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The Robert Moses Nature Center
A center's goal for environmental education
The Robert Moses Nature Center is a museum for the family and kids. "It was created to promote environmental education," says Mary Danboise, director of the nature center. The State Park nature center is one of 28 in the North Country region. It is meant to care for the land so that the people can have land to use for fishing and camping, says Danboise.
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The center is opened seven days a week yearly and receives visitors of different types. Tourists, campers, school groups- all types of groups come to the nature center, says Danboise. It has over 15 programs that include renting snowshoes and cross-country skis. There are also special events and weekend workshops. The special events are events that the nature center has throughout the year that has certain activities such as "Holiday Open House" and their "Moonlight Ski." The nature center, which has been established for over 20 years, is located in the Robert Moses State Park in Massena, N.Y.
"We’ve been doing educational programs for over 18 years now," says Danboise. A day at the nature center usually consists of museum tours, guided hikes, and classroom activities.
The museum tours are scheduled by groups and there are no more than three tours a day. "It all depends on what time of the year it is, who they are, the age range, abilities and how much time they have," says Danboise. Only one group at a time could go since the museum is so small. Tours usually take about 40 minutes, she says. People learn about the exhibits and get interaction with the live animals if there’s time.
"Kids learn more from nature than any other area. Even the scared city kids get over their strange fears of nature and love it here."
On the guided hike, tourists can view the local scenery. The hike is off the shores of the St. Lawrence River. "Habitats consist of meadow, old and young growth forest, wetland and river," says Danboise. Hikers can see all types of animals: white tail deer, beaver, raccoons, black, red, and gray squirrels, birds of all kinds, reptiles, amphibians, river sturgeon, perch, long-nosed gar, and all other types of fish. "All kinds of animals can be seen, depending on the time of year," she says.
Tourists can also go on self-guided tours. The center, Danboise says, has over 100 mounted animals found in the North Country. There are even animals from outside the North Country region including ferrets, iguanas, parrots, and macaws. These distinctive animals are brought in from people and are adopted by the nature center. Animal owners bring their animals for a class, but the animals don’t live at the nature center.
The live bee exhibit is a favorite at the center, says Wanda Hawkins, treasurer and volunteer of the Friends of the Robert Moses State Park Nature Center (a not-for-profit organization at the nature center.) Mark Berninghausen is a board member for the Friends organization and takes care of the bees. The "Squeak Creek Apiary" is a live exhibit where honey bees go in and out of a glass buildin, then make their way back to the field to create honey. The honey is then sold to stores. Other favorites include Axel, who Hawkins says loves to put on an act for the kids, and Iggy the Iguana. There’s also Ferrety, a ferret who likes to run around a lot and investigate. We try to keep him contained, says Hawkins.
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There are many different nature programs at the nature center. According to the center's website, these programs are classroom activities that can help students learn information about animals. The programs featured give students a view of animals like owls, beavers, bats, birds, insects, and spiders. There are also programs where students can learn about animal behavior, different plant species in the fall and spring, and the history of snowshoeing."We have several educators," says Hawkins. The center even has classes on GPS units for the kids.
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also some activities offered at the nature center. In addition, there are nature-related games that the staff created. "Instead of ‘Marco-Polo,’ we’ll call it ‘Bat & Moth.’ We make the games another way for participants to learn about the chosen subject, such as a predator/prey relationship," says Danboise. The programs are interdisciplinary and hands-on, she adds. "Kids learn more from nature than any other area. Even the scared city kids get over their strange fears of nature and love it here."
The center also offers programs off-site. "These are programs we take to them," says Danboise. According to their website, the off-site programs are brought to the classroom or to special interest groups. The groups that come are the ARC, Drug & Alcohol Rehab facilities, mental health facilities, 4-H, scouts, and boys and girls clubs, says Danboise. These programs are only available during the winter months and have a maximum class size of 25 people. There is a fee of $30 for every 45 minutes to an hour program.
"They're doing things out of the goodness of their hearts."
There is even teacher training done at the nature center. Programs such as Project Wild, Project Aquatic, Art is for Everyone are offered, says Danboise. There is also an internship program offered at the Robert Moses Nature Center. Students from universities like SUNY Potsdam and St. Lawrence University take the opportunity of interning at the nature center.
The Friend’s group provides funding for the nature center. "To back up the State, we raise money to give to the nature center to do things," says Hawkins. The McDonald Corporation, Alcoa (the worlds’ leader in producing aluminum), the Sweet Grass Foundation, and many other company's donated money to help build a handicap accessible trail at the center. "They're doing things out of the goodness of their hearts," she says.
Hawkins was the first president of this non-for-profit organization. A single mother of five children, she wanted to find a place outdoors and not too expensive. She says she takes her children on trails, skiing, and hunting for fossils many times. She says she "wanted to do a part to make more available for those who don’t have." Hawkins says she would love more members who want to get involved. She would love college students to do marketing, volunteer with animals, teach a class about animals, lead a ski trip, or a snowshoe trip. "I like the type of people that like the outdoors, who like animals, and who like togetherness. I like people who like volunteering and that makes people special."
What animals interest you most?
Ever wondered who this guy Robert Moses is? He was an engineer in the 1950s who has built much architecture such as bridges and expressways throughout the New York region.
According to a documentary called, “Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush," Robert Moses sculpted much of New York City and is the reason for the Long Island Railroad which helped many New Yorkers come to the Dodgers games during the 1950s.
He was a visionary for New Yorkers who wanted to travel from island to island. Moses has made many parks, beaches, parkways, etc.
According to a document about Robert Moses, he was the chairman of the Power Authority of the State of New York in 1952. He built reservoirs, dams, and generating stations and controlled budgets of electricity fees from the electrical generation at Niagara and Massena.
He has done much for the New York State region and has paved New York City into what it is today.