TRAILBLAZERSupporting Oregon Ridge Park and Nature Center for 35 years

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council, 410-887-1815; www.OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org; TDD/Deaf 410-887-5319

SPRING 2017

WHAT’S INSIDE...

Speaker Series March to May

Music in the WoodsSaturday, June 3, from 2-8 PM

Nature Quest 2017

The Scoop on the Pavilion, CommunityGarden and Birthday Parties

ORNC Council DoingsTrailblazers at Work, Scholarship Details,

Update on Library Renovations

“Where the Wildflowers Are (or Were)” by Winny Tan

Kudos to Bill Kidd’s Toyota

Let’s Hear It for Our Volunteers and Staff!

IT’S PANCAKEBREAKFAST TIME AT OREGON RIDGE!!

When and Where?Saturday March 4Sunday March 5

Oregon Ridge Lodge

What Time?From 8 AM to Noon

How Much?$8 for Adults,$4 for Children 2 to 8$2 for three extra sausages

What’s on the Menu?Pancakes with real Maple Syrup, Sausage, OJ, Coffee, Milk

What else is going on?Box Raffles, Live Music, Syrup and Maple Candy Sales, Plant Sale, Face Painting, and FUN!

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2017Page 2

ORNC COUNCIL SPEAKER SERIES

From secretive wood rats to lemmings to lumbering bears, Maryland has tremendous mammal diversity. Over 90 species of mammals can be found in Maryland. It may even surprise some to know that among Maryland’s mammals are a number of whale species, including Sperm, Toothed, Pilot, Rorqual, and Bowhead whales. We also have dolphins and manatees. And did you know we have Harbor, Harp, Hooded and Gray seals? Six species of mammals have been extirpated in Maryland, no longer found in the wild here. These include the Gray Wolf, American Elk, Eastern mountain lion, American marten, Eastern harvest mouse, and the Snowshoe hare. Over 20 species are considered to be rare, threatened or endangered.

Kerry Wixted will share pertinent information and fun facts about mammals and how they survive in their native habitats. She will focus especially on local species of mamnals that are seen here in the Park and in your neighborhood.

Kerry Wixted is an educational and outreach specialist for the Maryland DNR, Wildlife and Heritage Service. Kerry runs several state-wide programs, such as Project WILD for educators and Wild Acres for backyard wildlife habitat enthusiasts.

You have always wondered if your recyclables were really recycled, right? Now is your chance to find out from the professionals. Together, Rachida White and Meghan Schatz will tell listeners everything that is important to know about the diverse aspects of the Bureau of Solid Waste Management, starting from trash and recycling collection at the curbside and ending at our recycling center located in Cockeysville. Included are a 10-minute video describing how a landfill is prepared and a 6-minute video that shows the process of sorting recyclables at the recycling sorting facility.

Rashida White, a graphic design graduate of Towson University, has been a Public Information Specialist for Baltimore County’s Bureau of Solid Waste Management (BSWM) for 4 years. Her primary focus is on educating and promoting recycling among Baltimore County residents.

Meghan Schatz, who earned a degree in Communication and Cinema at McDaniel College, has been an Intern for the BSWM’s Recycling Division for 2 years. She is the lead organizer of the Bureau monthly e-newsletter, the REsource. She also created a 10-minute informational video about the Eastern Sanitary Landfill in White Marsh.

MARYLAND’S MARVELOUS MAMMALS

KERRY WixtEDEducation Specialist Maryland Department of Natural Resources

MONDAY, MARCh 20, 7:30 PM, FREE

SiNgLE StREAM RECYCLiNg: Where does Everything go?

RAChiDA N. WhitE & MEghAN SChAtzBaltimore County Bureau ofSolid Waste Management

MONDAY, APRiL 17, 7:30 PM, FREE

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2017 Page 3

Saturday, JUNE 3, 2017. betweem 2 to 8 PM

Bring lawn chairs or blankets for your comfort.

