Highland Conservancy

New program to help save Boy Scout and other wilderness camps by Kirt Manecke

Milford, Mich. –Across the nation, large wilderness camps that have nurtured interest in the outdoors for generations are being put up for sale. The troubling trend comes amid rising awareness that American children need far more time outdoors,and selling big camps—including some of our most famous Boy Scout camps—works directly against solving the problem that author Richard Louv called “nature deficit disorder.” In response, LandChoices <http://www.landchoices.org/>, a Michigan-based
non-profit of national scope, is launching a new program to help save the big camps that are so important to America’s outdoor heritage, our outdoor future and our children’s health. Called ,
“Big Camps<http://www.landchoices.org/bigcamps.htm>”,
the program offers camp directors and boards specific and useful how-to advice for saving wild lands. The LandChoices’ program provides two key solutions to prevent the sale of big camps.

1. The program provides state-of-the-art, easy-to-understand information about using land conservation easements <http://www.landchoices.org/preserveland.htm>to permanently preserve Big Camp lands, and thereby eliminate the temptation to sell the camp for development.

2. The program helps increase big camp operating revenues with targeted information for improving fund-raising effectiveness.

“The problem is that many non-profit boards are seeing declining revenues and are looking at selling big camps as a way to raise money to cover operating expenses,” says Kirt Manecke, Founder and President of LandChoices. “But selling land assets to cover operating expenses is unfortunately a short-sighted solution that diminishes our children’s access to nature and doesn’t really solve the core problem of too little cash flow. If these camps are sold, they will never be replaced because the cost of land today is simply too great.”

Manecke decided to launch “Big Camps” after reading the best selling book *Last Child in the Woods; Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. The book points to studies that show connecting children with nature leads to lower levels of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), anxiety and depression. The book also points out that nature is potent therapy for childhood obesity.

For more information about LandChoices’ “Big Camps” solutions, visit www.landchoice.org/bigcamps.htm or contact Kirt Manecke at info@landchoices.org.

Natural Features Ordinance for Highland

The Highland Township Planning Commission has been reviewing and revising the Natural Features Preservation regulations at recent meetings.  One of the things our Highland residents treasure most is the natural beauty of this area.  We are fortunate to have an abundance of high quality lakes, rivers and parkland.  In the future as developers come in to create new subdivions, it is important to protect the natural features of each site through our ordinances and site plan review regulations.  This creates a win/win situation.  New residents often prefer a site with natural features and mature trees to a site that has been clear cut, bulldozed, stripped of top soil and flattened into a wasteland.  Building sites with intact natural features are more desireable and the developer benefits as such sites command a higher price.  Such regulations do not impact individual landowners who still maintain their individual rights as protected under our current ordinances.       

Highland's Hometown Parade

 

Come join us SATURDAY, May 16 at 10:00 am for the Huron Valley Youth Athletic Association Parade (formerly Hi-White).  Set up a chair along Livingston Road west of Milford Road in downtown Highland and enjoy old cars, bands, floats, fire trucks, and horses (hopefully) at this annual hometown event!  Afterwards, grab a hot dog or sloppy joe at the Senior Center and browse around the Highland Beautification plant sale or look for a deal at the Huron Valley Council of the Art's rummage sale.  Be sure to stop by theHighland Conservancy booth where we will have various potted trees available - just next to the Senior Center.  Hope to see you there!

Earth Day Family Festival by Katheryn Krupa

Sunday, April 19, 2009
Earth Friendly Family Fun Festival
Carls Family YMCA, 300 Family Drive, Milford, MI
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Carls Family YMCA and the Huron Valley Green Team offer the Earth Friendly Family Fun Festival featuring environmental learning stations, nature adventures, unique and inspiring GREEN arts and activities for everyone! You are invited to create Drummunity with Lori Fithian, join creative Energy Dance facilitator Irena Nagler, or complete our community connection and celebration with a joyful Spiral Dance finale! The Highland Conservancy will have a booth with beautiful tame snakes for children to hold and enjoy.  We will have additional information available about the status of the nature park, upcoming conservancy activities and events.  For more information please call (248) 887-3611 or email jenlorakova@aol.com or bigskyfarm@gmail.com.  If it rains, the event will still be held indoors in the Y.

Highland's Community Garden by Katheryn Krupa

This year will be the second year for Highland's public community gardens.  It is open to any Highland resident or relative who wishes to plant a garden but might not have the space or sun.  Exciting news for this year is the donation of a huge truckload full of compost that has been offered to enrich the soil.  We already have a tractor to till it into the soil so now all we need is someone with a small dump truck or a way to move it to our garden - could that be you? Call Katheryn 248-887-4643 for more info. This garden is an outreach service that originally developed via the green team at Highland United Methodist Church.  Some of the food grown in the garden is donated to Community Share (over at Apollo) and other outreach programs.  Interest has grown as people realize this is a great way to stretch a tight budget, eat healthy and get the kids outside and more connected to the earth.  You are invited to come stake out your family's plot and help get the land ready for May planting.  Join us Saturday, April 18th, 9:00 am to help out. Just park in the church parking lot, 850 W. Livingston Road (next to Highland Elementary) and the garden is on the right, just past the parsonage as you turn into the church driveway.  Bring gloves, garden tools, and your children.  Mine helped move rocks last year (albiet as slowly as snails!)

