At a Glance
Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest
Educational and Service Activities for 2018-19
We hope you will check out the activities below and plan your calendar. It will be great to see you.
Speaker Series
Monthly Public Speaker Series: usually on the 1st Tuesday of the month from September to April.
Meeting Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Location: North Garland Branch Library, 3845 North Garland Avenue, Garland, TX 75040
- Dec. 4, 2018: Annual Holiday Party at the home of Don and Barbara Baynham, 7:00 p.m. 5806 Firecrest Drive, Garland. Bring your friends and family, an appetizer to share, and a fun nature story or two. Drinks are provided. This is the best way to start the holidays. Come and relax with other folks who love our Preserve.
- Jan. 8, 2019 (2nd Tuesday): John Randall Bow, The Texas Native Seed Program
- Feb. 5, 2019: Lisa Dolliver, Land Snails of North Texas
- March 5, 2019: Gayle Souterland, Texas Tough Herbs
- April 2, 2019: John Watts, The Rise of the Arthropods
Suggestions: If you have ideas for speakers or topics for future programs, please, email your suggestions to Jennifer Kolmes (jkolmes@gmail.com).
Field trips and Workshops
- Nov. 24, 2018, 8:00 – 9:30 am – Bird Walk led by certified Master Birder, Reba Collins, 1787 Holford Road, Garland. What birds are in Spring Creek Forest in late fall after Thanksgiving? Come for a morning walk and find out. Dress for the weather. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars.
- Jan. 26, 2019, 8:00 – 9:30 am – Bird Walk, led by certified Master Birder, Reba Collins, 1787 Holford Road, Garland. Do you want to learn what birds winter in Spring Creek Forest? Come for a morning walk and learn to identify some of our resident and wintering birds. Dress for the weather. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Feb. 23, 2019, time tbd – Trout Lily Walk, 1770 Holford Road, Garland
Self-Guided Interpretive Trail: https://springcreekforest.org/interpretive-1787-holford-rd/
Watch our website for other seasonal walks, to be announced throughout the year. https://springcreekforest.org
For the Kids
- Dec. 1, 2018, 10:00 – noon – 8th Annual Christmas for the Birds – Crafts for the kids, 1787 Holford Road, Garland. This is a super fun event for pre-school or elementary school-aged children. Bring them to the Park Preserve where they make bio-degradable bird feeders out of peanut butter and bird seed, then hang the feeders in our forest. Yes, people do get a bit messy. Some folks make their own feeders at home and bring them to hang on the trees. See below for make-at-home suggestions. We also have short nature walks to show children a little of our fabulous forest and prairie.
Biodegradable bird feeder ornaments should be hung with cotton yarn or string. The birds will use the string later for making their nests. Metal or plastic hangers, including fishing line are dangerous for birds and wildlife because they might ingest it and injure themselves. If you make bird feeder ornaments at home, please bring them to the park ready to hang.
Some examples of biodegradable bird feeders:
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- Pine cones coated in peanut butter and rolled in bird seed.
- Strings of fresh or dried berries.
- Suet balls (see recipe below)
- Strings of non-buttered popcorn.
COOKIE CUTTER BIRD FEEDERS
(Easily made by school age children with supervision)
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- 1 Small package original gelatin unflavored (Knox)
- ¼ Cup Water
- 1 Cup Birdseed
- Straws
- Waxed Paper
- Cookie Sheet and Cookie Cutters
- Ribbon, string, or twine
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- Place unflavored gelatin in a pot and add the water.
- Bring it to a simmer while stirring until all of the gelatin is dissolved.
- Remove from heat.
- Add the birdseed to the pan of water/ gelatin mix and blend well; the mixture will smell earthy.
- Place waxed paper on the cookie sheet and put a cookie cutter on the waxed paper.
- Spoon the bird seed mixture into the cookie cutter pressing it in firmly.
- Cut a straw about 3 inches long and insert to make a hole for hanging.
- Let it set up, then remove cookie cutter and straw.
- Add a string to hang it.
NO-MELT SUET BALLS
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- 1 Cup crunchy peanut butter
- 1 Cup lard
- 2 Cups quick-cook oatmeal
- 2 Cups cornmeal
- 1 Cup white flour
- ½ Cup Sugar
- Raisins (optional)
- Nuts (optional)
- Melt peanut butter and lard together.
- Stir in the other ingredients.
- Pour mixture into cookie cutters or form into balls and freeze.
- Raisins and or nuts can be added to the mix prior to freezing.
Service and Volunteer Opportunities
Monthly Work Sessions– One Saturday a month, 9:00 – 11:00 am: Check Website for Details, including dates and locations which may vary or change: https://springcreekforest.org/
- Next Date: November 10, 2018, 1787 Holford Road, Garland
- Upcoming Dates: 2019- Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9, Apr. 6, May 4 (picnic)
Safety Materials: Each work session will begin with a safety briefing. Wear work gloves, long pants, protective eyewear, and sturdy shoes (no sandals) for your protection from poison ivy and thorns. All participants or their parents for minors must sign our Liability Waiver. All minors 16 yrs. and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Service Projects- Need a project for your Gold Award, Eagle Scout rank, or organization? Contact David Parrish (dparrish1953@yahoo.com) or Maureen Bly (mbly08@gmail.com).
Other: become a master naturalist
Open House for prospective 2019 class members.
When: Tuesday, November 13, 2018 7-8:30 PM
Where: Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office, 10056 Marsh Ln., Ste. 101-B, Dallas 75229
The North Texas Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program is accepting applications for its 2019 class. Master Naturalist Trainees receive in-depth education in wildlife and natural resource management, customized to focus on our local ecosystems. In return, Master Naturalists provide volunteer service in the form of community education, conservation, citizen science, and demonstration projects, while pursuing advanced training in areas of their special interests.
The initial training includes 40 hours of classroom sessions plus 3 field trips to learn about Texas’ natural resources. Training begins February 5, 2019 and continues each Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. through April 30, 2019. Most classes will meet at Brookhaven Community College, 3939 Valley View Lane, Dallas, 75244.
An Open House will be held on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 10056 Marsh Lane, Suite 101B, Dallas. Please join us to gather more information on the training and our volunteer program.
Applications can be obtained at public.ntmn.org/about/how-to-join and will be accepted through November 30, 2018.
Class size is limited. Priority is given to applicants with a strong interest in performing volunteer service. More information about our chapter and our volunteer projects can also be found on this website, ntmn.org.
Society Membership
Membership: Join Us Today! Download our membership form: https://springcreekforest.org/join/
Monthly Email: To subscribe please contact: Barbara_Baynham2005@yahoo.com
Make a donation! Your donation helps the all-volunteer Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest offer public lectures, conduct habitat management workdays, and offer public nature walks. Please mail your tax-deductible donation to: Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest, Attn: Treasurer, P.O. Box 450176, Garland, TX 75045-0176
Executive Committee Meetings
The Executive Committee usually meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The meetings are open to the public. For location, please contact
Maureen Bly, President, Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest.
Cell phone: 972-814-0902
Email: mbly08@gmail.com.
For General Preserve information:
The above activities are specific to the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest.
For general Preserve information, please call Garland Parks and Recreation Department, 972-205-2750.
Thank you for your support!
Barbara Baynham
Executive Committee, Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest
972-495-3569
