Re-Tree Day at Tifft!

Volunteers came out to Tifft on Saturday July 23rd to help plant over 250 trees in one day!

Here are all the trees (some of them)

Our wonderfully cheery registration volunteers

Everyone's working hard

The planting spanned across a patch in the north side of the preserve where brush had previously been cleared.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and Re-Tree WNY

Nature's Neighboorhood Camp

Nature's Neighboorhood Camp, a five day camp for 7-12 year olds, was in full swing last week. It was an exploration of different animal homes, habitats, and behaviors. These pictures show all the fun and exciting activities that took place during the week. If youre interested in signing your child up for an upcoming summer camp, please visit www.sciencebuff.org or call 825-6397 for details.


Sweeping the mounds for insects


Campers got to paint their own habitat to try to camouflage an animal


Dip netting for macro invertebrates at Lisa Pond




Playing the bee game where campers use a straw as their "proboscis" to collect honey. Winner is the bee with the most!


Looking for dragonfly nymph exoskeletons at Lisa Pond


Playing moose, kind of like simon says but every camper has a symbol for an animal and you have to pay attention and watch for your animal symbol.


Fishing in Lake Kirsty.


Finding insects on the mounds.


Inspecting a praying mantis




Playing a quick game of volleyball after lunch

Checking out whats below the boardwalk in the marsh

Get Married at Tifft!

Have your Wedding at Tifft! Tifft provides a beautiful backdrop for an outdoor wedding. With the breeze from Lake Erie on the left and the forest and Lake Kirsty surrounding, its a refreshing step from the norm. Call 825-6397 for prices and date availability.

Help Re-Tree TIfft

Saturday, July 23
9AM - 1PM
Adults and Children ages 10 and up
Tifft Nature Preserve is partnering with Re-Tree WNY, a program of Keep WNY Beautiful, to "Re-Tree Tifft". Come help plant 400 trees at the preserve to help maintain the canopy of trees for wildlife habitat. Kids ages 10 and up can help out, but all kids under 18 need to be supervised by an adult. Bring a shovel and a mallet if you have one. Park along Fuhrmann Blvd. and follow the signs to the planting site. Pre-registration requested. Please call 825-6397

This summer is full of exploring for kids at Tifft. Sign up for one of our Discovery Camps and let your kids become adventurers and explore the great outdoors.
Our first camp for the summer, Mini-beasts for kids ages 5-8, kicked off this week with wonderful weather and a great time was had.

Exploring the Marsh on Heritage Boardwalk Trail


Decked out in their crawling spider necklaces


Just finished a delicious spider snack


Dip-netting for Macroinvertebrates at Lisa Pond


Facilitator Caryn Corriere describes various insects


Getting a closer look at some macros


Trailblazers


Making a climbing spider craft after lunch


Get some energy out with a fun game of clothes pin tag

Taking a break from an intense game


Best buds


Running like crazy


Sweeping the mounds for insects


Checking out what they caught


Buggy snack time - always healthy and delicious


More buggy snacks and happy faces


Getting ready for a walk

More camps are offered this summer:

Jul 11-15 Ages 7-12: Nature's Neighboorhoods 9-4:30 PM $190
Jul 19-21 Ages 9-14: Field Entomology 9-4:30 PM $135
Jul 26-28 Ages 5-8: Herp, Herp, Hoorah! 9:30 - 3:30 PM $100
Aug 8-12 Ages 7-12: Fins, Fur & Feathers 9:30-4:30 PM $190
Aug 16-18 Ages 5-8: Hop! Swim! Fly! 9:30 - 3:30 PM $100

Call 825-6397 to register (must be at least a week in advance)

Summer in Bloom

Its a perfect time to come observe the flowers in bloom and the insects in flight. Tifft is bursting with energy now thanks to the brilliant sun and the frogs and turtles are popping up like crazy! Night hikes are fantastic when you'd like to see some fireflies and a full moon and breezy days are perfect for fishing or exploring. Here are some things you may see when you come out.


Spittlebug


Snapping Turtle along Rabbit Run


White - marked tussock moth


Grasshopper


Common Ringlet Butterfly on a Birds-foot Trefoil


Woodchuck along Mounds by-pass trail


Doe and her fawn at the Observation Mounds


Yellow Warbler along Service near Old Tifft St


Bluets


Tiptoeing across the water


Painted Turtle


Cecropia Moth Eggs


Polyphemus Moth


The Cecropia Moth that laid the eggs, she had an injured wing