Fall Research Wrap-up

After two months, 37 hikes, and overcoming rain, snow, and a dead car battery, the fall 2012 field observation season is officially over!  The only thing left to do this year is one final hike on each mountain to download data from the loggers and remove my flagging, which should happen early next week.

For weeks now, people have been asking me if it was winter yet in New Hampshire, and I would always respond with, "not quite, but I have graphs showing how close we are!"  No one ever wanted to see my graphs =(

Now that we (myself, along with undergrad assistants Heath and Cotter) have finished collecting data the winter will be spent doing data entry, crunching numbers, and trying to figure out what this all means.  Over the course of my hikes, I've met a lot of nice and interesting people and I'm excited for work to begin again in the spring!

PSU Students Building Sustainable Garden Shed for Community Gardens

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In fall of 2011 students of Plymouth State University’s first Sustainable Structures class engaged in the natural building process by researching, designing and building an “eco” shed for the Eco-house on campus. Steve Whitman, environmental planner and permaculture instructor, and Bryan Felice, a long-time and experienced timber framer, lead the class. In hopes of offering the class again in the Fall of 2012, Bryan sought out a client in need of a community building. Audrey Eisenhaeur, the Executive Director at the Margret and H.A.  Rey Center in Waterville Valley, NH contacted Bryan after seeing the product of the first Sustainable Structures class. From there the discussion of building a community shed for the gardeners of the Rey Center’s Mary Bierbrier Community Gardens began.

Initial design of sustainable shed for the
Mary Bierbrier Community Gardens.

This fall the students in the class have been working to design and implement a shed that has multiple functions on site in Waterville Valley. The shed will provide safe storage, water catchment system, potting sink, community bulletin board for communication and natural materials. The shed provides an educational component for the Waterville Valley Community by being a demonstration site of natural building techniques. The students will engage on a hands on learning process where they learn natural building techniques such as timber framing, board and batten siding, cordwood siding, live edge siding, wattle and daub, and slate roof installation.

A natural building is labeled as one because of the materials and processes used through the design. Natural materials include those that are regionally available or harvested, minimally processed, non-toxic and biodegradable. Natural buildings range from a small shed to a multiple story timber frame house for a family or business. Natural building is a feasible strategy for constructing buildings that have long-term financial rewards and a low impact on the environment which is a smart sustainable option.

The students encourage anyone to come visit the site next to the Curious George Cottage located on Noon Peak rd in Waterville Valley. Look for updates on the project on the Facebook page Rey Center Shed Fall ’12. Students are breaking ground towards the end of October. Workdays will be Monday and Wednesday from 2:00 until 5:30 pm with hopes of completion by the beginning of December.

2012 Fall Astronomy Festival

The Rey Center took part in the 2nd annual New England Fall Astronomy Festival in Durham, NH on September 22, 2012. We were one of many exhibitors.

At our table families created their own constellation. Marshmallows were scattered on the night sky (black construction paper) and then replaced with little star stickers. Then the participant used their imagination to connect the stars to to make a constellation. Over the course of the day many unique constellations were created like mosquito, Rudolph, snake, house, and penguin to name a few.

 The Rey Center also led the "Rescue of Andromeda" skit twice during the day. This "walk through" skit involves everyone in the crowd. Actors are chosen from the audience and they have an action that they do every time their character's name is mentioned in the story. This is a fun way for people to learn about a few constellations that can be seen in the autumn night sky. There was lots of laughter during the skit and many people commented on how much fun they had.


The governor of New Hampshire has officially named the weekend of September 21 and 22, Astronomy Weekend. The Margret and H.A. Rey Center was mentioned in the dedication as one of the participants. We look forward to this event next year!

If you are interested in astronomy, we have programs throughout the year, like our monthly Dark Sky Stargazing nights. Check out our event calendar at www.thereycenter.org for details.

