NYSOEA EXECUTIVE BOARD

President MaryLynne Malone VP Administration Maritza Cuevas VP Communication Nirmal Merchant VP Human Resources Tim Stanley VP Program Rebecca Houser Secretary Meaghan Boice-Green Treasurer Elizabeth Van Acker Office Darleen Lieber

INVITATION FOR ARTICLES AND NEWS.

We are always eager to hear from members and publish the articles that they have authored or news or event announcements that they would like to share with fellow members. We invite you to send your submission for our Winter issue. Simply send us the text with any supporting material -- pictures, newspaper clippings and more.

ADVERTISING IN PATHWAYS
PATHWAYS welcomes advertisements which will be of interest to the membership of NYSOEA. If you have a product, service, equipment, resource, program, etc. that you would like to share with our membership via an advertisement, we can receive it through any of the following ways: Email: [email protected] Mail: Darleen M. Lieber Ref: Pathways Advertisement / Article Fax: (607) 753-5982 E-334 Park Center, SUNY Cortland RPLS Dept. PO Box 2000 Cortland, NY 13045 Materials should be typed. Please include a short biographical section about the author of the article. References cited in the article should be listed at the end of the article, APA style. (ISSN 1077-5100) PATHWAYS is a quarterly published and distributed to its members by NYSOEA. Opinions expressed by contributors are solely theirs and not necessarily those of the Editorial Board of PATHWAYS or of NYSOEA. Advertisements included in PATHWAYS should not be interpreted as endorsement of the product(s) by NYSOEA.

Regional Directors
Eastern- Tim Neu Metro- Jessica Kratz Northern- Gary Griz Caudle Western- Lauren Makeyenko Central- Christina DeCesare

A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT

As we begin Summer, I have to reflect on Spring and an very awesome project my daughter Mariah got involved with that will be a permanent structure at Central Valley Elementary School. First let me say that I will never, ever, look at a plastic lid, top or bottle cap the same way again. The project was introduced to the Malone Family in the late fall or early winter. How would you like to separate the caps the students are collecting into different color categories? As winter took hold it became clear that in order to accomplish this major undertaking there was going to have to be some very serious work done and some pretty important skills were needed. Mariah fit the bill, and she was looking for a project to obtain her Girl Scout Gold Award. And so it began our odyssey into the world of caps. There was wood to move to the house, primer to be applied, a large image to be transferred and painted, and then the return trip to school. Caps needed to be washed and dried. Drills, special screws, and lots of volunteers later, every student made this wonderful mural come to life. Something that isnt thought of as much, maybe not at all (unless you need to remove the cap before placing in the recycling machine) became a wonderful, beautiful piece of art. For more projects involving caps visit artgrange.com. This definitely gave me some inspiration. I hope you are inspired as well. As we become Environmentally Literate Citizens, lets keep in mind those little things in the waste stream and see if maybe they are useful in some other way. Im looking forward to seeing everyone at the annual conference October 20-23, 2011. Wishing you well, MaryLynne

2011 Annual Conference Committee Chairs

Paul Hai Drona Schroeter Tanya Milano Susan Hereth Rebecca Houser

PATHWAYS
Jessica Kratz (Editor) Richard Parisio (Poetry Editor) Frank Knight (Member) Nathan Garcia (Layout, Student) Nicole Gatherer (Teacher) Jonathan Duda (Marketing Manager) Snapper Petta (Member)

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Pathways Summer 2011

BOOK REVIEW
The Extraordinary Spirit of Green Chimneys: Connecting Children and Animals to Create Hope by Samuel B. Ross, Jr.

