Friends of Creamer’s Field Winter 2009 NewsletterField Notes P .O. Box 81065 F airbanks , AK 99708 907-452-5162 creamer s@ptial aska.net creamer seld.o rg Our Mission Friends of Creamer’s Field is a community based, non- profit organization dedicated to providing educational, historical, and interpretive programs throughout the yearat Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. Inside this issue Annual Picnic ....... ............. 4 Calendar of Events ........... 3 Camp Habitat .................... 9 Help Needed ..................... 4 Kids Nut ty Chat ter ............ 5 Membership Form ............ 9 Outdoor Almanac .......... .. 10 Preschool Program ... ........ 3 Quilt Rafe Winner........... 4 Recent Ev ents .................. 6 Thank You ....... ............ 7 & 8 Visitor Center Hours ......... 2 Winter Trail Use ................ 2 Wish List ........................... 2 Go Green for the Holidays! Annual Green Holiday Sale at the Alaska Bird Observatory Saturday, December 5 th , 10 am–5:30 pm F riends of Creamer’s Field will again team up with the Alaska Bird Observat ory and the Northern Alaska Environmental Center for the third annual Green Holiday Sale! This has become a very popular annual event and is a g reat way to get some holiday shop - ping done while supporting local environmental organizations! The sale will take place at the Alaska Bird Observatory at 418 Wedgewood Drive on Saturday, December 5 th , 10 am–5:30pm. Photographer Jim Davis, artist Chuck Leake with antler sculpture, Girl Scout Troop 220 with home-made bird feeders, and Last Frontier Distrib utors with honey and seeds will also be joining the sale this year. Many unique nature-themed gifts as well as gift memberships will be available for purchase, and you can also nd out more about the par ticipating organi - zations while you enjo y hot drinks and snacks. All sales benet the participating organizations and families are welcome. This year’s Green Holiday Sale is the same day as the Farmer’s Market Bazaar , so plan to visit both and get something for every one on your gift list! The Creamer’s Field Tree Lighting and Caroling program will take place after the Green Holiday Sale at 6 pm at Creamer’s Field. The tree lighting will be followed by hot drinks and cook- ies in the Farmhouse Visitor Center. Pass the Hat Program Benets Nonprots T he Fairbanks Concert Association (FCA) in partnership with the North Star Community Fo undation (NSCF) are teaming up to offer a giving opportunity that supports local nonprots and enhances our community . Friends of Creamer’s Field is participating in this exciting program and we hope that you will support us by Passing the Hat! At every FCA concert during the 2009-10 season, you will be able to earmark a gift to Friends of Creamer’s Field and NSCF will match your contr ibution! So, if you giv e $100, NSCF matches it to make $200 going to Friends, AND FCA gets $100. Your dona - tion dollars are tripled and you hav e supported both Friends of Creamer’s Field and the Fairbanks Concert Association! Spread the Word, Give, & Build Community ! Use the envelopes provided at Fairbanks Concert Association concerts, donate by credit card or check and leave them in the hat in the lobby. FCA’s next concert is the Eileen Ivers Holiday Concert on Sunday, November 29 th , at 4 pm in the Hering A uditorium. This is a great opportunity for end of year giving! W e hope you will Pass the Hat! F or concert information, tickets and more information about Pass the Hat, contact the Fairbanks Concert Association at 474-8081 or fairbanksconcert.org . Annual lighting of the big spruce tree December 5 th . Photo by Ken Whitten
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8/8/2019 Winter 2009 Field Notes Newsletter, Friends of Creamer's Field
historical, and interpretiveprograms throughout the year at Creamer’s Field Migratory
Waterfowl Refuge.
