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the the vitamin n prescription some health professionals now recommending nature time for children and adults richard louv in 2009 janet ady of the u.s fish and wildlife service stood before a crowd of grassroots leaders gathered by the children nature network she held up an outsized pharmacy bottle within the bottle was a physician s prescription ­ one that would be as appropriate for adults as it would be for children the contents of the medicine bottle included a variety of information including a web address to national wildlife refuges a guide to animal tracks leave no trace tips a link to information on planting native vegetation to help bring back butterfly and bird migration routes a power bar and other items ­ including a temporary tattoo of migratory birds the label read directions use daily outdoors in nature go on a nature walk watch birds and observe trees practice respectful outdoor behavior in solitude or take with friends and family refill unlimited expires never here s a cost-effective way to improve the health of children and adults an expanding body of primarily correlative scientific evidence points in a single common-sense direction getting children outside can be good for their health and getting them outside in nature may well offer special benefits contact with the natural world appears to significantly reduce symptoms of attention deficit disorder in children as young as five nearby nature and even a view of nature from a bedroom window can reduce stress in children children in greener neighborhoods current american river conservancy appear to have lower body weight changes spending time outdoors may help prevent myopia natural environments such as parks foster recovery from mental fatigue and may help children as well as adults learn green exercise may offer added benefits when compared to equal exertion in indoor gyms in arc nature campers all smiles and ready for a hike hospitals clinics and medical offices incorporating nature into the design helps people of all ages reduce stress improves health and cognition what if our schools homes workplaces and cities were designed with such natural benefits in mind within the health professions interest in the nature prescription is already growing healing gardens on hospital grounds are now popular dr daphne miller a general practitioner in noe valley california envisions nature prescriptions as part of the burgeoning field of integrated medicine nature is another tool in our toolbox says miller who in addition to her medical practice is associate clinical professor in the department of family and community medicine university of california san francisco she also believes that park rangers can in effect become para-health professionals so can whole park districts santa fe new mexico in an effort to fight the high rate of diabetes there launched its prescription trails program which is partially funded by the centers for disease control and prevention besides trail time physicians can refer their patients to a trail guide in 2010 a pilot program in portland oregon began pairing physicians with park professionals who will record whether the outdoor prescriptions are fulfilled the park prescription program will be part of a longitudinal study to measure the effect on health continued on page 3 photo by molly hucklebridge informational newsletter for winter 2011-2012 december january february

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page 2 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february land conservation update the american river conservancy is making progress on two new riverfront conservation projects the first is near salmon falls at the confluence of the south fork american river and folsom lake this acquisition would protect 1.75 miles of river and lake frontage over 600 acres of blue oak woodland and protect habitat for 17 species of concern including the foothill yellow-legged frog bank swallow yellow-breasted chat cooper s hawk and white-tailed kite arc has secured funding commitments from the state resources agency and the state wildlife conservation board pending appraisal and title review currently in progress this project will provide new trail opportunities for hikers mountain bikers and equestrians as well as increase fishing access along the south fork american river and folsom lake a second conservation acquisition is progressing on the main fork of the cosumnes river this project would protect 2.5 miles of river frontage and over 2,000 acres of blue oak woodland grassland chaparral and riparian habitat to date arc has received a partial funding commitment from the state wildlife conservation board and has submitted requests for matching funds from the state natural resources agency and caltrans this project could result in the development of the first public trail system within the upper cosumnes river watershed both projects will protect native fisheries and the excellent quality of water flowing downstream from the south fork american river and upper cosumnes river to residential communities within the greater sacramento and east bay regions to date arc has protected 11,885 acres of native fisheries endangered species habitat and recreational lands through the completion of 77 conservation projects within the upper american and cosumnes river watersheds arc wish list red white blue poker chips snack bars back-up generator energy-efficient light bulbs dot matrix paper carport cover work gloves assorted sizes heating unit for nature center building for more wish list info visit the arc website at www.arconservancy.org this edition of the current highlights the value of nature education and the feedback received from teachers parents and youth after attending an arc environmental education program look for quotes throughout this newsletter.

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page 3 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february continued from cover story by applying what i call the nature principle city planners developers architects educators and many other professionals could improve the nation s health but pediatricians have taken the first steps they play an especially powerful role any parent whose child has ever been sick ­ which means all of us ­ has deep respect even love for the pediatricians and other pediatric health providers in their lives it s one thing to put our trust for our own lives in a doctor s hands it s quite another thing when the lives at stake are our children s the gift pediatricians give us is much more than their technical knowledge they give us their kindness and wisdom they calm our fears by prescribing time in the natural world pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners can improve children s physical and psychological health their ability to learn their capacity for wonder ­ their ability to feel fully alive in a very real world ­ for generations to come richard louv is chairman emeritus of the children and nature network and the author of the nature principle and last child in the woods this column distributed by citiwire.net is adapted from the nature principle and his plenary keynote address to the american academy of pediatrics national conference the nature principle is reviewed in this issue of the the current arc thanks summer intern kati vastola kati vastola a brown university student recently completed an unpaid summer internship at arc her challenge research the history of the gold hill wakamatsu property and create a working interpretive plan for the gold hill wakamatsu park and museum kati an enthusiastic history major dove right in she perused old newspaper articles and historical accounts and collected community input in august she shared her detailed research and suggestions with arc s docents and other interested community members when asked about her experience kati said it helped her to grow my skills in my career field of choice to meet and interact with many intelligent caring and fun staff members and volunteers and to learn a lot about a property with a special history that deserves to be preserved and shared with the world it was a joy to have kati at arc we deeply appreciate her help on this project and hope that she will come see us again soon arc welcomes our newest board member linda sanford although i recently retired as dean of humanities language arts and social sciences at laney college i am currently doing planning consultation to the peralta community college district for many years i was a professor of geography with a regional specialization of northeastern california and a focus upon environmental systems i now reside in garden valley with my husband richard moore where i enjoy being a docent at the wakamatsu/gold hill property vegetable gardening and hiking along the american river and the surrounding foothills i learned that wilderness isn t just the backcountry or a protected forest wilderness is all around and every bit needs to be appreciated and protected because it is so much bigger than all of us isabella age 16 epic sierra participant

