Tri-State Outdoor News

I am grateful for living most of my life in a rural area with nature all around me – although a short time was spent living in the city. I immediately missed my connection with nature. I needed to walk on something other than concrete – to be in the woods and to see wildlife – I needed habitat.

Fortunately Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve was nearby with 200 acres of bottomland hardwood forest. There are majestic trees on the preserve that are over 400 years old, abundant wildlife and a part of the Wabash and Erie Canal all right in the middle of a city. Founded in 1973 Wesselman Nature Society has continued to preserve this important habitat that gives everyone an opportunity to develop an appreciation for nature. The preserve was a refuge for me while in the city and really is the heart of Evansville to me.

Habitat is important; we need it. Our rural backyard habitat is a great source of enjoyment and provides habitat for numerous plant and animal species. I am so pleased that Enswathe support from the National Wildlife Federation and the Indiana Wildlife Federation will offer classes on how to get your backyard certified as a wildlife habitat. A basic course will be offered on March 21; May 30 and September 12 from 9:00-12:00 with an advanced course from 1:00-4:00 May 30 and September 12.

A view of Wesselman nature Preserve

Volunteer Master Naturalist Kathy Eicher will head the committee for the classes; and Jill Berger a botany student at the University of Evansville will serve as an intern for the program. Eicher received her certification as a Master Naturalist through the Indiana Master Naturalist Program offered at Wesselman’s. The basic course on March 21 is only $15 per person. The class will cover food, water, shelter, places to raise young and how to get your backyard certified. A sustainability session will also be included on composting, lawn reduction, chemical alternatives and attracting pollinators. The advanced course will cover topics such as native plants and more complex water features.

The NWF and IWF programs are designed to certify individuals, schools, businesses, neighborhoods and entire communities. According to Lauren Preske, Director of Education for WNS/ there are future plans for more habitat programs for business owners and school administrators with a vision to get the whole community certified. WNS will need volunteers and funding to do demonstration gardens – please help if you can.

Volunteer Master Naturalist kathy Eicher stands next to one of many exhibits in the Nature Center

”I would love to pick some schools or businesses to showcase that we can do these on a large-scale lawn,” said Preske. The habitat programs are a great opportunity for the Evansville area and for all of southern Indiana.

WNS has started building the Education Center at Howell Wetlands, 35 acres of wetland habitat and also in the middle of the city. According to Preske the building will be a simple sheltered classroom with storage and rest rooms to serve visitors and the children attending educational programs. The building will not be open as a nature center but it will be open for programming or rental. Preske added that she wants to do demonstration garden at Howell Wetlands by landscaping the new building site with native plants and feeders.

The Nature Center at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve has a gift shop with field guides, books, rocks, fossils, games, music, birdhouses and nesting boxes. You can also find beautiful handcrafted wood turned art by local craftsmen Alien Eicher and Gary Schultheis along with unique walking sticks provided by Tim and Margi Griffith, owners of Wild Birds Unlimited. The many displays will fascinate and educate children of all ages.

WNS also operates a recycle center, free of charge, located at the nature preserve. “We need recyclables,” said Preske. “We get all the proceeds from that to fund our operation to manage the property and our programs.” Recycling is a easy way to help WNS, to reduce your trash bill and to save our landfills. Call for items accepted.

Providing habitat and practicing responsible conservation ensures food, water and shelter for wildlife and for all of us. From backyards to communities these simple practices help protector natural resources. Please support the NWF and the IWF in their outstanding efforts to promote conservation in such a way that allows us to use and to protect our precious resources. We are fortunate to have the staff of the IWF and the Executive Director, John Goss, making such great contributions to conservation in Indiana.

A special thank you to Kirn Meadors, Executive Director of WNS, and to Lauren Preske, Kathy Eicher and the entire committee for continuing WNS’s essential tradition of inspiring a love of nature through experiences and education.

For more information on the Certified Backyard Habitat class or other WNS programs, including Canoe Evansville’s ecotours of Pigeon Creek call 479-0771, www.wesselmannaturesociety. org or visit the preserve in Evansville at 551 North Boeke Road.