Fall colors on Welch Mountain

Fall colors in the area are spectacular right now, even more so in the rain. Or so it seems to me. Yesterday, I spent some time on the ledges of Welch Mountain with Environmental Science and Policy undergraduate students from Plymouth State University. The students ventured to the expansive ledge area you first encounter about 1.3 miles from the trail head that leads to the summit of Welch Mountain. Despite overcast skies threatening rain, they hiked to learn about the outcrop plant communities that inhabit the ledge and some of the research methods we are adopting to monitor the long-term health of these plants. Up to 5,000 hikers may visit the ledges in a given summer. This summer we spoke to almost 1,000 hikers about the plants that live there and about the importance of staying on the trail to help protect them. When the students and I were finished with our visit on the ledge, I let them head on down before me. Alone, I enjoyed another moment or two in the kaleidoscope of fall colors breaking through the mist. 

- Kim Votta, Rey Center Research Coordinator

YOU make it possible!

Without volunteers (you know who you are and we THANK YOU) we would not be able to offer such an array of programs. For example, the Curious George Cottage Family Festival took 52 fabulous volunteers to make it happen, from working the ticket booth, drawing Curious Characters, to dressing up as Curious George. This festival is our biggest fundraiser, which helps us achieve our mission to bring art, science, and nature programs to people of all ages. 

However, the festival is only one day out of the year and we are open year round, so volunteers are critical the rest of the year too. I will share a few things that our volunteers are doing. Every Saturday we have Curious George Story Time and Cottage Open Hours. Our story time volunteers enjoy brightening young children’s day by reading the Reys’ books and sharing some laughs at George’s adventures. 

Being a cottage host entails soaking up the relaxing atmosphere of the Reys’ former summer home, visiting with folks, sharing the Reys’ story & our mission, and watching the birds & butterflies in the garden. I know that sounds like hard work:) We also have volunteers that share their love of astronomy during our Dark Sky Stargazing programs and others who share their interest in the health of our rivers during Water Watchers. 

It takes people like you, who believe in our mission to inspire curiosity and discovery, and who donate their time and talent to make everything you love about the Rey Center possible. If you have a skill or interest that you want to share with the Rey Center please contact the volunteer coordinator, Leigh Ann Reynolds. You can email her at lareynolds@thereycenter.org or call 603-236-3308. 

In the Gallery...

Join us in welcoming some vary talented New Hampshire artists showcase their interpretation of the transformation of a forest. A forest is a divine work of art in and of itself.  Through the eyes of an artist it is transformed into another immortal work of art.

"It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become"

 

Chakra Banner by Angie Follensbee-Hall

Angie Follensbee-Hall  of Paper Glade brings her inspirational handmade paper wall sculptures.  Angie's work invokes a meditative quality, reflecting upon the world of myth and nature, suggesting a connection between all beings at their source.

Carolyn Kemp of Word Weavers Ink brings her birch bark vessels, jewelry, baskets and nature inspired watercolor paintings.
"The woven basket is a vessel that carries the sustenance of life forward. In its creation the weaver experiences a timeless unity of form, function, and culture with all the splendor of limitless patterning, color, textures and design. "

Birdie Britton of Waterville Valley brings to us her whimsical twig sculptures inspired by old snags. To Birdie "Trees matter. They root deeply in the earth and reach their limbs to the sky and move with the wind. They link branches with their neighbors or stand alone. They have histories and personalities, proclivities and idiosyncrasies. In short, trees possess character. There's something there you can get to know and perhaps love. Doesn't everyone have a favorite tree?"

Horse Blue by Birdie Britton

Annette Mitchell and Maryellen Sakura both bring their inspirational printmaking skills showcasing their talents in solar printing and Annette's famous foam printing.

Cheryl Johnson's watercolor paintings of old wooden structures tell the story of their long history in the details of her work.

Suncatcher by Cheryl Johnson

This show is truly inspirational! 
Show dates: September 8 - October 27, 2012
Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday 10:00 - 5:00pm
Gallery Reception: Saturday October 6, 2012 6:30pm - 8:30pm  

Curious George Enjoyed Another Visit to Waterville Valley

The Margret and H.A. Rey Center’s sixth annual Curious George Cottage Family Festival, held on August 11-12, delighted over 360 Curious George fans with a weekend of family fun. Children and their parents were treated to live music, storytelling, rocket launching, planetarium shows, nature walks, games, meals with the characters, a petting zoo and more!

