Springtime is speeding right along. Every day, there are many new things to see. Eastern forktail damselflies have crawled out of ponds and perch on vegetation allowing their delicate wings to dry. Wild flowers and other herb layer vegetation are busy taking advantage of full sun before the tree canopy blocks out light. Black cherries and choke cherries are flowering. Red maple branches are heavy with samaras. Wild flowers such as Jack-in-the-pulpit and dame’s rocket are in bloom. Yellow warblers, Baltimore orioles, Eastern kingbirds, and ruby-throated hummingbirds have been seen around the preserve. The male orioles visit our jelly feeder while taking a break from protecting their territories. A pair of geese have three goslings close by them as they nip the new plant growth along spring pond. Listen for the green frog’s “gunk” call while enjoying the blooming pink fragrant water lilies the next time you are at Lily Pond. Soon, you may see newborn fawns stumbling around the trails at Reinstein Woods.

Are you interested in what’s happening on the trails of Reinstein Woods? Check back periodically for updates on “Nature Sightings at Reinstein Woods”. Feel free to leave a comment below if you would like to add your own wildlife sighting.

WNY Nature Preserves and DEC Join Forces to Combat an Invasive Plant Species

Scout groups, civic organizations, families and individuals are invited to participate in the “Garlic Mustard Challenge,” a friendly competition to remove a harmful plant from Western New York. The Buffalo Audubon Society, Western New York Land Conservancy, Friends of Reinstein Woods, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have joined forces to improve the habitats of three natural areas by ridding them of garlic mustard. The challenge starts Saturday, April 18.

“Garlic mustard is an invasive species that is harming forests in Western New York,” said Reinstein Woods Center Director Meaghan Boice-Green. “The Garlic Mustard Challenge gets people outside in nature and uses their collective volunteer power in an exciting and effective way.”

Garlic mustard was originally brought from Europe as a source of food, but it escaped from gardens and has invaded forests throughout the eastern United States, crowding out native wildflowers like trillium and Dutchman’s breeches.

Fortunately, garlic mustard is easy to identify and easy to remove by hand, even for a child. Last year, hundreds of volunteers participating in the challenge removed more than 5,100 pounds of garlic mustard. This year, volunteers can sign up to remove garlic mustard at three locations:

• Buffalo Audubon’s Beaver Meadow Nature Center in North Java (Wyoming County)
• DEC’s Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in Cheektowaga (Erie County)
• Western New York Land Conservancy’s Kenneglenn Preserve in Wales (Erie County)

Buffalo Audubon and Reinstein Woods will hold kickoff events on Saturday, April 18 at 11 a.m. Participants will learn how to identify and remove the plant, as well as how the competition will work. Entire groups may attend or send a representative and begin pulling garlic mustard that day. Groups will be welcome to remove garlic mustard as often as they like until the final pull date of Thursday, June 18.

The teams that pull the most garlic mustard throughout the season will win prizes, including a weekend stay at the cabin at Beaver Meadow, snowshoe and ski rentals at Reinstein Woods and more.

The nature preserve that harnesses the most volunteer power will be crowned the “Challenge Champion.” The winners will be announced during an award ceremony on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at Kenneglenn Nature Preserve in Wales.

“This is a great way for people to become stewards of their local environment,” said Land Conservancy Stewardship Director Kathleen McCormick. “Everyone’s a winner when we help the land.”

Attendance at the April 18 event is encouraged but not mandatory. Groups interested in participating can call the numbers below to register for each site.

• Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, North Java: (585) 457-3228
• WNY Land Conservancy’s Kenneglenn Nature Preserve, Wales (716) 687-1225
• Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, Depew (716) 683-5959

For more information, contact Matt Nusstein at Reinstein Woods (716) 683-5959 or search for “Garlic Mustard Challenge” on Facebook.

Greetings from the frozen North!

When my wife and I returned in February from a warm Florida vacation, my initial thought was “are you kidding” after seeing the snowy landscape.  I’m old enough to remember the days when snow was over the roof tops, there was no such thing as wind chill and you stayed outside all day and half of the night. But, this winter seems to be breaking all the records, imagined or otherwise.

My thoughts quickly improved, based on two recent events at “The Woods” which made me adjust my attitude concerning the winter season.

The first event was Winter Wonderland. Not only was the attendance fantastic, over 500 strong, but the families and kids had a great time and enjoyed the outdoors. I didn’t hear one complaint about the weather, the guests had fun, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snow painting, ice fishing and watching the rescue dog Jackson perform.

The second event was an evening snowshoeing tour. On a clear 12 degree February evening, five individuals with disabilities who had never used snowshoes had a great time trekking for almost an hour on the frozen trails. Each explorer took turns leading the group, asked many questions and was excited about being outdoors. It was not the participants who got tired; it was me, the tour guide.

I’m sometimes negative about the winter weather, but I’m always amazed at the active winter related activities that I witness at Reinstein Woods. Lots of individuals and families enjoy the winter season here, either for the first time or as a regular customer.  I’m grateful that Reinstein Woods provides these opportunities and that I can play a small role in these worthwhile experiences.

