Fall 2006
Exploration at Amberations: Welcome Project Explore
Amberations opened its grounds to Project Explore on Friday, September 1st 2006. What a great day for everyone involved! Project Explore is a summer recreational program, provided by Exceptional Family Resources, for young people with disabilities. We were happy to invite them to our site to join us in celebrating the great outdoors.
Our day was a full one. It began with arts and crafts. Both staff and group members fashioned model boats from a variety of materials. Practically perfect weather was enjoyed by everyone as they hiked through field and forest. Some threw a giant hover frisbee while others enjoyed a game of bowling or horseshoes in the upper field. Then we were off to sail our model boats down the stream. We visited the ducks, chickens, and rabbits while down in the barn area.
A fantastic time was had by all and we are looking forward to having many groups like this one come out to explore and enjoy the great outdoors with us.
Please feel free to contact us if your group, or a group that you know of, would like to visit Amberations.
Pumkin People Spotted
Right now we are starting to focus on our Fall Festival. Pumpkin People production has begun. Definitely plan on attending on October 22nd and support this very worthy cause while having a great time. Make sure to check out Tim’s Pumpkin Patch, donors of our pumpkin heads. You can find their address on the link at our web site.
Also, new this year, CNY Corn Maze on Pleasant Valley Road (also linked to our web site). Use the coupon in our newsletter and the CNY folks will give Amberations $2.00 for every admission, now there’s a pretty painless way to help us.
Amberations Receives a New York State Grant
In early August Amberations learned that Senator John A. DeFrancisco was able to secure a one-time special State grant in the amount of $5,000.00 to make our site wheelchair accessible. We are working hard to use that money to have this project completed in time for our fall festival. We plan to complete the wheelchair paths started in June by TFGCPAs and connect them to an accessible area for wheelchair vans to safely and easily park and load passengers.
At the barn we will landscape so that wheelchair vans can access our site and wheelchairs can easily navigate the grounds. A ramp will be built to access our new deck and we are working hard to make as many areas as possible wheelchair friendly. Thank you, Senator DeFrancisco for this huge vote of confidence.
Updates
Most of our energy this year has been spent getting Amberations safe and ready for the public. A very successful visit from Exceptional Family Resources rekindled the spirit that started our venture. In 2007 we hope to focus on tailoring our potential to suit the needs of our community and enticing more groups and individuals to become involved with our project.
We would like to remind everyone that our primary purpose is to maintain mental health through positive interaction with our natural environment. We are not an exclusive organization. Everyone needs to maintain mental health. It is amazing how calming it can be to stop the daily hectic mayhem for a few hours, listen to the birds, enjoy the sun and clouds, and maybe even pull a few weeds.
Concrete Deck
Steve Hewitt and Vista Builders have completed a beautiful stamped concrete deck adjacent to our barn. It looks nothing like one expects concrete to look. We can’t thank them enough for their donation of time and materials to make this project a reality.
Steve chose a red hue for the concrete that complements our bright red roof very nicely. Make sure to take notice of the subtle leaf imprints on the border when you visit. Our new deck is truly a work of art.
Gardens
Our herb garden has taken root and is flourishing. We have a large crop of oregano, the common variety and a Chinese medicinal version. Both are delicious. The sage, thyme, and chives are beginning to spread and we look forward to planting more in the spring.
Remember, our goal is to make our gardens your gardens so feel free to enjoy them anytime. The flower garden is looking good as well. For those that don't know, TFGCPAs spent a community service day at our site in the spring. Among many other accomplishments they planted a very large perennial garden with a weeping cherry tree in the center.
Our native deer population had definite favorites, thus we have room for some new varieties. We also are able to provide unlimited opportunities for weeding and gardening. Contact us or stop by if you're interested. If you are thinning your home garden bring us your favorites.
Fall Fundraiser
Plan to be here Sunday, October 22nd to check on our progress, enjoy our pumpkin chili, listen to great music and tour our grounds. You can participate in our raffle and maybe even take home a Pumpkin Person. Before our Fall Fundraiser we hope to make significant improvements to the siding on our barn. Our goal is to have it weatherproof and maybe even move some animals in for the winter.
Most of our carpentry work takes place on the weekends but if you are able to help, for a few hours or even a day or two, we will do our best to accommodate your schedule. Please give us a call, we can definitely use all the help we can get!
Money, Money, Money…
We have broken a strict business rule in our venture... to trust that if you build it they will come. Our very supportive followers have been generous enough to donate over $3000.00 in our first year. All of that money has been put towards insurance and a porta-potty (October’s porta-potty bill has yet to be paid). All of the improvements to our site to date have been paid for solely through donations from the Brittenhams and the Wileys, our founding members.
We are confident that those of you that have supported us in the past will continue to do so and that more will become involved. If you made a donation last year and are wondering when to make your next, now would be a good time. If you thought about making a donation but never did, now would be a good time. If you have any desire to get involved, now would be a good time.
Call us to arrange a personal tour, enjoy a guided tour at our Fall Festival or just come out and poke around on your own. If you have a skill or interest you'd like to share, let us know.