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page 4 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february education update new winter wonders school program uncover how wildlife survives in the winter and under extreme weather conditions conduct an experiment and observe what happens when plant cells freeze end with an active game that shows how plants and animals can survive well sometimes less well and sometimes not at all winter wonders is one of several new school programs offered at arc or in local schools visit www.arconservancy.org/education for a detailed list of school and summer programs available school programs available at a reduced rate thanks to a generous grant from umpqua bank local schools can attend a nature center field trip at a reduced rate schools with a free or reduced lunch rate above 25 qualify for a scholarship teachers that have not visited the nature center are encouraged to apply sign up today ­ limited space is available and scholarships will run out the american river conservancy school program and field trip reservations are available through june 2012 hike leaders for school programs needed do you enjoy hiking interacting with kids and sharing your love for nature consider becoming a hike leader for our elementary school field trips starting in february the environmental education staff will be training naturalists and hike leaders contact michael or molly for details get ready for spring and summer 2012 sign up a local 3rd/4th or 5th/6th grade team for nature bowl on march 16th or 20th volunteers are also needed contact molly for sign-ups or volunteer info thinking about summer plans for next year look for next summer s nature camp and epic sierra dates and themes in the next issue of the current online registration begins in february and counselor invites will be sent in march contact molly if you d like to recommend a teen counselor ages 12 to 18 my children love going [to camp this year s theme [energized by nature was cool i liked that they have time to just be you aren t always trying to fill every moment of time parent 9-11 year-old-nature camp homeschool tuesdays tuesday camp for homeschool students the exciting and energy packed homeschool program series energized by nature continues join us for a fun and educational camp experience activities games labs discussions and songs time 10:30am-12pm recommended ages 6-11 each session meets at the nature center unless noted student vouchers accepted photo by molly hucklebridge our amazing sun homeschool program in october winter session descriptions electric energy tuesday january 17th we use electricity every day but what exactly is it students will participate in a skit that shows how energy travels to our homes and the many places it comes from in a hands-on experiment predict and test which household items are conductors and which are non-conductors see static electricity in action and then get microscopic to simulate how electrons travel in a thrilling game the mighty wind tuesday february 21st people have used the wind s power since the ancient egyptians if not before come learn about ingenious methods used to harness the wind through the ages including one by an african boy who created a low cost system using a bicycle become a wind weather expert test wind speed and practice measuring the wind s direction then create a craft from natural and recycled materials and see how the wind s energy makes it work geothermal greatness tuesday march 20th discover a source of energy that has nothing to do with the sun geothermal learn about the wonderful layers of our home planet and where geothermal energy comes from through outdoor activities explore the difference between geothermal energy used to create electricity and geothermal energy available to us we ll culminate with exploding home-made volcanoes in march please meet at north beach in the marshall gold discovery state historic park

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page 5 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february photo by molly hucklebridge stepping beyond boundaries michael dotson this past summer i had the opportunity to once again lead a group of teenagers into my favorite mountain range the sierra nevada i find great satisfaction in knowing my passion for the outdoors can be translated into something that i can make a living at as the environmental education program manager for the american river conservancy i spend a great deal of time working with youth and teaching them about conservation and wilderness yet i m not always sure i m making an immediate impact spending two weeks with a dozen teenagers can be very challenging at times but that time is also so enjoyable when i get to take the participants rafting down the south fork american river kayaking on lake tahoe or backpacking through yosemite national park as fun as those activities are one of my favorite parts is looking over the many evaluations and seeing the participants enthusiasm come through in words i am inspired to continue as an outdoor educator because of the experience of so many of my participants as one teen steph 17 put it it s trips like these that have continued to expand my appreciation for wilderness and the service projects we did led me to see the immense need to protect these lands it s what every environmental educator wants to hear my experience camping and exploring the woods behind my house as a child were critical in helping shape me as an adult it s something i hope to hand down to others epic sierra adventures was born from my passion for the outdoors ­ more specifically the rivers and mountains of the sierra nevada i have worked over the last couple of years to establish epic sierra as an affordable adventure travel and service learning program at the conservancy we believe all youth regardless of socio-economic status deserve the chance to explore the outdoors epic sierra provides many opportunities for youth to explore nature rafting kayaking mountain biking hiking and backpacking yet some of the most impactful personal experiences come from the various volunteer service projects we do along the way this year we worked with on a water conservation garden in south lake tahoe in a neighborhood severely affected by a forest fire two years ago took part in an invasive weed removal project with yosemite national park epic sierra participants and leader taylor mcclanahan center kayaking on lake tahoe biologists and performed habitat restoration efforts and trail work with friends of the inyo in the eastern sierra it was a completely new experience and every moment was new different and challenging i really liked doing the trail work because i felt like i was making more of an impact than anything else we did says sarah 16 an epic sierra participant with support from the north face royal robbins mountain hardwear and rei epic sierra was able to provide nearly 1/3 of our participants with reduced price scholarships this year for many of the recipients they could not have done this type of program without some sort of financial support with the success of this year s program we look forward to sharing the joy of the outdoors with many more above epic sierra participants help with youth over the meadow restoration efforts in yosemite national park years thanks to the support of these outdoor industry leaders the conservancy continues its legacy of protecting wild places while encouraging youth and adults to connect with the land together the outdoor industry and the conservancy are providing youth with the opportunity to learn new skills to step beyond boundaries and engage in a variety of outdoor recreational activities i have learned that true wilderness isn t a place but a feeling a raw natural feeling where you forget everything around you but at the same time take everything in nick age 17 epic sierra participant photo by molly hucklebridge