Stay Warm – Spring Will Arrive!!!!!

Mike Gettings

President, Friends of Reinstein Woods

As the season change (it’s still fall as I write), we at Reinstein Woods look forward to the upcoming Holidays. It seems that the general trend lately by the retail community is to extend the holiday “season” by pushing the end of year holidays earlier and earlier.

Nature has a different way of doing things, and we are reminded of that every day. Nature ignores the commercial rush, instead following its own time table. At Reinstein Woods we are lucky to have the opportunity and environment to witness nature at its best – we simply have to slow down and enjoy it!

I think another way to appreciate nature, and in turn, the holidays, are through the eyes of children. I’m always amazed at the excitement expressed by kids when they explore nature.  That excitement is also expressed during the holidays. But we always ask our children to be patient, waiting for the big day, when we ourselves are busy fighting crowds and trying to grab the best deal. Like nature, it’s sometimes better to slow down and to appreciate the moment.

On behalf of Friends of Reinstein Woods, I wish you joy as you share the Holiday season with family, friends and those you love and care about. Don’t forget we are all part of a larger environment, and take the time to appreciate it.

Share in Nature’s Harmony, 

Mike Gettings, President
Friends of Reinstein Woods

One of the great ways Friends of Reinstein helps others “Share in Nature’s Harmony”  is by supporting the Naturalist Intern Program, a paid internship opportunity for college students and recent graduates interested in environmental education. The students learn skills that will help them share nature with others throughout their careers and in their personal lives. Below are the impressions of Blossom Vance and Eileen Lusenskas, interns serving at Reinstein Woods this past season.

Blossom Vance:

“What I love most about the internship here at Reinstein Woods is that I am always learning new things. Between shadowing indoor and outdoor programs, leading tours, going on staff walks, and weekly trail monitoring I have learned so much though exposure to this beautiful place. The internship will definitely be a valuable addition to my educational and professional experience.

“In October I led several school tours and had the opportunity to teach elementary and middle school students about forest ecosystems, pond ecosystems and invasive species. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to teach and share my passion and enthusiasm for the natural world with others. Seeing students connect and be inspired by nature has been one of the more rewarding aspects of the internship for me. I especially enjoyed working with the more diverse and underserved student groups. I admire the fact that the Friends of Reinstein Woods and DEC are working hard to give underserved students a chance to experience and learn more about the outdoors. The naturalist internship position has taught me so much, and I look forward to my continued involvement in the stellar educational programs offered by Reinstein Woods.” ​  – Blossom is a University at Buffalo graduate and native of Hamburg, New York

Eileen Lusenskas:

“Being an intern at Reinstein Woods has been such a great experience. I have learned so much! I have been able to shadow many on-site and off-site programs and have even led my own tours about a wide variety of environmental topics like pond scooping, invasive species, animal signs and tracks and worm composting, as well as learning the inner workings of an environmental education center. Just being able to walk in the woods to monitor the trails each week has helped me learn the many different species of trees, shrubs and animals that inhabit Reinstein Woods. Reinstein Woods is an amazing place where anyone can come and enjoy the outdoors and experience really beautiful views of nature. The people here, both staff and volunteers, have been so welcoming and helpful with anything I need, and it has made my time here even better than I thought possible.” –  Eileen is a University at Buffalo graduate and a native of Long Island, New York

In October, eight Western New York schools participated in the second annual “A Day in the Life of the Buffalo River” event.

With the help of DEC environmental educators, partners and volunteers, more than 150 students in grades 4-12 collected scientific data along the Buffalo River and its major tributaries, creating a “snapshot” of the watershed at one point in time.  Students calculated current speed, measured water and air temperature, observed aquatic life, and investigated water chemistry and weather conditions.

“Providing hands-on experiences for students is something our organization strives to do,” said Friends President Michael Gettings. “This was a great opportunity for area students to connect with this important water resource while practicing skills used by real scientists.”

Many sites had a “river expert” from a partnering organization who shared their knowledge with the students. Partners included the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Buffalo Audubon Society, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, DEC’s Division of Environmental Remediation, DEC’s Great Lakes program, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

When asked about their favorite part of the day, one student said, “Being able to actually go in the river and scoop for fish and living things.”

More than half the students came from schools with underserved populations, and schools used this opportunity to enhance what students were already learning in the classroom.  Additionally, high school students from Buffalo Public Schools’ International Preparatory School served as mentors to younger students participating at their site at Red Jacket Riverfront Park.

Friends of Reinstein Woods’ educator Brittany Rowan coordinates the program, working to educate teachers about the program ahead of time.

“This program was great! The staff was well trained and knowledgeable,” said Carol Clark, a teacher from St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. This was the first time that St. Mary’s participated in the program.

Data from all sites will be shared on a website built by SUNY Buffalo State College students so classes can compare their data with other participants and previous year’s results.

Many people who attended the Friends’ holiday party requested the recipe for a fabulous mystery dessert brought by Valori Victor. Below is the basic recipe that can turn out somewhat differently each time.  Generally speaking, just mash enough of the bottom layer mix into your serving container (a pie pan; a green plastic Christmas-tree shaped snack tray; there are no rules with this dish).

