Celebrating 75 Years of Connecting with Nature

75 years ago, on the grounds we now call home to Beaver Creek Reserve, laid a handful of scattered cabins tucked deep in the forest. These lodges were part of the Eau Claire County Youth Camp, the first of its kind here in the Chippewa Valley. After years of building and preparing, the first children campers made their way in 1953, 18 girls known as The Campfire Girls. Back then, the summer camps focused on teaching life skills such as outdoor cooking, fire building, nature exploration, and survival; all while wrapping in the foundations of a democratic citizenship and education. Since the 1950s, the goal of the Youth Camp was and will continue to be educating community members who connect with and appreciate the wonders of nature.

A huge step in Beaver Creek’s development was the groundbreaking for the Wise Nature Center in the mid-1980s. This came in response to the growing concern for environmental preservation and ecological education. Thus, the Friends of Beaver Creek Reserve was born, turning the summer camps into a full-fledged non-profit organization that could enhance its learning facilities and implement more educational programs for community members.
 
Over our 75-year history, Beaver Creek Reserve has not stopped growing. Summer camps and school groups were able to witness new developments and facilities, like the Hobbs Observatory and an outdoor obstacle course built throughout the 1980s. As stated in a 1983 Eau Claire Leader Telegram article, “the building [Hobbs Observatory] will be heated by passive and active solar energy…” Later, the Citizen Science Center was completed in 2004, where volunteer citizen scientists could take part in scientific studies involving the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
 
Beaver Creek Reserve has served as a vital part of the Eau Claire community for 75 years now. Our contributions to connecting individuals with nature and scientific advancement can be seen on an international scale with our bird banding program and Monarch butterfly tagging. As a non-profit organization, the funding for research, educational programs, and staff comes from supportive community members and organizations who value the work being done here.
 

To celebrate 75 years of research, wildlife education, and connecting with nature, Beaver Creek Reserve has set a goal of raising $75,000 towards our 75^th Anniversary Annual Fund by the end of 2022. Donations support various areas of growth at the Reserve. The future of Beaver Creek lies in the advancements of environmental education programs and nature facilities, such as the Greenhouse and the Butterfly House. We also award scholarships for students and summer camp members, along with the general cost of operation, upkeep, and equipment, all made possible due to generous donations.

As we enter this wonderful season of giving, consider supporting an organization that aligns with what is important to you. At Beaver Creek Reserve, our mission is simple: to keep people connected to the outdoors and educate our community on the plants and animals of nature. In 1985, a group of Eau Claire residents collaborated to ensure the future of the Reserve with the Friends of Beaver Creek Reserve Endowment Fund, establishing us to be what we are today. On November 22nd, 2022, we celebrate Giving Tuesday, a day designated to supporting non-profits that make a difference in our world. If you are interested in supporting the growth of nature education and eco-friendly environmental impacts, there are multiple ways to give at Beaver Creek.

Monetary donations will contribute to the 75th Anniversary Fund! Donations can be made at Donate to Beaver Creek Reserve | Wisconsin Nature Reserve. Add Beaver Creek Reserve to your Amazon Smile account to donate money through your purchases at Charity Lists (amazon.com). Another way to contribute is by donating your time as a volunteer!
Even the smallest donation makes a huge impact here at Beaver Creek! The success of the Reserve is thanks to those who believe in our mission and believe in the importance of nature in our lives. If you would like to learn more about our history, check out our Historical Booklet sold in our store at the Wise Nature Center. $8 for BCR Members and $10 for Non-Members. 

A Spooktacular Time at Boofest!

Spooky season at Beaver Creek Reserve was a success! Now that November is upon us, let’s recap the fun events that took place at Boofest on Thursday, October 28th. 

Preparation for this event began in the spring when pumpkin seeds were planted on our North campus. Throughout the summer, the pumpkins were carefully tended to, and the labor of love led to a bountiful harvest! The staff here at Beaver Creek worked hard to create a spooktacular atmosphere for visitors. Carved jack-o-lanterns lined the entrance, festive décor hung around the Wise Nature Center, and torches lit the walkways. Ghosts and goblins alike had endless fun at Boofest. Along with painting the pumpkins harvested here at Beaver Creek and those donated by the Krause family, visitors could trick-or-treat down the storybook hiking trail. 

