Thursday, April 16, 2009

A Weekend of Choices

It appears that this weekend is a great time to get out for some family fun. Here are just four things that are going on.

Woldumar Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 18, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The celebration kicks off with trail grooming, tree planting, and other volunteer projects from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join the volunteer crew to help get our buildings and grounds in shape for the upcoming season. Anyone can join the party, just come the fun. Groups who are interested in volunteering together can call 517-322-0300.

Blacksmith demonstration.

Prairie Burn Seminar. Find out how Woldumar maintains the prairie habitat and promotes the diversity of plants and animals in it with a yearly prescribed burn. Susan Jones, a Woldumar Board Member and wetland specialist, will explain the process at 1:00 p.m. Admission fee $2/Woldumar members; $3/nonmembers.

Geocache Treasure Hunt. Go on a treasure hunt using a GPS. Pick up the first clue at the office in the visitor center at 2:00 p.m. If you don't have your own GPS unit, Woldumar will loan you one. All participants who finish the hunt and find the treasure will receive a prize. Admissin fee $3/members; $5/nonmembers.

Concessions will be available from 12 noon - 4:30 p.m. in the RE Olds Anderson Barn.


Small Animal Day Saturday, April 18th 9am to 1pm Admission: $2/person

This annual event is hosted by student organizations and clubs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at MSU (NOT by the College of Veterinary Medicine). It is an opportunity to get outside on a spring day and visit the MSU farms and pavilion, and to see newborn animals up close.

Guests are to park at the southwest corner of Mt. Hope Rd and Farm Lane on the MSU campus. Be sure to dress for the weather. Bus transportation will be available to take guests to MSU farms and the MSU Pavilion, where they can see the facilities, meet MSU students, and see the animals, including newborn lambs, calves, foals, etc.

Arrive by 11 if you want to see all of the exhibits. The last bus leaves for the farms at noon.

Small Animals Day information, call: 517-355-9575, or 517-355-0234.


MSU Vet-aVisit Saturday, April 18th 9am-4pm FREE

HOW DO YOU MILK A COW? Give it a try, and learn fun facts about the diary industry, too!
THE STUFFED ANIMAL SURGERY CLINIC lets children and their favorite stuffed furry friends meet with student “doctors” who provide physical exams and treatments.
RUMEN CANULA…Smell, see and touch the inside of a live cow’s stomach!
THE OTS PETTING ZOO allows children and adults to get their hands on a menagerie of farm animals, sponsored by Omega Tau Sigma.
BLOOD DONATION IN PETS? Dogs and cats sometimes need a blood transfusion…Screening, preparing, and storing animal blood is complicated-but very interesting!
ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY…Gown-up like a surgeon and use cutting edge surgical techniques to fish for a treat!
WHAT IS A HEARTBEAT? Learn how blood travels through your body and listen to a real heartbeat!
ZEKE THE WONDER DOG…is making his debut Frisbee performance! Learn how to care for animal athletes and get your picture taken with him!
PROPER PET CARE, including the importance of spaying/neutering, vaccinations, dental work, ear care, and more…to keep your pet healthy!
WALK THROUGH A COW’S DIGESTIVE TRACT…and unravel the truth behind the myth that cows have four stomachs.
THESE AND MANY MORE!


EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Sunday, April 19. Noon to 4pm. Free!
Join us for a day dedicated to recognizing the splendor of our natural environment, while also giving it a helping hand. Here are some planned events.
• Garlic Mustard workshop (12:30pm) and pulling (any time through the day).
• Guided birding and nature walks throughout the day.
• Visit with our live Michigan reptiles and amphibians. We will feed many of them in front of visitors throughout the day, and take some outside for mini-presentations if weather allows.
• Two showings of the 55-min video, On a Wing and a Prayer (1:30 & 3pm). This program is one of a PBS New Explorers series that originally aired in the late 90s. We are losing our tropical migrant songbirds at an unsettling rate. This program explains why, and what we can do about it. Fenner’s directors, Jim and Carol, assert that, whether you have a personal interest in birds or not, everyone should see this program.
• Incubating Bobwhite Quail eggs! An incubator will be set up in the observation room to begin incubation of the eggs. The Bobwhite is a southern quail. In the northern limits of its range, southern Michigan, populations have a difficult time becoming established because of harsh winter conditions. Most Bobwhite populations that exist in Michigan were established through release programs. When these birds are grown, they will be released on Fenner grounds this summer. We are going to try to time the hatching of the chicks near Mother’s Day!





1 comment:

Wendy said...

fun stuff!