box turtle chelonian tortoise reptile cognition smart learning | Earthshine Nature

Mad Mountain Mud Run–THE MOVIE!

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Stevo

It has been over two weeks since the Mad Mountain Mud Run, and finally the editing is complete and the video of the mudtastic event is complete! Follow the Earthshine Nature Nerds from Steve’s helmet mounted GoPro camera as they run, crawl, slide, slosh and squish their way through over three mikes of mud covered obstacles in the name of wildlife and nature conservation and children’s education.

If you are unable to view the video above then follow this link to the video on Youtube.

Thanks to many of you, the Mad Mountain Mud Run Fundraiser was a success for both Earthshine Nature Programs and Hands On! A Child’s Gallery!

If you sponsored us in the mud run, your supporter t-shirts are in the works as I write this and I will be getting them to you soon.

THANK YOU ALL to all of our SUPPORTERS and FRIENDS who worked to help make this unique mud covered fundraiser a great success! Many, but not all of you were featured on the back of our mud run jersey that we wore in the race!

Without all of you, Earthshine Nature Programs would simply not happen.

If you would like to donate to Earthshine Nature Programs please click here.

Earthshine Nature Programs is not affiliated with any and all ads that may appear below this line.

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The MAD MOUNTAIN MUD RUN is TOMORROW!

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Stevo

WOO HOO!!

The Mad Mountain Mud Run is TOMORROW June 1st! Please come out in support of Earthshine Nature Programs, Hands On and all the runners in this wonderful and fun filled mudtastic event!

THANK YOU

To all of you that have already sponsored us in the race!

Without you Earthshine Nature Programs would not happen.

It is not to late to sponsor us in the race–we will gladly take donations before and after the race.

Please follow this link to make an online donation via PayPal–THANK YOU!

If this is the first time you are seeing this blog post and you are wondering what this is all about, below is a full explanation of tomorrows muddy events.

Yes, you heard it right–Earthshine Nature Programs Executive Director Steve O’Neil has formed a mud running team with three of his nature loving friends. They will be running in the Mad Mountain Mud Run 5K in Hendersonville, NC on Saturday June 1st 2013!

The name of our team is

The Earthshine Nature Nerds

The Nature Nerds are;

Steve O’Neil (captain),

Jenny Geer-Hardwick,

Will Thomas

Steve Atkins

(Hog not included and no animals will be harmed during the mud run)

Our community goal is to run in support of the Hands On A Child’s Gallery based in Hendersonville, NC with our entry fees and afternoon of muddy fun!

Our nerdy nature goal is to run representing Earthshine Nature Programs as our 2013 fundraiser. To do this we will need to find sponsors that are willing to support Earthshine Nature Programs with a pledge. Your pledge will provide direct support to our environmental education and conservation programs and projects and it is tax deductible.

Take a look at the course map below for what we have in store for us! It should be a muddy fun day!

Sponsor Awards

Those who sponsor us for $50 or more will receive your logo or name and weblink* on the ENP supporters website (to be updated after the race) and this blog, and on the back of our custom mud run t-shirt that we will proudly wear during the race (if you sponsor us before May 22th your name/loge will appear on the t-shirt).

Those who sponsor us for $100 or more will receive your logo or name and weblink* on the ENP supporters website and this blog, and your own custom mud run t-shirt–mud not included.

Those who sponsor us for $500 or more will receive your logo or name and weblink* on the ENP supporters website and this blog, your own custom mud run t-shirt, and one “Honored Supporter” custom made (by Steve) award which includes a certificate of appreciation and small glass vial filled with a small amount of the actual mud from the race course that we will run through on June first

Those who sponsor us for $1000 or more will receive your logo or name and weblink* on the ENP supporters website and this blog, your own custom mud run t-shirt, one “Honored Supporter” custom made (by Steve) award which includes a certificate of appreciation and small glass vial filled with a small amount of the actual mud from the race course that we will run through on June first, and Steve and his animals will come to you and present one of his Misunderstand Wildlife animal shows with live animals at your birthday party, school or other gathering!

*You can opt-out of having your personal/company information publicized on our shirts/websites if you choose.

The nitty gritty muddy dirt of the sponsorship (rules)

If the Earthshine Nature Nerds team completes the race–all sponsored pledges will be collected from the sponsors by June 15th, 2013. Supporter awards will be awarded within 30 days following the race.