Inside this issueAnnual Picnic .................... 4
Calendar of Events ........... 3
Camp Habitat .................... 9
Help Needed ..................... 4
Kids Nutty Chatter ............ 5
Membership Form ............ 9
Outdoor Almanac ............ 10
Preschool Program ........... 3
Quilt Rafe Winner ........... 4
Recent Events .................. 6
Thank You ................... 7 & 8
Visitor Center Hours ......... 2
Winter Trail Use ................ 2
Wish List ........................... 2
Go Green for the Holidays!Annual Green Holiday Sale at the Alaska Bird Observatory
Saturday, December 5th, 10 am–5:30 pm
Friends of Creamer’s Field will again team up with the Alaska Bird Observatory andthe Northern Alaska Environmental Center for the third annual Green Holiday Sale
This has become a very popular annual event and is a great way to get some holiday shop
ping done while supporting local environmental organizations! The sale will take placeat the Alaska Bird Observatory at 418 Wedgewood Drive on Saturday, December 5th, 10am–5:30pm. Photographer Jim Davis, artist Chuck Leake with
antler sculpture, Girl Scout Troop 220 with home-made birdfeeders, and Last Frontier Distributors with honey and seeds willalso be joining the sale this year. Many unique nature-themedgifts as well as gift memberships will be available for purchase,
and you can also nd out more about the participating organi-zations while you enjoy hot drinks and snacks. All sales benetthe participating organizations and families are welcome. Thisyear’s Green Holiday Sale is the same day as the Farmer’s Market
Bazaar, so plan to visit both and get something for everyone onyour gift list!
The Creamer’s Field Tree Lighting and Caroling program will
take place after the Green Holiday Sale at 6 pm at Creamer’sField. The tree lighting will be followed by hot drinks and cook-ies in the Farmhouse Visitor Center.
Pass the Hat Program Benets Nonprots
The Fairbanks Concert Association (FCA) in partnership
with the North Star Community Foundation (NSCF) areteaming up to offer a giving opportunity that supports local
nonprots and enhances our community. Friends of Creamer’s Field is participating inthis exciting program and we hope that you will support us by Passing the Hat!
At every FCA concert during the 2009-10 season, you will be able to earmark a gift
to Friends of Creamer’s Field and NSCF will match your contribution! So, if you give$100, NSCF matches it to make $200 going to Friends, AND FCA gets $100. Your dona
tion dollars are tripled and you have supported both Friends of Creamer’s Field and theFairbanks Concert Association!
Spread the Word, Give, & Build Community! Use the envelopes provided at FairbanksConcert Association concerts, donate by credit card or check and leave them in the hat
in the lobby. FCA’s next concert is the Eileen Ivers Holiday Concert on Sunday,November 29th, at 4 pm in the Hering Auditorium. This is a great opportunityfor end of year giving! We hope you will Pass the Hat! For concert information,tickets and more information about Pass the Hat, contact the Fairbanks Concert
Association at 474-8081 or fairbanksconcert.org.
Annual lighting of the bigspruce tree December 5th.
Photo by Ken Whitte
8/8/2019 Winter 2009 Field Notes Newsletter, Friends of Creamer's Field
This issue of Field Notes wasproduced by Mary Zalar.
Tax ID# 92-0137107
Farmhouse Visitor Center
Winter Hours
The Visitor Center and Gift Shoplocated in the historic Creamer’
Farmhouse is open on Saturdayfrom Noon until 4 pm. Come on inafter a walk or ski to warm up witha hot drink. The entryway to the
Farmhouse is always open and is oneplace to go for information on upcoming programs, trail guides, and trai
condition information. The trails are
always open!If you are interested in volunteering in the Visitor Center, please call th
ofce at 452-5162. Training sessionwill be offered every month throughout the winter.
Friends’ Wish List
Please stop by the Farmhouse orcall us at 452-5162 to donate th
following:• a working baby monitor• birdseed• crane, bird, or wildlife themed cot
ton fabrics for potholdersWe’re also looking for members withwood working skills to• design and build a new donation
box for the Farmhouse entryway• repair our two crane signs for the
Visitor Center• repair four owl boxes.
Skiing, mushing, skijoring, snowshoe-ing, walking, snowmachining, and
trapping are just a few of the activitiesthat folks do at Creamer’s Field in the
winter.
