Dear Friends of CNCThe blooming Compass Plant is towering three feet above the Butterfly Weed which has already gone to
seed. The fourth generation of Monarch Caterpillars are fattening up for their metamorphosis and long
migration south. The apples in CNC’s orchard are ripening in the warm September sun. During the fall
season look for the many varieties of native purple and white asters blooming in the prairies. The
shorebirds, flycatchers and warblers have been migrating for a few weeks but the hawk migration is about
to begin in earnest. On clear sunny days look for kettles of hundreds of Broad-winged Hawks passing
along the bluffs as they move down the Mississippi Flyway. Fall is a marvelous time to explore Carpenter
Nature Center's trails, events and school programs. Each year more than a thousand students flock to the
orchard to learn about pollination, fruits, plants and people. As you get back into your 'school-year
routine', please add our upcoming programs and events to your calendar. Space is limited at most
programs, so please don't forget to RSVP by calling 651-437-4359.
Science Bite: Navigation via Compass Plant?
The Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) looks like an overzealous sunflower, yet it is actually a member
of the Aster Family. These iconic, native prairie plants can grow to be over 8 feet tall and are believed to
live 100 years. The Compass Plant gets its name because the basal leaves (leaves that grow at the base
of the stem) orient themselves on a north-south axis. The plant grows this way in order to maximize sun
exposure and water usage and to increase CO2 gain. In addition to being a great plant for pollinators, the
stem exudes a resin which was used by Native Americans as a mouth-cleansing chewing gum. If you are
interested in adding this plant to your garden or prairie be sure to check out local native plants suppliers.
In the St. Croix Valley area we are fortunate to have many nearby specialists who stock native plants.
The following all support Carpenter Nature Center: Out Back Nursery, The Vagary, The Tree House,
Prairie Restoration Inc., Kinnickinnic Natives and Gertens.
Bears in the Valley?
There has been a great deal of excitement this summer over some Black Bear sightings in our area. The
bear(s) have been spotted on 117th Street, Norell, 87th St., St. Croix Trail, St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park
and they left evidence of their nighttime visit to Carpenter Nature Center’s bird feeders. Through the years
large wildlife have been known to use the well-forested and protected St. Croix Valley as a travel route
and rare sightings have included a mountain lion, wolf and bear. This is the first documented bear visit to
CNC in many, many years and we don’t anticipate that the big guy (or girl) will stick around very long.
There is a distant photo of the bear on the CNC Facebook page
When will the Apple Shack open for the season?
The number one question on the phones at this time of year is “When will the apples be ready?”
Normally, the Apple Shack opens on Labor Day weekend. This year we had a very mild summer and the
apples are a little delayed. We hope to open the Apple Shack on September 5, but it all depends on the
weather. Please call ahead before you make the journey to CNC. The good news is that the crop looks
good. Here is the scoop, straight from Horticulturist John McPherson, “The Zestar are ripening nicely.
We will have a lot of SweeTango that should be ready around the 2 nd week in September as well as
a good supply of Honeycrisps. Come early and come often.” Please check our website and the Apple
Shack voicemail recording weekly to find out which varieties are in stock.
Smithsonian Study Wood Thrush Update:
Winging their way southward are 25 important little songbirds. The two-year old male Wood Thrushes are
carrying lightweight GPS-geolocators from their breeding grounds in Minnesota to their wintering grounds.
There are many questions on what happens next. Will they find enough safe migratory stop-overs along
the way? Will they get eaten by a native raptor or a domestic cat? What if they are swallowed up by a
storm, disoriented in a maze of lighted buildings or they a hit a window and end their journey? If they
make it to their southern destination, where will they spend the winter? Will some birds winter in the St.
Croix Valley’s Sister Parks in Costa Rica? We are eagerly looking forward to their safe return next spring.
The research team from the Smithsonian will return to Carpenter Nature Center and Warner Nature
Center in late June 2015 to complete the second phase of their work and find out what happened to our
little travelers. They will recapture the thrushes, remove their backpacks and download this valuable data.
