by Jim Pfiffer, Chemung River Friends Volunteer.

When humans interfere with nature, it often results in a negative ripple effect on nature’s balance. That’s what happened when grey wolves were hunted to near extinction in Yellowstone National Park. The loss of the wolves had a cascading effect on the environment that eventually changed the course of the Yellowstone River.

You can learn about this on Monday, June 21, from 7:00 to 8:30PM at the Big Flats Community Park Extension, during a presentation beneath a shady and peaceful stand of pine trees. The program topic replaces the originally scheduled topic of “The Secret Life of Trees”, which we will speak about in July.

Called Knowledge Under the Pines, the outdoor classroom provides enough room for people to stay socially distanced in lawn chairs on a thick carpet of fragrant pine needles. The stand of Eastern Pines grows in the eastern section of the park, near the intersection of State Route 352 and Winters Road. Park in the lot on Winters Road, near the intersection of 352.

A reduced event fee of $10 for members and $20 for non-members is made possible by the Anderson Foundation, and will help River Friends continue its environmental education programs. DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR OUR LAWN CHAIRS, and please pre-register on our website.

Below are three more scheduled Knowledge Under the Pines programs:
July 19: Secret Life of Trees. Aug. 16: Ospreys, the Airborne Kings of Rivers.
Sept. 20: The Amazing Timber Rattlesnake.\

Can’t wait to see you there!