Skiers and skijorers make use of theve miles of groomed trails throughoutthe winter months. The Alaska Skijor-
ing and Pulk Association (ASPA) has aseasonal use permit to post signs andgroom the trails on the Refuge. ASPA
volunteers groom the trails twice a week,weather permitting, and more oftenwhen it snows. These volunteers also rollthe walking trails after heavy snows. If
you and your pet have never tried skijor-
ing, the ASPA offers clinics for beginnershere on the Refuge. See http://sleddog.org/skijor for more information.
Cross country skiing is great here atthe Refuge—especially for beginnersand families. Trails are not tracked for
classic skiing, but with so many peopleskiing, it is easy to nd a set of tracks tofollow across the elds. Skate skiers canuse the ASPA groomed multi-use trails.
Skiing is not allowed at any time on theBoreal Forest Trail.
Many snowshoers, walkers and jog-gers also take advantage of the Refuge’sgreat central location for exercise duringthe short daylight hours. Dog ownersare particularly fond of the wide-open
spaces that Creamer’s Field providesin the winter and share the trails with joggers, mushers, and skijorers. Dogsmust be kept on a leash even during the
winter months to ensure the safety of other Refuge users, especially skijorers.
A loose dog can be very unpredictable.Snow machines are allowed on Cream-er’s Refuge, and although they provide agreat way to see the trails, speed is verydangerous. You never know when a skier,
hiker, snowshoer, or dog team is aroundthe very next corner, and snowmachinesmust allow other users the right of way.The snow machine policy is: “Slow is
safe.” Machines should travel under 20mph and ensure enough time to stop and
let other users enjoy Creamer’s Fieldin a safe, comfortable way. Snowma
chines should also respect establishedskijoring trails and not cross them ifat all possible. Four wheelers are not
allowed on any part of the Refuge atany time.
If you have not experiencedCreamer’s Refuge in the winter, we
encourage you to venture out andenjoy the well-maintained trails, thebeautiful scenery, birds, animals, andsunshine!
Winter Trail Use at Creamer’s FieldBy Melissa Sikes
Dogmushing at Creamer’s Field.
8/8/2019 Winter 2009 Field Notes Newsletter, Friends of Creamer's Field
All events are free and located at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl
Refuge unless otherwise noted. Donations are graciously accepted.Call 452-5162 for more information.
Thanksgiving for the Birds ProgramSaturday, November 28th, Noon–4:00 pm
Join us for our annual family fun event! We will be make bird feedersout of recycled materials, and you can learn about our winter birds inFairbanks. Program is drop-in any time during the hours stated.
Star Party, Saturday, November 28th, 7:00 pm
Sponsored by the Fairbanks Astronomical Unit, the big telescope will
be out for general star viewing and the Farmhouse Visitor Center will beopen for hot drinks.
Green Holiday Sale
Saturday, December 5th, 10:00 am–5:30 pm
Join us for the 3rd annual Green Holiday Sale at the Alaska Bird Ob-servatory. Friends joins other local environmental agencies in offering
environmentally friendly and themed gifts. Proceeds support our orga-nizations.
Annual Lighting of the Spruce Tree
Saturday, December 5th, 6–8:00 pm
Join us for the annual lighting of the big spruce tree and caroling followed
by cookies and hot drinks in the warmth of the historic Farmhouse!
Holiday Open House
Saturdays December 5th, 12th, and 19th Noon –4:00 pm.
Join us for family fun at our annual open houses. We will be making holidayornaments and crafts using natural materials in the Farmhouse VisitorCenter. Program is drop-in any time during the hours stated.
Winter Solstice Walk
Saturday December 19th, 1–3:00 pm (walk begins at 1:15)
Come celebrate the joys of winter with a walk on the Refuge trails to cel-ebrate the changing of the seasons or specically when the sun is lowest inthe sky and we experience the shortest days of the year. Join us after thewalk for cookies and hot drinks! Meet at the Farmhouse Visitor Center.
Winter Nature Walk/Track Casting Program
Saturday January 16th, 1–4:00 pm (walk begins at 1:30 pm)
Join us for an afternoon of exploring the Refuge and learning about ani-mal tracks and signs. Participants will also make plaster casts of animaltracks.