All this research is being done to help determine the best way to protect Wood Thrush populations
worldwide. Already researchers in Canada have learned that Wood Thrush from their region bypass
Wood Thrush from the southern United States during their migration. This is called leap frog migration,
where the part of the populations that nests further north migrates past the southern nesting part of the
population.
By marking an individual bird, banding can provide valuable information about the movements of specific
bird populations which helps focus conservation efforts where they will be most effective. For example
one might assume that all Dark-eyed Juncos move up the St. Croix Valley to nest in far northern
Minnesota and Ontario because we find Juncos nesting in those areas. Carpenter Nature Center’s
banding program documented that some of the Juncos passing through the St. Croix Valley actually
migrate diagonally across western Canada until they arrive in Alaska to breed.
For educators wishing to use Wood Thrush as a way to connect their students to migration, geography,
conservation and natural science there are great resources available featuring the Wood Thrush including
the book Flute’s Journey . Creative Hudson area teachers have even arranged Costa Rican pen pals for
their students and have their classroom skype with students in Costa Rica.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Autumn in the Valley Gala
Sunday, September 7th
5:00-9:00 p.m.
The annual gala is just days away. You should have received your invitation and we hope you are making
plans to RSVP. Please don't delay as space is limited. The event will be catered by Lake Elmo Inn and
will be held in the pavilion. Guests may enjoy cart tours of the trails, a live auction, a silent auction and the
"Director's Choice" wall of wine raffle. The Gala is Carpenter Nature Center’s primary fundraiser of the
year and it is attended by more than 240 guests. The Event Committee is looking for donations of handcrafted items, unique experiences and other items for the auction. Please
contact Jennifer@CarpenterNatureCenter.org or call 651-437-4359 to make a donation, receive an
invitation or become a sponsor. We're looking forward to seeing you at the gala.
Fall Raptor Release: Join us to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Raptor Center
Saturday, September 27th
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Carpenter Nature Center is pleased to host the fall raptor release which is presented by the 3M
Foundation in partnership with The Raptor Center of the University of Minnesota and CNC. Visitors will
enjoy watching 4-6 wild birds of prey take to the air after being rehabilitated by The Raptor Center's
veterinarians, staff and volunteers. Arrive early for either the 11:30 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. programs as you will
need time to get your vehicle parked and walk to the release site. The day is full of fun with orchard hay
wagon tours, educational raptor displays, kids’ activities and more. This is a FREE event. For more
information please visit www.CarpenterNatureCenter.org or www.TheRaptorCenter.org. To sign up to
volunteer for the event please contact Alan@CarpenterNatureCenter.org
UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
The Chimney Swifts of Downtown Hastings
September 3rd
7:30 p.m. - sunset
Cost: FREE!
Each fall Chimney Swifts gather in communal roosts before migrating to the Amazon Basin. The swifts
gather at sunset in a swirling group, then drop like x-wing fighters into a chimney, where they will roost
overnight, clinging to the sides of the chimney with their tiny toes. Sadly this tiny, flying insectivore’s
population has declined over 50 percent in the past 40 years. To learn more about these fascinating
creatures, join Kevin Smith, of Hastings Environmental Protectors and Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union
Youth Mentorship Coordinator, for a brief outdoor presentation. After the presentation we will count the
swifts as they drop down the Hastings City Hall chimney. You may wish to bring your own folding chair.
There is no charge for this program as it is co-sponsored by volunteers from Carpenter Nature Center and
Hastings Environmental Protectors. Please note: this program will take place near the corner of 4th &
Sibley in downtown Hastings, Minnesota. For more information on the Swift Count Program sponsored
by Audubon Minnesota visit their website
Home-School Programs
Friday, September 12
1:00-3:00
Food Chains: (ages 5-9) Students will study the energy flow in food chains by finding clues in nature to
create their own food chains.
Ecosystems: (ages 10 & up) Students will investigate ecosystems through population sampling, food
web simulation and a game on limiting factors.