If the Earthshine Nature Nerds team does not complete the race–no donations will be collected unless you choose to support us despite the fact.

If the race is cancelled due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control you may choose to honor your sponsorship agreement or not. All donations will be used to provide direct support to our environmental conservation projects and programs and it is tax deductible.

If you would like to sponsor our team please contact me and we will make arrangements.

You may sponsor us with either monetary pledges or supplies. If you would like to pledge supplies please contact us for a list of our current needs.

No matter if you choose to support us or not, please do come out to Berkley Park and watch all of the mud runners get muddy and have fun for a couple of great causes–the education of children and conservation of wildlife and nature!

If you know anyone who may like to support ENP with a sponsorship or donation please forward this post on to them–THANK YOU!

NOTE: The Nature Nerds will video/photograph their perspective of the race using the latest technology including HD GoPro cameras and more so that their nerdy muddy experience will be able to be shared by all! A few days following the race look for the video to be posted here on the ENP Nature Blog!

THANK YOU!!

That’s all for now…I need to go train!

Steve O’Neil, ENP Executive Director and Mad Mountain Mud Runner

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Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks Field Update for 5-18-13

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Stevo

Field update for the Earthshine Turtle Tracks and Snake Tracks reptile conservation projects for May 18, 2013.

Turtle Tracks

First I located Catherine the Eastern Box Turtle. I found her in a location that she uses this time of year to feed heavily before making her long trek over the ridge to lay her eggs in the small field in the community adjacent to Earthshine.

She was sitting on the leaf litter in the forest possibly searching for food items such as slugs, snails and worms. She just looked at me never moving and waited until I moved off.

Jimmy has been missing for over a month. His transmitters’ signal stopped transmitting shortly after he emerged from hibernation and I have not seen him since. It may be a transmitter issue however, I believe it is not. Holohil, the brand of transmitters that I use, are some of the best in the world and Jimmy’s transmitter was replaced last fall. I think Jimmy was either attacked by a predator that damaged his transmitter or he may have been hit by a mower. We have been following Jimmy Irwin since May of 2008 and if we never see him again we can rest assured that the time we have spent following in his Turtle Tracks has been exciting and educational and generated some remarkable data that will be used to help conserve our only terrestrial turtle–the Eastern Box Turtle. Thousands of people of all ages have met Jimmy online or in person when they journeyed to the fields and forests surrounding Earthshine to search for Jimmy and learn a little bit about his life and how this tiny turtle plays a gigantic role in keeping nature–and us–healthy and happy. I will continue to search for Jimmy in the hopes of finding him and be sure to let you know if he ever turns up.

Snake Tracks

Over the last 7 days since her last locate, Zoe the Timber rattlesnake has moved about 1/2 mile to the southeast. She has traveled along the ridge, passed through or around several houses and yards, crossed the road at least once, moved through several thousand feet of thick forest and made her way to where I found her today–resting about 2.5′ from the edge of a swift flowing mountain stream. Can you find her in the photo below?

On the other side of the stream there were two large dogs tied to trees continually barking at me while I searched for Zoe! It was nerve wracking to say the least. I believe Zoe is on her way to her summer activity area in the fields near the waterfall where she spent last summer. Only time will tell.

I did not track Utsanati today because I ran out of daylight…I will locate him soon.

On May 25th I will locate Zoe and Utsanati and pull them from the field just long enough to replace their transmitters, let them recover and then release them back at their capture locations. I will be sure to get it all on film for you to witness.

Take a look at the video from today below.

For more information on the Snake Tracks project and Earthshine Nature Programs please visit us at www.earthshinenature.com

It is our goal at ENP to promote wildlife conservation through exciting hands-on education, outreach programs and online with our nature videos.

I am not paid to operate ENP or to conduct wildlife conservation activities. ENP is a 100% volunteer operated project designed to educate you about these greatly misunderstood and amazing animals and hopefully, to impart to you, their beauty, uniqueness and intrinsic value to a healthy Earth and healthy humans.

If you would like to help support Earthshine Nature Programs please feel free to donate using this link: http://www.earthshinenature.com/donate. Receipts available upon request. You may also donate supplies such as animal foods, medical supplies, reptile vitamins and habitat supplies. If you are interested in donating any of these items please contact us for more information on our current needs.

