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Spring 2009
Executive Board
President
MaryLynne Malone
The new NYSOEA social network
VP Administration
* DISCUSSION FORUM
Maritza Cuevas
* BLOG
VP Program
Tim Stanley * POST YOUR EVENTS
VP Communication * PHOTO GALLERY
Jonathan Duda
* SHARE VIDEOS
Secretary
Meaghan Boice-Green
Treasurer
Elizabeth Van Acker
Office
Darleen Lieber pathways
Regional Directors
Pathways (ISSN 1077-5100) is Materials Submissions
Rebecca Houser - Eastern
Jeff Gottlieb - Metro
published four times a year by the
Anyone interested in contributing
Kristen Rosenburg - Western New York State Outdoor Education
to Pathways is encouraged to
Amy Kochem - Central Association and is mailed to
submit material via email to:
Jack Swan - Northern NYSOEA members. Opinions
expressed by contributors are theirs duda@ashokancenter.org
2009 Conference solely and not necessarily those of or
Committee Chairs the Editorial Board of Pathways or
Rebecca Houser
The Ashokan Center
of NYSOEA. Advertisements c/o Jonathan Duda
Susan Hereth included in Pathways should not be 477 Beaverkill Road
interpreted as endorsement of the Olivebridge, NY 12461
Office Services
NYSOEA
product(s) by NYSOEA.
c/o Department of Recreation, Materials should be typed. Please
Parks & Leisure Studies
P.O. Box 2000 SUNY Cortland
Advertising in pathways include a short biographical section
Cortland, New York about the author of the article.
Pathways welcomes advertisements
13045-0900 References cited in the article
which will be of interest to the
nysoea@gmail.com should be listed at the end of the
membership of NYSOEA. If you
article, APA style. Deadlines are:
Cell Phone: (607) 591-6422 have a product, service, equipment,
Mar. 10, Jun. 10, Sep. 10, Dec. 10
resource, program, etc. that you
would like to share with our
membership via an advertisement,
Editor: Jonathan Duda
please contact:
Assistant Editor: Frank Knight
Jonathan Duda at: (845)657-8333
pathways Page 3
It suddenly occurred to me that Spring has officially arrived. Just a couple of weeks ago the lake
was covered in ice and prior to that I enjoyed watching an adult and two immature eagles out on the
lake working on a deer carcass. Today I saw my first daffodil in town!
“Go Green” signs have been up all over my community lately. Sure it was March and St. Patrick’s
Day was part of the motivation, but our school district proclaimed a Green Week and there was a big
Go Green Expo at our High School. I participated in many levels, as a contractor for the Orange
County Water Authority, a Committee member of my child’s school, and a parent. Go Green is kind of
quirky and somewhat commercial, but a
whole lot of people were there learn-
ing and sharing. I’m hoping that this
is a trend that continues.
Happy Spring!
MaryLynne
WORKSHOPS
• Panel discussion with classroom teachers on why outdoor education works.
• Friday afternoon along the Hudson River in Beacon.
• Saturday afternoon at Sharpe Reservation.
Workshops include: Using the Hudson River to teach curriculum, Incorporating Art into
Outdoor Education, Hudson River Geology, Sustainability, Climate Change, Dragons & Damsels,
Teaching Complex Foodwebs, Connecting Schools & Farms, Interpretive Hikes, Maple Sugar Shack
Tour, Floating Classrooms–a canoe trip!, Keeping Critters in the Classroom.
Teacher Scholarships
Available
pathways Page 5
Over the course of several days, David and I developed a comfortable relationship
with this wild animal; as well as with a cottontail rabbit that made frequent appearances.
Their gift to my grandson was sharing with him an insight into their daily living patterns.
My present was the opportunity for David and me to share time together marveling over
these wonderful creatures. Cradling him in my arms, snuggled against the back of the
couch, I had a front row seat to his continuing discovery of the natural world. Each new
encounter with these animals made David more eager to investigate what else was living
outside.
As the days progressed, our activities included checking the many bird feeders I've
placed around the house. Watching the colorful cardinals, blue jays, goldfinches and
chickadees as they flew in for a treat competed for David's attention with the deliberate
actions of the hairy and downy woodpeckers at the suet feeder. At night we would go
outside to call owls and witness the intensity of the night sky; I even introduced him to
his mother's favorite constellation: the Big Dipper. In each case I could only wonder what
was going through his young mind as he sorted through all the intriguing new sights and
sounds, trying to make sense of it all.