Carpenter Nature Center’s Home School Programs are created to offer home-schooled students an
opportunity to meet other children, take part in environmental education programs, and enjoy the
outdoors. Two programs will be held each date at the same time, one for ages 5 – 9 and a similar topic
for ages 10 and older. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Call ahead at 651-437-4359 to make a
reservation. Program fee: $6.00 per student or $4.00 for “Friends of CNC”
Wisconsin Campus Bird Banding Program
Saturday, September 13
9:00 a.m. – noon
Join Carpenter Nature Center’s bird banding team to learn more about the songbirds that inhabit the
Wisconsin Campus. This is our first banding session on the Wisconsin Campus and we are eager to
investigate which bird species are utilizing the site as a migratory stop-over and year-round home. Feel
free to come and go anytime during the three hour program. Please meet and park at 300 E. Cove Road,
Hudson WI 54016. The program is FREE but please RSVP by calling 651-437-4359 or
emailing Jennifer@CarpenterNatureCenter.org
John Muir concert
Sunday, September 14
7:00-9:00 p.m.
John Muir was one of the world’s most influential naturalists. In remembrance of Mr. Muir, the cutting
edge musical ensemble “Chance” will play music and host readings by Actor Thomas Clyde Mitchell.
Tickets are $15 per person. Please RSVP by calling 651-437-4359. For more information visit the CNC’s
website and Chance’s website
Preschool Story-time: Orchard Fun
Friday, September 19
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Story time programs introduce young children, ages 2-5 years, to nature in a fun and safe environment.
We’ll listen to stories read aloud, spend time outdoors in the orchard and make fresh-pressed apple cider.
Please dress for the weather. Program fee: $5 per child or $3 per preschooler ‘Friends of CNC’. No
charge for accompanying adults. Please RSVP by calling 651-437-4359.
Natural Challenges: Nordic Walking
Begins Saturday, September 20 and runs until Saturday, October 11
10:00-11:00
Carpenter Nature Center was pleased to partner with the Hastings YMCA this summer to bring Yoga to
the bluffs of the St. Croix Valley. Starting this September we will be hosting four weeks of Nordic Walking
with Hastings YMCA program specialists. You can attend one class or all four. If you are a ‘Friend of
CNC’ or a Hastings YMCA member the programs are free, otherwise it is a mere $6 per program or $20
for all four programs. Please register at CNC by calling 651-437-4359.
Bird Banding
Friday, September 26
8:30-noon
Please visit the website for details on this monthly FREE program.
The September – December 2014 St. Croix Current Newsletter:
The fall issue of the St. Croix Current Newsletter is attached to this email or you can follow this link to
read it, and other past issues, online. This issue was prepared primarily by our summer intern, Cole
Geiger with technical help from Clare Neenan. If you have difficulty opening the attachment please do not
hesitate to contact us. All contributing ‘Friends of CNC’ have the option of receiving the newsletter in print
via postal mail. The print issue will arrive in mail boxes during the first week of September. If you have
questions, or suggestions for upcoming issues, please contact Clare@CarpenterNatureCenter.org
Carpenter Nature Center in the news and around town
The Carpenter Nature Center team has been busy this summer with a number of new and continuing
partnerships. In July the Bird Banding Team held a demonstration at The Nature
Conservancy’s Schaefer Prairie near Glencoe, Minnesota. The team succeeded in banding many
songbirds on this beautiful prairie preserve. Many visitors made the trek out to the west metro to learn
about prairies, prairie restoration and wildlife. CNC was part of the Hudson River Awareness Week, a
partnership that highlighted the St. Croix River with a week of activities including a paddle down the St.
Croix, St. Croix 101 and a river clean-up. CNC also hosted two “Ladies Nights Out” on the trails for the
Hastings, Woodbury & Cottage Grove Moms on the Run which was a huge success.
Intern News:
The fall is a bittersweet time as we say goodbye to our fantastic summer interns. Cole, Tony, Sarah,
Taylor, Marie and Kelley worked many long hours and we will miss them as they embark on the next part
of their journeys. Tony, Taylor, Cole, Marie and Kelly have gone back to school. Sarah is on her way to a
new adventure as a Dodge Nature Center fellow. It is never too early for students to line up summer
internships. We are already recruiting Environmental Education and Horticulture Interns for next summer.