need has essentially been what has propelled the evolution of Green Chimneys. Just as word traveled after an itinerant minister of Colonel Henry Breckinridge painted the propertys chimneys and cupolas an unconventional color, word traveled far and wide about Green Chimneys ability to educate students who have not succeeded in more conventional settings or schools. Green Chimneys has successfully tried programs that benefit the whole child decades before other institutions have embraced those changes, including the year-round school plan with 223 instructional days divided over trimesters, which the school adopted in 1966. His best practices for yearround schooling provides a blueprint for others looking to implement an alternative school schedule. Additionally, he outlines how poetry and a campus-wide job training/apprenticeship program helped foster a community of learners. In order to make the improvements that were best for his students, Ross encouraged his staff to attend conferences. The American Association of Childrens Residential Centers showed that all staff on campus played an important role in the day-to-day care of residential children. The New York State Outdoor Education Association provided staff with additional ways to integrate the outdoors throughout the curriculum and daily living. These opportunities helped elevate the professional caliber of Ross staff, generations of whom have gone on to successful outdoor education careers throughout the state and Northeast. These inroads have also forged the way for additional accreditations, partnerships, and conferences. For example, the cooperative relationship with Mercy College of Dobbs Ferry has led to animal-related and education courses on the grounds of Green Chimneys, as well as a Humane Education Conference. This continuing commitment to excellence has led Green Chimneys to where it is today. While the school originally served ages 3 to 6 with the dream of raising young children together with animals, Green Chimneys has stayed true to that spirit but has evolved into a small, structured, and therapeutically supportive setting for residential and

day students from K 12. Designed for students unsuccessful in a traditional educational setting due to emotional and developmental challenges, students are referred by their home school districts in southeastern New York State and western Connecticut. Also, some parents have chosen to pay privately for their childs tuition. In addition to support from the various school districts, the school is funded by corporate sponsorships, tuition, donations, and non-profit organizations. To date, the agency is considered the strongest and most diverse of its kind involving farm, animal, plant and wildlife-assisted activities. In telling his story, Ross also shares the stories of other organizations, groups, and movements. The story of Green Chimneys, in this regard, incorporates the inclusion of persons with special needs, communitysupported agriculture, animal-assisted therapy, and other related programs. Ross also provides his insights about fundraising and reflects on how some of the challenges related to facilities management are among the most unexpected and serious challenges faced by an institution. The book concludes with an appendix that is a valuable tool for any organization looking to review a proposal for a new project. The extensive chronology outlines key shifts made as well as awards, accomplishments, and partnerships. A list for further reading shows the breadth and depth of Ross contributions in various related subjects over several decades. A missing index to this wealth of information would have been most useful and could be a welcome addition to future print and online versions. Sharing over six decades of experience, Ross story is a blend of history and how-to. His book is an excellent reference and should be on the shelf of schools and organizations looking to achieve a vision and maintain a long-term mission while adapting to changing circumstances. Green Chimneys has truly become an oasis amongst a changing landscape, and hopefully Ross rich contribution will provide insight and inspiration to help others successfully navigate these changes and challenges for decades to come. Pathways Summer 2011

ISBN: 978-1-55753-580-1 Purdue University Press West Lafayette, Indiana 237 pp. $24.95 Available from www.amazon.com www.barnesandnoble.com and other retailers. Reviewed by Jessica R. Kratz

Ross honest, thorough look at the struggles and successes of a pioneering educational institution blends memoir and history. From humble beginnings as a private school for 11 students in 1948, Green Chimneys has expanded and evolved as a non-profit social service agency with nearly 750 acres in Putnam County, New York, serving almost 200 students, as well as community residents and weekend visitors from neighboring communities and throughout the world. It is not what Green Chimneys does well that counts, but how we respond to peoples needs. It is this credo that has enabled Mr. Ross to introduce many innovations that truly have been of service to his students. Student Page 3 of 8

BOOK REVIEW
A Coming of Winter in the Adirondacks
By Brian J. Heinz, 2004 Art & Literary Award recipient Illustrated by Maggie Henry Reviewed by Frank Knight, 2008 Art &Literary Award Recipient Copyright 2011 10 x 8 32 pages Illus. Ages 5 -9 Hardcover - $19.95 ISBN 978-1-59531-038-5 North Country Books, Inc 220 Lafayette St. Utica, NY 13502 Orders: (800)342-7409 (315)735-4877 Phone

Award-winning author Brian Heinz and first book artist Maggie Henry ignore our whining, self-serving angst and bury any residual whimpers beneath the North Countrys first blizzard. Although we choose to live here bound by home, family, and jobs, most New Yorkers dread the coming of winter. Outdoor pursuits are growing in popularity: skating, sledding, shoeing, skiing thanks in part to NYSOEA and other yearround outdoor activity-promoting organizations. Its those other s words that overwhelm: shoveling slush, slipping and sliding on the daily commute. Outdoorsy or not, we share a lovehate relationship with our longest season. Stoic Adirondackers resignedly say, Our year is 10 months of snow, 2 of mud, and a week of summer. I expressed this emotional dichotomy in a poem a winter or two ago.