• Listen to Local Musicians & Bands

Play Folk, Bluegrass, and Rock• Bring Your Instrument and

Join a Jam Session• Learn about the Dulcimer • Visit the Vendor Booths• Enjoy Crafts, Face Painting, and

Animal Encounters• Buy a Hotdog at our Stand • End the Night Roasting S’mores

at the Campfire

MUSIC IN

THE WOODS

It's Free! Come raIn or shIne!In case of rain, the venue moves inside the Nature Center

FEATURED

EVENTS

MORE SPEAKERS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

FROM A WiLD LiFE tO WiLDLiFE PhOtOgRAPhY

MiChAEL OBERMANNature Photographer

MONDAY, MAY 15, 7:30 PM, FREE

COMING UPTHIS SUMMER

AND FALL!

SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES!

Camp Schedule inside this issue of the Trailblazer!

TRAIL GUIDE TRAININGSeptember 5 to 8,

from 10 AM to 1 PM $20 Donation first time attendees.

HONEY HARVEST FESTIVAL!

October 7 and 8 11 AM to 4 PM,

It’s Fun and it’s FREE

There is only one thing to say about Michael Oberman’s photography. It is fantastic! His subjects nearly jump, or fly, off the projection screen. Oberman’s presentation will take you on a journey from his days hanging with David Bowie, Janis Joplin, and James Brown, to how he became a nature photographer who now hangs out with the rock stars of wildlife. His entertaining talk will be filled with anecdotes of his days interviewing rock stars, as well as fascinating stories and tips about photographing wildlife. One has to have a wild streak to get some of his great shots.

Michael Oberman’s interest in photography began when he was a music columnist at the Washington Star newspaper. While interviewing the likes of Jim Morrison, David Bowie and others in the “Who’s Who” of music, he often needed to use his own Nikon camera to photograph his interviewees. Later, after leaving the Star, he switched to digital photography

and has taken more than a million photographs of wildlife, architecture, people, cityscapes, and more. His photographs are on display in multiple places, including U.S. National Parks (like Steigerwald and Modoc), the Utah Museum of Natural History, and some are on tour in the US and Canada as part of the “Imaginate” Exhibit. From 2011 – 2013, his photos were selected by the DC Department of the Environment for the “Excellence in the Environment/Sustainability” award. Oberman’s photos have been shown in numerous galleries and appeared in many publications throughout the world.

OREGON RIDGE

NATURE CENTER'S

Annual Festival of Traditional Music

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2017Page 4

EXPLORE OREGON RIDGE AND OTHER PARKS

Nature Quest is a great opportunity to experience the outdoors and be active with friends and family while discovering some of the best parks and trails in Baltimore County. Travel up to 16 trails — some on foot and some in a canoe or kayak — to find trail markers at 9 county parks. There are special prizes and rewards for those completing nine or more trails! To get started, all you need is a Nature Quest Passport. Those who complete at least five trails are eligible for FREE admission to Baltimore County’s celebratory Nature Quest FEST (location, date and time TBA). Anyone can attend the Fest, but there is a fee for those who did not complete five trails. If you have completed five trails, call 410-887-4156 to register or do so at one of the participating parks, and hang on to your Passport! It is your ticket for free admission to the Fest. What do you have to lose? Grab your hiking boots (or in some cases, bike or canoe!) and start exploring. To learn all about this unique outdoor adventure, get your Nature Quest Passport now at one the participating parks, at Wegmans, or online:

www.OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org

A DRONE’S ViEW OF OREgON RiDgE NAtURE CENtER & PARKStart your Nature Quest at Oregon Ridge. These beautiful photos were taken by Michael Keyser. The aerials shots were taken with his DRONE! (Drone use with Park permission.) Check out our Web page for more of his photos.

NAtURE QUESt - ADVENtURES iN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Page 5Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2107

INFO ABOUT PAVILION, GARDEN, AND PARTIES

thE NEW KiDD’S NAtURE PAViLiON At OREgON RiDgE PARK

Yes, you can rent our new Kidd’s Nature Pavilion for your special event!

