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In Memoriam: Mike Mercer
A much loved member of the Seattle environmental education community passed away last weekend from a heart attack. I knew Mike Mercer through my work at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center. Mike worked with Seattle Public Utilities, and he provided guidance for our high school internship program's activities at Taylor Creek in South Seattle. I remember Mike's goofy sense of humor. I have a picture in my head of Mike dancing like crazy at one of the EEAW conferences in the past. He was a fun guy. The following is reprinted from an email I received last week.In Memoriam: Michael G. Mercer
August 17, 1949 – July 13, 2007
Our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend left us all too soon. Mike died suddenly on July 13 of a massive heart attack. A passionate explorer, he worked with audiences of all ages to promote environmental stewardship. Mike was active in environmental education his entire life, first as a middle school and high school teacher, then as city planner, environmental educator, environmental program coordinator and manager for the City of Seattle, where he contributed 25 years of exemplary public service.
Mike is survived by his wife Barbara, son Colin, daughters, Danae and Erin and extended family.
We will all remember his love of the outdoors and creative spirit. Mike will be sorely missed and will be in our hearts forever! We love you!
In lieu of flowers we suggest donations to the Mike Mercer Scholarship Fund for Environmental Education, which will provide environmental learning opportunities to disadvantaged youth. To donate, send your check made out to the Environmental Education Association of Washington, P.O. Box 6277, Olympia, WA 98507. Please note that funds are to be used for the Mike Mercer Scholarship Fund. For more information, please contact Al Dietemann, Seattle Public Utilities, at 206 684-5881 or al.dietemann@seattle.gov
July Classes for Kids and Adults at the Northwest Stream Center
2007 Streamkeeper Academy Courses/EventsThe Adopt-A-Stream Foundation's Streamkeeper Academy is conducted in partnership with Snohomish County Parks and Recreation at the Northwest Stream Center in Mc Collum Park. The Washington Science Teachers Association accredits all courses and several are accredited by Western Washington University. Continuing education credits are also available to real estate agents, real estate brokers and attorneys for Stream and Wetland Ecology Basic Training classes. All Classes Are Conducted At The Northwest Stream Center, 600 128th St. SE, Everett, WA 98208. The Stream Center is located in McCollum ParkAmphibians of MysterySalamanders and frogs come in many sizes and colors and their lifestyles are just as amazing. In Europe, some salamanders lived under the bark of pieces of firewood and escaped out onto the hearth, so they were named for the mythical beings thought to inhabit fire. Here in North America we have a fascinating variety of species as well. Come join Naturalist Tom Noland for a slide show and discussion of these interesting amphibians and how they live. Instructor: Tom Noland and Lori PowlasDate: Thursday, July 19, 2007Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.Tickets: $5 members / $7 non-members. Advance Purchase NecessaryMinimum/Max Class Size: 10/20Age Requirements: Suitable for ages 6 and up and an adult must accompany all childrenJunior Streamkeeper TrainingThis watershed event begins with training on stream and wetland ecology terms. Students will role-play as polluters causing water quality problems and as a team to find solutions. Habitat requirements of salmon and trout will be introduced and there will be a hands-on introduction to the bottom of the fish food chain…aquatic insects. Following an interactive land use planning game, the class will take a walk on the wild side next to north creek. Instructors: Tom MurdochDate: Wednesday, July 25, 2007Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Tickets: $5 members / $7 non-members. Advance Purchase NecessaryMinimum/Max Class Size: 10/20Age Recommendation: Sixth graders and up. Parent supervision is not necessary.Wild Wise Presentation and ExcursionCome and enjoy 3 hours with the Wild Wise Naturalist Crew as they present their award-winning highly interactive multimedia presentation followed by an outdoor exploration. Woodland Park Zoo's Wild Wise program helps budding naturalist learn the skills they need to understand their surroundings and to find and observe wildlife in their own backyard and beyond.Instructors: Nichole Farrow and Kyle Doane Date: Thursday, July 26, 2007Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.Fee: $15. Advance Purchase NecessaryAge Recommendation: Fourth through seventh grade. Parent supervision is not necessaryWildlife Safari Let's go on a Safari into the wonder of wildlife. We live in a world where humans are always at odds with nature. Sarvey Wildlife and Barbara Ogaard will share some live wildlife and lots of knowledge, facts and habitats of these wonderful animals. Instructor: Barbara OgaardDate: Friday, July 27, 2007 Time: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Tickets: $5 members / $7 non-members. Advance Purchase NecessaryAge Recommendation: First graders to AdultsX-Stream MakeoverIn the classroom you will learn to identify problems and design solutions; see examples of restoration techniques; find out what every project manager should know; use tools of the trade; learn monitoring and maintenance techniques and understand watershed solutions. You will Install: Grade Control Structures (weirs), Upstream V Structure, Deflector Logs, Root Wads and Logs, Toe Log Revetment (the Griz) and Bio Engineered Bank Protection.Date: Monday to Wednesday, July 30 to August 2, 2007Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Tickets: $275 for all four days, or $75 for any individual dayAge Recommendation: 18 years of age and olderNote: We will provide lunch every day. You should bring: gloves, sturdy work boots, eye protection and a hard hat.