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page 6 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february volunteer opportunities to get in touch with judith for the following events you can reach her at 530 621-1224 or judith@arconservancy.org winter dinner adopt-a-table we need 10 more tables decorated for our annual volunteer appreciation event-winter dinner on december 8th if you re planning on attending and have a place setting for eight that you re willing to set up and bring home we d love to have you sign up small construction project we are looking for help on a small construction project to best prepare for the winter season we would like to install a small overhang and weatherproof brochure holder in the front of the nature center to protect our brochures and fliers if you like to put your handy skills to work this is the job for you yard work weeding at the nature center we are working on a tri-fold self guided tour brochure of the native plants around the nature center please help us get ready by sprucing up the yard we have some non-native grass and weeds that need to be pulled and mulch to be placed we need help on an ongoing basis let judith know when you will be available to help with this project book store manager we need help approximately two hours a week coordinating and ordering for the book store we re also looking for someone to volunteer to answer phones in the nature center on thursdays and fridays program hosts wanted do you attend and enjoy arc s hikes and programs we need a few members who are willing to cover staff time and host these events this usually involves set-up sign-ins collecting payment short arc intro introduction of guest speaker break-down etc if you re interested contact julie@arconservancy.org or 530-621-1224 monday-wednesday gold hill wakamatsu ranch restoration activities elena delacy you may have noticed some changes happening at the gold hill ­ wakamatsu ranchlately the american river conservancy recently completed a phase one restoration plan that will address the restoration of a 6-acre seasonal wetland installation of hedgerows and the introduction of prescribed fire on the landscape hedgerows consist of rows of trees shrubs perennial grasses forbs rushes and sedges that surround farm fields or provide a buffer surrounding sensitive areas their benefits to agricultural landscapes include enhanced weed control air and water quality protection soil erosion control and increase biodiversity and beneficial insect activity future phases of restoration activities will likely focus on oak woodland restoration stream-bank stabilization and invasive species removal in the ponds this project will benefit the south fork american river watershed by improving the water storage capacity nutrient cycling functions productivity and biological diversity of the natural areas at gold hill ranch habitat enhancement and restoration activities will be carried out over the next several years by american river conservancy staff and volunteers cal fire crews california conservation corps ccc crews americorps crews and local school groups monitoring and maintenance will be completed by american river conservancy staff and volunteers and local school groups seeking to complete service-learning projects support for this project has been provided by grants from the national fish and wildlife foundation patagonia rei and the el dorado women s fund integration of restoration activities with existing program infrastructure p.e.e.r involvement of several partner groups and arc s outstanding volunteers make the project cost-effective and will ensure its success please join us for this exciting opportunity to actively restore an important part of california s natural heritage for more information about this project please contact elena delacy at 530 295-2190 or email elena@arconservancy.org.

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page 7 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february program calendar december 2011 sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday january 2012 2 3 sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday sunday monday february 2012 tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday 1 1 new year s day 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 15 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 16 martin luther king day 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 22 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 presidents day 21 22 23 24 25 29 25 christmas day 30 31 26 26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 friday the 2nd saturday the 3rd sunday the 4th thursday the 8th the 10th 11th saturday the 17th thursday the 5th sunday the 8th friday the 13th saturday the 14th sunday the 15th tuesday the 17th saturday the 21st thursday the 26th saturday the 28th saturday the 4th friday the 10th saturday the 11th sunday the 12th saturday the 18th tuesday the 21st saturday the 25th december 2011 6:30-8pm the medicine wheel-3-part class 9:30am ­1pm greenwood creek hike 1-2:30pm kdd-little hikes for little folks 5:30-8pm winter dinner 10:30am-3pm candle making at christmas in coloma 10am-12pm wakamatsu/gold hill walk and tour 6:30-7:30pm 1-2pm 6:30-8pm 10-11:30am 10am-12pm 10:30am-12pm 10am-1pm 6:30-8:45pm 8:30-11:30am january 2012 basics of energy permaculture-introduction origami peace birds the medicine wheel-3-part class kdd-little hikes for little folks wakamatsu/gold hill walk and tour home school tuesday-electric energy mushroom presentation and walk double feature movie night ducks raptors sparrows winter bird walk february 2012 10-11:30am our magnetic sun-a daytime sun study 6:30-8pm the medicine wheel-3-part class 9am-4pm pine needle basket making class 1-2pm kdd-spring blossoms of wakamatsu 10am-12pm wakamatsu/gold hill walk and tour 10:30am-12pm home school tuesday-the mighty wind 10am-3pm soap stone carving class the american river conservancy is a member of earth share of california providing charitable giving opportunities in the workplace for more information on how you can get involved with one or more of these programs contact the conservancy winter dinner 2011 arc volunteer appreciation night and year-end update thursday december 8th 5:30-8:00pm shakespeare club placerville all members and volunteers invited to attend space is limited-call to reserve your spot at 530-621-1224 or contact julie@arconservancy.org non-profit member of thank you for a great lesson it was a wonderful addition to our science curriculum you did a good job of keeping the kids engaged 4th grade teacher indian creek elementary

