DelawareAudubon

www.delawareaudubon.org Vol. XXX No. 3 • Autumn 2008

FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Audubon Adventures:
More Popular, More Necessary
One of Delaware Audubon’s focus areas has always been environmental education. It starts with children.

For Delaware Audubon, it starts in the state’s middle schools with a

program from the National Audubon Society called Audubon
Adventures.

Kids love it. Teachers love it.

"Without exception, every student of science is intrigued by your

program offering,” writes one Delaware middle school teacher. “It is an excellent resource for me and appropriate for our
standards-based curriculum. Thanks!"

“My children were very interested in the materials,” writes another teacher. The materials come in a kit, which includes a
set of publications for students, lesson plans for the teacher, and other materials.

In recent years, the Audubon Adventures program has been provided to about 200 classrooms in grades 3 to 5 in almost
all of Delaware's 15 school districts with elementary schools. Based on statistics for a previous school year, it is estimated
that approximately 40% of the students came from low-income families.

The high quality of Audubon Adventures, the current lack of good science resources in many schools, and a growing
concern about science and environmental education, have all created greater demand than ever before for this program
[see letter from our President, Mark Martell, on the next page]. This year’s order from Delaware teachers is more than double
that of previous years.

The theme of the new Audubon Adventures kit, which became available this month, is “Feats
of Nature”—dedicated to the miracles in nature. The first of four units for this school year is
entitled, “Stink, Bite, Hide, Fight! How Animals Defend Themselves.” The publication explains
that animals of all kinds defend themselves against predators using an array of adaptations
such as quills, camouflage, and other physical attributes. They also use behaviors such as
hiding and playing dead. Predators, in turn, have strategies for foiling their prey’s defenses;
and Audubon Adventures shows how this ongoing drama plays out in habitats worldwide.

The second lesson is “On the Go! Animals That Migrate,” which tracks the amazing journeys
taken by an equally amazing variety of species, ranging from tiny hummingbirds to mighty
gray whales. “Plants Rule!” helps children understand how plants feed the world, provide
habitat for animals, and give us oxygen to breathe. The final lesson, “Critter Construction:
How, What, and Why Animals Build,” explains what incredible builders animals can be, and
how their construction skills help them survive.

