Campus: Winter Style

The last Thursday of our discussion section was very nice. I got to sing my song for the class. I was running late that day, so I ended up parking in the 20 minute stalls with my hazards blinking. I returned to my car at the conclusion of class to find my battery dead.









I called my mother-in-law to see if she was around to deliver me a jump. I decided it would be a good time for an observation! This time around the UWSP campus was covered with snow. I swear for the first four years of my schooling this place was nothing but snow. It certainly doesn't seem that way now.
It was a very clear day. The weather was hovering around 32 degrees. It felt warmer. The day was just great! I would go disc golfing this day as well. I like the little snowman built on top of this hill.

The dog sitting in snow. I guess this statue isn't so bad after all.

After listening to the UWSP Sustainability Coordinator, I think our University pays a lot of lip service to sustainability, but the reality is we really just don't do enough. The University needs to think about really expanding their use of technologies that are going to save energy and produce it as well. Our University could offset much of it's coal and natural gas use by simply putting solar panels on a lot of the buildings. The NFAC uses so much electricity! Theaters use a ridiculous amount. I think PV panels would help immensely!

Standing Rocks Project- WRA

It was November 15th that the majority of our NRES 370 Class went out with Glen Reindl's Wisconsin River Academy to the back of Standing Rocks Park. We showed up early, So I played frisbee with my colleagues while we waited for the bus from SPASH to show up.

The weather was a beautiful 50 degrees or so. It was very sunny. The surroundings were beautiful. Wisconsin forests are awesome!


The ranger met up with us soon after we got there. When the bus arrived Glen gave us the low down and then gave the students a similar low down. They have been out here before. We haven't


We were going after Autumn Olive, an invasive species that lives around the woods behind and in Standing Rocks Park. Basically we were charged with leading student groups in cutting down and destroying the plant. This involved one person sawing or snipping the plant and a designated herbicide sprayer This Herbicide was a mix of a potent poison and diesel fuel. The diesel was supposed to allow for a quicker destruction of the Autumn Olive and (oddly enough) so that it wouldn't spread to other plants. Apparently, the diesel doesn't wash away as easily


My group was really productive and filled with really nice kids. Some of them were hunters and pointed out deer rubs and other fun tracking signs. We worked for about 3 hours sawing and snipping. I had some gloves with me, so I ran the spray bottle while the students cut down the Autumn Olive.

I noticed the ranger had a contraption on his back that basically showered the plant with the herbicide mix. I thought this was odd as we were making the students cut them. This is supposed to lower the environmental impact. Yet, the ranger had no problem just spraying plants all over the place. I wonder what the over all effects of the spray compared to the Autumn Olive itself? Is it really worth spraying so much? Though I must say, I would hate to chop and spray all by myself.

This was a beautiful pond/lake we found over a ridge. This is technically private land. The own has chosen to selectively cut his land to promote the growing of some plants/tress. I don't really know the benefit of it other than the revenue from selling the wood. Seems counter-intuitive. I guess it might be similar to control burning certain areas.

Disc Golf Series: Big Eau Pleine

I usually don't get a lot of time to visit courses outside of the Stevens Point area.

On another clear, beautiful October day, I visited Big Eau Pleine Disc Golf Course at the Big Eau Pleine County Park just west of Mosinee, WI. I've been here once or twice before.

1. This particular day I did not stay very long. On hole 3, I biffed a throw and managed to lose a brand new disc that was actually being used by my wife at the time. Needless to say, I was a little upset. However, I decided to marvel in the beauty for a while. It was a mild 55 degrees and there was a think layer of freshly fallen leaves on the ground.

2. The course has some very long holes. For an 18 hole course, it certainly is a test of any disc golfer's range and ability. There is a lot of open space and the course is kept up fairly nicely. You can see the Wisconsin River from the first couple holes. This course is constantly being used for tournaments and other events.

3. The course is just one part of a large park complex. Big Eau Pleine has campsites, a beach, a playground, full services bathrooms, and even a ranger station. This park is well managed. I even found a couple guys mowing the lawn. This field is between the disc golf course and the river. You have a really fantasic view of the River and all that is around it. There are a multitude of rodents and birds that hang out all over the place. Though I didn't see many large mammals, I'm sure there are many around.

Disc Golf Series: Mead Park

On a fairly warm and sunny afternoon, I took a trip out to Mead Park in Stevens Point. Mead Park is across the bridge going west over the Wisconsin River. Along with a disc golf park, there is a baseball diamond, basket ball hoops, and a fully functional handicap playground. Good fishing can be found on the river during the spring and summer.

A nice shot of the river and a basket ball net. The scenery is very picturesque. The temperature was about 55 with trees that were just in the middle of turning over for Autumn.

This shot was taken looking across the river on the 8th hole towards town. That little spike is actually the clocktower to St. Peter's Catholic Church. The who course is filled with visas like this. On the summer you can find boats zooming up and down by the bridge.

Another beautiful view.