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page 8 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february programs plus wakamatsu/gold hill walk and tour kdd-little hikes for little folks -gold bug park sunday december 4th 1 ­ 2:30 pm martha deaquino who will lead this little hike has been involved in local children s environmental education for many years she has taught classes for arc worked at nature camp and is currently working in the children s department at the placerville library along this walk approximately 1-mile along the trails of the 61-acre gold bug park we will stop and using natural materials found on the forest floor build homes for the forest fairies that dwell there although we are unlikely to actually see any fairies there is a chance that they will leave us a sign that they have found the homes we leave for them there are other trails in the park and a mine shaft that you might wish to visit admission cost so plan to stay for a whole afternoon all ages welcome with parent supervision no strollers please call for meeting location and sign ups free-donations appreciated kdd-little hikes for little folks saturday january 14th 10 ­ 11:30 am wonderful winter water join sunflower sarah canfield local outdoor educator and arc volunteer for games songs puddle exploration and even act like a raindrop heavy rain cancels but light rain means bring your adorable rain boots and umbrellas hope to see you there all ages welcome please call for meeting location dave moore nature area and to sign up free-donations appreciated kdd-spring blossoms of wakamatsu ­ art project for kids sunday february 12th 1 ­ 2 pm artist susan keale will teach students how to make an asian style artwork of a branch of spring blossoms using paint and tissue paper students have the option of making this into a valentine s card if they wish susan keale has an m.a in art and is an avid art enthusiast there is no must in art because art is free w kandinsky ages 7 welcome please call for meeting location coloma area and to sign up cost $5/per person saturday december 17th sunday january 15th and saturday february 18th 10am noon join arc-trained docents for a historical tour of property recently acquired by arc this ranch is an interesting mosaic of springs streams wetlands blue and live oak forest sweeping vistas and prime agricultural soil ranch ponds and the small lake is a draw for wildlife particularly migratory waterfowl during the winter and early spring along with its beauty learn about the rich history of the wakamatsu tea and silk farm the 1st japanese colony site established in america in 1869 please call for meeting location gold hill area and to sign up cost $10/per person ducks raptors sparrows winter bird walk saturday january 28th 8:30 ­ 11:30 am join alissa fogg sierra nevada biologist with prbo conservation science point reyes bird observatory to look for resident and migrating oak woodland bird species with a special focus on ducks raptors and sparrows alissa has over 8 years of experience with california birds and will teach how to identify sierra foothill birds by sight sound and behavior quiet 8-year-olds with adult supervision welcome contact arc to sign up and meeting location tbd suggested donation $5/members $10/non-members greenwood creek hike saturday december 3rd 9:30am ­ 1:00 pm take a leisurely approximately 4-mile loop hike along the south fork we ll spend some time alongside and overlooking the south fork of the american river plan on a long lunch break by the river this short hike has it all views sandy beach rocky beach forested trails open meadow sun and shade ages 10 welcome please call for meeting location and to sign up suggested donation $5/members $10/nonmembers candle-making at christmas in coloma december 10 11 10:30am 3:00 pm the nature center will once again host a candle-making craft during marshall gold state historic park s christmas in coloma event this year s festivities will be held on the weekend of december 10th and 11th and the nature center will be making candles between the 10:30 a.m and 3:00 p.m both days this is a great place to bring the kids but have the whole family come by and create a handmade gift for the holidays cost $2 each or three for $5 all programs require sign-ups please contact julie@arconservancy.org or 530-621-1224

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page 9 the current origami peace birds ­ good wishes for the world sunday january 8th 1 ­ 2 pm susan keale a local artist and arc volunteer will teach participants to make two origami birds on which they have written good wishes for the world one bird will stay at arc/wakamatsu and the other can be taken home susan keale has an m.a in art and is an avid art enthusiast there is no must in art because art is free w kandinsky ages 8 welcome please call for meeting location coloma area and to sign up cost $5/per person double feature movie night see ya on the auburn sra trail and mother caring for 7 billion thursday january 26th 6:30 ­ 8:45 pm bill mash provides a compelling look at our 30,000-acre gem of a park that is the fabric of our community explore life on the middle and north forks of the american river through outdoor adventure recreation and quiet reflection film will be presented in five short chapters with a short q&a in-between bill is a 50-something rocklin resident and advocate for our canyons who organizes a popular hiking group foothill hikers that gets people outdoors on compelling local hiking trails ages 10 welcome http www.meetup.com/sierra-foothill-hikers mother caring for seven billion http motherthefilm.com film shows how unparalleled world population size 7 billion and its rapid growth 200,000 a day along with wasteful consumer habits combine to negatively impact our environment on a hopeful note the film points out how individuals can help reduce future environmental damage due to these factors and that a key is global empowerment of women presenter the sierra club mother lode chapter committee for a sustainable world population cswp the film will be introduced by evan jones retired teacher and member of cswp contact arc to sign up and meeting location coloma area suggested donation $10/members $15/nonmembers winter 2011-2012 december january february assessments and energy resource inventories linking energy flows appropriate energy needs and wants 2000 watt/person/day prioritizing available energy energy storage and smart controls and community micro grids included are learning about solar hw pv wind small hydro geothermal biomass biogas waste distribution control and other micro grid issues this series more to follow in the spring will be a combination of demonstrations and doing things with a bit of lecture thrown in there will be homework ­ no worries it ll be the fun and easy type fred klammt teaches at csus and in europe on green building sustainability net zero energy and green chemistry he is also an electrical engineer and business entrepreneur he has designed and built three passive solar homes contact arc to sign up and for meeting location coloma area suggested donation $10 mushroom presentation and walk saturday january 21st 10 am ­ 1 pm robert mackler an arc volunteer naturalist will offer this extended question and answer session to answer any and all questions you may have about mushrooms from history and culture to recipes and which mushrooms to avoid he ll have the answers there will be a showand-tell for participants who are asked to bring in whole mushroom specimens in good condition or good photos weather permitting we ll take a walk in the park to see living examples of fungi responsible teens and older welcome please call for meeting location coloma and to sign up cost $5/members $10/non-members our magnetic sun a daytime sun study saturday february 4th 10 11:30 am we have partnered again with the community observatory in placerville for this solar program on the magnetic field of the sun we ll study how magnetic activity affects our way of life on earth and how nuclear fusion inside the sun is the source of energy we use on earth we ll learn how to safely view the sun about the layers of the sun and the objects we can see there they will have two types of telescopes available a white light filter to see the true color of the sun and a hydrogen-alpha to view the photosphere layer ages 8 allowed to view telescopes rain or heavy clouds cancels contact arc to sign up half of proceeds will go back to the observatory suggested donation $10/adults $5/children pine needle basket making class saturday february 11th 9 am ­ 4 pm because of its popularity this is one of the few workshops that we bring back every year nettie fox arc member will lead this one-day workshop learn the technique of coiling and how to start a basket out of pine needles all materials will be provided 12 welcome w/adult supervision contact arc to sign up and for meeting location coloma area cost $35/members $45/nonmembers soapstone carving class saturday february 25th 10 am ­ 3 pm join james marquez and reveal your hidden talents while learning this ancient craft of soap stone carving no previous experience or abilities required everyone takes home their beautifully created sculpture please call for meeting location coloma area and to sign up cost $15/members $20/non-members the medicine wheel for nature lovers ­ 3-part class/lecture series fridays december 2 january 13 february 10th 6:30 ­ 8 pm tony h cervantes chichimeca has been working for over 30 years to protect and restore indigenous cultural constructs supportive of well people families clans tribes communities and nations and the sacred relationship with the natural and unseen worlds and all of creation tony specializes in indigenous traditional knowledge systems the medicine wheel and the behavioral components of addictions with a special emphasis on our relationship with the natural world tony enjoys being in nature road and mountain biking kayaking hiking and backpacking hot springs gardening and indigenous ceremony this workshop will start off with a definition of the medicine wheel and indigenous traditional knowledge systems we will take a look at how indigenous traditional knowledge is stored and taught and how indigenous cultures are cultures by design indigenous cultures are cultures by design because they are designed to ensure that people and the environment within which they live thrive through an interconnected web of relationships traditional science/medicine systems and resource management to benefit long-term sustainability we will also take a look at modern implications of itks responsible teens welcome please call for meeting location coloma area and to sign up cost $25/3 classes or $10/per class basics of energy permaculture ­ introduction spring classes to follow thursday january 5th 6:30-7:30 pm followed by q&a come learn about applying the basic twelve permaculture principles to reaping your own local renewable energy we ll go through site

