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bsbbsbbm™ Page from the Past Community Correspondence WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9,1994 HIGHRISE FOR BIRDS - Skyscraper martin houses and bird feeders were on Walter Evans' agenda on Thursday morning as he and a number of parent helpers created bird-friendly spaces for the Kirby Ecology and Fitness Trail. Kirby Centennial Students Take First Steps Down Ecology Trail by Laura J. Richards Even rural children don't always always know about the natural environment environment they have grown up in, says the principal of a Clar- ington school. "They grow up with trees all around them but they can't always always tell you what the names of the trees are," explained Taullie Thompson, of Kirby Centennial School. That is why projects such as the Kirby School Ecology Trail are so important, he added. To help students understand their connection with their environment, environment, the Parent Advisory Committee, teachers and principal principal got together. The result was a plan for an ecology trail to be developed developed at the school over the next five years. Committee Co-Chair, Helen McDonald, told The Statesman this project is being done "to give nature a chance." Also, it will let students "interact "interact with nature." But, that isn't all. The project will also bring in expertise from local residents who will be contributing to the community-owned space. On Thursday, March 3, two Clarington residents were at Kirby Kirby Public School to talk to students students about the importance of bird feeders and bird houses. Both will be part of the trail project. project. Leskard resident Royal Lee and Walter Evans, who is also the Clarington Public Works Director, Director, brought wood and nails for the kids to work with and gave students the opportunity to view the process of building bird houses and feeders. Thompson lists Lee and Evans among the "significant others" who can lend their skills to the project. On one table, Lee had the students students building nesting boxes from kits. Lee told the children "since the end of 1945 the traditional nesting areas for bluebirds were taken up by farm fields and housing." housing." Because of this, the bluebird population in North America has been on the decrease. However, with some help from mankind, the bluebird won't fly into extinction. For many years, a growing number of home owners have been installing installing bluebird houses on their properties to encourage the bluebird bluebird populations to grow. Lee enjoys the antics of bluebirds bluebirds and, as he sees it, when the bluebirds migrate back, spring is on its way. Evans said when martins are around a home "there aren't a lot of insects." That's because insects insects are a source of food for these birds. But these beneficial birds also have a need for homes. Evans had two parent helpers working on bird feeders while he worked on a multi-unit skyscraper skyscraper for martins. I He emphasized to the young- jsters that all the material he was using was re-claimed. Some of ; the material had been bought, or given to him,, for the projects. In turn, he was donating his time ;and skills to the school's project, j : McDonald told The Statesman jby giving the students project (days such as last Thursday, /March 10, the students will learn about community ownership as " they will all have a hand in the creation of the ecology trail. Current plans call for about -one-third of the 8.8 acres of the school-owned property to be des- ignated towards the trail. . Beginning at the east end of i the property, close to the junior play area, the trail will take the • walker past bird houses and south to the vegetable garden where autumn vegetables will be : grown. The Kirby school princi- . pal explained pumpkins, squash- ; es and gourds would most likely ; planted in that location, j Farther south will be the but- : terfly garden, where flowers are : to be planted. Here, Thompson envisions an English garden ai der there are plans for a shrub maze, more bird houses and a woodland ecology area. Thompson said there are already already 140 indigenous trees in this area. On the way back towards the school, the trail will take the walker across a bridge spanning the stream which goes through the property. There are to be four bridges in all. There are also more treats in store. One of these is a Heritage Garden. The school plans to plant heritage apple trees at this site. There will also be a rock garden garden and, to the garden's west side, a marsh ecology area and a pond. The trail will end at a creative playground. While many folks would find the trail satisfying enough on its own, there will be an added benefit benefit for those who wish to exercise. exercise. There will be 10 locations along the trail with fitness in mind. In fact, students at Kirby Centennial Centennial have just begun working on plans for the fitness areas. , A letter which went out to parents parents on Feb. 23, discusses the project in which primary and jun ior students plus adults, will participate. participate. Each phase of the project project will see a number of technological skills being