OXBOW RECEIVES GREEN SCHOOL AWARD by Katheryn Krupa

Oxbow Community School, an elementary school in Huron Valley, has won the honor of being a “green school” - an initiative sponsored by Oakland County and Oakland Schools to promote more ecologically based, earth friendly activities within our schools: www.oakgov.com/waste/green_school/this_year.html   With earth day fast approaching, many people are realizing that being green goes far beyond recycling or turning out the lights.  Oxbow’s teachers have gone above and beyond to achieve this significant award.  Chris McAuliffe’s fifth grade class can honestly say they are “off the grid” and power their classroom using solar panels.  They even made solar ovens!  They have been creating miniature motorcycles made totally from junked VCR machines (above).  The school recycles the usual cell phones, printer cartridges, paper and magazines.  There is a dumpster sized bin next to the school for the local community to use to recycle newspapers.  Oxbow’s art teacher is a master scavenger and goes to area restaurants to recycle their wine bottles and collects huge volumes of egg cartons, cereal boxes, paper towel tubes and magazines to use in her art projects.  "Why use paper when you can paint the school’s ceiling tiles?  Students enjoy the novelty and it leaves a lasting legacy for future students to enjoy," she reported.  Finally Oxbow’s Lego team was the first elementary school to be invited to compete at Nationals as a result of their in depth research and understanding of ecological issues affecting climate change.  Congratulations Oxbow!

TUNE IN TO EARTH HOUR AND TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS By Katheryn Krupa

 

Tomorrow night, Saturday March 28th, everyone around the world is being asked to turn out their lights from 8:30pm until 9:30pm.  It is hoped that over 3 billion people will decide to do so and maybe, just maybe,we might have a small taste of the incredible beauty of our night sky without all the normal light pollution.  This is being sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness of climate change and our need to help a planet in crisis.  If you are interested in the Earth Hour project, go to: http://www.worldwildlife.org/sites/earthhour/index.html for more information.  So please, pass this message on to turn out your lights at 8:30 tomorrow night, step outside...and enjoy the view.

Vegetable Gardening 101 by Katheryn Krupa

There will be an excellent vegetable gardening workshop put on by the Highland Beautification Committee this coming Tuesday, March 24th 6:30pm at the Highland Township Senior Center.  The speaker will be Janet Macunovich and she will give you some excellent tips and information.  So, if you are interested in planting a successful vegetable garden, just drop by (tickets are $5).  If you would like more information, contact Marie Hewitt at 248-887-5270.  I'll see you there!

Toad Abodes by Katheryn Krupa

 

What do I love most about being in the garden?  The toads, snakes, and critters!  A fun project to do with any age right about now is to make a toad abode.  Toads enjoy a nice dark covered area to hang out in.  You can put out a broken clay pot, just turn it on its side.  Or, you can make a much more elaborate house from stones and cement, wood, or clay.  Then find a shady, moist spot and place your toad home there.  Add a bowl to catch rainwater and they'll be all set. The good news is they will eat up pests like cutworms, ants, beetles and bugs.  

Should schools teach children about the environment by Donna Gundle-Krieg

Global warming is a hard sell during a Michigan February!

However, it’s great to read about many schools across the country that are participating in small and large projects to teach children how to protect our planet.  

An easy way for a school to start environmental education is to join 700 elementary and secondary schools who are taking part this spring in the first “National Green Week.”

Schools can sign up and select any week until April 13, 2009 for their "Green Week.”

One million children are expected to participate by bringing snacks and drinks in reusable containers. They will weigh their total classroom trash the week prior to and during their Green Week.

The nationwide trash savings will be consolidated and announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2009.  Earth Day has grown each year as an annual day of educating the public about environmental issues.

 

 

 

Some schools are going much further than Earth Day or National Green Week, and incorporating “green educational programming” into every subject throughout the year.

 

For example, the Wisconsin River Academy has a secondary curriculum focusing on the interaction of people and the environment of the Wisconsin River watershed.

 

In fact, Wisconsin leads the nation with 15 “green charter schools.”  Recently, the Green Charter Schools Network was formed in Wisconsin, and the group is seeking new members and leaders from across the country.

 

This organization consists of environment-focused schools, organizations and individuals who want to “build a collective knowledge base about environmental education that provides students the academic knowledge, technical skills and personal dispositions they need to solve our nation’s thorniest public problems.”  

 

It is critical for our nation to rethink the role of public education in developing a sustainable society, according to Tia Nelson in Sustainable Earth. Nelson is the daughter of the late U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, who launched the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.

 

“Papa often talked about the importance of raising the next generation with environmental ethics so they make informed decisions about the use of our natural resources, which are the authentic foundation of a healthy economy,” said Nelson.

 

“Imagine a robust and equitable economy with clean and abundant energy resources, sustainably managed farms and forests, where innovation and green jobs give us healthy choices that can lead us to a better future.”

 

She quoted her father. “The real wealth of a nation is its air, water, soil, forests, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity.”

 

For more information: 

Earth Day Network

National Green Week

Green Charter Schools

“The Real Wealth of the Nation”