This course isn't very difficult, but it has some tricky shots that can test your throw. The course is 9 holes. It makes a great stop for lunch.

There is a beach past these trees. In the Spring and Fall, there are a lot of geese on these flatlands. It can be hazardous picking up discs, especially if you land in poop. This waste also has a lot of nasty bacteria. Ducks are also common around the area.

Disc Golf Series: Yulga DGC

DISC GOLF SERIES: YULGA DGC

Commissioned by the city of Stevens Point in 1999, Yulga is a masterpiece of a disc golf course.

I first played Yulga in 2006 when I was a freshman. I just remember all the trees I hit... oh the trees!


1. I never thought I would be playing Yulga in 2012. This last time I went was two weeks ago right after my wedding on the 6th. I just remember the smell of autumn in the cool morning air. I started the game poorly, but ended pretty well. If you could marry a Disc Golf Course, you would marry Yulga. It's always a little difficult, but it's close by, fun, and pretty clean.

2. This is a professionally made course. The turns are hard but the distances aren't too bad. There are three different "courses" within the 18 hole course. The Red measures about 4,300 feet while the Blue is somewhere around 5,200. White rests somewhere in the middle. The course has a distinct flatness to it. The holes, which are mostly carved out of pine stands, require a really good range of throws. Be prepared to rumble with some trees on this course. 7/10

3.Yulga is a great example of a city helping both tourists and the environment. The course rests right across the street from the Hull Town Hall. The area is building up a sizable subdivided population east of Stevens Point. One reason people started moving out there was because of the higher taxes in Stevens Point and cheaper property values. Now the area is being taken over by roads and houses. Yulga, however, stands apart.The park also rests  on the Green Circle trail. I would love to use the Green Circle for an outdoor education class. Riding bikes, disc golfing and discovering nature would be awesome. I guess everyone has a little gym teacher in them.

I know that Disc Golf courses have upkeep costs and an impact on the environment. There is also vandalism on the course. People leave beer bottles and garbage on the ground as well. It's because of people like that we (society) can't have nice things... no matter what responsible people do, sone douchebag is just going to do whatever he wants. People just disregard other people and object just for their own self-interest.

How do you turn that into a teachable moment? How can you approach the jerks and educate them? Can you educate them? I just wish people wouldn't be so ignorant. Is that too much to ask of my other members of society?

Like, serious, I need to rant about this. What is still up with these climate deniers and these ignorant individuals who drive around in ridiculous vehicles just being polluting turd muffins? Yes, I understand you think you're from the South even though you have Wisconsin licsense plates. I get the fact you feel loyalty to something that doesn't exist anymore and  that thing was one of the last bastions of racism no matter how much you complain about states' rights!! I get it, really. We all like STUPID THINGS.

But could you PLEASE just care? For a little bit? You aren't gay because you care. You aren't a communist because you want to care. You aren't supporting a "nanny state" if you care about what happens to the planet and all the things on it. If you really think preserving the environment is the work of the "nanny state", then you obviously need a nanny.


 Seriously, STOP DRIVING YOUR TRUCKS IN THE PARK!!!!

Wait...

Oh that's for the...

Park District Trucks? Really??

*Insert foot in mouth*

Disc Golf Series: Standing Rocks Park

So as part of my Environmental Education observations, I have visited a number of Disc Golf Courses in Central Wisconsin to assess them in very rough terms.  These terms will go as follows.

1. Personal Reflections on Experiences.
2. Quality/ Difficulty of Course
3. Environmental Impact.

I welcome you to 

THE DISC GOLF SERIES

My first stop in the disc golf series was Standing Rocks Park in Plover,WI. As a resident (and season pass holder) at Standing Rocks, I can say with no doubt that it is superior to all other courses in a fifty mile radius. I have been playing Standing Rocks since 2007. What was at first a 19 hole adventure that had no real defined beginning became a 3-loop disc extravaganza for anyone looking for a quick nine to an all day disc fest. 

1. Everything at Standing Rocks is such near perfect. Even the deer stand next to the pin for you to aim at (not that you should). Standing Rocks also doubles as a winter sports area with a very nice lodge on top of being a Disc Golf Park/Mountain Biking Trail. The land is very hilly and is dotted with large rocks all around the course. In short, if you are looking for great Wisconsin Wilderness, your search is over at Standing Rocks. This Portage County maintained park is also home to a great dog area for all you canine lovers. There are many upsides to a day at Standing Rocks. The negatives? You might run into a lot of bugs in the summer and fall times. The Mosquitos can be rough. 10/10

2. This course is difficult. Along with it being one of the best courses in Central Wisconsin, it might also be the most difficult. Many holes are carved out in very narrow gaps that forces the thrower to focus on accuracy. The newest addition, the West Loop, is a prime example that a course can challenge every bit of your ability. Along with 400+ feet holes, many of these long ones have very small paths to the pin. The goal here is to be careful. Hole 8 &9 on the east loop can prove tricky as a steep hill can turn an otherwise good throw into a rolling catastrophe. 9/10

3. The course does not use Cement tees, and all boards are wooden. The crafters of the course did a good job trying to blend in the forest with the course. Not many trees are taken out per year (compared to other courses), but the recent addition of the West Loop meant that more had to be done to make the course usable in regard to Disc Golf. The lodge on site is wood heated and used periodically throughout the year. The lack of asphalt lots helps maintain a better ecology. The park is, however, located at least 7-10 minutes from the Interstate. This driving time can have an impact. It is encouraged that people bike out to the park. This is facilitated by the Tomorrow River trail that runs close to the park. One thing to mention is the large sand mines nearby the park, making the area a very important carbon sink for the local industry and agriculture.  7/10

I almost hit this guy with my drive!