Annual Winter Field Party
Saturday February 13th, Noon–4 pm
Join us for an afternoon of free winter fun out in the eld. Snowshoes fromBeaver Sports will be on hand for folks to try. The waterfowl pond clos-est to the Farmhouse will be cleared off for an afternoon of skating fun.Bring your skates and skis! Hot drinks will be available and the Farmhouse
Visitor Center will be open for warming up after skating.
✁
Preschool Nature
Discovery Program
W
e are continuing to offer thePreschool Nature Discovery
Program. This program is designedfor children ages 3-5 and is meantto instill a love of nature and theenvironment through reading books,
participating in a variety of funactivities, and direct contact withnature through walks on the Refuge.Creamer’s Field intern Shannon
Pearce will continue to organize andlead this program, but we are lookingfor someone who is willing to take over
from her starting next semester. If you are interested, give us a call.
The Preschool Program will takeplace on the second Thursday of
every month from 1–2:30 pm at theCreamer’s Field Farmhouse VisitorCenter. The cost is $3 per child andreservations are required as there is
a maximum of 15 children per classCall 452-5162 for reservations.
Dates & Themes:
December 10
SnowakesJanuary 14 Owls in the WinterFebruary 11 Birdfeeders
March 11 Animal TracksApril 8 GeeseMay 13 PondsJune 10 Mosquitoes
July 8 CranesAugust 12 Leaves
September 9 Camoauge
Make a bird feeder out of recycled materials at Thanksgiving for the Birds.
Photo by Melissa Sike
8/8/2019 Winter 2009 Field Notes Newsletter, Friends of Creamer's Field
Brenda Sadler, center, is presented the Gail Mayo Volunteer
of the Year award by Friends of Creamer’s Field DirectorsMelissa Sikes and Alexis Runstadler. Photo by Joy Morrison
Annual Membership Picnic
This year’s membership picnic was held on Thursday,September 17th. All who attended enjoyed lovely
weather, good food, and good company under our newevent tent in the picnic area. After a very short busi-
ness meeting in which all of the current and new Boardmembers were ratied by a vote of the membership, pastBoard members were thanked by Board President Roxie
Creamer. Alexis presented local architect Patty Peirsolwith an honorary lifetime membership for her work withthe Historic Buildings Committee.
Alexis and Melissa thanked the 2009 volunteers and
presented the Gail Mayo Volunteer of the Year Awardto Brenda Sadler. Brenda is a long-time volunteer forboth Friends of Creamer’s Field programs and in theVisitor Center. She also coordinated the brunches for
this year’s Design Alaska Wild Arts Walk and the CraneFestival. The Gail Mayo Volunteer of the Year Award ispresented annually to one or two volunteers who have
made an outstanding contribution of time and energy
to Friends of Creamer’s Field. The lovely plaque listingthe winners hangs in the back room of the Farmhouse.Our deepest thanks and congratulations to Brenda and
all of our 2009 volunteers. The evening concluded withthe door prize drawings. Door prize winners were BettyCarlson, Pat DeRuyter, Cathie Harms, and Jane Sellin.
Members’ Help Needed on
Committees
We are looking for members to join the following Friendsof Creamer’s Field committees. All of our commit-
tees meet in the Farmhouse and are made up of Friends of
Creamer’s Field Board Members, staff, and members. Call
us at the ofce at 452-5162 for more information.• Spring Migration Celebration planning committee meets
January through May once a month for an hour with an
additional 2-3 hour time commitment closer to the eventwhich occurs at the beginning of May.
• Design Alaska Wild Arts Walk planning committee meets
January through June once a month for an hour with anadditional 2-3 hour time commitment closer to the eventwhich occurs at the beginning of June.
• Crane Festival planning committee meets year-round once
a month for an hour with an additional 2-3 hour time
commitment closer to the event which occurs at the endof August.• Fundraising & Membership committee meets year-round
once a month for an hour to plan and coordinate Friendsof Creamer’s Field fundraising efforts.
• Camp Habitat Advisory Board meets year-round once a
month for two hours with an additional participation in2-3 publicity or fundraising events for Camp Habitat.