    

 Throughout the trail, our Naturalists had set up stations where the children could collect candy and learn about owls, spiders, snakes, decomposers, wolves, and moths! Learning about nature couldn’t have been more “fang”-tastic! A cozy campfire provided warmth on the cool October night where everyone could make s’mores and enjoy hot apple cider. 

   

Inside the Nature Center, attendees had the opportunity to learn more about some of our animal ambassadors, Luna the Barred Owl, an American Toad, and Slither the Fox Snake. The Naturalists here at Beaver Creek Reserve shared their knowledge about these amazing creatures and their habitats. Along with this, children could enjoy a Halloween story time that featured books like The Halloween Tree, The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky, and Happy Halloween from the Very Busy Spider. 

To lock in these unforgettable memories, families could take pictures at a photo spot set up in front of the Nature Center. Not only was this event a chance to fill up your trick-or-treating bucket, but also a great opportunity to get outside and connect with the creatures of the night! To get a glimpse at the fun we had, you can watch this short video of the event highlights at Watch | Facebook.  

Hiking at Beaver Creek

Fall in Wisconsin can be described in many ways: colorful, unpredictable, and breathtaking. There’s no better way to enjoy this short time of year than getting outdoors and putting a few miles under your belt. At Beaver Creek Reserve, there’s about 9 miles of beautiful hiking trails just waiting to be discovered. Not only are the hiking trails lined with the extravagant colors of fall, but bordered by streams, wetlands, and the Eau Claire River. Taking in these wonders of nature not only gets you away from the stress of work or school, but also has many physical, mental, and social benefits!

It can be difficult to find time to move your body and get your heart rate up, especially when the sun starts to set earlier and the temperature begins to drop. If you’re looking for great hikes that you can fit in with limited time, Beaver Creek is the perfect place to start! The hiking trails can range from just a half mile to about 2 miles. The terrain and inclines make for an effective leg workout, while breathing in the clean, fresh air works to strengthen your lungs. You can customize the experience to what you’re looking for by taking the trails slowly or speeding up your pace and taking longer trails for a more intense workout.

While working to improve your physical health, hiking also benefits your mental health. Getting connected with nature is a great opportunity to take time to think and reflect. This can improve your mental clarity and focus, leaving you feeling like a better version of yourself. At Beaver Creek, the diverse habitats make for a wider variety of small animals moving around. In the fall, the animals are preparing for winter, so their activity is increased. If you’re in need of a serotonin boost, seeing the fall colors and animals in nature is sure to do the trick! With each step through Beaver Creek, let go of the stress from school, work, or life that may be weighing you down.

Struggling to find things to do with friends and family? Sick of going to the movies again? Take your loved ones on a hike with you! Nature is the best backdrop and with others, you’ll have someone to take pictures with. No distractions, just good conversation and a gorgeous view. Making memories at Beaver Creek will not only connect you with nature but give you lifelong stories with friends and family.

Fall is the ideal time to try out the hobby of hiking at Beaver Creek Reserve. The crisp, cool weather and changing leaves make for a peaceful, calm environment. Make a day out of it with friends by grabbing a warm cup of hot chocolate and a polaroid camera for fun pictures. For nonmembers, adults can hike for the day for $5 and children (15 years and under) for $3. Children under 2 years of age are free. For more information, visit Trails & Maps at Beaver Creek Reserve | Wisconsin Nature Reserve to get a closer look at the trails and other amenities. Now is the perfect time to connect with nature and take a hike at Beaver Creek Reserve!

Northern Saw-whet Owl Migration Banding

Here at Beaver Creek Reserve we have a ton of new experiences that can connect you with different parts of nature throughout the entire year!  One exciting journey that keeps going is our bird banding programs. Bird banding is a practice that has been around since the 1800s. To get in on the inside scoop, I talked with Tully Frain, Beaver Creek Reserve’s Avian Field Technician, about the bird banding we do here. 