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page 10 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february thank you captain americorps november marks the end of service for one of arc s most dedicated employees as the stewardship and outreach assistant from january to november tyler schade did an excellent job and proved a jack-of-alltrades from coordinating volunteers and doing trail work to appearing as captain compost at nature camp tyler exceeded our expectations and performed his job with a smile the american river conservancy will serve as a host site for another sierra nevada americorps member in 2012 but it will be impossible to replace tyler thank you tyler for all your dedication and hard work elena delacy dear arc community my americorps term of service comes to a close this november many know coloma for gold rush history or for the legendary river rapids during the past year however i got to also know coloma and its surrounding areas for the active caring community it possesses and for the tyler helps nature campers look for pond critters extraordinary staff the american river conservancy houses when i drive down lotus road and see mount murphy awakening as the sun warms its golden hillside i don t think of just the river or state park i think about the people of the valley and the historic kane house where the nature center resides when i began working at arc i thought i knew what they did some environmental education land trust and building trails right au contraire i was astonished at the amount of education programs and public programs offered the large events like trailfest and just how involved arc is in the community and the region i am thankful i was able to be a part of arc and of the coloma community for this brief year ­ it was fun rewarding and a great learning experience how many people can walk along the river on their lunch break or spend the morning leading hikes building trails or restoring environmental landscapes oh yes i will miss arc and all those involved with them here s to another successful 22 years sincerely tyler a schade stewardship and outreach assistant snap member program hike leaders thank you i am so thankful to all these great volunteers who had something to show us this fall we started a new program little hikes for little folks which brought in an incredible 25 participants on the first hike thank you to sarah canfield and elena delacy for leading these little ones many thanks to our amazing hike leaders tom petersen kay osborn tony cervantes donna orth marcia paulson and david rosen who led hikes on the stagecoach margaret and south fork trails along with knickerbocker ranch sugar pine reservoir and creatures of the night hikes we also had several docents lead an abundance of wakamatsu historical tours what a dedicated group of volunteers we have thank you to david girard vineyards starforge astronomy group fenton herriott winery and loping wolf flute clan who all volunteered their time to stargazing events this fall we also had mountain bike rides flute jams climate lectures a natural dye workshop a trekking poles class and an above the arctic circle presentation thank you tony cervantes mike ely and greg kiefer doug grandt anni redding jayah paley and john kipping you re all an amazing group of people to work with if you have an idea for a hike or program or would like to lead or teach one please contact julie@arconservancy.org or call 530-621-1224 photo by molly hucklebridge interested in sponsoring the current and estreams arc publishes 4 issues of the current and 12 monthly estreams per year contact noël robinson noel@arconservancy.org or 530-621-1224 for more details.