Here are the pertinent facts you need to know:

The Kidd’s Nature Pavilion will accomodate up to 100 people and is available for group rentals from May 1 through October 31. The available days and times include Fridays after 2 PM and weekends from 9 AM to 8 PM (or 30 minutes prior to sunset, which-ever comes first).

We offer 4-hour minimum rentals at the rate of $200 for members and $250 for non-members, with extra hours beyond the 4-hour miniminum available at $50 for members and $65 for non-members.

Pavilion amenities include: electricity, non-potable water, ceiling fans, twelve 8’ tables.

NOW AVAiLABLE tO RENt FOR YOUR EVENt!

Alcohol, crabs, glass, and amplified music or audio are not permitted, so please keep this in mind when considering our pavilion for your event.

To inquire about renting or availability, email the Nature Center at info@OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org or give us a call Tuesday through Friday 9 AM - 5 PM.

Page 6 Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2017

gROUNDS COMMittEE’S tRAiLBLAzERS END hiAtUSThe grounds committee met in January after a hiatus of nearly one year. Ten men and women were in attendance, some old members and some new, all sharing the realization that there is no SWAT team in the county parks department waiting by the phone for a call from Oregon Ridge to maintain a trail, remove a rotting structure, or install a new bench. With only two full-time park naturalists to oversee the entire Park’s environment and activities, a major role in maintenance needs to be accomplished by a group of volunteers called the Trailblazers. To this end, the following items were agreed upon:

1. The grounds committee will meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 PM.

2. An Adopt-a-Trail program will be initiated. Sponsors will be solicited to maintain a portion of a trail for at least one year.

3. Uniform metal signs will be posted along trails to give clearer directions. All trails will be designated by color rather than name to reduce confusion.

4. Ways to make trail crossings over ravines and streams easier and safer will be developed.

5. Rotting benches will be removed or repaired and new benches will be installed. The design and uniformity of these new benches will be discussed in more detail at our February meeting. Sponsors of aging benches will be contacted about donating a replacement.

6. Unnecessary tree tubes will be removed, since nesting birds can become trapped inside the tubes.

Unlike a sea star, Oregon Ridge does not miraculously regenerate new parts. Oregon Ridge will not grow and develop without some outside help to maintain our beloved Park. The Grounds Committee would welcome more new members.

Trailblazers must be 16 or older. Equipment is involved, including shovels, rakes, clippers, and various power tools. Training is provided, so no experience is needed to join. Volunteers who assist 4+ workdays a year will receive an official Trailblazer t-shirt in gratitude for their service. If interested, please consider joining us on March 22 and May 6, from 9 AM to 12 PM. Please call the Nature Center to join this group of stalwart trail stewards.

Ralph Brown, Grounds Committee Chair

ORNC COUNCIL BOARD AT WORK

Each year the ORNC Council awards scholarships to college-bound high school seniors from Baltimore County and City. Recipients should show a high level of commitment to the health of the environment and plan to continue their studies in environmental science and nature education.

Our goal is to support two or three scholarships up to $5,000 each!

We hope you will help by giving generously to the Scholarship Fund. To make a tax-deductible donation, checks should be made payable to the ORNC Council, specifying on the note line “Scholarship Fund” and sent to:

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council 13555 Beaver Dam Road Cockeysville, MD 21030

To donate on-line, please visit our Web site: http://OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org/scholars.html

The names of all donors will be published, so if you would like to make a gift in another’s name, please specify the donor’s name as it should appear on the list.

If you know a high school senior who may be eligible for the scholarship, please have the student call the Oregon Ridge Nature Center for an application form at 410-887-1815 or download an application from our Web site.

www.OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org

it’S tiME tO APPLY FOR SChOLARShiPS

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2017 Page 7

TRAILBLAZER STAFFEditor/Design/Layout: Mary Jane Shanks

CONtRiBUtORS tO thiS iSSUE Writers: Ralph Brown. Jessica Jeannetta, MJ Shanks, Winny Tan Photographers: Stacey Geis, Kathy Kadow, Michael Keyser, ORNC staff

OREGON RIDGE NATURE CENTER13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville 21030

410-887-1815 info@OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org; www.OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org

Articles/graphics for Fall issue due July 5.