Gone Batty!
Tonight, I counted bats. I counted 29 fly-bys total. How many bats did you see tonight?Bats Northwest hosts Bat Talks at Greenlake Park throughout the summer. After about 45-60 minutes to sharing fun facts, passing around specimens, and answering questions, the naturalists spotted the first bat of the evening. An echolocation detector allowed us to hear the "chirps" of bats approaching and circling the clearing in front of us. The larger bats arrived first; the smaller species arrived a little later.A few bat facts:- One local species, the Little Brown Bat, can live to be 30 years old.
- Bats drink water on the wing by dragging their lower jaw across the surface of a lake or other body of water.
- There are 8 common species of bats living in King County.
- Bats are not blind. They actually have pretty good eyesight when it is still light outside.
Find out more about our local bats and upcoming Bat Talks at: http://www.batsnorthwest.org/
Nature Journaling Activities--Part III
Yesterday, I bought a hand-blown glass hummingbird feeder. I decided to buy a feeder after witnessing a hummingbird visit my garden, feasting on flowers that I had chosen because their label read "hummingbird attractant." It worked! The purple, peach, and red blossoms are tube-shaped and perfect for a hummingbird's slender beak. The hummingbird has reminded me of the joy and pleasure of summer's flowers, of bright splashes of color, of honey-sweet air, and of the sizzle-buzz of hummingbird wings. What a wonderful time of year to grab your journal and head outside for some nature journaling! Here are the last activities in this three-part installment to get your pen moving across the blank page.Time Machine. Imagine what your natural place will look like in the future. If you could sit in the same place, and have time speed by you, what would you see? What event would unfold around you? Ask students to write and draw pictures about their chosen place into the future, using powers of ten. What will it look like in five hours, five days, five months, five years, 50 years, 500 years, 500,000 years, 5 million years and so on.
Perspective. Sometimes we get in the habit of doing something the same exact way. The creativity and spontaneity of nature journaling can suffer when it becomes “the same old thing.” Try shifting your physical body into a new location and journal from your new perspective. Some ideas of things to try: lying down in the grass, sitting high up in a tree, covering yourself with dead leaves, walking along a sidewalk, hiding in a hollow tree, or even riding in a car.
Nicknames. Plants and animals usually have two names: their scientific Latin name and their common name. Now is your chance to give the trees, flowers, moss, insects and birds around you nicknames. In your journal, create a nickname, a short description, and maybe even a quick sketch of the different life forms around you. Create a nickname for each animal or plant based on the characteristics you observe, such as the shape of the leaf, the color the feathers, or a flower’s smell.
Super Vision. If you were a superhero with superpowers, how different would the world look to you? Choose a natural object to focus your superpowers on. Now, imagine that you can examine the object with your super vision. First, imagine you have the power of a magnifying glass. Now a microscope. Next, an x-ray machine. What do you see?
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