There a familiar cast of wildlife species is transported from Octobers glories to dreaded winter? Absolutely not! While the narrative and extraordinarily vivid, imaginative illustrations might hint to adult readers and a young audience a sense of foreboding, the reader soon shares wildlifes joy in the seasons first snow blanket page after page. Predator-prey perils, always present, are acknowledged, but snow play is the overriding theme. I counted 19 animal species preparing for and experiencing the big white change: 7 birds, 11 mammals, and a fish. I hope perceptive readers will find more and correct me. The girls who live next door to me loved the pictures and identifying the critters. They were puzzled at first by some being identified in the text while others animals werent. They thought the author might be helping them search for unfamiliar species while effortlessly naming those they already knew. Only one included mammal is unfamiliar to most Flatlanders, and I was struck on many levels by my young friends right family/wrong species ferret misidentification our job as wildlife educators is far from finished! The older girl lit up when the storm curled over Keene Valley. Ive been there with my family this book is a great geography lesson, too, she exclaimed. And very exciting, as well. Heinz and Henry word and picture paint, The grim sky drops onto the mountains. The rocky summits of Armstrong, Saddleback, and Gothics rake at the belly of the clouds releasing whirling flurries. The wind swells to a howling rage and This reviewer wasnt troubled by a couple of animal behavioral errors illustrated. Too soon students will learn the fascinating comparative differences in reproductive biology and the seeming cruelties of carrying capacity. I was increasingly forgiving with each new reference to vegetation and specific plants and their habitat roles in wild communities. Too many childrens books about wildlife treat vegetation only as a stage setting. On nearly every page readers will see opportunities to compare and contrast their own experiences in fresh snow with wildlifes wherever they are: walking or bussing to school or on gloriously fun-filled snowbound weekends. We should look forward to and encourage more work by first-time book illustrator Maggie. My naturalist friends loved her pictures. We know from his previous books, many award-winning, that we can eagerly anticipate more of Brians works. Heinz and Henry focus on winter joy, and so will educators, parents, and children again and again, as they enjoy and marvel at A Coming of Winter in the Adirondacks. Pathways Summer 2011

November
November gives Winter a bad name, but its not winter we hate. Rather winters gray, damp-chilly, leafless beginning. The change from colorful October to drab November is too abrupt. By Solstice time, were finally acclimated, ready for winters stark, snowy simplicity. March dreariness mirrors Novembers, but eager anticipation warms us to Spring.

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WALKING AMONGST GIANTS

The following summer hosted the first camp for students in the Recreation Department. Under the leadership of Dr. Metcalf these young man cleaned buildings, built latrines and established water lines while engaging in educational sessions on conservation, camp crafts, archery and other appropriate topics. Within this first group of students was a future outdoor educator of note by the name of George Fuge. His hard work, along with his peers, put the new center on a firm foundation for the future. By now I trust most people have recognized at least two of the individuals mentioned above. Both Dr. Metcalf and George Fuge were founding fathers of the NYSOEA. Our most prestigious award is named in honor of the former gentleman and our organizations first president was the latter. Their collective connection to both the NYSOEA and Cortlands outdoor education center cannot be separated. As forerunners in the field, they were on the cusp of the relationship that developed between these two entities. Other well known and respected outdoor educators who have continued along this path include Dr. Marcia Carlson, Jay Cummings, Joe Pierson and Dr. Anderson Young. Each has had a direct influence on the Raquette Lake outdoor education center while also making positive contributions to the NYSOEA. It is these giants of our profession that Ive had the privilege of working with, and following in the steps of, throughout my teaching career at Camp Huntington. While I may never reach their heights, I am the better for following in their footsteps. Until next time, may all your rambles lead you to new and exciting places.