LiBRARY RENOVAtiONS ALMOSt DONE!

It’s been a long time coming! The Library Renovation Committee has been meeting, researching and planning for nearly three years, stalled by a bump or two along the way. However, the paint is now on the walls, the cabinets are waiting to be installed, the counter with sinks is ordered, the shelving is in place, the floor is down, the taxidermy wall and mural are underway, and the projector and screen are in place. Only plumbing, electrical and AC are still in the works. We also still need to purchase sound panels, kids tables and chairs, a rug, and glass display cases. Hopefully, by the time you receive this issue of the Trailblazer, we will be even closer to completing a room of which the Council Board, the staff, and our membership can be proud. Hallelujah!

The Library has been underutilized for years, and frankly, it was looking dated. Ginna Naylor, our last Library chair, proposed renovations three years ago. The goal was to turn the space into an all purpose area that would be more efficient and flexible for educational programs and meetings, yet continue to be a comfortable, inviting room for research and reading for both children and adults. We can now enjoy and more easily use the room for clubs, public space, public/private school and homeschool groups, weekend programming, meetings, festivals, exhibits, and more.

The cost for the total renovation will come to about $60,000. The Council has funded a good portion of this expenditure, and we hope to receive matching funds from a foundation and other donations.

A large thank you goes to Ginna Naylor, Pat Ghingher, Mary Jane Shanks, Ellen Mering, Gary Anderson, Winny Tan, Jessica Jeannetta, Susan Schepers, and all the volunteers and interns for their hard work in planning, executing, and doing so much of the physical labor. The wonderful mural is the work of local artist Kirk Seese, owner of Bella Benvenuti LLC. Other subcontractors are Forest Hill Kitchen and Bath and Darrin Cox Floor Covering Service. We thank Baltimore County Recreation and Parks for their support.

COUNCIL/STAFF TEAMWORK PAyS OFF AGAIN

EVERyONE, PLEASE VISIT TO

CHECK IT OUT!

Page 8 Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2017

Imagine visiting the same forest 20 years ago, then 10 years ago, 1 year, and now today. Oh, how the woods have changed in this small space of time. The visible change in the landscape is noticeable in wooded  backyards and at parks like Oregon Ridge. In the past couple of decades, wildflowers and trees are vanishing from their usual habitats due to diverse human impact.

Spring is usually fraught with much activity. People are venturing outdoors, ready to explore. Insects are humming. Migrating birds are singing and staking out territories. Frogs are calling candidly in the ponds. Green leaves are unfurling, while the wildflowers are blooming in all sorts of pastels and bright hues. Nature is reenergizing after a spell of winter slumber, but something is amiss in the spring emergence. Walking down familiar paths in the woods, the trillium no longer blooms where I saw it for so many years past, and the Dutchman’s breeches that used to be there are gone from where I’ve seen them. Looking through the woods, the understory isn’t as dense and the search for wildflowers becomes a frustrating game of finding Waldo. Sometimes, if hikers are lucky and wander deeper into the woods, they may find a hillside of Virginia bluebells or a spot patch of orchids. In the common places, non-native plants have usurped the space, out-competing many native plant species.

WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS ARE (OR WERE)

By Naturalist Winny Tan

At first glance, the lesser celandine’s green leaves that cover the forest floor resemble an emerald carpet. Their bright yellow flowers bloom in April to May, reminding people of the sun and the advent of summer. This eruption of yellow and green is appealing, yet the lesser celandine will disappear as quickly as it emerged, leaving a vast, bare, brown forest floor for the rest of the year. This vigorous perennial is also known as a fig buttercup (Ficaria verna), as it is in the Ranunculus family. It was introduced to the United States from Eurasia as an ornamental cover. It is so successful in forming dense patches through forestland that it pushes out a variety of native spring ephemerals including bloodroot, wild ginger, spring beauty, trout lily, trilliums, Virginia bluebells, and many, many others. These native plants provide critical nectar, pollen, fruits and seeds for a variety of native insects and wildlife species. When the natives are displaced, the animals must find food elsewhere or cease to exist.

Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata, is another introduced spring flower that we see sprouting like wildfire through the edges of the forest. This is also considered a noxious weed in the agricultural setting. This plant can out-compete native plants by aggressively monopolizing light, moisture, nutrients, soil and space, as well as being ‘allelopathic’ (able to produce

biochemicals that inhibit the growth, survival and reproduction of other plants). Wildlife species, which depend on native plants, are deprived of essential food sources as garlic mustard quickly replaces them. Another detriment posed by garlic mustard is that a rare native insect called the West Virginia white butterfly (Pieris virginiensis) will confuse the garlic mustard with its needed host plants, the toothwort (Dentaria spp.). This mistake will cause the butterfly eggs to be poisoned by the chemical toxins, so no caterpillars will hatch and no adults will perpetuate their species. Removing garlic mustard can be done manually, before the plant seeds in its second year. Plants must be bagged and thrown out with the trash. Otherwise, seeds can stay viable in the soil for six years, and one garlic mustard plant can produce 165 to 868 seeds, with no known herbivorous predators to keep this invasive in check.

Invasive plants are now a huge issue for our ecosystem. Many parks are dealing with removal, but it is a never-ending battle as the seeds are dispersed from neighboring lands and roadsides, or from existing  plants and seed banks  in the parks. Plus, some parklands are too large for mechanical or chemical management in terms of staffing,  budget, and time. Many of the invasives can be eliminated, or slowed down, by not planting them in our gardens and homes, and unwittingly

The BAD: Lesser Celandine (or Fig Buttercup), Garlic Mustard, Yellow Flag Iris

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2017 Page 9

gENEROSitY FROM BiLL KiDD’S tOYOtA

The Nature Center staff and Council are hard at work coming up with new innovations and renovations to improve ORNC and the Park in order to enhance each visitor’s experience. People hiking and exploring the building already have been noticing many of these new changes. One of these is a large, new structure in the meadow, called the Kidd’s Nature Pavilion. Bill Kidd’s Toyota, a local Toyota/Scion car dealership in Cockeysville, stepped in and donated $40,000 to the Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council in 2015 to help complete this construction.

In December 2016, Bill Kidd’s Toyota donated once again, with a gift of $50,000 to support two new projects in the works. Half will go to the creation of a native woodland garden near the Nature Play Area and the Marble Quarry Loop; the other half will be used towards exhibit designs for an interactive, large-scale Piedmont display with learning stations.

Thank you, Bill Kidd’s Toyota, for supporting our mission to provide engaging educational and recreational opportunities!

on roadsides and in parks by some government agencies.  Lesser celandine and yellow flag iris are among those listed as species that can no longer be sold, transported, propagated or transferred in the state of Maryland. There is a second tier of plants which includes burning bush, privet, and wisterias that requires  nurseries and garden centers to post signs of the invasive nature of these plants. Until invasive plants can be banned from the markets, there are many resources available at native plant societies and nature centers to educate us about what we can do.  As wise consumers and wildlife gardeners, we must find alternative plants that are not invasive and start planting native plants that will be water efficient and beautiful, while providing for native animals.

Deer are also challenging. The ecological impacts on the forest understory from over-browsing is devastatingly damaging to habitats needed for other animal species to survive. With so many deer, native plants are dramatically reduced, not just from being eaten, but also by not being able to spread seeds to redistribute. Exotic species can then thrive and also spread further by seeds in the feces of deer and other wildlife. A 2005 study by the National Park Service shows that reducing deer population in a certain area had higher seedling and sapling regeneration and higher densities of ground nesting birds than in an area that had 7 to 9 times more deer. When deer ratio is reduced from 28 per square mile to 15 deer in a square mile, trilliums and

Canada Mayflowers have significantly increased. White-tailed deer management plans are an important step towards conservation of wildflowers, wildlife and the forest ecosystem.

