NEWSRACK
WINTER 2004 - 2005 Volume 5

GREETINGS

What a great year it has been! 

Thanks to your ongoing membership support, and a growing number of Deerassic Classic supporters across the nation, we’ve been able to make continuous improvements to the Deerassic Park Education Center.

Although we are not yet to the stage where we are open continuously to the public (we hope that will be soon!), we have added more public events to our yearly schedule, made progress in infrastructure work, and expanded our educational programming.

We had an incredible turn-out of well over 15,000 people to the 2004 Deerassic Classic Giveaway, with ticket purchasers from 41 states!

We’re pleased with the growth from our first year in 2003 when 11,500 people attended and bought tickets from 32 states!

We are planning a new event in October 2005 -- a Halloween festival! We are working with the Muskingum College theater department to create a fun, outdoor, family-oriented event.

We continue to spread the word about the Foundation through public outreach at events and through the media, and, I’ve got to say, our two trucks donated by Dunning Motor Sales in Cambridge, with their impressive, eye-grabbing graphics of the leaping whitetail on their sides, have certainly gained attention in our communities and on state and interstate highways as our staff members conduct business!

We appreciate you helping us hold the vision of building an incredible park, museum, and outdoor experiences for youth and families, and of thinking of any contacts you may have from your work place or civic group who may share your interest in getting involved.

Sincerely,
Dean Ziegler, Director of Operations and
NWDEF Founder

PROGRESS!

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR PLANS IN 2004/2005:

• Raised $728,543 net from the 2004 Deerassic Classic.
• $32,408 of these funds slated directly to The Outside Is In Education Fund to help supplement educational programs for school districts that must endure continued budget cuts.
• Continued infrastructure improvements, including a grounds-keeping workshop and roads.
• Building and development of interpretive nature trails.
• Plans to build an amphitheater, deer viewing area, and an activity building that will serve as a temporary museum.
• Second annual Ancient Arts Festival and Knap-In in June, and adding a new Halloween attraction in October!
• Plans to enlarge deer enclosure to extend to the pavilion area.
• Bigger and Better 2005 Deerassic Classic Giveaway (see reverse for details).
• Educational displays at the Heritage Festival (Cambridge), Fox Creek Outdoors (Massillon), and the Ohio Hills Folk Festival (Quaker City).
• “A Breath Of Fresh Air” outdoor family fun day with educational programs which benefited the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in August.

THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Our two education programs -- “The Outside Is In!” field trip program, and “The Whitetail’s Journey” classroom program -- have been well received by school districts. Both are designed to help meet State Academic Content Standards, and to inspire youth to reconnect with the outdoors.

Program details and references can be found on our website. Click here.

New this year, we have created specialized seasonal programming for Guernsey County Children Services’ clientele that will serve as a model for other similar groups.
Thanks to your support and The Outside Is In Education Fund, we can continue to develop innovative programs.

Donations to our Education Fund are fully tax-deductible, and can be made to directly benefit the school district of your choice.

Please contact Program Director Toni Kellar at 740-435-3335 or tonikellar@deerassic.com  for more information.

NWDEF MEMBERSHIP

Just a reminder, your membership is valid through one year after our park’s grand opening (although we appreciate any additional tax-deductible donations you’d wish to make before your renewal), and gives you membership newsletters, annual membership picnic, discounts to special events (except the Classic), and free admission to the park for one year after its grand opening. If you’d like to encourage your friends or coworkers to join you in your support, membership applications are available on our website. Click here.

3RD ANNUAL DEERASSIC CLASSIC GIVEAWAY
AUGUST 5 & 6, 2005

Plans are underway for the third annual DEERASSIC CLASSIC GIVEAWAY to be held August 5 and 6, 2005. This year’s major fundraising event will be highlighted by THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND, live in concert on Saturday night! The concert is free to all ticket-holders and attendees.

The two-day event begins with the Friday Nite Kick-Off Party which features the Big Buck Bonus drawing -- 25 great prizes including a 2005 Hummer grand prize, and live entertainment. Saturday’s Deerassic Classic Giveaway features free food and soft drinks, over 200 prizes, a $50,000 cash grand prize drawing, and the free Charlie Daniels Band concert!

This year we’re offering an EARLY BIRD incentive! If you buy your ticket BEFORE APRIL 30, you are automatically entered in the Early Bird Drawing of 25 $1,000 cash prizes! And new this year, we’ve created a Charlie Daniels Special ticket for 10 chances to win a back-stage pass with the legendary performer, along with an autographed gun.

There will be plenty of side raffles, and special guest Gordon Whittington, editor-in-chief of North American Whitetail magazine, will be on-hand all weekend. Back by popular demand is the Horton Crossbow Celebrity Challenge, with all proceeds benefiting our education fund.

Primitive camping at Deerassic Park will be available the week of the Classic.

TICKETS GO ON SALE FEBRUARY 1!

Order online, call the Deerassic Hotline at 740-435-9500, or send a check or money order to NWDEF, 14250 Cadiz Rd., Cambridge, OH 43725. Only 10,000 tickets will be sold. 

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP PICNIC JUNE 25

The second annual ANCIENT ARTS FESTIVAL AND KNAP-IN will be June 25 and 26, 2005, at the Deerassic Park Education Center. Our annual membership picnic will take place during the festival on Saturday at 4 p.m. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us! Admission is free to members! ($3 per person or $5 per carload for non-members). We will build on the success of our first-year festival last June and add new features for the 2005 festival, which celebrates flint -- Ohio’s state stone -- and the artisans from around the nation who work with this beautiful gemstone. Also featured will be a national Atlatl (spear throwing) competition, demonstrations and displays of ancient and heritage arts such as tanning, blacksmithing, scrimshaw, pottery, jewelry, stone carving, and more. We’ll also have entertainment, food, and youth activities. Please help spread the word to your friends, families, and co-workers!

BOARD AND STAFF NEWS

The NWDEF, founded by Operations Director Dean Ziegler, would like to thank board president Bill Dalessandro, vice president Kenny McClellan, secretary/treasurer Tim Higgins, and members Joe Detweiler and Steve Kame for their ongoing support, and welcome new board member Jerry Snapp. Jody Finch Cowan, who has been serving as the Deerassic Classic Giveaway ticket coordinator, is now Special Events and Marketing Director. Chris Fausett is our new Administrative Assistant. Lynn Abrams-Spilker continues to serve as Development and Finance Director, and Toni Kellar as Program Director. We have added several part-time grounds-keeping and maintenance workers, as well as educational presenters.

THANK YOU!
2004 DEERASSIC CLASSIC SPONSORS

$5,000 GOLD: 

Dunning Motor Sales, Horton Crossbow, Stoney’s RV, Gander Mountain, Luburgh Inc., Lashley Tractor Sales, Built-Rite Buildings, Pine Lakes Lodge.

$2,500 SILVER: 

Newhouse Printing; Smith Dairy Product Company.

$1,000: 

Fink’s Harley-Davidson, Bichard Trucking, Craft Electric, Pepsi, Country Curios, Timberline Cabins, Pro-Tect Systems, Stephanie McClain Photography, Walnut Creek Log Structures, T.J.’s Contracting LLC., Hidden Ranch Ltd., Cowboy Dan Concessions, and Wal-Mart.

For sponsorship opportunities for the 2005 Deerassic Classic, please contact Jody Finch Cowan at 740-435-9500.