Michigan Forests ~ Library Presentation Series

~ 6:30-8:00 pm, Mondays ~ January-June ’08 ~

Portage Lake District Library in Houghton

6:30-7:10 pm     Keynote presenter

7:15-8:00 pm     Hands-on activities (15 min. each) connected to the theme,

at stations around the library.

January 28 – Who’s Been There? Wildlife Tracking

with experienced tracker, Brian Rajdl & daughter, Anna

Hands-On Activities:

1.        Find and identify animal tracks hidden throughout the library

2.        Read tracks to discover the story they tell

3.        Invent your own story in tracks and tell a tale

4.        Animal walk relay race

5.        Make a plaster cast of wildlife tracks, just like scientists do

6.        Wildlife stories---share your wildest tales

February 18 – A Bug's Life in Michigan's Forests

with Andrew Storer, entomologist, MTU School of Forest Resources

Hands-On Activities:

1.  Practice observation skills with live bugs

2.  Life Cycle puzzles and memory game

3.  Feed crickets to frogs

4.  Explore Golden Rod galls

5.  Cockroach pulls (?)

6.  Insect parts

March 17 – Black Gold: Maple Syrup

with Jim Rivard, forester, MTU School of Forest Resources

Hands-On Activities:

1.  Syrup Taste Test

2.  Make your own maple syrup recipe (?)

3.  Be a Tree

4.  Examine tree cookies

5.  Collect sap

6.  Maple Leaf ID/Leaf rubs

April 21 – Birds of the North Woods

with David Flaspohler, ornithologist, MTU School of Forest Resources

Hands-On Activities:

1.  Bird Talk

2.  Bird Behavior Bingo

3.  Bird Beak activity

4.  Name that Bird

5.  Owl pellets

May 19 – Wolves & Moose of Isle Royale: 50^thAnniversary Presentation  

with Liz Valencia, Isle Royale National Park  (TBA)

Hands-On Activities:

1.  Oh Moose! – predator/prey game

2.  Population Pressure activity

3.  Skull box/Skull teeth activity

4.  Wolf Talk

5.  Checks and Balances game

6.  Explore the Moose-e-um

June 9 – Kids in the Woods

All five presenters from Jan-May will meet at Tech Trails or Neher Nature Park to take a group for a hike focused on their presentation theme. 20 hikers per presenter.

Hosted by Portage Lake District Library in Houghton, MI

Coordinated by the Western U.P. Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education and Michigan Technological University

with funding from the Kinship Foundation