Toe Jam Puppet Band recruits a few
young fans to help with this song!

This year’s headlining performers, Toe Jam Puppet Band, had all ages dancing dosie-does, doing the limbo, squealing with glee when getting sprayed with water during the Car Wash song, and generally having an all around great time. Curious George and the man with the yellow hat even found some time to dance to the original tunes of the Toe Jam Puppet Band. 

Take Two Tandem Tellers

Also performing on the Festival stage were Take Two Tandem Tellers, featuring Anne Marie Forer and Cindy Killavey. This storytelling duo presented lively and interactive programs filled with music, merriment and madness. 

Spin, Pop and Boom by Mad Science

Back once again this year was a fascinating and educational performance by Mad Science with their show Spin, Pop and Boom, which lived up to its name as this show was exploding with excitement!

Other activities over the weekend included banana pancake breakfasts at the Snowy Owl Inn; a BBQ lunch with Curious George by the WV Conference Center; a spaghetti dinner with Curious George by Klaudt Catering; Curious George themed games provided by the Waterville Valley Recreation Department; drawing of Curious Characters by local artists Birdie Britton, Maryellen Sakura, Gerri, Denise Siraco and Ken Vallery; rocket launching by Phil Chouinard; a community Eco Art project by artist Cynthia Robinson; a showing of One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure in a portable planetarium by University of NH Department of Earth, Oceans and Space; a banana eating contest; nature walks and nature discovery stations; story time and cartoon viewing; and a reading of It’s Good to Be Me by photographer and author Liz McNeil Jenkins and owner of the canine stars of the book, Margaret Turner. 

Playing games with the
Waterville Valley Recreation Department

Local artist Maryellen Sakura
draws Curious Characters

Curious George poses with a few friends!

Rocketman Phil Chouinard launching rockets for the crowd

Time! The 7-12 year olds finish their
banana eating contest.

Banana Eating Contest
6 & Under Group

Doing the limbo with Toe Jam Puppet Band
and Curious George

Toe Jam Puppet Band
and their new biggest fans!

Musician Maggie Peak poses with
Curious George and his entourage
after her performance at the
Banana Pancake Breakfast.

Curious George visits with fans
at the Rey Center

Volunteer Sophie helps kids make
newspaper boats like George does in
Curious George Rides a Bike

This fundraising event for the Margret and H.A. Rey Center would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors and partners, and the amazing effort of all of our volunteers. Please thank the following businesses and people for helping to make possible this fun and educational family weekend celebrating Curious George and Waterville Valley.

GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS ($1,000 and up): Roper Real Estate and Waterville Valley Foundation.

SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS ($500 and up): Parenting New Hampshire Magazine, Golden Eagle Lodge, Waterville Valley Realty, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Riveredge Marina, Louis Karno and Company, ABODE Homebuilders, and Waterville Valley Ski Resort.

BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS (Up to $499): Bierbrier Development Inc., Black Bear Lodge, Blue Moon Café, Bookmonger, Coffee Emporium, Common Man Family of Restaurants, Community Guaranty Savings Bank, Dreams and Visions, Eco Art a la Carte, FunSpot, I Dream of Beading, Legend’s 1291 Sport’s Bar, Mad River Coffee Roasters, Mad Science of N. MA & S. NH, McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Mount Washington Observatory, Saenger Consulting, Inc., Snowy Owl Inn, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, The Waterville Company, Toad Hall Toys, Town Square Condos, Town of Waterville Valley, The Valley Inn, University of New Hampshire Department of Earth, Oceans and Space, Wal-Mart of Plymouth, Waterville Valley Conference Center, Waterville Valley Department of Public Safety, Waterville Valley Golf Course, Waterville Valley Recreation Department, Waterville Valley Resort Association, and Willey’s Wildlife Photography.

Thank you to all who helped to make this weekend great! Mark your calendars for next year’s Curious George Cottage Family Festival on August 10-11, 2013 and until then – STAY CURIOUS!

See more photos on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/reycenter