The Buzz

 Many people today, are concerned about the environment and wishing that they could do something to help stop climate change, species extinction and more.  We are all conserving electricity, cutting down on our driving and driving more conservatively.  But many people want to do MORE to protect the world for future generations!

Placer Nature Center has a great suggestion.  Community members that want to DO something about the environmental challenges ahead can make a big difference in the quality of our environment by teaching thousands of children each year -  how to make choices that help heal our environmental wounds.  In addition, they will teach children science concepts and make them more scientifically literate - contributing to better academic performance for the children.

Placer Nature Center invites concerned citizens to become Placer Nature Center docents.  A delightful 6-week training culminates in a festive graduation after which simple community members become official Placer Nature Center docents and take their place as an environmental leader.  Connecting children and adults with nature makes both people and then environment healthier. 

Through Docent Training, participants learn hoe to teach the natural history and cultural science programs offered to school children who visit our site on school field trips. Docent training takes place every Monday and Wednesday. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather! For more information, call Linda Desai at 530-878-6053

Fall 2008 Docent Training Schedule:

September 8, 9AM-11AM Orientation & Tour of Placer Nature Center

September 10, 9AM-12PM  Curriculum:  Senses of Wonder - Preschool, Kindergarten

September 15, 9AM-12PM Curriculum:  Habitat/Life Cycles - 1^st, 2^nd Grade

September 17, 9AM-12PM Curriculum:  Maidu - 3^rd  Grade

September 22, 9AM-12PM Curriculum:  Food Chains/Ecology - 4^th, 5^th  Grade

September 24, 9AM-1PM Curriculum: Watershed - Paddlers/Stream Swimmers 12PM-1PM:  Graduation/Potluck

Placer Nature Center, a private 501(c) (3) nonprofit, is open to the public and maintains miles of trails on their 60-acre campus.  Programs offered for preschoolers to adults, scouts and other groups, astronomy classes, environmental lectures and seasonal workshops.  For information please visit http://www.placernaturecenter.org/ or call 530-878-6053. To date Placer Nature Center has served nearly 180,000 students and 200 teachers.

Placer Nature Center is located at the end of Dry Creek Road at 3700 Christian Valley Road, Auburn,

Finished reading this book a couple of months ago.  It took forever to write a review... have been pretty busy during the week with work. 

For those who appreciate the game of golf, proper equitette, stories of teaching others and them basically turning professional at some point.  Loved the entire book. Only been playing golf for a year and continue to enjoy every aspect of the game.

He wrote this from a teaching perspective. Talks about all of his golf lessons with his students at Austin Country Club in West Texas.  He writes about his experiences playing golf, ladies having too high of a handicap, adjusting their swings, games and making the cut of tournaments.  What a fantastic teacher this Harvey Penick is. He also talks about Bobby Jones.

Back to more book thoughts....

Most of his students went on to become professional golfers.  He taught them every part of the golf game from bunker shots, alignment, pre-shot routine, putting, etc...

Half the time, I'd pull out the trusty USGA Rule Book and figure out exactly what he was talking about.  Know how everything is scored, how to establish your handicap, having confidence in your golf game, pitch shot, bunker shots, teeing off, fairways.

Found a bit of information from a recent blog that I wrote about a lesson out at the Ridge on How to read your putts:

Approach the greens, assess the lie, slope of the land. Also whether your putt it is uphill, downhill or across any slope. Controlling the speed of the putt is key. I observed how the putt was going to break either left, right or straight. I picked my break or spot. Then pick your target out as a straight line, hit your ball at the right speed and it will take the break.

Really enjoyed reading this book a lot.  Hope it inspires you to at least to take a lesson and give golf a try.

Food-borne illness is no joke. over 5,000 people die each year from food-borne illness. Do not let common myths make you or your family sick.

Three myths that make consumers sick.

"If it tastes o.k., or smells o.k. it is safe to eat"

Fact : If you trust your taste buds to detect unsafe food, you may be in trouble.

The CDC estimated as many as 6.5 million to 33 million illnesses yearly are food related. Taking even a tiny bite to test the saftey of a questionable food can be very dangerous.

"We have always handled our food this way and nothing has ever happened"

Fact: Many incidents of food-borne illness went undetected in the past. Food-borne illness signs and symptoms of vomiting, cramps,and diarrhea were often still blamed on the "flu." Also, both the nature of our food supply and the virulence of food- borne pathogens has changed.

"I sampled it a couple of hours ago and never got sick, so it should be safe to eat."

Fact:Food-borne illness may develope with-in a half hour to a few days: some may occur as long as 2 or more weeks after a contaminated food is eaten.

Another consideration: While you might safely consume a food, someone with a weaker immune system could be more susceptible to a food-borne illness. Young Childern, older individuals, pregnant women, and persons with an illness are more vulnerable and would be more likely to get sick.

Coming soon highly effective tips for safe handling of food products in the home.

To safe and happy summer,

Lisa Fults,

Special T's and Sports

Custom screen printing