The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-02-28


perennials.
Such a sanctuary might well be-
come the center OF the nature
teaching OF the area and be used
constantly by the schools. There
are three trail side museums in the
Metropolitan System of Cleveland.
Running out from these are ma
ture trails and an abundance OF
wild flowers. There is a natura-
list in charge. Teachers come out
regularly from the schools both
forenoon and afternoon with their
classes. As many OF the schools Of
this area have school buses, II
should be possible for hundreds Il
not thousands of children to visit
such a sanctuary every day, or It
might be possible for a class In
botany or biology or for research
students to spend a week or more
at a time in the study of the area
and the projects and demonstra-
tons being undertaken.
Summer Institutes
The State Conservato Depart.
ment has maintained for some
years a conservation institute At
Pigeon River for the training OF
is employees and others who were
interested in conservation problems,
which has included leaders OF All
Clubs, Scout masters, nature teach
ers and others. The attendance
during the first nine months
OF 1910 was 406. During this yeal
a new institute is to be opened "a:
Higgins Lake. 1t will have &C.
commodations for about $50 and a
staff of three professors, where the
teaching heretofore has been handl
ed by the regular conservation staff
1t would look as though such an
institute might be great success
in this area. Seventy.hve per cent
OF the salaries of the conservation
school are paid by the Board OF
Control for Vocational Education
An institute and sanctuary such
as has been described is place
primarily for observation and re
search, the place for wild life
refugees are on each farm in the
area. BY which | mean that on
each farm there should be a kettle
hole, swamp or a dense copice
that will serve as a safe place for
nesting in summer and as pro-
lection against the storms OF win
ter. Many OF our common birds
eat their weight OF bugs and worms
every day. and their nestings re
quire at least as much more. For
such valuable labors the farmer
owes them some consideration.
There are many other conservation
problems OF significance to the dis
trict, which might keep member
Of the staff very busy.
There should be wild life
manager for the area. Usually he
is called game manager, but this
area is really more interested, I'M
less mistake. in the common song
birds than it is in the game birds
and animals. A nature park such
as has been described might well
become the nature laboratory for
each school system and be used
constantly in the nature teachings:
but there are also many adults that
are interested in birds and trees
and flowers. It might we'll prove
one of the most popular parks that
could be provided.
A fish manager might well be no
less important. The Conservation
Department says there are lakes
in Michigan that produce only 10
pounds OF fish per year per acre
while others produce more than 400
pounds. Many lakes in this area
are in the Is pound class.
The Kellogg Sanctuary is sup
ported by Mr.. Kellogg and managed
by the State College, a great ma
ture center like the one described
ought to have an endowment OF n
million or more dollars and might
well be under the direction OF the
University Of Michigan: but the
management OF such a center Is
also a perfectly proper junction for
an Authority such as the act Gre
ates. Zoolog cal gardens under the
parks are often endowed
A sanctuary, such as has been
described should have as director
or superintendent a bio ogist Of
note, who is interested in the 20
pular side with such nature guides.
botanists, research and Ash men
as the conditions warrant.
IL is not to be supposed that all
Of these things are going to hap
pen at once. The Departments OF
Forests and sanctuaries m ght well
be under the superintendent OF
parks in the beginning. but very
soon the heads Of these depar..
ments should be selected so that
they might make plans for a real
beginning with the areas them.
galypc