This photo from 1974 features Harlan "Gold" Metcalf, first Art and Literary award recipient. Photo Credit: Frank Knight It was November, 1976. I was in Cortland, NY to attend the annual Recreation Conference held at the college. While having lunch with Dr. Marcia Carlson I casually mentioned (OK, begged might be more like it) that Id love to help with the departments annual outdoor education class held each spring at Raquette Lake. As a student my experience at Camp Huntington, SUNY Cortlands outdoor education center, was the highlight of my academic career. At that point in my life, the best way to pay it forward was to pay back all that I had received. So it was with great joy that I disembarked from the boat onto the camp dock the following spring. During my previous stay a new interest, Adirondack history, was piqued. Now, because of my staff status, the opportunity to explore the many nooks and crannies of the camps myriad buildings presented itself. While exploring I th learned not only about the 19 century luminaries that made Pine Knot Point, the facilitys original name, famous, but I discovered a direct connection to NYs premier outdoor education organization; the NYSOEA. While on a canoe trip in 1947, Dr. Harlan Gold Metcalf, came upon this retreat hidden in the woods along the shore. From the seat of his canoe he could make out trees growing from building roofs. But he also foresaw the outdoor education facility SUNY Cortland was searching for. Some initial research gave Dr. Metcalf the information he needed to contact the owner of the camp; Archer Milton Huntington. After the preliminary correspondence a meeting between the two gentlemen was agreed to. To quote Paul Harvey, the rest of the story would take a book but suffice to say, both parties worked together to make the transfer of the camp from a private retreat to a public college facility a reality. Page 5 of 8

MILESTONES

Anne LaBastille, renowned author and 1977 Art & Literary Award recipient, passed away on July 1, 2011.

Visit nysoea.org for more about her life and legacy.

Pathways Summer 2011

WELCOME ABOARD
NATALIE RIDER
EASTERN REGION CO-DIRECTOR Natalie Rider is Hudson Valley, born and raised. Currently a resident of Kingston, New York, Natalie can be found enjoying day hikes in Ulster and Dutchess Counties, sailing on the Hudson, camping in the Catskills, and hanging out around her backyard garden with friends. Natalie is a biology teacher at Beacon High School, in her home town. She also teaches outdoor education at Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill. She has been working for the Fresh Air Fund since 2002. Her goal as a NYSOEA board member is to help others in the region find practical ways to integrate indoor and outdoor environmental education, especially on the secondary school level. Natalie graduated from the University of Rhode Island with dual majors in Biology and Elementary Education in 2002. She earned her Master's degree in Literacy from SUNY New Paltz in 2005. At the center of Natalie's life is her 2 year old daughter, Hannah. While being a working Mom can be a very busy lifestyle, she's always looking for family-friendly outdoor fun and will actively pursue NYSOEA affiliated events in the region where Hannah can learn and play.

AMANDA ACKERS
EASTERN REGION CO-DIRECTOR Amanda Ackers has been a member of NYSEOA since 2010 and is pleased to join the board. She received her BSEd from Bloomsburg University and her MSEd from SUNY New Paltz. She has worked at Dutchess Day School teaching elementary and middle school science since 2006. She will begin teaching 4th grade in 2011. Amanda fell in love with the outdoors as a child growing up in Dutchess County and has enjoyed nature ever since. Beginning at the age of 15, she spent 8 summers teaching at the Fresh Air Fund summer camp and 2 years at the Environmental Education Center. Through this experience, she developed her skills, knowledge, and ability to share the great outdoors with children. She hopes that, as a classroom teacher, she can spread the word about outdoor education with the idea that it will become more integrated into the daily education of children. When not teaching, Amanda enjoys hiking, geocaching, kayaking, coaching soccer, and working on improving her green thumb.

