OFF THE BEATEN PATH

OFF THE BEAT= EN PATH
Friends of Dunbar Cave Newsletter	FEBRUARY 2008

OFF THE BEAT= EN PATH

Friends of Dunbar Cave Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2008

UPCOMING MEETING:

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21ST, AT 6:00M, DUNBAR CAVE STATE NATURAL AREA VISITOR CENTER. =

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NEWs from du= nbar cave:

We haven&#= 8217;t done any cave hikes so that the bats can hibernate in peace. Your Interpretive Specialist Amy Wallace and Seasonal Interpretive Ranger/Gradua= te Trainee Nathan Smith did 10 impromptu programs (meaning we grabbed people a= nd made them listen to us when we saw a chance, rather than scheduling a progr= am) for fifty-one persons.

We h= ave been doing a lot of training this month.&n= bsp; Amy, Ranger Adam Neblett and David Britt= on (of Port Royal) attended a two day Meeting of the Minds/Park Professionals Scho= ol at Fall Creek Falls State Park. We had classes on Park Rangers, City vs. State and what they do; the Scopes Tr= ial; Programming at Night; Using Wildlife in Programs (raptor care); and the Iris Fund. We were also able to vi= sit parts of the park (the falls, Nature Center) and see their exhibits, signag= e, fencing, etc.

Amy = and Adam attended a four day In Service Training at Henry Horton State Park. This year we brushed up on our med= ical skills and learned about Cave and Cliff Rescue, Burns, and other things (th= at no one would be interested in hearing about!), as well as participating in running, weight lifting, agility, and flexibility events. Park Manager Bob Wells will attend= the same training the first week of February.&= nbsp; We also had a nice dinner with Commissioner Jim Fyke in honor of Tennessee State Parks winning the Gold Medal as Best State Park= s in the nation for 2007.

The = staff (Bob, Amy, David, Adam, Nathan and our clerk, Debbie) traveled to Nashville= to see the Whooping Cranes near Bells Bend.&n= bsp; We also visited Beaman Park in Joelton a= nd viewed their kiosks, signage, decorative walls, = and trash can receptacles.

&nb= sp; Nathan will begin training at the Police Academy at Cleveland State = this month. He will be there for t= wo months, and then will return to Dunbar until a Ranger position is available= at another park. Nathan is our f= ourth seasonal worker to go on to become a Full –time Ranger or Interpreter with State Parks.

We will be interviewing for our summer seasonal positions in February at Austin Peay, as well as at other universities across the state. =

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Next month’s meeting:

THURSDAY, MARCH 20^TH AT 6PM, DUNB= AR CAVE STATE NATURAL AREA VISITOR CENTER.

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A note from dave<= /span>:

Frien= ds

At our January meeting, Greg Williamson showed us his beautiful photographs of Dun= bar Cave State Natural Area through the seasons. Watch for the public sho= wing of his photography at the Customs House Museum. We voted to pay for t= he frames for his art, and he generously agreed to give us all of the art as w= ell as the digital images once the show is over.

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As yo= u drive by Dunbar Cave, notice the very large mulch piles on the dam along the lake. We will pick a date to spread that mulch at this month's meetin= g.

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= ;We received a $4000 grant check from the state for a video conference kiosk. This new kiosk will go in the visitor's center lobby. I = am working on getting some quotes and look forward to your commments and suggestions.

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Sprin= g Fling will be on April 26th. Please mark your calendar. At the February meeting we will set the date for the mulch spreading, I hope = to have 3 quotes for the Kiosk, and we will continue to discuss plans for Spring Fling.

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Dave<= o:p>

Treasurer’s report: &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

Repre= sentative Curtis Johnson gave the Friends Of Dunbar Cave a= grant check from the State Of Tennessee for $4,000.00. Curtis is a great friend of Dunbar Cave and we appreciate him keeping us in mind when these type of funds become available. We also appreciate Clarksville Department Of Electricity seeing that all the Christmas trees were mulched and placed on the earthen dam ready to be raked and spread out .

Ron Hunter, Treasurer

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