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Press Releases
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11/12/2012
New Executive Director Hired for Riveredge Nature Center: Jessica Jens
Contact:
Julia Courtright
Director of Development and Marketing
Riveredge Nature Center
New Executive Director for Riveredge Nature Center --- November 12, 2012
The Board of Directors at Riveredge Nature Center has selected a new Executive Director to begin on January 2, 2013. Jessica Jens, M.A., comes to Riveredge from Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center / UW- Extension, where she was first an environmental educator and then Director.
Ms. Jens graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences and from the University of Northern Colorado with a Masters of Arts in Outdoor Education.
At Upham Woods, Ms. Jens directed programming which reached over 9,300 people annually, managed a half million dollar, revenue based budget, and directed a $4 million capital campaign.
Two key accomplishments include developing a statewide adventure program for
Wisconsin 4-H and facilitating a strategic partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Instruction.
Prior to Upham Woods, Ms. Jens was 4-H Youth Development Agent for Sauk County UW-Extension. In this role, she developed a federally recognized non-profit community coalition (Youth Environmental Projects of Sauk County), collaborated with the Ho Chunk Nation on youth education programs, and introduced educational technology to expand the organization’s reach.
Riveredge is very pleased to have an educator at the helm. The decision to hire Ms. Jens affirms the organization’s continuing commitment to environmental education.
“We are fortunate to have found a leader with both content knowledge and administrative experience. We are confident that Jessica will guide the organization well as Riveredge approaches its 45th anniversary and enters its next phase of organizational growth,” said Board President Sharon Ziegler.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/6/12
Contact Information:
Pat Fox-Schindler
(View press release if pdf)
Riveredge Nature Center
Children’s Natural Play Area Grand Opening Celebration
A Special Family Event!
Sunday, September 16, 1-3pm
The Riveredge Natural Playground – a place for children of all ages to explore and
experience nature in a hands-on way – a place that will be a destination for all families
looking for healthy, environmentally friendly, and age appropriate activities for their
children. 
It is a well-accepted principal in early childhood education that children learn best through free play and discovery. Richard Louv, in his book, The Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, outlines the role of nature in childhood development, and the troubling trends that create a disconnect from nature. His research directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today’s wired generation to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, including rises in obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and depression. 
As a leader in environmental education since 1969, Riveredge has the expertise and the natural setting to provide open-ended opportunities for kids to learn about the wonder of nature's complexity in a safe but adventurous place that will lead to a fuller appreciation of the beauty of our world.
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon to celebrate the grand opening of the Children’s Natural Play Area. Explore the meandering stream channel, climb on the tamarack platform, venture  into the silo cavern and search for buried treasure in the sand. There will be plenty of activities for children of all ages, an ice cream social and a chance to decorate a ceramic tile for the silo. Tiles cost $10 each and all proceeds benefit the Natural Play Area. Check the website www.riveredge.us for more details. Hope to see you there!
This Grand Opening Event is free and open to the public.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/6/12
Contact Person:
Pat Fox-Schindler or Mandie Zopp
volunteers@riveredge.us/mandie@riveredge.us
262-375-2715/800-287-8098
Naturalist Series Courses to be Held at Riveredge Nature Center
Want to learn more about the environment around you? Do you like the excitement of discovery, learning and self-growth, or just enjoy being in nature? Maybe you’re interested in becoming a citizen scientist, a teacher naturalist, or an interpretative
naturalist. 
Riveredge Nature Center announces its Naturalist Series led by naturalist, Kate Redmond, and our Larsen Legacy Senior Naturalist, Mandie Zopp, along with other scholars from the area. This program can be suited to fit individual student goals and time commitments. Students will earn the required 100 points by attending required classes (full and half day) as well as elective classes. Required classes range from 3 hours (half days) to 6 hours (full days) with the elective classes varying in time length. The goal is to have students participate in biology and ecology related activities outside of the required course schedule. Most classes will be held at Riveredge Nature Center; however, some will be held off-site. Students need to acquire the 100 points within 2 years to be awarded a certificate ofcompletion. The completion of this course will allow students the opportunity to be become engaged in many citizen science programs and science based volunteering opportunities.
Becoming a naturalist is an amazing, ongoing journey. Some people start that journey because they want to learn more about their surroundings, others do so because of a desire to share their knowledge with others . For over 40-years Riveredge has been a leader in the training of naturalists. Riveredge Naturalists are individuals that find new and fun ways to help others realize the depth of their interrelationship with the natural world.
This series includes the basic ideas of ecology and of the natural history of the living creatures of Riveredge. New and experienced Naturalist participants will work together to explore ecological systems, the rules that shape them and the roles that we play within them. Everything truly is connected to everything else – your task will be to trace those connections and test their strength and elasticity. Series concepts will include terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity, community, glacial geography, energy flow, nutrient cycling, and much more, all using the trademark, hands-on Riveredge approach.
Registration for this course is $345 if you pay per class. By registering for the full course, you will pay $310, roughly 10% in savings. Class space is limited, so sign up early. Call 262-375-2715 or register online at www.riveredge.us.
Please see our website www.riveredge.us for a schedule, class details and more information on Riveredge Nature Center
 
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Press Release
For Immediate Release 5/21/12
Contact Person:
Pat Fox Schindler 262-375-2715
Riveredge Nature Center’s
2012 Student Nature Writing Contest
Riveredge is sponsoring the 5th annual writing contest which is open to all children in grades K5 – 8 as of the fall of 2012. A grand prize winner and one winner from each of the following grade level groups will be selected: K – 2, 3 – 5, 6 – 8 combined.