used. The process will include the creation of a design and the construction construction of a working scale model. model. Investigation and research are also part of the effort. The final component will consist consist of the primary students doing an oral presentation about the construction of the play/activity aerobic activities done at their station, highlighting the benefits of these exercises to a general sense of wellness. The students have until April 13, to prepare the projects, which they began last week. However, the entire project should be completed within a five-year time-frame, Thompson said; A fund-raising committee is gearing up to take on the job of getting money together. Step by step, phase by phase, the ambitious project is proceeding. proceeding. It started with the creation of a logo by the students. Now, there are the first bird houses and feeders. It's a great start to inviting nature nature into the school's backyard! CONSTRUCTION ZONE -- The students at Kirby Centennial School are working on building bird houses houses for an ecology and fitness trail throughout the outer boundaries of the school's property. Nicole, one of the many students involved in the process of creating the trail, is seen here hammering a nail. past the Butterfly Garden to be a bird blind. and the parent group sees a cedar hedge protecting protecting the area, while the space will be encouraged to go back to grassland in the comer. Along the southernmost bor ,5 The tenth annual Winter's Harvest Harvest exhibition of crafts was officially officially opened on Sunday, March 6th, with an awards ceremony at the Visual Visual Arts Centre in Bowmanville. Surrounded by more than 40 exceptional exceptional examples of contemporary craftsmanship and artistry, award presenters paid tribute to those artists artists whose work was judged to be of particular merit. Janet Coates, one of the founders of the Winter's Harvest concept, presented the Grand Prize for the Best in Show to Martin J. Markhan for his unique Christmas Tree Field Kit. The Barrie-arca artist said the idea l'or his Christmas Tree Field Kit expands on the tradition of mailing mailing greeting cards. The kit displayed in the show was fashioned in wood after the original cardboard container container he mailed to a friend. The lid of the kit slides into a slot to reveal a painted winter backdrop. An aluminum tree in two parts is assembled assembled and then decorated by the recipient with brass tubing and radio resistors as supplied. A package of styrofoam flakes may be shaken out to simulate snowfall. "It's a bit of theatre. I like it be cause the person on the other end is involved," said the artist. Mr. Martin also received the Ontario Ontario Crafts Council Design Award from juror Judith Tinkl for the same entry. In her remarks to the artists and supporters in attendance, Janet Coates said all work selected for the Winter's Harvest represents pieces that people will want to pick up and touch. The idea of harvesting art at the close of winter has its roots in our rural heritage. Early settlers would work on crafts during the cold months when they could afford to go beyond the basic chores of everyday everyday living. They would work in fabrics, fabrics, on quilts, in wood or in many other media. Janet Coates said a good craft artist artist must listen to the medium as well as their own intuition. The medium has limits beyond which the artist cannot push it, and there comes a point in the creation of an object when the medium starts to push back and participate in its own evolution evolution into art. The Best Use of Medium Award, donated by Ruth Sedgewick, went The Best Use of Medium Award was presented to Barbara Kim- Anna Luckai provided musical entertainment at the Winter Har- bnll (left) for lier clay gargoyle entitled Guardian #2. Making the vest reception Sunday afternoon. Her photo and fabric piece entitled presentation is Ruth Sedgewick. "Das Lcbcn ist cin Traum" is one of 43 entries in the exhibition. to Barbara Kimball of Oshawa for a clay gargoyle head, entitled Guardian Guardian #2. She said the three heads in the show stemmed out of her recent interest in medieval gargoyles. Her next project many be Amazon creatures. creatures. The Tucker Award, donated by Tuckers Pottery, went to Kerry Fletcher and Susan Belyea for their Wine Cups in bold primary colors accented with black. The Creativity Award, donated by Janet Coates, went to Robert K. E. Mitchell for his pendant and chain from his Ocean Series. Mayor Diane Hamre presented the Mayor's Awards to Ellen Good for her woven jacket. A Merit Award from the Hying Dutchman Hotel went to Judith Mason Mason Kendrick for "Transformation," and a Merit Award donated by White Rose Crafts and Nursery went to Roz Pritchard for "Patch- work Quilt Fish." Honorary mentions went to Jacques Cote, Jay McCarten and Robert K. E. Mitchell. The Winter's Harvest will remain on display at the Visual Arts Centre, 143 Simpson Avc„ until- March 31st. Martin J. Markhan picked up two awards for his Christmas Tree Field Kit. Janet Coates (left) presents the Grand Prize for Best in Show. Markhan also won the Ontario Crafts Council Design Award.