Quilt Rafe
T
he quilt rafe drawing was held on Sunday, August23rd at the end of Crane Festival. This year’s lovely
almost king-sized quilt was created and donated by SherryLewis and Jude Czopek. Jamie DeVries graciously donatedthe quilting. This year’s qulit rafe winner was BarbaraMcLaughlin of Oakland, California. Congratulations toBarbara and thank you to Sherry, Jude, Jamie, and all of
the ticket holders. The annual quilt rafe is one of Friendsof Creamer’s Field’s most successful fundraisers.
Memorialize a Bench at
Creamer’s Field
Dedicate one of our newly installed benches at Creamer’s
Field to special people or loved ones. We will workwith you to design a cast bronze plaque, to be installed on abench in an area of the Refuge that you select. Benches for
memorializing are currently available along the margins ofthe west viewing eld, along the Farm Road Trail, and onthe Boreal Forest Trail. A donation of $1,000 to Friends ofCreamer’s Field is requested in order to have a new memoria
plaque made and installed on the bench you have selectedPlease contact Alexis at 452-5162 if you are interested intaking advantage of this opportunity.
8/8/2019 Winter 2009 Field Notes Newsletter, Friends of Creamer's Field
Winter Birds in Interior Alaska Not too many bird species spend the winter here in interior Alaska. Those that do can
usually be attracted to a well kept feeder. Bird feeding is a great way to learn about thewildlife in your neighborhood, but you should be a responsible bird feeder. Here aresome tips:
Keep your feeders clean! – Wash once a month with a 10% bleach solution.
Window Collisions – Break up the reflection with decals, mobiles or raptor shaped cut-outs.
Quality Food – Be sure to feed high energy foods such as black-oil sunflower seed, thistle seed, or suet. Avoid seed mixes with mostly millet (small roundyellow ball-shaped seeds) as they have little nutritional value. Avoid feeding them
bread, as it has little nutritional value and will fill their stomachs but cause themto starve.
Remove When Winter is Over – Take your feeders down in the spring when the
insects return. Most winter birds eat insects in the summer, and can readily find
this delicious energy source.
A Fun and Unique Winter Bird Feeder You Can Make1. Make toast in toaster.2. Cut toast with cookie cutter.
3. Spread either peanut butter or
shortening on the toast cutout.4. Place cutout into tray of birdseed to
coat it.5. Attach a piece of string, yarn or
ribbon for hanging. Try unbending a paper clip and fashion it into a
needle. Thread with string and poke ahole at least 1” from the edge. Knot
Become a member of Friends of Creamer’s Field, make a donation, or renew your membership.(Please check the renewal date in the corner of your mailing label.)
qNew Member qRenewal qDonation $______
q$15 Students & Seniors q$20 Individual q$40 Family q$75 Supporter
Camp Habitat is Huge SuccessBy Adele Wiejaczka, Camp Habitat Director
With record enrollment and a top notch staff, the 2009 CampHabitat season was a huge success and a lot of fun! With the
help of local donations and grants, the Camp Habitat curriculumhas been updated to offer a wide variety of developmentally-ap-propriate activities for the campers in an easily accessible format for
staff. This summer Camp Habitat hosted the rst Camp Habitatinternship for an undergraduate environmental education student.This position allowed the camp to raise the bar in instructor/stu-dent ratio, continued curriculum development, staff training, and
overall positive energy.One of the highlights of the camp season was the overnights
held in the Boreal Forest at Creamer’s Field Refuge for the WaterStrider and Refuge Adventurer students. After campers picked
their ll of berries, staff dressed up as entertaining characters for avariety of skits, and songs were sung and games played throughoutthe evening. If you were walking on the Boreal Forest boardwalk
on one of those nights, you might not have seen our camp, butyou would have heard the Camp Habitat campers “Going on aBear Hunt” or singing the “Fungus Song.” With a new tent forthe Camp Habitat village and the highest number of returning
staff, we anticipate a stellar 2010 camp season.
A Camp Habitat group hikes on the west feld trail.Photo by Andrew Althof
8/8/2019 Winter 2009 Field Notes Newsletter, Friends of Creamer's Field