LESSON PLAN
Teach your students about global warming and sea level rise using our own backyard, the Hudson River! Using Real-Time Data: Temperatures Impact on Sea Level Rise Grade Level: 5-8 Objective: Students will know how to retrieve data from a real-time data website and be able to explain and pose questions about the relationship between global warming and water level rise in the Hudson River Estuary. Lesson Outline: 1. Students retrieve data from the HRECOS (Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System) website according to the worksheet instructions 2. Students use the data to discuss the relationship between ocean and Hudson River Estuary water levels. 3. Students use the data to discuss the relationship between seasonal temperatures and water levels. 4. Students use the data to discuss the potential impact of global warming on water level in the Hudson River Estuary. Page 6 of 8 Extend: Visual Demonstration Materials: Flask or clear plastic drink bottle Glass tube Stopper Lamp or strong sunlight Instructions: Fill the flask almost to the brim with water. Insert the glass tube through the rubber stopper and insert this in the top of the flask. Water should rise slightly up the tube. Use a marker to mark the starting water level. Place the flask next to a desk lamp or in strong sunlight for at least 10 minutes. The water will expand by a factor of 0.021% for ever degree in temperature rise. This is the same process that causes water levels in the ocean and in the Hudson River Estuary to rise in the spring and summer. To view this lesson in full please visit our website, www.nysoea.org Lesson Prepared by Arlene Onion-HRECOS Coordinator with the Hudson River Estuary Program. Pathways Summer 2011

CONTROVERSY CORNER
HUNTERS VS. CONSERVATIONISTS COVERSLIP
There is a river that runs through my country And it is blue and green and a thoughtful brown, Continuous, chromaticbecause, within, the colors always giggle Skipping under the pebbles and speckled stomachs of the newts Shades laughing with delight as their fluid bodies change To the hue of skies, of pine needles and sunburned soil. When the river twists from side to side with the movement of a dandelion stem Water sprays out, like small parachuted florets, and people blink Then catch the droplets in their hands, making a wish For World Peace, The Jackpot or some Great Big Shiny Future. I wade into the river Hug it, soft, pure liquid, it licks my arms Wets the whiteness of my knuckles, the half-moons of my ankles Exchanges colors, swiftly, happily, with my eyes So that everything and nothing is the tint of blue, green, brown The river runs, eternal, under and above the ground Engulfing the wrinkly skin of Mother Earth And the country is an island embraced bysay itaitch two oh. The river gurgles with delight, and I reenter the womb waters And all around Are blessed, foaming waves Silence cradling the silt. By Dalia Wolfson, age 16 Bronx, New York 2010 Finalist, River of Words Poetry and Art Contest, grades K-12 Theme: Watersheds Rocker Ted Nugent: Hunters Are Conservationists Interview by Tom Foreman We, as humans, have lead to the extinction of many animals and the destruction of countless acres of land. Due to our rate of consumption and depletion of the Earths resources we hear a lot about conservation these days. People from all walks of life are recognizing that something needs to be done to preserve the Earth that we live on. Hunters are some of those people. But can someone who kills animals in nature also be a force in protecting those same animals? In his interview with Tom Foreman, Ted Nugent believes that hunters are conservationists. He believes that throughout history hunting has been necessary for survival and those hunters are the same people who look out for the land; they put value on wild ground. But can someone who kills in nature protect nature? To read the April 2003 interview in full and give your opinion on the authors ideas which we may edit and print, please visit www.nysoea.org. We are trying to initiate reader discussion on environmental issues, so please also consider submitting debatable issues that you would enjoy seeing discussed. Tom Foreman is host and managing editor of the Emmy Award-winning Inside Base Camp with Tom Foreman, he brings his years of experienceand dozens of riveting gueststo the National Geographic Channel at 12:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and Sundays at 11:00 a.m.