THANK YOU Earthshine Discovery Center and all of you who have helped to make Earthshine Nature Programs happen! Without all of you our wildlife conservation and education mission would not be possible.
Visit the Earthshine Discovery Center to learn how you and your family, school, scout, corporate or camp group, can visit us and have a wonderful fun and educational retreat!
http://www.earthshinediscovery.com

Music by The Steep Canyon Rangers used with written permission. www.steepcanyon.com

Earthshine Nature Programs to run in the Mad Mountain Mud Run!

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Stevo

The name of our team is

The Earthshine Nature Nerds

The Nature Nerds are;

Steve O’Neil (captain),

Jenny Geer-Hardwick,

Will Thomas

Steve Atkins

(Hog not included and no animals will be harmed during the mud run)

Our community goal is to run in support of the Hands On A Child’s Gallery based in Hendersonville, NC with our entry fees and afternoon of muddy fun!

Take a look at the course map below for what we have in store for us! It should be a muddy fun day!

Sponsor Awards

Those who sponsor us for $100 or more will receive your logo or name and weblink* on the ENP supporters website and this blog, and your own custom mud run t-shirt–mud not included.

*You can opt-out of having your personal/company information publicized on our shirts/websites if you choose.

The nitty gritty muddy dirt of the sponsorship (rules)

If the Earthshine Nature Nerds team does not complete the race–no donations will be collected unless you choose to support us despite the fact.

If you would like to sponsor our team please contact me and we will make arrangements.

You may sponsor us with either monetary pledges or supplies. If you would like to pledge supplies please contact us for a list of our current needs.

If you know anyone who may like to support ENP with a sponsorship or donation please forward this post on to them–THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!!

That’s all for now…I need to go train!

Steve O’Neil, ENP Executive Director and Mad Mountain Mud Runner

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Your message has been sent

Only TWO days left for our online fundraiser–please post, share and support us!

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Stevo

Hello Friends,
Only two days remain for the Earthshine Nature Programs’ first 2013 online fundraiser so please donate, share and post the below paragraph with anyone you like or anywhere you like to help us reach our goal–THANK YOU!

“Earthshine Nature Programs is in the process of setting up a second nature education center and expanded our outreach programming to educate even more folks about nature, science, wildlife, conservation and rehabilitation and we need your help to make it happen. Please take a moment and check out our project fundraiser page on the Rocket Hub website. Rockethub is a crowd-funding site similar to Kickstarter, so any contribution you can make to our cause–no matter how small or large–will help us to continue our oh so needed nature and wildlife conservation projects and outreach programs into the future. Please share this link (also below in full) anywhere and with anyone you like who you think may want to support our great cause.

Project link: http://www.rockethub.com/projects/12818-earthshine-nature-programs”

THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us–without you we would not survive!

If you would rather donate via snail mail please contact me and I will provide you with my mailing address.

Receipts available upon request.

Thank you for any and all support,

Steve O’Neil, Naturalist, Wildlife Warrior and Executive Director of ENP

(828) 606-8939

http://www.earthshine.nature@gmail.com

Saya and I with Crash

It is no wonder the tortoise won the race…he was smarter than the hare.

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Stevo

Many people believe reptiles to be dim witted but I know that is far from the truth. Through my radio tracking studies of box turtles I have observed some truly amazing things about the life of the box turtle. How do they find and follow the same paths, feeding, nesting and over-wintering areas and even sometimes the same mates year after year? They are obviously not using radio tracking devices, high tech satellite-linked computers or GPS systems like we big brained primates seem to think we need to get around. New studies are beginning to show that the chelonians (turtles and tortoises) are far brighter than we have ever believed. Over the years my observations of the turtles in the Turtle Tracks study have led me to believe without a doubt that the tiny brain of the box turtle has much more intelligence and capability to learn than we have ever thought possible. Researchers have begun to discover that in fact tortoises (and turtles I’m sure) do in fact have much more going on inside their little noggins than we give them credit. Take a look at this article from New Scientist and read all about it and then, the next time you encounter a chelonian, marvel at it’s existence. Feel humbled that we “advanced” animals need our invented technologies and education to navigate our way through life but the chelonian needs only the adaptations, instincts and smarts they are born with to make a good living in the wild…and that they have done so since the time of the dinosaurs. Nature never ceases to amaze and astound me.

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