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Summer 2006 Whitehouse Nature
Center Events
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Reported by Tinsley
Hunsdorfer
ALBION, Mich. -- Albion
College’s Whitehouse Nature
Center (WNC) is a wonderful place to enjoy and learn about nature in the
summer months. Miles of trails run through forest, marsh, prairie and river-side
land, providing visitors with an opportunity to explore the outdoors. With the
help of a map
and informational brochure provided in the WNC building, visitors can learn
about the ecology of the WNC as they walk. Several programs and events are also
being held this summer at the WNC that provide a more structured learning
environment for adults and children.
July
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 FURSCA
Eco-Discovery Camp
Date: July 5-14, July 17-28, 3-5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
For: students entering the fourth and fifth grades
The Eco-Discovery Camp is run by Albion College student Catherine Game
and is designed to teach campers about ways to improve and protect the
environment. Catherine is studying the effectiveness of hands-on art
projects versus hands-on science projects as a means of education for
children. These projects include making solar ovens, recycled collages,
and natural building models.
In July there are two
sessions of the Eco-Discovery camp; both are still open for enrollment
but there are a limited number of spots left. Call Tamara Crupi at the
WNC (517-629-0582) or
email Catherine Game to enroll your child. |
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Butterfly Workshop
Date: TBA
For: adults and older children
Tamara Crupi will hold an open-to-the-public Butterfly Workshop in the
WNC this July. She will teach participants how to find and identify
butterflies and how to create a garden that attracts butterflies. The
date for this workshop has not been set – watch for online updates or
contact Tamara Crupi at the WNC |
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Culinary camp
Hosted by the WNC, Albion Public Library, and Kids ‘N Stuff children’s
museum Date: July 25, 26, 27 (at WNC); August 1, 2, 3 (at Albion Public
Library); August 8, 9, 10 (at Kids ‘N Stuff children’s museum)
For: rising first through fourth grade students
This unnamed camp spans three weeks in July, each week hosted by one of
the above sponsors. During the week at the WNC children will learn about
Native American food, local natural food, and the food of early American
settlers. While at the library, children will learn about early American
food (more recent than the food discussed at the WNC) and at the Kids N’
Stuff museum they will learn about food from abroad. There will be
opportunities for children to cook and eat the food they learn about.
For more information contact the WNC, the library, and/or Kids ‘N Stuff.
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August
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Summer Science Camp
Date: August 7-18
This camp is run by professors and students of the Albion College
Education Department. It runs from August 7-18 at the WNC and has an
archaeological focus. Campers will participate in archaeological
digs in the city of Albion and explore the archaeological history of the
WNC. The registration deadline has passed. |
General Summer Activity
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Rain Gardening
Albion College students Rachel Wise and Stacy Capehart were granted
summer internships to research rain gardens in the hopes that they can
be used locally. These specialized gardens are shaped like bowls and
provide a place for unabsorbed rain water to collect. Native perennial
plants are planted in rain gardens and they are able to use this runoff
water. This prevents unabsorbed rain water from washing pollutants into
sewers and natural bodies of water. For more information visit
www.raingardens.org. In late
summer or early fall Rachel and Stacey will present their findings at
the WNC. |
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 Animal
rescue
Throughout the year people bring injured or abandoned animals to the WNC
in the hope that the animals’ lives and health may be preserved. While
this is not an official function of the WNC, Tamara Crupi and her
employees do their best to help each animal. They take some animals to
an animal rehabilitation center in Eaton Rapids while others are cared
for within the WNC building. This summer, baby raccoons, deer, birds,
turtles, squirrels, and rabbits have been brought to the WNC. Several
rescued turtles now live in the building and can be seen by visitors.
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Directions: The Whitehouse
Nature Center is located behind the baseball diamond and soccer fields of Albion
College’s Dow Recreation Center
complex, located at the corner of Hannah and East Erie streets in Albion. To
reach the WNC, drive or walk through the main entrance off Hannah Street. At the
back of the fieldhouse, take the dirt road that runs next to a gated parking lot
(there is no access to the WNC through the gated parking lot). Turn right into
the WNC’s parking lot, near the baseball diamond. The Whitehouse Nature Center
building sits on the east side of the lot. To access the trails, follow the path
to the left of the building and go over the bridge. All of the trails are open
to the public from sunrise to sunset. |
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