Children in grades K5 – 8 in the fall of 2012 are invited to write and illustrate a story in picture book format that is nature themed. The story may be fiction or non-fiction and should be no more than 750 words in length and may include up to 12 illustrations. Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, story structure, grammar, punctuation and overall appeal to the judges.
Entries should be submitted with a completed entry form by October 15, 2012 to Riveredge Nature Center, 4458 County Road Y, P.O. Box 26 Newburg, WI 53060. Entry forms may be obtained at Riveredge Nature Center or online at www.riveredge.us
The Grand Prize Winner will receive $250. First prize winners in each category will receive a $50 gift certificate to Next Chapter Bookshop and a bound copy of their book. All entries will receive a Certificate of Participation and their stories will be on display at Riveredge Nature Center.
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3/30/12 Press Release: Sturgeon Egg Harvest (Click here for pdf Version)
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Press Release:
For immediate release
Contact Person: Mary Holleback
Return the Sturgeon
Riveredge launched into its 7 th year of raising Lake Sturgeon for the WDNR last Thursday, March 22 nd with the arrival of the streamside rearing facility (SRF). Unusually warm weather in March has accelerated the sturgeon spawning cycle in the Wolf River, the source of the fish raised here. Last year our DNR partners, Brad Eggold & Tom Burzynski, didn’t bring the fertilized eggs until May 4 th. This year they’re expected within days. 
For hundreds of years these prehistoric looking fish have annually migrated to spawning areas along the Wolf River when water temperatures reach the mid 50’s. The males arrive first, cruising in groups, close to the surface where they are highly visible. Spawning begins when a ripe (ovulating) female enters the group. That’s when our WDNR team springs into action netting, processing and PIT tagging the fish before releasing them. The eggs and milt they collect are mixed on location and the fertilized eggs (gametes) are brought to the SRF at Riveredge to begin incubating the same day.
Lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fluvescens) are the largest and longest-lived freshwater fish indigenous to the Great Lakes basin. They were extirpated from the Milwaukee River in the late 1800’s. Efforts to reintroduce lake sturgeon back into the river started here in  2006. Since then, 4,122 fingerling sturgeon have been released from the SRF at Riveredge. Our goal this year, and for the next eighteen years, is to release approximately 1000 fish per year. Streamside rearing facilities are used to rear juvenile sturgeon to enhance their chances of survival and allow them to imprint on the water in which they’re raised. Imprinted adults will hopefully return to the Milwaukee River to spawn in 10 – 20 years which is the ultimate goal of this project.
This year’s fish will be released on October 6th, 2012, at Thiensville Village Park. If you would like to have the opportunity sponsor and release your own sturgeon, check out our website www.riveredge.us for more information.
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3/12/12 Press Release for immediate release (Click here for pdf version)
Contact person: Pat Fox Schindler
262-375-2715
Riveredge Nature Center
Maple Sugarin’ Open House
Saturday, March 24, 10am-3pm
Riveredge's Open House will take you back in time, showing through live demonstrations how the Native Americans made maple syrup. There will be plenty of hands-on activities for all ages. Experience life at a sugar camp, stir the syrup cooking over an open fire, participate in Native American crafts and games and much more. When you reach the evaporator, you’ll see how sap becomes syrup and enjoy our famous pancakes and maple syrup. 
This year our special guest will be Megan Staats the reigning Wisconsin Maple Queen. Megan L. Staats of Sturgeon Bay became the new maple queen for 2012. She is a graduate of Carroll University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Graphic Design and took classes in Marketing, Computer Technology, Communications and Psychology.
Megan is the third generation in the Staats Sugar Bush and is looking forward to being our Wisconsin Maple Queen to "spread my knowledge and stories about maple syrup, because to me, it's more than just something you put on your pancakes."
Refreshments are available for purchase. Pre-registration suggested for groups.
Fee: Adult $10, 10 & under $5
Members: Adult $5, 10 & under $4
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| 1/16/12 For Immediate Release (Celebrate Winter) |
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Press Release: For immediate release
Contact Person: Pat Fox-Schindler
262-375-2715 or volutneers@riveredge.us
(A PHOTOGRAPHER IS REQUESTED)
Celebrate Winter: Family Program at Riveredge Nature Center
Saturday January 28, 12:30 – 3:30
Bring your family, scout troop or a few friends for this fun-filled afternoon in the snow. The adventure includes a snowshoe quest, a scavenger hunt though a forest searching for animal tracks... Click here for full PDF Press Release... |
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| 8/31/11 For Immediate Release (Sturgeon Fest) |
| Your Family Can Be a Part of History
 THIENSVILLE, WI – October 1, 2011- Riveredge Nature Center announces its 6th annual Sturgeon Fest event at Thiensville Village Park on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 10am-2pm. Your family will enjoy this unique event packed with special children’s and adult activities, and culminating with an opportunity to sponsor and release your own lake sturgeon into the Milwaukee River. “Releasing a sturgeon is a magical moment. You become a part of their ancient history,” said Patrick Boyle, Executive Director of Riveredge Nature Center....
Click here for the full press release (MSWord)
View the Sturgeon Fest website
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6/14/11 For Immediate Release
Announcing New Larsen Legacy Sr. Naturalist!
The Riveredge Nature Center is proud to announce that Mandie Zopp has been hired as the new Larsen Legacy Senior Naturalist. Mandie is currently employed by the Wisconsin DNR and is a biology lecturer for the University of
Wisconsin – Platteville. We are very excited to have her join our
wonderful and talented staff...
Click here for the full press release (PDF)
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