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page 11 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february summer wrap-up thank you for helping clean our rivers and streams tyler schade the nature principle book review by john giles 175 volunteers over 1,300 pounds of trash and recyclables and generous donations from our local community helped support four river cleanups this summer for the first three cleanups in july august and september arc partnered with el dorado county river patrol putting experienced paddlers on the south fork american river to pick up trash from normally inaccessible areas the most notable finds were a plethora of sunglasses a shopping cart waffle iron window blinds and lots of bottles and cans for the culminating cleanup on september th arc partnered with the el dorado resource 17 conservation district in the great sierra river cleanup which targeted multiple areas ­ folsom point salmon falls marshall gold discovery state historic park hangtown creek gold beach happy valley and somerset among the seven miles of river cleaned up we picked up over 3,000 cigarette butts a car fender couch cushion air compressor brokendown trampoline and a small figurine of the hindu deity ganesh at each cleanup we provided lunch for our hungry hard-working volunteers who gave us their time energy and support ­ thank you we would like to thank our sponsors and donors for providing food or materials and showing their support of arc s commitment to preserving our environment noah s ark placerville safeway el dorado hills and placerville raley s cameron park bel air el dorado hills nugget market folsom trader joe s loren gretchen sperber elena delacy deerhaven ranch smud waste connections sierra nevada house café mahjaic river shack marco s café sierra rizing coloma club coloma resort and the city of placerville in his most recent book the nature principle richard louv continues the exploration of the proper relationship between humans and nature that he began in last child in the woods together these books amount to volume 1 and volume ii of louv s encyclopedic survey of the activities organizations programs trends literature and people involved in or relating to what some refer to as the nature movement these books are invaluable guides to the issues surrounding a growing awareness of our place in nature and the place of nature in our lives while john muir urged us to go to the mountains and seek their glad tidings richard louv documents in his own experience as well as many others just how fundamental going to the mountains is to our physical mental social and spiritual health the full title of the book is itself instructive the nature principle human restoration and the end of nature-deficit disorder the obvious point is that we have started becoming more and more separated from the natural world as louv says by its broadest interpretation nature-deficit disorder is an atrophied awareness a diminished ability to find meaning in the life that surrounds us some of the symptoms are rising rates of obesity and attention-deficit hyper-activity diagnoses but louv is not as interested in these symptoms and diagnostic techniques as he is in the restoration of connectedness and balance between humans and the rest of the natural world and the profoundly transforming energies that result his book is divided into twenty-one chapters grouped into five parts consider the titles of a couple of those parts nature neurons intelligence creativity and the hybrid mind vitamin n tapping the power of the natural world for our physical emotional and family fitness and creating everyday eden high-tech high-nature design where we live work and play we have here an abundance of suggestions examples anecdotes and first-person accounts of how to remake and preserve our connections to nature we are entering the most creative period in history the twenty-first century will be the century of human restoration in the natural world

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page 12 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february getting youth out do it alice cantelow you ve heard the sad statistics today s kids are working the equivalent of a full-time job consuming media television video games cell phones computers 7 hours and 38 minutes every day on average according to a recent survey by the kaiser family foundation today kids spend less time riding bikes or playing outside than pass generations pickup sports games and self-directed outdoor play are becoming a distant memory how exactly do you get your kids outside what s the best way to engage them it s best if you can give your kids both structured and unstructured time in the outdoors be careful though team sports though valuable do not provide structured outdoor time they provide opportunity for teamwork and physical activity yes but standing out on the manicured grass waiting for a ball to come near doesn t really cut it as connecting with nature structured time like nature camp one of our kid programs a school field trip to a nature area a ranger hike in a park these are important because they provide a framework of understanding for kids through programs like these children learn the vocabulary of nature and ecology the intricacies and wonder of science in nature how to interact with animals and plants in their habitat and how to be a good steward but unstructured time is also critical children need time to just be in nature they need time to watch the clouds change their shapes to hear streams run through the rocks to sit and stare and feel to help them provide as uncluttered a schedule as possible you may even need to schedule down time but never underestimate its importance let them get their clothes dirty explore their yard and each insect inhabitant or watch the birds come to a feeder in the yard take a camping vacation or day in a local park and don t bring a bag loaded with activities leave the cell phones and other electronics behind and walk explore and enjoy the amazing world of the wild if this is all too foreign to you try the children s nature network website for ideas www.childrenandnature.org to introduce children to hiking start young even age one-and-a-half or two is great make the trip short and have a fun destination like a creek special tree or pond after age three don t carry them at all let them walk at their own pace even if it means waiting while they hug the flowers or climb every rock your patience will pay off as you find yourself later with nine-year-olds who can easily hike seven or eight miles to really bring the outdoors to your family go backpacking we found that four was the perfect age to start we tried two-and-a-half and found it a little too hard for us parents give them a tiny backpack i put straps on a pocket cut from an old daypack and let them carry something like their socks or underwear again never carry them we found that even a four-year-old can cover four miles if used to hiking and given enough time on the trail and plenty of exploring time the benefits of backpacking are tremendous kids learn the hard work of a difficult challenge like a steep pass and then the joy of the view and the hike down on the other side they learn to love living outdoors 24/7 without entertainment they learn that they really can get by with very little just be careful not to turn this into an athletic contest or push your kids further than they can enjoy so get outside and get your kids outside the benefits both physical and mental are absolutely enormous give your children and yourself a good dose of vitamin n for sale seasoned oak firewood from the gold hill wakamatsu ranch this wood is dry ready to burn as is it is cut into small 12-16 inch pieces call the nature center for pick up dates out at the ranch sorry delivery is not an option at this time 530-621-1224 $225/cord smaller quantities available thank you for providing our daughter an amazing experience at nature camp last week thank you for making it a very special opportunity to listen learn and experience nature in an exciting and constructive way she loved every minute of it parent 4 5 year-old nature camp