Audubon Adventures is important to our children and our future. Please help us support this program! „
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a problem.
Audubon Adventures is growing beyond our means.
Audubon Adventuresis our statewide
program providing environmental education
for middle school students. It is produced by
the National Audubon Society. For several years,
we have reached out to you annually with a request
to help us provide this packaged program to children
for free.
Every year, we have been able to raise between $4,000 and $5,000 from
our annual appeal and our birdseed sale—with the proceeds going to
underwrite the cost of purchasing this program for Delaware’s school
children. We have had the program approved as meeting the state’s
education standards for science.
Teachers are provided with kits that include a lesson plan and student
handouts. These kits cost about $40 per classroom. Delaware Audubon is
in the top five National Audubon chapters for providing these kits to school
children. This is due to the great work by Kathy Tidball, our education
chairwoman, and all the education chairs who preceded her.
So what’s the problem? We have a tremendous demand for these kits
this year. Our teachers are looking for resources and we are trying to
match their desire. This year, Kathy Tidball and the Delaware teachers are
looking for approximately $10,500 to cover more kits than we have ever
ordered. This order is double the size of our orders from prior years.
So, I am reaching out to you, hat in hand. We need your help. Delaware’s
school children need your help. Delaware’s hard-working teachers need
your help. Our birdseed sale on October 25 will benefit Audubon
Adventures; and we will contact you soon with our annual fund appeal
letter. We know you will give as you always have. We also need your help
in seeking large donors, corporations, or friends and family members who
might be able to help us obtain the funds needed for this wonderful
children’s cause.
In this issue of our newsletter, you will find some details about Audubon
Adventures and what it provides to Delaware’s science classrooms. I hope
you agree with me that we should not cut back on providing these
resources to our teachers.
Mark Martell, President
THE DELAWARE AUDUBON NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED
QUARTERLY BY THE DELAWARE AUDUBON SOCIETY.
DESIGN & LAYOUT ........................................... STEVEN BREUKELMAN
PRINTING .........................................SPRINT QUALITY PRINTING, INC.
The Delaware Audubon Society, incorporated
in 1977, is a statewide chapter of the National
Audubon Society.
Printed on recycled paper.
THIS MONTH’S EARTH SAVING TIP
Save Energy, Stay Warm
While the icy winds of winter may seem a long way
off, now is the best time to get your home ready for
the cold season. Did you know that the largest
portion of any utility bill for a typical house is heating
and cooling? Try these tips for saving energy:
: Install a programmable thermostat. Being
able to turn down the heat for large chunks of time,
such as at night or while at work, can make a
difference in your overall energy consumption.
: Perform regular maintenance. If you have
a forced air furnace, make sure to clean or change
the furnace filter about once a month. Most furnaces
will need to be professionally cleaned and tuned
once a year.
: Insulate your home. The best way to quickly
save energy is by installing good insulation. The U.S.
Department of Energy recommends an R-49 rating
for attics; "R'' stands for resistance to heat flow –
the higher the R-value the greater the insulating
power.
: Plug leaks and holes. In addition to
insulating your attic and walls, another easy energy
saving step is to add caulking and weather stripping.
Feel for cool air around windows, electrical
receptacles and pipe and wire entry points.
: Make your windows work for you. While
having double paned windows makes a difference,
little things like closing curtains at night and keeping
south facing windows clean and open during the day
can help keep your home warmer.
: Don't overuse kitchen and bathroom
ventilation fans. Left on for too long, these fans
can pull out much of your heated air.
These earth saving tips were provided by Earth Share, a federation of America's
leading non-profit environmental and conservation charities. Earth Share
promotes environmental education and charitable giving in workplace employee
campaigns. For more tips or to find out how your workplace can help the earth,
visit www.earthshare.org or call 1-800-875-3863. „
 TELEPHONE:
302.428.3959
 MAILING ADDRESS:
Delaware Audubon Society
PO Box 1713
Wilmington, DE 19899
 EMAIL ADDRESS:
dasmail@delawareaudubon.org
CONSERVATION REPORT
c Sustainable Energy Utility
The State of Delaware Energy Office (DEO), as part of the
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control,
has issued a Request for Proposals to solicit competitive
proposals for a contract administrator for the Delaware
Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU). The purpose of the SEU is to
acquire end-user energy savings and renewable energy
solutions that can lower customers’ bills and reduce the
environmental impacts of energy production, delivery, and use.
The contract administrator will manage the functions and
responsibilities of the SEU. The contract administrator will
operate under a contract initiated by the DEO on behalf of the
SEU, a non-profit entity created by Delaware law. The
sponsors of the legislation that established this SEU believe
that, since the SEU is not a State entity, the contract
administrator will not be required to adhere to all State
contracting procedures.
Delaware Audubon testified in support of the original
legislation that enacted the SEU. At that time, we expressed
concerns about the lack of diverse representation on the SEU
Oversight Board, and the lack of substantive provisions for
accountability.
When the law was enacted, the SEU was intended to operate
with funds provided through private money markets and
financial institutions. Legislative changes to the law governing
the SEU—as well as legislation that enabled Delaware to
participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative—would
provide a substantial amount of funding for the SEU through
the proceeds from the auction of carbon allowances.
Delaware Audubon believes that the SEU is a creation of state
law, including the provision for a contract administrator. In
addition, it receives state funding through the sale of carbon
allowances, and therefore the SEU and the contract
administrator should be governed by State procurement
requirements. We also believe the SEU is subject to freedom
JOIN DELAWARE AUDUBON NOW!
Cardinal illustration by Steven D’Amato
INTRODUCTORY MEMBERSHIP OFFER
For $20.00 Receive Membership to
National Audubon Society and Delaware Audubon Society
Name _____________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________
City _______________________ State _____ Zip ____________
Phone (___) ______________
Referred By _______________________ Date ______________
Please make all checks payable to: National Audubon Society
Send this application and your check to:
Delaware Audubon Society
P.O. Box 1713, Wilmington, DE 19899
7XCH
D90
BY NICHOLAS DIPASQUALE
of information requirements, and that
members of the SEU Board should be
subject to the state public integrity provisions.
d Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
A proposed rule to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas
Initiative program has been developed. The Department of
Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) intends
to hold a public hearing on the proposed rule in October.
Delaware Audubon declined to participate in the regulatory
workgroup due to:
ƒ previous experience which suggested that DNREC was
not receptive to alternative approaches, and
ƒ because the bulk of the proceeds from the auction of
carbon credits would go to the Sustainable Energy
Utility, which had previously stated that they did not
intend to use state funds to finance their program.
DNREC also did not attempt to dissuade the General Assembly
from allowing the Delaware City Refinery to opt out of the cap-
and-trade program, even though the refinery is one of the
largest carbon sources in the state representing 20% to 25%
percent of the state’s total carbon emissions.
e Bald Eagle Protection
DNREC promulgated a draft rule to extend protection under
the State Endangered Species Act that was essentially
equivalent to the protection which existed under the federal
act before the bird was de-listed. The proposed rule went to
hearing and was met with substantial opposition. Many
comments received at the hearing were legitimate and warrant
being addressed in the final rule. Some radical property rights
advocates also provided comments which distorted the intent
and effect of the rule and which were designed to generate
political opposition to the proposal. No action has been taken
by DNREC to establish a workgroup to resolve legitimate
comments and suggestions on the proposed rule. „
2008 Bird Seed Sale
Help support Audubon Adventures
Ordering Deadline: Friday, October 17
Pickup Day: Saturday, October 25 (9 am – noon)
at Winterthur Museum & Country Estate
To learn more, and place your order, visit:
www.delawareaudubon.org/seedsale
UPCOMING EVENTS NEW DELAWARE AUDUBON STORE
AT WWW.DELAWAREAUDUBON.ORG
OCTOBER 5 – COAST DAY IN LEWES
Visit the Delaware Audubon booth at Coast Day, on the Now you can support the work of the Delaware Audubon
University of Delaware Sharp Campus in Lewes, from 11 Society – and wear our logo with pride.
a.m. to 5 p.m.
Through an arrangement with Café Press, there is now a
Delaware Audubon store on our website. You’ll find the link
OCTOBER 7 – RUSSELL PETERSON LEGACY on the right side of our front page, above the Amazon.com
CELEBRATION, CHASE CENTER ON THE RIVERFRONT book and calendar link.
Audubon members and friends of former Governor Russell
Peterson are invited to celebrate his 92nd birthday this fall.
Gov. Peterson is a former president of the National Audubon
Society, and is honorary chairman of the board of Delaware
Audubon. The event will begin with a reception at 11:30
a.m. at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington.
Tickets are $75 per person, and will benefit the June J. and
Russell W. Peterson Fund for Environmental
nmental Education.

Shop at Amazon.com, and Help Support Delaware Audubon!

Just go to www.delawareaudubon.org/amazon every time you shop, and a percentage of the sale will
support our efforts to improve the environment in Delaware.

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