Lime Hollow News
Lime Hollow Hosts Boy Scout Nature Camporee
The weekend of October 17, local Boy Scouts from the Taughannock District converged on the Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture and immersed themselves in the natural world. According to Lime Hollow Executive Director Glenn Reisweber, “Lime Hollow has a strong partnership with the Taughannock District. This is the second event that we have sponsored to support our local scouts over the past three years. We thoroughly enjoy hosting these types of events!” Reisweber added, “We are especially grateful to the Theodore Fenstermacher Fund for providing substantial financial support for the camporee.”
Reisweber added that thanks to the Fenstermacher Fund, “We now have a professional library of field guides and books, binoculars, and other environmental education materials that will be in the hands of our future ornithologists, botanists, mycologists, and nature center directors.” Lime Hollow Associate Director, Peter Harrity, was quick to note that following the campore, these materials would be used extensively for school field trips and for Lime Hollow’s highly regarded Summer Adventure Day Camp and the nearly 800 children who attend.
On Saturday morning, scouts participated in five nature focused merit badges: Bird Study, Insect Study, Mammal Study, Nature, and Reptile and Amphibian Study. Ms. Bobbie Monroe, an avid birder and long standing member of the Cortland County Bird Club served as the lead counselor for the Bird Study Merit Badge. Ms. Monroe led a bird walk with seventeen scouts to many of the choice birding spots on Lime Hollow. Scouts successfully identified an impressive 24 species of birds on the one hour expedition for one of their badge requirements. According to Ms. Monroe, “We are heading into the peak migratory season and it was a fabulous day for birding.” When asked what she thought of working with the scouts, she remarked, “They were great. I am amazed at their energy level!”
On Saturday afternoon, Dan “The Snake Man” Chase dazzled an audience of 240 Boy Scouts, Brownies, and Scouters with his vast assortment of reptiles and amphibians. Much to the surprise of one scout from the Reptile and Amphibian Merit Badge class, Dan called upon him to hold an alligator as the crowd looked in amazement. Scouts enrolled in the Reptile and Amphibian Study Merit Badge were rewarded with front row seating for the 75 minute presentation. Following Dan’s presentation, he allowed scouts to handle several of his “friends” and fielded dozens of questions from the curious group.
After Dan’s program, the Cornell Raptor Program, lead by Cornell University Students and supervised by Dr. John Parks, introduced several birds of prey to the audience. While the Red Tailed Hawk, Osprey, Great Horned Owl, and Eagle Owl captured the attention of the scouts, a 12 pound Golden Eagle handled by Dr. Parks stole the show. For many in the audience, it was a rare treat to be so up close and personal to such a collection of living raptors.
For several Boy Scout troops from Cortland and Tompkins Counties, Friday’s fall snowstorm, which dumped 2” of snow on Lime Hollow, did not deter them from occupying primitive campsites throughout Lime Hollow’s 375 acres of nature preserve. On both mornings, these rugged scouts crawled out of their tents to sub-freezing temperatures and a picturesque frost covered landscape. At the end of the camporee one scout remarked, “Wow, this was the best campout I have ever attended.”
Questions about the Camporee or Lime Hollow in general can be directed to the Lime Hollow Visitor Center at (607)662-4632.
Dan "The Snake Man" Chase talks to curious scouts during Lime Hollow's Fall Nature Camporee.
Dr. John Parks of the Cornell Raptor Program steadies a 12 pound Golden Eagle as part of Lime Hollow's Fall Nature Camporee for local scouts.
Article and photo provided by Melvin Hubbard.