| The rites
of spring are celebrated in Huntington Beach's
Shipley Nature Center and nearby Central Park
grass lawns each spring in April / May.
Several
years ago the Shipley Nature Center was
reorganized by a non-profit volunteer group to
rejuvenate the decaying forest overrun with
non-native plants, massive clumps of bushes,
bogs and an unfriendly environment for the
neighborhood and park itself, which is well
kept. It wasn't a problem that as a nature
center it was covered with bushes and narrow
paths. It simply lacked funding and operational
resources to make it a viable attraction for the
local population and tourists.
Today the
Shipley Nature Center celebrates many things.
The Spring Festival is one event that invites
the public to explore and enjoy the natural
resources of this small gated portion of Central
Park West. A new paved parking lot to the
center, a beautiful iron gate to greet guests,
and new displays inside the red brick building
are just a few of the enhancements to explore.
An astute group of board members have formed an
entity that now meets many educational curricula
and thus, qualifies for grant funding.
About the
Maypole Dance:
Juana Mueller lead a group of
children in the dance. They each took a ribbon
tethered to the ground, pulling it out of its
position. Then the gentle, festive music began.
Alternating, one child faced clockwise, and the
next counter-clockwise in a circular formation
around the maypole. Mueller directed them in how
to wind their ribbons around the maypole. One
group carries the ribbon on top. The other
facing the opposite direction carries their
ribbon on the bottom so the two directional
groups crisscross their ribbons that shorten as
they are wrapped around the pole. When the
ribbons are completely wrapped around the pole,
it is removed from the ground and carried by the
kids inside the Nature Center.
Spring Festival
pages & videos:
1.
Shipley Nature Center welcome from Kay Goddard
2.
Maypole Dance
3.
Shipley Nature Center leaders / community
volunteers
4.
Photo of attendees Gil Coerper and Tom Livengood
5.
Kids play games at the Spring Festival
6.
Shipley Nature Center sponsors and community
groups at Spring Festival
hbsite |
