Autumn is Its Own Kind of Magic

Week of October 12, 2025 – October 18, 2025

by Katie McLaughlin, Environmental Educator

October is my busiest month of year with field trips, homeschool programs, and general seasonal and spooky activities. Even so, I find myself pondering life as I have been walking through the changing ecosystems. I take this time of year to really be inspired by our landscapes, and allow the natural magic of the season guide what I am teaching others in our programing. 

I am taking notice of the bright colors of the trees, the damp scents of the forest, and the cool mornings as I prepare for our many events and programs of the fall season. I am reminiscing about summer camp and the goofy kids that were here all summer long. I smile at each discovery made during a field trip as I hear students’ exclamations change from startled to curious. I continue to learn from the other educators on staff as we share what we see out on the preserve. Each season at The Woods has its own qualities, fall being one of the most magical.

This past week I have spent time engaging my own imagination by creating fairy houses, clay faces, and even acting as “The Scurrier” during our annual fairy festival. All of the young fairies turned me into a toad for stealing the fairy queen’s journal (don’t worry I got better). Maintaining that childlike energy and creativity as an adult can be difficult for many as we are often forced to let go of being silly, strange, and imaginative due to other responsibilities. However, being creative is part of being human. We are constantly seeing art in all sorts of forms like music, shows, and books. I personally always have my nose in a book. One of my most recent reads was The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin. Would I suggest everyone read it? Probably not, but there was a quote that stood out to me for this time of year.

“Autumn is its own kind of magic; it reminds us of the beauty of letting go” 

This season is one of the most beautiful due to the changing fall foliage as nature itself is letting go of summer leaves to prepare for winter. Whether you are missing the summer warmth or enjoying the cool mornings of fall, I want you to take a moment and ponder yourself… What is it about fall that inspires you? Perhaps it’s the natural beauty that might spark your creativity, or maybe you’ll take a page from nature and let go of what you no longer need. 

We invite our members to enjoy a weekly blog written by our naturalists. Every blog will be uniquely different but always inspired by nature. We may share a memory from a recent hike at The Woods or teach you about an animal or plant that lives on the preserve. No matter the topic, we will be sharing with you our passion for nature and celebrating the connections we all have to the natural world. Each blog will be connected to a weekly set of activities and ideas to help you put nature in your hands, even if you’re at home!