Beaver Creek Reserve is part of an international program in North and South America that tracks birds. A small metal tag with a 9-digit identification number is attached to the bird’s leg, which can then track the bird’s migration patterns, movement, and life history. This data is compiled and sent to a government organization that has it available for researchers who can use the information.

Currently, our bird banders are focusing on the Northern Saw-whet Owl. This small owl wears a brown and white coat with a white “V” between the eyes. The name of the owl comes from the noise they produce, which is said to sound like the sharpening of a mill saw. September to October is generally when we band, and this species of owl is the focus because it’s one of the only true migrating owls. They’re truly a “hoot!” 

Other species of birds that are banded throughout the year include songbirds and the American Kestrel, which is the smallest and most common falcon in North America. As our bird banders collect more and more data about these different species of birds, this data can support larger sets of findings from all over the nation. 

The more species of birds we band and the more information we can collect, the more we can learn about nature and its wildlife. Connecting with wildlife is not only healthy for your physical health, but your mental health as well. The discoveries are endless here at Beaver Creek Reserve, so come visit and be inspired! 

If you’re interested in experiencing bird banding,  keep an eye out for our bird banding volunteer trainings offered at certain times throughout the year, or reach out to us with any questions. We have a couple programs coming up this October if you wanted to observe our Northern Saw-whet Owl banding sessions here at Beaver Creek Reserve.

Stay updated on our events calendar & register for our upcoming programs today! https://beavercreekreserve.doubleknot.com/app/calendar/month/4370

 

Give Back to Our Planet This Earth Day!

Spring is upon us here at Beaver Creek Reserve and with the new season comes holidays and special events. April 22, 2022 is Earth Day! Be sure to show your love and support to mother nature this year by picking up some garbage, recycling, or even just spending some time outside to connect with the natural terrain around you.

Unsure of what to do this Earth Day? Beaver Creek Reserve has got you covered with many springtime activities coming up including our annual Earth Week Challenge. The Earth Week Challenge is completely FREE to register and runs from April 16-April 24. 

There are anywhere from 15-20 tasks, which can be completed within that time frame. The tasks are either free or affordable and all contribute to giving back to the planet. Our goal is to encourage a sustainable and environmentally aware lifestyle for those living in the Chippewa Valley area. 

Our newest event this year takes you through our beautiful trails where you can either walk or run and spread as many native seeds as you can. By doing this, you are increasing the number of native plants which are essential to our ecosystem and also providing new plants for our pollinators to work their magic on. Be sure to sign up your team today!

Aside from what goes on at the Reserve, there are many other opportunities you can do at home that help the environment. Here is a list of things you can do this Earth Day:

1. Recycle bottles, milk carton containers, etc., and use them for an in-home garden.

2. Take a walk around your local park or neighborhood and pick up any garbage (Eau Claire County parks are free April 18-24).

3. Go to the store and purchase seeds to start your own fruit or vegetable garden (or buy from our Native Plant Sale, the online store opens April 20).

4. Start a composting pile!

5. Shop sustainable products when buying items such as soap or cleaning products.

6. Switch your toothbrush from a plastic one to a bamboo one!

7. Put out a bird feeder or sprinkle bird food.

8. Make your own butterfly or bee garden by planting new flowers outside your house!

Be sure to always treat mother earth with respect, love, and absolute kindness. Stay Green!

The Best Place to Take Your Kids!

Beaver Creek Reserve was voted the best place to take your kids in the Chippewa Valley according to the “Best of the Chippewa Valley 2021” reader poll by Volume One. Beaver Creek Reserve has many different options for kids of all ages to learn and explore, and the best part, the activities change with the seasons! Open year-round at the Wise Nature Center, we have our Scheels Discovery Room that has a ton of interesting facts about plants and animals that are native to the area. During our colder weather, we have snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals available. Rentals cost $3 each for members, and $10 each for non members. We had our Christmas Bird Count in December, where we counted thousands of visiting winter birds. This past month, we hosted Frosty Frolic, a less common winter event here in the area, dog sledding, Snowshoe Lacing, and a candlelight snowshoe hike.