Obviously, being who I am and living where I do allows for easy access to the out-of-
doors. But, regardless of where you live, it is vitally important that we get our children
outside. Besides all we know from Richard Louv's book, some research shared with me
recently indicates that children who spend much of their time inside are more prone to
myopia. It appears that frequent gazing up and looking at various objects outdoors en-
courages the eye to focus and refocus more quickly; strengthening the eyes in the process.
David's daily encounters watching the birds flitting about, looking at faraway stars or ob-
serving the deer as it ambled closer and then farther away, strengthening both his vision
and his appreciation for the natural world; a truly "win-win" situation. Now what could
be better than that?!
Until next time, may all your rambles lead you to new and exciting places...
-Snapper Petta, pettas@oneonta.edu
Page 7
pathways
Ke e pi n g a
Natural History Journal
It is a common practice to keep a personal or Great naturalists such as Henry David Thoreau,
academic diary, a record of daily activities, as well John Muir, John Burroughs, and many others, rec-
as reflections, hopes and aspirations, fears and ognized the value of careful, quiet observation to
anxieties — in effect having a conversation with better understand the world they lived in. Simi-
oneself. For some, keeping a daily diary extends larly, Aldo Leopold and Edward Abbey were ob-
outside of our personal lives to include the world servers as well as critics of the way in which their
we live in. When we do this, we keep a natural fellow humans used and abused the planet. In a
history journal. world where climate change and habitat loss is be-
coming increasingly serious, we desperately need
Why such a journal? Perhaps the best argument both observers and critics.
is to make a personal connection to the natural
world, that community of life in which we exist, Perhaps the best way to become a nature jour-
and without which we could not survive. For nalist is to always have a note pad and pen handy.
most, the joy of keeping a daily natural history Do not rely on memory alone. Special moments
journal allows them to get to know the other can occur suddenly and fleeting details can be eas-
community members on a first-name basis. These ily lost. You may soon develop a personal short-
are not our human neighbors, but the flora and hand, writing cryptic notes that can later be ex-
fauna and natural phenomena all around, remind- panded. Record more than you might ever need
ing us every day that we are but a rather small and do not waste time being judgmental as to its
part of a much larger picture. importance. That can be done later. Often seem-
ingly unconnected events can coalesce into a larger
The Chinese philosopher Krishtalka said, “The picture that has much meaning. You can always
beginning of wisdom is calling things by their right discard notes but it is difficult to recall those never
name.” That means knowing that the huge raptor written.
overhead is not just an impressive sight, but a Bald
Eagle; that stand of trees is not just radiating gor- Our contribution to this process is called the
geous fall foli- Hudson River Almanac, now in its 15th year, a fo-
Perhaps the best way to age, but in fact rum where everyone can offer their observations,
become a nature journalist are red maples; reflections and adventures. The weekly Almanac is
is to always have a note those silvery fish produced by the NYS DEC's Hudson River Estuary
congregating at Program as an online journal that seeks to capture
pad and pen handy.
the foot of a the spirit, magic, and science of the Hudson River
waterfall are Valley from the High Peaks of the Adirondacks,
not simply swimming in synchronized flight, but 326 miles through the Verrazano Narrows to the
are blueback herring returning from the sea to sea, including all of the tributaries in the water-
their stream of origin to spawn; and those birds on shed. Hudson River miles are noted for each entry,
the ground under your feeders are not just beginning at the Battery in Manhattan, at river
“LBB’s” (little brown birds), but White-throated mile zero and continuing north to Lake Tear in Es-
Sparrows, Juncos and Pine Siskins. It’s an educa- sex County, river mile 315.
tion and appreciation process. (continued on next page)
New York State Outdoor Education Association Page 8
The Great
Conference Booklet Search
Do you have a stash of vintage NYSOEA confer-
ence booklets tucked deep away among the Christ-
mas decorations and record collections? In her at-
tempts to collect and archive every edition for the
organization, Karen Robertson has nearly com-
pleted her mission. But she still needs your help!
The following years are still M.I.A.: 69,70,71,72,73
If you think you know where a copy may be lurking
about, please contact her at:
Karen.Robertson@FleetPride.com
Page 9
pathways
(Continued from Page 1) or facility accessibility, and any individual with a
disability that wants help in finding more inclusive
In our first year, we developed a user-friendly recreation, can contact the Center for assis-
Inclusivity Assessment Tool, and have provided tance. Our goal is to help people with disabilities
training on its use through our workshop -- Inclu- achieve their “recreation dreams and aspirations!”
sion U. The programs, parks, and recreation facili-
ties that are identified using the Inclusivity Assess- We enjoyed providing an Inclusion U as a pre-
ment Tool are entered into an extensive online institute for NYSOEA members at the annual con-
database aligned with the I Love NY tourism re- ference in October in Lake Placid. We plan to do
gions. the same at the 2009 Fishkill conference. All the
participants in the Lake Placid Inclusion U passed
and became Certified Inclusivity Assessors. We
have had the wonderful opportunity to visit and
assess many outdoor sites, from state parks to na-
ture centers. Through the inclusivity assessment,
we are able to help identify ways to improve facil-
ity and program accessibility. For those who have
become a certified assessor through Inclusion U,
we are here to help put your assessment skills into
practice with your own or other programs and
facilities.