This spring, Oregon Ridge will begin transforming a few acres of woods into a  Woodland Garden by installing a deer-exclosure fence. This  first phase of the fencing  and a garden section to be named the “Kidd’s Garden”  is made possible by a generous donation from Bill Kidd’s Toyota.  The next phase is to continue  removing  non-natives, especially the  invasive plant  species from this area.  In the future, we hope to work with Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, local Garden Clubs, Eagle Scouts, and Girl Scouts to transform this space into a woodland wildflower haven again. This area is off the Marble Quarry Trail and will be accessible by Park visitors for exploration and reflection.

What can you do? Shop native! There are many nurseries,  plant sales or swaps in the Baltimore Metro area that encourage native plants. Check out Oregon Ridge’s plant swap in April  to trade or pick up free plants,  and visit Baltimore County’s Master Gardeners plant sale in May for reasonably priced, quality wildflowers and trees. The Maryland Native Plant Society’s Web site lists local nurseries and current plant sales taking place all over Maryland. Make sure to check for non-systemically treated plants, as pollinators can die from visiting these pesticide-treated plants. Becoming better stewards creates a more balanced community of people and nature. 

The GOOD: Trillium, Spring Beauty, Bloodroot

Continued from page 8

Page 10 Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2017

ELYSA BRAVERMAN: A Ridge Runner with a Large Love of Animals

Elysa Braverman has a love for animals like no other. Ultimately, her passion for animals led her to join the Ridge Runners in 2014. As a Ridgie, Elysa now has the opportunity to care for what she loves and be around people who share her passion. Elysa’s fascination with animals started at a young age, when for fun, Elysa would choose an animal and learn as much as she possibly could about it, until she could learn no more. Then, she would move on to learning about another animal. Elysa has carried on with her research at ORNC, where she enjoys studying the behavior and unique personality of each of our resident critters.

Elysa is currently in 11th grade at Hereford High School, where she enjoys math and writing, particularly geometry and fictional writing. She even writes her own stories. At home, she takes care of her hermit crab Sparky and her dog Sophie. Although she is undecided about what she would like to study when she reaches college, we wouldn’t be surprised if it had to do with her passion….animals!

Elysa’s favorite Ridge Runner job is an unlikely choice — feeding the cockroaches. Elysa makes them “burritos” from food scraps and is fascinated watching them devour her creation! The small box turtle has a special place in her heart. She senses that he has a soulful personality and likes to give him extra attention in her spare time. She does a great job interacting with the Nature Center visitors and sharing information about the animals with them. Elysa would encourage anyone who shares her love of animals, or is interested in learning more about animals, to join the Ridge Runners, and in her words, “Take a walk on the wild side!”

This fall we were lucky to have three hard-working, local students start internships at the Center. Their dedication and willingness to do whatever was needed was greatly appreciated by the staff and visitors they encountered.

Amanda Song (center in photo) is a senior at Dulaney High School, where she studied AP Environmental Science because she loves biology and chemistry. Amanda plans to pursue a career in Environmental Science. Amanda initially started volunteering with the Dulaney Key Club at Oregon Ridge for special events. Once she learned about our internship opportunities, she thought it would be a valuable experience in the environmental field.

Marcus Tuah (left in photo) is a senior at Western Tech in the Environmental Technology program. His goal is to earn a Master’s degree before starting a career as a Watershed Conservationist. His internship has helped him to acquire skills and experiences that will be beneficial in his career field.

