THANKS TO OUR
LIVING MUSEUM
ADOPT A TREE
SPONSORS
as of 1/1/2004

Benefactor
Community Bank, N.A.
Dresser - Rand
Senator Pat McGee

Guardian
D. L. Schmidt Financial Services
Alcas Corporation
Et Al Inc

Caretaker
Both Branch and Hendrix, Inc. Insurance
Potter Lumber Company, Inc.
John Ash Cleaners, Inc
First Tier Bank & Trust
Henkel - Locktite
Haskell Valley Veterinary Clinic
Olean Medical Group
Abbott Welding Supply Co, Inc

Steward
Pleasant Valley Greenhouse & Nursery, Inc.
So.Tier Health Care
Mary Freeman & Michael Kelley
Reid's Food Barn
Jeff Reed
Rich & Pat McNiel
Olean Area Federal Credit Union
Abby & Aaron Blumenthal
Dr. John Balacki
First Presbyterian Church of Portville

If you or your company would like to adopt a classroom, or if your classroom would like to adopt a tree, please call the Pfeiffer Nature Center office at 716-933-0187 or e-mail livingmuseumadoptatree
@pfeiffernaturecenter.org

Pfeiffer Nature Center has officially begun it's three year education and research project: LIVING MUSEUM ADOPT A TREE

In 2002 , Linda Hatch and Becky Sherwood brought a group of 4-H'ers to work with Mike Canada, a local surveyor; Ted Georgian, a St. Bonaventure biology professor and Pfeiffer Board member, Carol Woodin. This group marked off a two-acre plot, selected, measured and identified more than twenty trees as the beginning collection which would be studied and adopted as a part of the Living Museum Adopt a Tree Program. Since this time, many new components of the three-year research and education program have been put into place.

These beautiful teaching trees and the land surrounding them will be the center of attention for many classrooms, children and businesses around the area who are adopting the trees. Teachers and children in kindergarten through fifth grade will be participating in classroom-based and Center-based programs, including conducting research to the document PNC'S Living Museum through engaging activities, programs and materials.

Classroom programs begin in March. This project assumes that an increased awareness including both the facts of particular species and how they fit into the cycles and systems of nature will engender a greater respect for and appreciation of nature. The curriculum is designed to complement current classroom-based education and help to meet NYS Learning Standards. The following Center-based programs will begin in March 2005:

Kindergarten-1st grade-Trees: Life Cycles and Inhabitants
2nd-3rd grade- Old Growth Forest: What Happens Here?
4th - 5th grade- Trees: Six Ways to Value. You Choose!

Children will be drawing, using identification keys, measuring and examining soil samples, estimating age and height and studying many other features as they assist in this research and learn more about their tree, its inhabitants, and habitat. We are proud to provide an opportunity for children to be recognized for their valuable insights and data collection skills while engaging in the important work of stewardship within their community.

How You Can Help

Sponsor one or more classrooms
Join the committee
Suggest new potential sponsors
Be trained as a Naturalist Assistant

Why Adopt a Classroom?

By adopting a tree you are sponsoring one or more classrooms to allow them to adopt a tree and participate in nature-based education. Through your adoption you support the development of and participation in curriculum that complements area schools' science, math and artistic course work. In addition, you would be supporting through these programs, actual research; students will be engaged in documenting the old growth forest and its inhabitants through engaging activities, programs and materials.

What does this cost?

$1,000/yr. for 3 years supports an entire grade $500/yr. for 3 years supports 4 classes
$250/yr. for 3 years supports 2 classes
$125/yr. for 3 years supports one class

To help ensure a personal commitment to the project, classrooms will raise $50 as their portion of the adoption.

More About Adopt A Tree

Besides combining research, education and stewardship, this is the first Pfeiffer Nature Center program to be financially self-supporting. The fund raising committee (Judy Patton, Joe Schueckler, Kim Driscoll, Carol Woodin, Darlene Goetzman, Anne Dusenbury and Nick Vaczek) has developed this project with the future in mind. Viewing the need for significant data collection, meaningful educational programs, and the funds necessary to support this quantity and quality of work, this is a three-year project. Evaluation of all dimensions is ongoing, and plans for expanding the program to higher grade levels and other sponsors are underway.

After a recent kick-off, a number of trees and therefore classrooms have been adopted. To date $4,000 of the initial $10,000 needed for this program has been pledged for each of the next three years. Dan Schmidt Financial Services, Community Bank, Potter Lumber, and Both Branch and Hendrix were the first adopters. Please thank the community-minded people who own and work in these organizations, and support our local businesses. Numerous classrooms from Portville Elementary, Boardmanville, Eastview and Boliver Richburg have expressed an interest. You too can help children engage in meaningful education, contribute to the documentation and the stewardship of the Pfeiffer Nature Center old growth forest.

What happens if my classroom or group Adopts a Tree ?

You will receive:

A map and brief description of your specific tree, along with suggestions for pre- and post- activities to add to this description and your children's understanding of trees
An opportunity for your class to add its findings (drawings, essays, etc.) to the Pfeiffer Nature Center web site
An outreach program led by Pfeiffer Naturalists in your classroom, designed to increase enthusiasm and curiosity about the Center and Old Growth Forests. The outreach program will also prepare students for upcoming nature-based education and research projects which will be held during your field trip to the Nature Center.
A guided visit to the Adopt a Tree plot at Pfeiffer Nature Center

Greater understanding to help preserve, nurture, and observe the life of your tree
Additional suggestions for classroom activities

We currently offer three programs specifically designed to augment current life sciences topics, including activities for your specific tree!!

Kindergarten-1st grade-Trees: Life Cycles and Inhabitants
2nd-3rd grade- Old Growth Forest: What Happens Here?
4th - 5th grade- Trees: Six Ways to Value. You Choose!

If you or your company would like to adopt a classroom, or if your classroom would like to adopt a tree, please call the Pfeiffer Nature Center office at 716-933-0187 or e-mail
livingmuseumadoptatree@pfeiffernaturecenter.org

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