As the weather begins to get warmer, the activities in the winter shift over to spring! With new growth comes new activities at the Reserve! To kick off spring we have Beekeeping 101 where you can learn how to become a master beekeeper. This is the first course of three offered throughout the year and is instructed by members of the Chippewa Valley Beekeepers. We also have DIY Salve Making as well. Later, we have a bunch of fun new events like Maple Syrup Saturday where you and your family can learn about the history of maple sugaring here at Beaver Creek Reserve, enjoy maple doughnuts and hot chocolate, and get the opportunity to “adopt-a-tree.” We also have other events including, Owl Pellet Dissection, where kids can learn about an owl’s typical diet. We also have our Exotic Pet Surrender event where anyone in the area that may not be able to care for their exotic pet can bring it in! During this, we will also have a presentation on invasive species. In April, we have Nature Tots: Leap into Spring, where kids can learn about what’s blooming in the spring and all the new colors we’ll start to see.

In the summer, we have our Budding Butterflies camp where kids have the opportunity to learn about the cycle of a butterfly. Not only are the kids able to learn about the butterflies but they also can try to catch some. Registration for camps opens on Saturday, March 12 at 8:00 a.m. A few of the other camps we offer include, Soaring Scientist, Outdoor Water Adventures, and so much more! If you miss out on Butterfly Camp, come visit our seasonal Butterfly House. The house opens on July 5th and will close on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend for the summer. Stop by and see hundreds of native-Wisconsin butterflies! 

Beaver Creek Reserve always has something for everyone, and it is changing all the time! Take your kids out for a beautiful day in nature.

Motus at Beaver Creek Reserve

 By: Tully Frain, Beaver Creek Reserve's Avian Field Technician

Beaver Creek Reserve has been monitoring birds through banding, surveys, and nest monitoring for over 20 years. Beaver Creek is constantly improving our program to stay relevant, provide to our local community, aid in the conservation, and contribute to the scientific community. Beaver Creek is looking at the future of bird research and is making plans to collaborate with avian researchers on a global level through a new program called Motus. Motus is a wildlife tracking technology out of Canada that uses radio signal towers to track migrating flying animals, from eagles to butterflies. Transmitter tags are placed on a migrating bird and when the bird flies within 15 km of a tracking tower, the tower detects and records the signal from the tag. This data is then submitted to an international database that keeps track of all tagged birds’ location information. 

Motus will dramatically change how we think about migration dynamics and migration ecology. Motus allows us to see specifics about how birds migrate that we haven’t witnessed before. This technology will reveal exact migration patterns, stop-over locations, and travel speeds. In addition, all this data will improve conservation. This data will enable us to identify and protect critical land for birds’ survival and respond to changes that these migrators make due to our changing climate. There will also be extensive educational opportunities, allowing us to better conserve and create a real-world understanding of how migration works. The data is available to everyone allowing all to see what birds are depending upon the Reserve, your backyard, and our protected lands for food, breeding, and migration.

Motus has been implemented extensively throughout the Northeast to great success, with over 600 towers lining the east coast. Until recently, there have been few towers in the Midwest. The lack of Midwest towers is changing with several states investing heavily in the technology, putting up towers across their respective states. Unfortunately, Wisconsin has yet to get behind the effort to implement this vital new technology. This leaves it up to local nature centers and universities to fill the void. Only seven towers have been set up in Wisconsin, all by nature centers and universities. 

Beaver Creek Reserve has the opportunity to get ahead of this technology by installing a Motus tower right here on our property. The Reserve is on the Midwest Migration Network’s list for goal locations to build a tower. We are also an essential area for migration, given our proximity to both the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. The Chippewa Valley serves as a critical migration conduit to the sub-boreal forest located north of us. 

Ecology research is becoming increasingly complicated, but a Motus tower is a relatively simple concept that most people can understand. All Motus data is available for the public to see online, with birds being tracked in real-time. It will allow us to connect a broader audience with nature and create a better understanding of migration dynamics for the public. A Motus tower will keep the Citizen Science Center from falling behind and prepare for 21st-century science.

