Yo TEAM:

NATURE AREA TREK Sunday, June 8th, 2003 7:30AM

You have an opportunity to visit a "Natural Urban Jewel" (Nature Area) in downtown Pontiac. We will be meeting at Beaudette Park at 7:30AM on the northside of Orchard Lake Road just 1/2 mile east of Telegraph Road. We will walk via the "rails & trails" Pontiac trailway to the nature area 1/2 mile and witness an extraordinary undisturbed natural habitat on the Clinton River. You will encounter a nesting "blue heron" rookery, an active Red-tailed Hawk nest and various species of song birds, wetland animals, plants, ect. This area will be a "focus element" of our annual Summer Camp Discovery Program 2003 held at the observatory. The long-term objective is to establish an interactive, interpretive Nature Center for the Pontiac Community.

David Allen will be there with some students that are participating in the observatory's Summer Program. Pat O'Connor of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers will be joining us to provide information on the habitat, etc. Linda Torony will also be attending to add additional expertise, information and wildlife identification, etc. Debbie Jackson from United Way of Oakland County has been invited because she has a passion for wildlife photography. The observatory will provide a telescope and a digital camera for observation and photographic captures as well as some binoculars and various field guides. If you have camera's and binoculars and/or field guides bring them with you. A small camp stool to sit on would also be a good thing to bring along. We will spend a few hours and should be finished by 12:00PM.

Please reply if you have an interest in joining us.

Best,

Jim