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page 13 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february eddies volunteering in fall 2011 thank you to our friendly volunteers a big part and heart of arc s education programs are the volunteers this fall cathy ciofalo assisted 3 rd and 4th graders at a nest nature exploring for students and teachers program at lake forest elementary in garden valley bart escovedo polly escovedo kathie matto and ann travaglini stepped up and oversaw an arc booth at the georgetown kids expo they impressed local youngsters with their inviting personalities and their creative skills at the build a watershed model one georgetown resident approximately ten-years-old boasted that they were the friendliest and most inviting of all the tables thanks thanks to the nature center volunteers pat monzo diane ferriera and wendy guglieri doni mae and carol bailey for garden maintenance and to all the wakamatsu docents for all the public and private tours the following is a list of volunteers for fall 2011 thank you aguilar juline allen ed and joanne allyn cathy and carl anderson sean andert julie andrews kevin arce brandon armstrong tristyn arthur loren asano jeffrey bahro alex bailey carol bair bonnie bandy nancy trenton and ethan banes matthew bean mike below aaron besan thiaa billey monica blackmore elizabeth luke randy blanscet cassie boyes lynee bob and becca boyle maria brown dawn brunius alison buchar wendy buhlert patty burke jacob callaway danny calvin jennifer canfield sarah cantelow alice carlisle jolie glen and elizabeth carpender vivian and tom carr liz and rod carter eric carter kelsey cervantes tony chatman emma and sheri chinh laura chu tiffany ciofalo cathy clark james clement alison and judy coen andrew and matt cooney mike costello dean cox stacy cramer anna david sherrie cromwell molly cullop walter dahms margretta dallam pat dalton robert davis ryan delacy elena diaz michael dodson brandy dotson michael downey jacob duncan nikki dwyer matthew dyer marilyn echavarria coral edwards laurie ehrgott alan and cindi engell ann erickson sarah escovedo bart and polly evans pam and loyd facino maddie fellows andrew michael ferreira diane fitch sean fox-humphreys lauren franklyn madison frawley griffin gaines ted gavin robbert geggatt joanne gersteinberger oscar giles john gossett judith graham lee grandt doug gregory andy and aundrea griffin aldred saleon guglieri wendy halper mike hansen bob hanses myrna harris michele hazard nancy hebenstreit james heinz candice henry alice her malina herrera armando hoffman amy hommai corrin horenberger kylie horton joanne hostetler lance hoyt ann and jerry huber caitlyn hucklebridge molly humphreys penny huynh cynthia hyman rob hytonen martin idzkowski daniel imanaka michael jensen candice bill johnson chris belinda cody and dehvan joy akio juan dina kaiser jaycee kent ryan kerns kelly ketelle liz kiefer greg kientz rich killons jacob king larry jessica and jennifer klein clarence kraus nicole lafrentz jessica lee regina leek carla leimbach julie levenson kathy and skyler lidane awet ling mo-kang llbar reanaldo lopez jose mack shannon mae doni margherita dina marquez melissa martin bev matin susie matsumoto cindi matto kathie may alexander mccann thomas mcdowell candice mcdowell jennifer and josh mchatton shannon mcmanus maria meadows steve michelson dan mills matthew minch cody mitchell lamont mizuhara-smith teri monzo pat mori micah mulligan hilary mutimer max tata myllymaki kalle niko nagao arielle nall shawman naymark allandenis nedrich matt sara nguyen elaine nogueda julie oakes paul oberlander marty olson jessie orth donna ortiz evelyn yatziry osborn kay owens megan shelly padilla brandon melissa page mark payley jayah parga anthony park esther patel ashni and jigar paulson marcia peng alice petersen tom peterson nickolas petree kim phillips caitlin pope mitchell and joshua pras sopharry pratsinak george quach henry quidachay grant karen ragle frances rand bonnie and jim redding anni renaud kaylee reyes michel richardson jake and sarah robinson noel rocha de chavez edith rocke elizabeth rockwell ann rojas igdalia rulon sarah sanford linda schade tyler scheiderer ryan schmidt nikki schneider sara sheth palak smith julie smith william snyder aidan soares ryan sorocco carla souza michael speck joseph sundquist midori and walker symons rachel tam annie tanimoto herb tigue lauren toon diana travaglini ann triplett noah tull deb vail scott and vicky van camp jane vanitollebeke amy vardanega ron vastola kati velarde cynthia vierra ali villegas iii carlos walker annie walton katy whitaker lisa widroe greg and jane williams ann williams-schade kathryn wilson matthew winkler nora wood colleen wortmann joseph wright carolyn jeremy wu chun-ting wurtz michael wyman mari young amanda yousef alshaijhi abdulmohsen thank you so much for today we just started homeschooling and are looking for local educational opportunities i was very impressed by the way you [alice were prepared organized and kept the talk interesting by breaking up the indoor lectures with outdoor discovery also weaving in a game or two kept our 5 year old boys well engaged homeschool parent arc homeschool tuesday program attendee

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page 14 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february why i give to the american river conservancy thank you for your support of the american river conservancy i love this river i love this valley and love the foothills this morning i got to do something wonderful i went for a walk on the magnolia ranch down greenwood creek with 15 kids aged 3-10 we found rocks and feathers and beetles and leaves the walk was led by arc volunteer sarah canfield and it was on land that has been preserved by the american river conservancy this would not have happened without the support you have given the conservancy over the past 20 years thank you i grew up in the east bay in the 60 s camping seeing the outdoors and concern for the environment were not part of my family s tradition environmental education was a term that probably wasn t invented yet but i got lucky in 1968 when i was eight years old my parents decided to send me to camp in colorado at that camp they had a whitewater rafting program from my first trip down the upper colorado i knew this is what i was meant to do i loved the river i loved the water i loved the canyon i kept going back to that camp summer after summer i first came to the south fork canyon 35 years ago when i was 16 i had learned to kayak and learned to drive i wasn t really that good at either on our first trip down the south fork my high school friends and i portaged meatgrinder swam all the other rapids and managed to put tons of cracks in our fiberglass kayaks but we kept coming back coming here to the foothills was a respite for me a respite from a busy east bay i kept coming back over the years back to the south fork back to the cosumnes and all the other rivers in the foothills it was always a respite i used to say that a weekend up at the river felt like a week vacation back in the mid-seventies when we drove home from the gorge salmon falls road dead ended at green valley road there was no mercedes dealership in el dorado hills there was no best buy in folsom or auburn over the years we have seen the huge development of the foothills ­ but through the efforts of the american river conservancy and its partnership with public agencies this canyon the north fork canyon and cosumnes river canyon remain pristine they look largely the same as they did during my first kayak adventures 35 years ago they will still be there for us for our children and our grandchildren to enjoy at arc we do two things we preserve land for future generations and we educate the environmentalists of the future why are these things important i found my answer last week as i read the student evaluations of the epic sierra education program that arc runs during the summer this is a two week environmental education and service program for high school students i would like to share some of the things the students said in answer to the question what did you learn about water and land conservation one young man wrote ­ i learned a lot about both but the thing that i will take away the most is the ability we have to actively participate in conservation and make a difference for our futures what have you learned about wilderness a young woman named cara wrote our few remaining preserves need to be cherished the wilderness is a place for us to rediscover that which makes us human such places should be guarded for future generations cara s comments touch my heart this is why i give to the american river conservancy i know that the investment i make to the arc is not for next week next month or next year ­it is forever i can walk through the oak forests of cronan ranch with my children and know that my children will be able to walk there with their children and their children s children long after i am gone the investment we make in environmental education for our children also goes on forever every child that walks the trails here or makes a leaf rubbing begins to know nature his or her perception of the world we live in is altered permanently it is our children that will keep the conversation for conservation alive with your help and the help of hundreds of others we have had tremendous success-and there is still more to do together we have raised $70 million dollars and have preserved 12,000 acres of natural habit and there is still more to do there are over 8,000 acres in the american and cosumnes watersheds that still need to be protected there is more to do together we have educated more than 65,000 kids and adults and there is more to do there are over 52 million school age kids in our nation there is more to do thank you for listening to my stories i hope you will join me in supporting arc in making an investment to preserve our open space and an investment for our children s futures arc board member greg widroe speech given at a recent event

