next, we tried an experiment – campers painted a “sugaring” mixture on trees along the trail in hopes of attracting hungry insects. We rolled over logs and found lots of crawling critters that the campers timidly picked up (and sometimes immediately dropped). While we let our “sugaring” solution sit, we snacked on ladybug English Muffins with raisin spots and read “The Very Quiet Cricket.” Campers and parents worked together to create butterfly puppets which we took along as we examined our “sugared” trees. Even though we hadn’t attracted much, a tiny green inch-worm kept the campers fascinated for at least five minutes!

Rain threatened to keep us inside on Wednesday, but it held out long enough for us to explore some different types of shelter around Briar Bush. We read a story about a bear playing hide and seek and then campers went off the trails to play themselves. Everyone chose an animal to act out and had to hide in an appropriate place. We worked together to create a sick and leaf shelter for animals to hide in during the impending rain. When it started to drizzle, we headed back inside for a snack of pretzels, Chex and animal crackers, which many of the campers turned into miniature versions of the shelter they had just created. After snack, we met the box turtle, who brings his home with him, and the rabbit, who has to find or make a shelter. By the end of the day, campers knew that “Everyone Needs a Home” and could distinguish between different types of animal homes.

No Briar Bush camp is complete without a visit to the pond, so that is where we went on Friday. As small as they were, campers used nets to scoop up pond insects, worms, snails and frogs. They did not want to get their hands dirty but loved looking at their critters in magnifying viewers! Everyone learned that frogs really are slimy when they touched a giant green frog caught by one of the parents. After clean up, we snacked on blue jell-o and gummy fish while chatting about our favorite activities from camp. Parents and campers worked together to create “peek-a-boo” pond pictures with turtles, frogs, snails and fish hiding all around. Finally, just because everyone had been asking all week, we took a look at the indoor beehive and felt how warm the bees made the hive. I’d say that the first week of Summer Camp 2008 was a total success!

~Kristen Facente, Summer Camp Coordinator/Environmental Educator

Earth Trekkers!

Last week was a week of adventure with the Earth Trekkers camp (3rd - 6th grade), led by Anne-Marie. This camp brought out the wanderer in all of us, as we visited a new natural location every day. The kids were great sports through all the hiking and hot days, and always found something to inspire excitement and laughter.

• Monday: A hike through the BBNC trails, a pond study and birding started the week. In the afternoon we cooled off at the pool.
• Tuesday: A trip to Pennypack Farm in Horsham was a great experience for all the kids. At this organic farm, the kids had a great time trying to catch chickens and holding chicks. They made a great snack of fresh, organic salsa after picking all of the ingredients during the farm tour, and collected eggs from the hen house. After a picnic lunch, we planted sprouts and had a little more time to see the chicks again. After a hot day at the farm, the kids were all excited to spend the afternoon at the pool.
• Wednesday: A trip to Camden, NJ brought us to Adventure Aquarium to explore the deep, blue sea and other water habitats. The campers loved touching baby sharks and jellyfish, and watching all of the rays, sea turtle and tropical fish swim through the 760,000 gallon tank. The campers were fascinated to see two scuba divers drop into one of the smaller tanks and start cleaning it while swimming around with the fish. A picnic lunch overlooking the waterfront gave us a perfect view of the Philadelphia skyline and a great way to end our trip.
• Thursday: A trip to John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum and Cusano Environmental Education Center was an unexpected treasure for all of the campers. After spending time looking at all of the cool exhibits at the Center (which is designed to conserve energy and water!) we hit the trails in search of some exciting wildlife. Only a few steps down the trail and we'd already encountered a woodchuck and a family of wild turkeys! During the hike we kept a log of all the wildlife we saw, which included osprey, egrets, a red winged black bird (which only nests in wetlands), a snake, turtles, a rabbit and lots more. We also saw deer tracks and encountered about a dozen crayfish crawling across a field and down trails. The kids had a great time picking up the crayfish and there were a lot of laughs.
  
• Friday: A two-hour hike from Cresheim Valley Drive to the Valley Green Inn gave the kids a great view of Fairmount Park, the Cresheim Creek, Devil's Pool and the Wissahickon Creek. They were troopers as we hiked up and down hills, over logs and across the creek several times. Our guide from the Wissahickon Environmental Center shared knowledge of native plants and natural history along the way, and even showed us where to find wineberries - a nice treat during the hike! A picnic lunch at the Valley Green Inn was a great way to end the week.
  

Check back soon for fun photos of the week's adventures!

Centennial Accomplishments

It has been an exciting Centennial year so far for the Briar Bush crew!

Here is a look at a few of our accomplishments:

• Cover of Philadelphia Inquirer Neighbors Section, May 18
• Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Award Winner - Best Day Camp for Little Kids (Philly area)
• Abington named #21 (out of 100) in CNN Money Magazine's Best Places to Live in America...and Briar Bush was specifically mentioned!

Our Centennial events have been well-attended and we are getting great feedback. There are still several more events for the remainder of the year, so join us soon! If you have not received a Centennial Celebrations book, be sure to stop by the Center to pick one up - they are free and feature our calendar of events, complimented by works from local artists.

Welcome to our "World of Wonders"...online!

It's official - the new "Briar Blog" is here! As some of you have recently learned, this is a new extension of information to fill the gaps between the publication of our seasonal newsletter, the "Briar Flyer," and to highlight some of the great activities and events involving Briar Bush Nature Center.

Here is a preview of what you will see in the blog:

• Preview and reviews of BBNC events
• Great Escape/Eco-Trip information
• Photos, photos and more photos
• Links to related sites with BBNC articles, etc.
  
• BBNC projects
• Program updates
• And much, much more!

It is very exciting to be able to bring everyone together through this site, which will also enable readers to leave comments or questions and further share information. It has become very common for businesses and organizations to develop blogs as another way of reaching their audiences, and Briar Bush certainly wants to be a part of the crowd!

So welcome, enjoy and be sure to visit often for all of the most up-to-date BBNC news!