Lillian Maslen (right in photo) is a senior at Towson University, double majoring in Anthropology and Geography. Completing an internship was part of her college requirements. Having grown up nearby and enjoying the Park and Nature Center, she thought an internship here would be a good fit to learn more about her interest in park management. She enjoyed her time at Oregon Ridge, especially caring for the animals and getting to know different aspects of the Park.

iNtERNS MARCUS, AMANDA, AND LiLLiAN MAKE AN iMPACt

VOLUNTEERING AT ORNC IS FUN

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council’s Trailblazer | Spring 2017 Page 11

WELCOME KAthY KADOW!Does the name sound familiar? If you have attended a program at Cromwell Valley Park, it may have been Kathy sharing her love of nature with you. If you had a question or needed information at Banneker Historical Park and Museum, she may have expertly handled your needs. If you visited Irvine Natural Science Center, you may have seen Kathy covering the front desk and the nature store,  while multi-tasking on marketing projects. She still oversees the building during wedding rentals. Kathy has been there and done that, and now she is at Oregon Ridge as the Administrative Assistant!

Kathy has a diverse background and knowledge in the graphics and the naturalist fields. She spent 26 years as a self-employed graphic production artist, so she could work from home while raising her family and being a Girl Scout Leader. In 2009, after the kids left the nest, she started working at Irvine, finding it rewarding to work with like-minded people. She took several Irvine Institute Courses, and then went one step further with the Maryland Master Naturalist course in 2011, accruing over 850 hours of volunteer service to the field! She began her weekend naturalist work at Cromwell in 2013 and added the Administrative Aide job at Banneker the same year. Her vast skills and professionalism meld well with being the first voice or person to greet visitors, simultaneously  tackling  so many questions and requests from staff and volunteers.  Kathy has loved nature and the outdoors ever since childhood. She feels lucky that her family shares the same passions. She spends her free time hiking and traveling with her daughter and husband and teaching her grandson Bradley about nature. She loves all aspects of nature and environmental education, and sharing what she knows with others. Kathy also feels fortunate to work at a job where she can use her graphic skills and marketing while being immersed in a nature setting. She has an affinity towards native bees, butterflies and moths and feels that Oregon Ridge is the perfect work place for her. 

People say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Betsy, our previous AA, moved on to Lake Roland as a Park Ranger. Kathy is Betsy’s mother, so now we have the apple tree! An added bonus is Kathy’s husband, Bernie, who has used his machinist skills to fix our chainsaws and a lawn mower pro bono. Kathy has seamlessly “planted her roots” in our AA position, and we are so fortunate to have her. If you have questions about programs or animals, or want to rent a community garden plot or the nature pavilion, Kathy is ready with a smile Tuesdays through Fridays at the Nature Center.

NATURE CENTER STAFF

Director Winny TanNaturalist/CS1 Jessica Jeannetta

Administrative Asst. Kathy Kadow Building Maintenance Susan Scheper

Part-Time Naturalists:

Karl DotterweichJimmy FrancisMary GenovesePam Ward

Andrea BarnettRob BonfanteLindsay CaplanSarah Duffy

Seasonal Naturalist: Lorien CovellyCole Snyder

Building Attendants: Noot CanolesShea SandiferAlex Waugh

ORNC’S STAFF IS A SOLID TEAM

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council13555 Beaver Dam RoadCockeysville, MD 21030

Many branches make a strong tree. Many members make a strong Council. Use this membership form to renew and give a copy to a friend. You can now join or renew online. Please visit: http://OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org/membership.html

Email_____________________________________________ Phone _______________________

Address ____________________________________________ State ____ Zip ______________

___ $ 15 Individual ___ $ 250 Sustaining

___ $ 30 Family ___ $ 500 Lifetime

___ $ 75 Supporting ___ $ Extra Donation

Checks payable to ORNC Council, Inc., 13555 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville, MD 21030

Name __________________________________________________________________________

RENEW NOW AND SIGN UP A FRIEND, TOO!

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTIMONIUM, MD

PERMIT NO. 296

DEPARTMENT OFRECREATION AND PARKSTRAILBLAZER SPRING 2017 ISSUE