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page 15 the current winter 2011-2012 december january february thank you american river conservancy fall supporters challenge fund donations robinson noel seth carpenter john normadine jorgensen gregory pratt patricia parvis john emmett wendi jensen ileen barbour sandra drouin lola bertram anderson cliff clark steven lora collins clint leuze eric raquel zelinsky david andrew gary jane cantelow alice noble patty jack loffelbein ruthie walker scott linda krogsrud john domitrovich deborah camp lotus flaherty michael lynn perry erin melnicoe pete jan lee jeffrey barbara perpall lorna schneid tracy van horssen steve stohr philip and jan anderson james jacquelyn family trust robinson thomas mary placerville bike shop wilson kenneth and gail mother lode chiropractic gordon mary dotson chester shirley rulison et jean mcvicar john theresa seivert kerstin gray s.a pierroz bert fisher william shirley gangursky helen hodges steve jeanine turoff carla kite bubba michelle killebrew karen steve andert julie stephen remillard suzanne giles mary lou rhoades alney humphreys penny quirk jennifer sanford linda sorensen ken maureen prager kenneth karole gossett judith bean michael dawn schwartz kendall sara ciofalo catherine tributary whitewater tours rand james brucia robert chris alexander thomas parvis john beaulaurier diane decarlo maria underwood scott catherine poinski claude dianne leimbach julie barrow randy karen boyer patricia damer michael egerton robert angela vail scott vicky delacy elena p frevert kathleen holmes richard woolston kym patricia waldrond cece dorris norman carol rand james dorithy sherry vitagliano john ghilotti sue seivert thomas lloyd deanna hoeppner-freitas jacqueline heatherly linda freeman robert lennore geggatt allen joanne cambridge christine rutherford katie loma prieta paddlers nevins marcile steven evans steven de aquino manuel yee jo ann a-total fire protection co williamson kitty koldinger ralph matthiesen peter weaver judy meyer eugene teri moore larry lynne franck marion robert lew pingle dr ray jana perrone michael foothill hikers anderson thomas terry layton jane holler harris marielena mcintosh scott sperber loren gregg stephen t oliver antonio layton jane holler harris marielena mcintosh scott starns jean roberts pamela layton jane holler harris marielena granite bay flycasters petrofsky joseph margrit mcintosh scott fisher janice general donation/in-kind holler harris marielena mcintosh scott sperber loren gregg stephen t oliver antonio layton jane holler harris marielena roberts pamela granite bay flycasters petrofsky joseph margrit mcintosh scott fisher janice wakamatsu donations funada junichi yoshiko nishimura karen lux brian celia gerhard marilyn leong yuko dunk nancy ai-ennikkei services inc gudeman mary hughes hodges steve jeanine margolin malcolm tull debra ryugo kay dewerk jill mizuhara albert new members gallardo frank coco dale bryant mike sue mengelkoch joan leuze eric raquel krogsrud john domitrovich deborah schneid tracy van horssen steve hao bunseng saroya magneson charles celio tracy mccallick carlo oliver lee tj killian sallie ann hood james karen parkko amy gollihur gregory blair margolin malcolm starrett gwen doss steve robinson george anglin caryne owens dee posey gayle gibson-smith susan renewing members smart robert c.b bennett betty de aquino manuel ridgeway robert sanford linda daniels john joanne meadows karlen doherty stephanie carroll bryan keely delacy elena p anderson m jean embody c.b la rue scarlet rudolph william sheila mcdonald linda gorman stephen ridgeway chris jensen ileen cutter ralph applebaum david elaine pedersen thomas sherri martinez tenley feagans virginia perpall lorna roberts april pierroz bert kosters jean hodges steve jeanine piper dave wilson pat mckeegan bonnie james dotson michael neal lori a sorensen ken maureen seliga barbara thomas berro denise cromwell molly dalton robert tributary whitewater tours rand james giniel john joan underwood scott catherine covington woody suzanne egerton robert angela frevert kathleen militello vincent clark connie lundgren lee doris lloyd kyle leimbach eric tucker jennifer slimmer max castro tom julie tull debra yost wilbur sarah kaznowski jan allyn c bombe linda dulaney cherry jensen william candice cornell john robert harris michele andrew hori mike gamo marguerite denega michael susan shop locally this holiday season our nature center has a variety of titles fiel new cane house note-cards dg uid es trail maps y stor hi al tur na coffee table books see below for store hours the american river conservancy is located in the american river nature center inside the marshall gold discovery state historic park at 348 hwy 49 coloma ca the nature center book store are open to the public thursday thru sunday from 11 am-3 pm our offices are open to volunteers and supporters monday thru friday from 9 am-5 pm and weekends from 11 am-3 pm we can be reached by phone at 530 621-1224 or online at www.arconservancy.org nature center will be closed for christmas and new years holidays!

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