We’re also hoping to fill a Communications Internship and a Natural Resources Internship if we can
secure the funding to cover these positions. Internships are a terrific way to get valuable hands-on
experience in your field of study. Please visit the CNC website for more details or to download an
application form. You may also call CNC’s internship coordinator, Mayme Johnson, directly at 651-4374359 for more information.
News from CNC’s Board of Directors
Carpenter Nature Center’s Board of Directors are always hard at work behind the scenes to help our
programs, events and grounds stay open year-round for students and visitors of all ages to enjoy. They
put in hundreds of volunteer hours each year attending meetings, recruiting sponsors, reviewing
financials and attending to other governance duties. They also all donate personally to see CNC succeed.
The Board of Director’s Executive Committee is appointed each year at our July Full Board Meeting. We
are pleased to welcome Curt Mages to the role of Board Secretary. Long-time Board Secretary Jay
Griggs stepped down from the position to focus more time on CNC’s Wisconsin Campus and his other
CNC committees. We are grateful for Jay’s many years of service as Secretary. The Executive
Committee includes President Vickie Batroot, Vice-President Tim Power, Past-President Steve Messick,
and Treasurer Jim Freund. The other dedicated CNC Board Members are Troy Weathers, John Tinucci,
Sarah Neitz, Allen Most, Colleen Moran, Denny McNamara, Don Kern, Paul Jeske, Gary Griswold, Jay
Griggs, Laurie Bauer, Gordie Bailey, Dan Baasen. Please be sure to thank them for their service and
share your CNC stories with them. CNC also receives guidance and support from our Advisory Board
Members Don Fluegel, Ken Heiser, Jim Nielsen and Bob Voigt.
And more CNC news: St. Croix Valley Scramble
A hearty thank you to everyone who participated in the St. Croix Scramble this year; from the 116 golfers,
to our intern Cole Geiger who helped coordinate the event, to the many in-kind sponsors including Trio
Supply who donated compostable lunch boxes, to our volunteers, to the hole sponsors and to our title
sponsor Richard Industrial Groups, Inc. Thank you. This year the event raised $12,000 to support
Environmental Education for K-12 students in the St. Croix Valley and East Metro area. The event
continues to grow each year and we are already planning for next July. If you are interested in being part
of this committee or sponsoring the event in 2015 please contact Jennifer@CarpenterNatureCenter.org
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
We have volunteer opportunities for everyone including greeting visitors, data entry, mailings, weeding
gardens, and more. The fall is one of our busiest times and we could really use your help. Come and join
our fun, friendly family. You will be glad you did. The next volunteer orientation meeting is scheduled for
September 17th. Please contact Alan@CarpenterNatureCenter.org or call 651-437-4359 for details.
Financial donations to CNC are generally 100 percent tax-deductible and you can rest assured that every
dollar you donate is stretched as far as it can go to reach as many students as possible. Your official CNC
Thank You Letter provides the proof you need to claim your donation as a tax-deduction if you itemize. If
you have misplaced your letter please do not hesitate to contact Clare at 651-437-4359 for another
copy.
As always - we are grateful for your support, whether financial donations, in-kind donations, or volunteer
assistance. Carpenter Nature Center is a regional asset because of the many wonderful people involved
on all levels throughout its history. You can become a ‘Friend of CNC’ through our website . You can also
visit our website to view our current wish list and find out which items we need-such as rakes, hoses,
sprinklers and other gardening items that may be on clearance in the upcoming months. Carpenter
Nature Center’s summer camps sold out weeks in advance this year and we are looking forward to next
summer’s programs already. As you visit the stores to purchase school supplies, please be sure to check
out clearance racks for kick balls, hula hoops, water toys and other summer fun items for next
year’s camp.
Thank you for helping keep nature and environmental education a vital part of our children’s lives, and for
helping keep Carpenter Nature Center open to the public 361 days-a-year.
See you on the trails-
Jennifer Vieth
Executive Director
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center
12805 St. Croix Trail Hastings MN 55033
Office: 651-437-4359
Website: www.CarpenterNatureCenter.org
Facebook: Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center
Twitter: CarpenterNC
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Connecting children with nature for over 31 years.