2011 CONFERENCE: Oct 20th through 23rd, 2011 at Villa Roma Resort
The 2011 conference will be organized around the theme of the Partnering and Planning for an Environmentally Literate NY. We see great potential to enhance the connection between people and the outdoors the land and the place where they live. View program schedule Download conference booklet Registration closes on 1-Oct-2011 Register online OR Download registration form Make hotel reservations Reserve your meals What to do while in Callicoon Avail of Teachers Scholarship Introducing first ever NYSOEA Authors Corner! Browse sample works from NYSOEA authors and others throughout the state and North East. Chat with your favorite authors and have them sign and personalize your copy. Register for Authors Corner

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Pathways Summer 2011

EDITORS CORNER
- JESSICA KRATZ
such as the Roosa and Hopkins families, the organization is a family affair, with two or more generations playing an active role. One of the other things I noticed is how well Pathways has documented each technological step the organization has taken: from a webpage to listserv to Yahoo Groups and now Facebook and other social networking. It seems that each of these technological steps seems to coincide with a change of the look of the newsletter, and over time, the document has become more digital, more colorful, and the graphics have helped to maintain the cohesion. Looking at some of the amberhued newsletters from the 1990s, with longer articles and black-and-white photographs complemented by pen-andink illustrations, I truly admire the cohesiveness around themes and concepts, such as partnerships and families. One of my favorite pairings is the spring 1994 pairing of Bruce Matthews feature article, Fishing for Environmental Education with Maxwell Corydon Wheat Jr.s poem Casting. I also found some of the items to be unintentionally humorous, such as the red-and-green boxer shorts from the NYSOEA store in the Summer 1999 issue. Times have certainly changed, but some of the questions asked in previous issues still face us today, such as How can we attract more college students and professors? Pathways has also provided a visual testament to the rich literary legacy that exists in the organization. A good number of the article contributors and publication committee members have subsequently gone on to publish books, and some, including Dan Kriesberg, Brian J. Heinz, Kathy Ambrosini, and Samuel B. Ross Jr., have had their books reviewed in Pathways. Hopefully, this years inaugural Authors Corner will showcase even more of the organizations literary talent. My final thought is about the prescience and profound perspective within the Presidents Messages. From Snapper Pettas summer 1998 commentary about making Pathways a more timely and cost-efficient newsletter to Heather Chadwicks remark in Summer 2001 about the world on speed dial, the comments have proven to be incredibly insightful and timely. But my favorite find is MaryLynnes advice from the Fall 2001 issue, written shortly after 9/11: Sit back. Look out the window. Start thinking about things like the fact that the sun is going to rise and set today. For as long as they are on this earth we should cherish the time we spend with those around us. Take a walk, find a rock or log, and sit down for a while For no good reason, plan a date with your parents, spouse, or your child; May you find your own insights, inspiration, and joy from the online archive. The search will certainly be time well spent.

ACCESSING NYSOEAS RICH ARCHIVAL PAST [OR HERITAGE]

Here I am in that lovely lull between the end of the school year and the beginning of camp. This is a great time to pause and reflect. The year 2011 has put me in a historical frame of mind, as my beloved borough of Staten th Island is celebrating its 350 anniversary. As part of this celebration, I have found myself spending hours in museum archives, looking at places I thought I knew and viewing my hometown through new eyes. Last summer, inspired by Karen Robertson, who, along with Mary Miller, completed an extensive physical and digital compilation of NYSOEA conference booklets, I started inquiring about a digital archive for our organization, as we too have decades of history. MaryLynne Malone, Frank Knight, Darleen Lieber, and several others searched for past issues of Pathways (and its predecessors). Countless hours of scanning and posting to the social publishing site Scribd has made dozens of Pathways articles available to us right from the nysoea.org homepage! Since they put all this work into the project, the least I could do is read through the archives and write about it. If you havent yet explored Scribd, youre in for a treat. st This 21 century website, Scribd www.scribd.com sits at the confluence of social networking and online publishing. The site offers you the opportunity to read articles posted and recommended by your friends, as well as to peruse and publish presentations, recipes, resumes, book excerpts, event flyers, and much more. It is a great way to promote your business or organization and develop an online institutional history. In order to peruse the archives, all I needed to do was make sure I opened the website through Google Chrome instead of my usual browser, take some notes, and allow the experience to sink in. One of the first things I noticed was the continuity within the organization. Some names are mentioned in nearly every issue. For some families,

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Pathways Summer 2011