• (optional) Cherry-infused or plain dried cranberries (available where raisins are in the supermarket)
• (optional)  Add a dash of almond extract.

• Raspberries (fresh or frozen) sufficient to generously and juicily cover the bottom layer
• Chopped dates (the amount depends on how many in bottom layer).  I like it when the chopped dates are plentiful in the top mixture because the raspberry juice softens them and a mouthful of raspberries and sweet dates is the best.  Take the scientific approach and taste/add dates in increments.  Feel free to enlist tasting assistants.
• Blackberries (optional)  I like that when I smash the raspberries, the fresh blackberries remain intact and offer decorative options.

On November 1, our supporters enjoyed an exceptional evening of good wine and nature art at Nature’s Gathering: An Evening of Art, Wine and Cheese. This event raised money to support Reinstein Woods’ environmental education programs. Friends of Reinstein wishes to thank all of the artists and volunteers who donated their time to the event. We also would like to extend our thanks to the wineries and companies that made donations to ensure a successful evening!

Special Thanks to:

Rich Products Corporation

Yancey’s Fancy, Inc.

Julia A. Reinstein

Leonard Oakes Estate Winery
Midnight Run Wine Cellars
Niagara Landing Wine Cellars
Willow Creek Winery

Village Sweet Shoppe & Gifts

D’Avolio Olive Oils

Americana Vineyards
B & B Liquor
Battistoni Italian Specialty Meats
Camellia Foods
Christa Skura- Tastefully Simple
Chrusciki Bakery , Lancaster
Cordially Yours Wine & Spirits
Key Liquors
McCullagh Coffee
Toro Run
Universal Market Liquor & Wine

About 40 members of the Friends gathered in mid-October to elect a new board member, thank an award winner and hear about Friends of Reinstein Woods’ accomplishments in 2013-2014.

The Peter Losi Memorial award was presented to Joan Scott for outstanding service to Friends of Reinstein Woods. Joan has been a behind the scenes volunteer for the last six years, assembling and editing Friends of Reinstein’s e- newsletter.  In past years she has also sent email reminders about special events like the fall festival and put together photo books that were raffled off as door prizes at Friends’ events or used to market Reinstein Woods’ programs to new teachers and administrators.

President Mike Gettings also thanked Joe Rembold, who completed a term on the board of directors. Joe has chaired the Marketing Committee since its inception and guided the process of developing a new logo, position statement (slogan) and website for the organization. Joe put in countless hours behind the scenes helping the Friends’ board communicate better online, securing a grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation to help them complete a marketing plan, and working on integrating credit card sales into the new website. Joe works for Delaware North Company and lives in Kenmore with his wife and new baby daughter.  Although Joe will no longer be on the board of directors, he will be continuing to help the marketing committee, and we hope to see him and his new daughter in the woods soon!

Stefanie Ecker was elected to a three year term with the board of directors. Stefanie works for Ingram Micro, Inc. and previously worked for Hospice Buffalo. Stefanie jumped right into volunteering for the Friends early this year, acting as chairperson for this year’s Nature’s Gathering event.  We are glad to have her continuing her leadership by officially joining the board of directors.

Committee chairs shared our successes in fundraising, member events, and finance. Most importantly, meeting attendees heard about the programs that the Friends supported this year, including:

• transporting 25 kids from urban, underserved areas to DEC’s Camp Rushford environmental education camp
•  the growing Kids in the Woods summer day camp program
• stewardship of Reinstein Woods, including the Garlic Mustard Challenge, Earth Day in May, and Trail Tuesdays
• workshops for teachers, including the successful “Schoolyard Habitat Institute” held over the summer
• Great Lakes education of teachers and students, in partnership with Buffalo Urban Outdoor Education (BUOE)
• an expanded Day in the Life of the Buffalo River program
• the successful launch of Family Nature Clubs, in partnership with the Buffalo Zoo.

We look forward to continuing our success in sharing nature’s harmony in 2015!

HOURS:
Monday – Friday 9 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday 1 pm – 4:30 pm
Some Sundays: 1 pm – 4:30 pm Jan. 4 – Feb. 1, March 1 & 8
CLOSED on State  Holidays

NEW THIS YEAR: For parents looking to enjoy snowshoeing with a very young child, we have infant/toddler sleds available to rent for $5.

Cost:
$5 per pair, $2 for Friends of Reinstein members (not a member? Join now!)
Credit cards accepted for sales of $10 or more
Cash only on Sundays

During the Education Center business hours, Friends of Reinstein Woods, in partnership with DEC, rents snowshoes and cross-country skis to use at Reinstein Woods. We have a large selection of snowshoes (fitting small children to large adults). We have a decent selection of adult cross-country skis and a limited number of skis for youth. Rentals are made on a first-come, first-serve basis.

A minimum of 6″ of snow on the ground is required in order to use the snowshoes and skis, and we reserve the right to refuse rentals during inappropriate or dangerous trail conditions.  One renter from each party must be at least 16 years old and leave their driver’s license or non-driver photo ID at the reception desk. Friends of Reinstein members must show their membership card to receive the discount.