Beaver Creek Reserve’s goal is to create operational towers starting summer 2022. Our staff will attend trainings this spring to learn how to build and operate the towers. After the trainings, we will implement our plan to partner with the Midwest Migration Network and erect a tower near Beaver Creek to add to the Midwest Motus goals Then through partnerships with private landowners, conservation organizations, and universities we hope to find the support and locations for additional towers covering the region from Beaver Creek Reserve to the Mississippi River. We hope the local community will get behind this project to expand Beaver Creek Reserve’s ability to connect people with nature.

We are now accepting donations to construct a Motus tower right here at Beaver Creek Reserve! To donate to this project, please see our website for more information. Donations will help support construction of the tower(s), research projects, and educational trainings for our staff.

Reference-

Kendrick, Sarah.(2021, December 4) Motus: Tracking Birds with New Technology[webinar]         Missouri River Bird Observatory 

Nature's Symmetry: Snow Crystals

By: Abby Mueller

Has there ever been a snowy day where you’ve stopped and looked at the tiny snowflakes that land all around you? Snowflakes beautiful symmetry and complex designs fascinate many people, young and old alike. 

But what is it that makes a snowflake symmetrical, and just how do they form? Is it true that no two snowflakes are the same? 

To start, a snowflake is actually an ice crystal which forms from an extremely cold water droplet freezing onto a dust or pollen particle in the air. As the ice crystal falls, water molecules in the form of water vapor latch on and cause the crystal to grow. This process is called nucleation. But, depending on the temperature and humidity, different types of snowflakes form. 

These types of snowflakes are organized into 7 basic categories of snow crystal types - plates, stellar crystals, columns, needles, spatial dendrites, capped columns, and irregular forms.  Around the freezing temperature, hexagonal plates and six sided snowflakes form - the most well recognized and familiar snowflake crystal shapes! In the image below, you can see the different conditions under which other categories form.

The Snow Crystal Morphology Diagram by Dr. Nakaya

It is the symmetry of these structures that commonly captures people’s interest. But, snowflakes are not all symmetrical. If you’ve ever caught a snowflake and looked at it, you would notice they can have some irregularities. This is because of the nature of the growth of the snow crystal. 

Snow crystals first start from a droplet in the sky which freezes into a tiny particle of ice. This ice starts collecting water vapor on its surface, and so the particle starts to form facets. A facet is a flat surface on a 3D shape, like the flat surface on a prism. For snow crystals, facets form by water molecules striking the crystal surface and sticking. On rough surfaces they will stick well, and on smooth surfaces less well. This is because on rougher surfaces there are more readily available chemical bonds. This causes the rough surfaces to fill in fast, leaving just the smooth faceted surfaces. On snow crystals they form six sided prisms - this is because the shape of the ice crystal mirrors the shape of the molecule forming the crystal. You can have a complete snowflake through just facets (see the plate type with the categories listed in the image above) but some snowflakes can develop branches too. 

A Fernlike Stellar Dendrite Snow Crystal

As the snow crystal becomes larger, the plate becomes unstable and the six corners of the snow crystal grow faster, creating the arms of the snowflake. While the arms all grow independently as water molecules add themselves to the structure, the atmospheric conditions as the snow crystal moves through the clouds are the same for all of the branches. This is what causes their structure to be symmetrical - as they are all growing under identical conditions, they will have an identical shape. But, not all snowflakes are actually perfectly symmetrical, in fact many snowflakes are not. Specifically, fernlike stellar dendrites have very rapid growth and send out their side branches at irregular intervals, causing them to have slight irregularities in their symmetry.

As the snowflake falls through the sky, it goes through different atmospheric conditions, 
causing it to alternate between faceting and branching. 

No two snowflakes are perfectly identical either - this is because of the conditions of the outside world. In a lab environment where temperature and humidity are controlled, two nearly identical snowflakes can be created. But in the outdoors where these factors often change, each snowflake will have slightly different conditions as it falls. This leads to different growth and different snow crystal structures! 

Keep an eye out for the next time it snows (hopefully soon!) and take a close up look at some snow crystal structures yourself. See if you can guess the temperature and humidity by the structure of the crystal, but most importantly, simply enjoy the beauty of the snowflakes!

Sources:

Images

http://www.snowcrystals.com/

Text

http://www.snowcrystals.com/

https://scijinks.gov/snowflakes/

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/faceting/faceting.htm