Outdoor AND
Environmental Education
Part II in a series
Snapper Petta’s excellent essay, defending and omy and math. This was far superior to any dry
promoting outdoor education, has opened for definition of Outdoor Education.
discussion a timely and closer examination of our I do feel strongly that we all could do a better
profession’s core values and methods. Snapper job of teaching outdoors and about the out-
suggests that outdoor education and not environ- doors. Much of what we teach seems to be seren-
mental education is the methodology we should dipitous or spontaneous. Snapper’s students
embrace. I essentially agree with his premise, but learned far more than how to safely and enjoya-
I feel it premature to advocate one over the bly kayak. A less-gifted outdoor educator
other until we are clear as to what are wouldn’t have covered so many topics, but on
“environmental education” and “outdoor educa- one level these students got just a smattering of
tion.” Definitions could easily have filled his en- this and that.
tire essay. Those of us who provide outdoor learning
Fortunately, ERIC, a respected clearinghouse experiences for school field trips need be espe-
of educational materials, has provided a starting cially sensitive to where what we offer fits into
place. (Read “Outdoor Education: Definition and the school curriculum – what do students come
Philosophy” http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-923/ equipped with and how will what we do with
outdoor.htm) The article defines both OE and them prepare them for further learning? From
EE, as well as other related terms. An interesting my experience, I feel we get so caught up in the
excerpt that none of us will totally agree with, activity that we haven’t the needed time left to
but at least provides a good place to begin a dis- help the students relate what they learn to the
cussion: “'Environmental Education' refers to edu- bigger picture. For example, we teach youngsters
cation about the total environment, including to operate a water testing kit to determine pH,
population growth, pollution, resource use and BOD, turbidity, etc.; but do we then have time
misuse, urban and rural planning, and modern to show how water quality impacts it biota, and
technology with its demands upon natural re- how the makeup of the aquatic plant community
sources. Environmental education is all- impacts us. We certainly have a more significant
encompassing, while outdoor education is seen impact when we can participate in curriculum
by some to relate to natural resources and not to writing.
include the wide sense of the world environment. At the 2009 NYSOEA Conference, Laura
Many people, however, think of outdoor educa- Carey and I will conduct a workshop on teaching
tion in its broadest sense and prefer the term out- ecology in schools. Laura and I have many ques-
door/environmental education.” tions; we will rely on you for solutions. The de-
I have difficulty with ERIC’s separating human sired outcome might be better ways for educating
impact into EE and natural resources into OE. children to finish school with a clear understand-
OE is more a methodology than subject areas. I ing of both natural and cultural history – how the
think that most of us teach both OE and EE. I en- natural world works and how all our endeavors
joyed Snapper’s example of how many different relate to the natural world.
disciplines were learned about from his Phys. Ed. Part III anyone?
kayaking class: invasive species, art, history, anat-
-Frank Knight
pathways Page 11
Name:________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________
City:______________________ State: ________ Zip: _______________
Send this form to the NYSOEA office (address on the other side of this page)
New York State Outdoor Education Association
Established in 1968, the New York State Outdoor Education Association is the leading
professional group supporting outdoor education, environmental education, and inter-
pretive services in New York State. Our membership includes classroom teachers, envi-
ronmental educators, college professors, naturalists, interpreters, youth leaders, adminis-
trators, students, parents, and others interested in the outdoors.
Our Goals
• We promote public awareness of the value of outdoor and envi-
ronmental education and interpretation.
OUR MISSION • We foster a lifelong appreciation and sense of stewardship for
NYSOEA is a professional organization that
promotes interdisciplinary life-long learning the environment.
in, for, and about the outdoors • We help classroom teachers and youth leaders use the outdoors
and seeks to inspire appreciation of the to enrich their curricula and programs.
environment by all people.
• We assist our members in expanding their knowledge and skills
in using the environment for responsible educational purposes.
• We act as a unified voice supporting the fields of environmental
education, outdoor education, interpretation, and outdoor rec-
reation