Our speakers for our summer meetings have had a common theme—dark skies and the benefits of natural lighting. In June, Cindy Luongo Cassi- dy, from International Dark Skies Texas, shared infor- mation about the need for natural darkness and how increased lighting impacts sleep, reproduction of animals such as turtles and pollinators, and even illness. She provided useful suggestions to help us help our communities and encouraged us to participate in next year’s Texas Night Sky Festival. In July, Matt Lara, from the Hill Country Alliance, high- lighted the following big concerns: sky glow, glare, light trespass, and color temp/spectrum. He shared AMA recommendations that we avoid blue lights, since the disruption of sleep pat- terns on humans and wildlife is well noted, and disease is being linked with sleep dis- turbances. He also explained DOE’s standardized label information. Both speakers urged us to learn more and get involved. Dark Skies: How Lighting Affects Us From the President I hope you are enjoying some summer fun in the sun or trying to stay cool by the pool. As fall approaches I want you all to start considering what type of volunteer work you might like to pursue. Check out a project or two. Our chapter has some ex- citing projects underway, and your help is needed! The first one I want to tell you about is the ongoing Preserve Trail Project led by Kenneth and Amanda. This project will have you working hard at clearing trails, moving rocks, bridges and whatever else you may find. There are other trail projects to get involved in, as well. Jen Weaver is leading the Creation Connection Trail Project, in which she is designing a new public trail on the Concordia grounds. She is in need of a spe- cies lists and general marketing of the trail. Contact Jen or Dr. Whitehead to learn how to get involved. Due to the success of this year’s Earth Day Celebration, we will begin on the next Earth Fair and Festival. This one will require a lot of emailing and general or- ganizing. I am project lead on this one if you would like to join me so please let me know. Lastly, our newest project is the Arbor Project led by Theresa. The goal: to certify Concordia as an official arbor. If you en- joy identifying plants and trees, then this is the project for you! If none of these satisfy your volunteer itch, remember you can always start your own pro- ject. Simply fill out the form online and send it to John (the Volunteer Service Superman). With all these new and exciting projects we will be starting on in the fall, I almost want sum- mer to be over... almost. — Kaitlyn Rodriguez Balcones Canyonlands Chapter at Concordia University TX Summer, 2016 Save the Date! 08/9/16—Chapter Meeting at Concordia 08/15/16—Registration Dead- line 09/8/16—New Class Begins 09/13/16—Chapter Meeting at Concordia Dark Skies 1 From the President 1 Waller Creek Project Update 2 Fun Facts About Arma- dillos 2 Cochineal—An Insect to Dye For? 3 Salamanders at Work: Walnut Creek Park 4 Apps for Nature Enthu- siasts 4 Native Plant Highlight 5 Annual Meeting 6 Officers & Committee Heads 6 Inside this issue: Milky Way—Texas, from the Hill Country Alliance
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Dark Skies: How Lighting Affects Ustxmn.org/balcones/files/2015/03/Vol-2_Issue-4-Summer-2016.pdf · benefits of natural lighting. concerns: sky glow, glare, In June, Cindy Luongo
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Transcript
Our speakers for our summer
meetings have had a common
theme—dark skies and the
benefits of natural lighting.
In June, Cindy Luongo Cassi-
dy, from International Dark
Skies Texas, shared infor-
mation about the need for
natural darkness and how
increased lighting impacts
sleep, reproduction of animals
such as turtles and pollinators,
and even illness. She provided
useful suggestions to help us
help our communities and
encouraged us to participate
in next year’s Texas Night Sky
Festival.
In July, Matt Lara, from the
Hill Country Alliance, high-
lighted the following big
concerns: sky glow, glare,
light trespass, and color
temp/spectrum. He shared
AMA recommendations that
we avoid blue lights, since
the disruption of sleep pat-
terns on humans and wildlife
is well noted, and disease is
being linked with sleep dis-
turbances. He also explained
DOE’s standardized label
information.
Both speakers urged us to
learn more and get involved.
Dark Skies: How Lighting Affects Us
From the President
I hope you are enjoying some
summer fun in the sun or trying
to stay cool by the pool. As fall
approaches I want you all to
start considering what type of
volunteer work you might like to
pursue. Check out a project or
two. Our chapter has some ex-
citing projects underway, and
your help is needed!
The first one I want to tell you
about is the ongoing Preserve
Trail Project led by Kenneth and
Amanda. This project will have
you working hard at clearing
trails, moving rocks, bridges and
whatever else you may find.
There are other trail projects to
get involved in, as well. Jen
Weaver is leading the Creation
Connection Trail Project, in
which she is designing a new
public trail on the Concordia
grounds. She is in need of a spe-
cies lists and general marketing
of the trail. Contact Jen or Dr.
Whitehead to learn how to get
involved.
Due to the success of this year’s
Earth Day Celebration, we will
begin on the next Earth Fair and
Festival. This one will require a
lot of emailing and general or-
ganizing. I am project lead on
this one if you would like to join
me so please let me know.
Lastly, our newest project is the
Arbor Project led by Theresa.
The goal: to certify Concordia
as an official arbor. If you en-
joy identifying plants and trees,
then this is the project for you!
If none of these satisfy your
volunteer itch, remember you
can always start your own pro-
ject. Simply fill out the form
online and send it to John (the
Volunteer Service Superman).
With all these new and exciting
projects we will be starting on
in the fall, I almost want sum-
mer to be over... almost.
— Kaitlyn Rodriguez
B a l c o n e s C a n y o n l a n d s C h a p t e r a t C o n c o r d i a U n i v e r s i t y T X S u m m e r , 2 0 1 6
Save the Date!
08/9/16—Chapter Meeting at Concordia 08/15/16—Registration Dead-line 09/8/16—New Class Begins 09/13/16—Chapter Meeting at Concordia