Standing Rocks is quite an excellent experience for just about anyone!  Enjoy the pictures of fall!

Schmeeckle- A project that's worth it

This fall I had the pleasure to join a few friends of mine on a wonderful trip through the Schmec kle reserve near UWSP's campus. If someone has not been there, I will gladly take them.

Schmeeckle has been a staple of campus since I first became a student. This history of the reserve is very interesting. Like most of Wisconsin in the 50's, the land was used for farming. Turns out the topsoil couldn't handle the crops, so farmers just sort of deserted it. The University bought up some land in the 60's and then by 1974 the land was proposed for a reclamation project.

It has been a stunning success. With the help of Sentry Insurance (this might be the only time I would say they helped), Lake Joanis was created and the Schmeeckle wildlife refuge was born! As a student, I spent a lot of time by Lake Joanis. I remember great days swimming in the lake, walking on the ice to the island, climbing to the tree house, and seeing so much wildlife. It creates a wonderful buffer between the campus and the Sentry building/golf course. After working at the golf course for so long, you forget the majesty that is the forest in between.

Lately, the area has been hit by drought. The new Moses Creek revitalization project, though looks wonderful, is horribly dry. There are many spots along the way that are just barren where months ago there was water.

It's funny. In 2008, we have the worst collapse of the economy since 1929. In 2012, we have the worst drought since 1934. The main problem with this comparison is that it is leading towards something that isn't good. In fact, all around the world the tension can be felt. Whether it's worrying about feeding the hungry, trying to reverse the adverse impacts of climate change, or simply trying to stop the bloodshed of war, humanity isn't doing so hot. Actually, we're plenty hot enough as it is.

I will continually do my best in preserving water. Fresh water is a commodity that shouldn't be wasted. I will start watching where my water goes and make sure that if there are any leaks in faucets or hoses I will replace them. Saving water happens one drop at a time. It's also something everyone can do. I will affirm myself a water saver!!




Here's a few pictures and a nice video on water conservation.

McDill Pond- I broke the Dam...

 

MCDILL POND- BEFORE THE BREACH

Mcdill Pond, the area of the Plover River that holds a pond created by a dam in Whiting,WI, has been a staple of the Stevens Point Area. For years, the maintenance of the Lake District has caused both praise and ire over the manmade lake throughout the years. However, the latest struggle has caused nothing more than conflict.



MCDILL POND- AFTER THE BREACH

It wasn't but a year ago when the Highway HH Dam showed signs of wear. After an analysis by engineers, the dam was labeled broken due to an unusual construction flaw. The dam, which needed a more solid base, formed a leak in the core structure. McDill currently will be fixed in April, 2013. The construction project was just approved by the DNR and received a grant paying for roughly 200,000 of the 600,000 dollar price-tag. The rest if the cost will be picked up by the "Lake District," Portage County, and the city of Stevens Point.

See This article in the Stevens Point Journal to learn more

McDill Pond and it's issues create a moral hazard for water control experiments. Though the lake has been known to cultivate and support several bird species, the constant changing of the area is surely causing stress on all species that utilize the area for eating, living, and protection. If you look at the two different pictures, the changes are poignant and provide different biome for species to exist.


Sometimes, the economical implication of land owners wanting to keep the status quo (a lake where one never was) might not add up when the biodiversity of an area is at risk.

EE: The first rule of EE is to talk about EE

I love the environment. I love it so much. It took a long time for me to have any understanding about how the environment is affected by me. That's not mentioning, of course, the impact of humanity on the environment. I don't know if doing this journal online will do anything to save the enviroment compared to a paper journal. However, I think this mode of journaling will be benficial for me as a student who is trying to focus on technology integration.

In this journal about environmental education, I plan on incorporating my love of nature, my outdoor experiences, and way I see that humanity can fix it's current cycle of resource depletion and destruction. My rules for my environmental education journal are:

1. To include at least one picture, video, and/or soundbyte addressing an environmental topic.
2. Incorporate at least seven posts of my own experiences in the environment.
3. Discuss in every post one idea that can be used in my career as a makeshift environmental educator.
4. Create at least five posts talking about the how the environment affected History and create an outline for a lesson plan.


Following these rules, I give to you my thoughts, feelings, and ideas concerning environmental education!


To finish, a video a watched today on food waste!