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 [...]
Caterpillar Season
Week of October 5, 2025 – October 11, 2025 by Kaylen Iorio, Environmental Educator Here at Baltimore Woods caterpillars become stars during the summer and fall. A very common caterpillar to spot is the Hickory Tussock moth caterpillar and students are fascinated to find them. These caterpillars are white and fluffy with black hairs running down their back but be careful if you touch one you might get a little itchy! [...]
A Rainbow of Fall Colors
Week of September 28, 2025 – October 4, 2025 by Anna Stunkel, Environmental Educator Fall and spring have always been my favorite seasons, in large part because they are alive with color. These are times when big changes happen, and nature widely broadcasts seasonal transitions here in the northeast. In fall, you might notice all the colors of the rainbow! As a nature illustrator, I joke about closely observing colors and [...]
iNaturalist at Baltimore Woods
Week of September 21, 2025 – September 27, 2025 by Elizabeth Suzedell, Environmental Educator When you are out in nature, how often do you find something new that you don’t know what it is? Even though I’ve spent a lot of time exploring the trails at Baltimore Woods, I’m always finding new plants, mushrooms, and bugs that I have never seen before. I like to use field guides to help me [...]
What Do You Think This Is?
Week of September 14, 2025 – September 20, 2025 by Katie McLaughlin, Environmental Educator asked as an Environmental Educator when out on the preserve is “What is this?”, but I almost never respond with the answer. Instead, I ask “What do you think it is?” to help guide them to the answer. Now, what you need to know about me is I am not the best at knowing what something is [...]
Journeys of Discovery
Week of September 7, 2025 – September 13, 2025 by Kaylen Iorio, Environmental Educator Shaking off the daze of summer feels like settling down on a cozy Sunday evening; feeling tired from the long days of sunshine and preparing for all that autumn has to bring. That first crisp autumn breeze whispers past with scents of nostalgia, bringing back memories of grade school and jumping into leaf piles with siblings, and [...]
Dragonflies & Damselflies
Week of August 31, 2025 – September 6, 2025 by Anna Stunkel, Environmental Educator As summer winds down and transitions into early fall, I’ve been reflecting on memories of one special group of insects– the dragonflies and damselflies, also known as odonates. These creatures have fascinating lives, including some very impressive adaptations. Around local ponds, streams, and open fields, I enjoy pausing to watch them dart quickly back and forth in [...]
All About Air Pressure
Week of August 24, 2025 – August 30, 2025 by Lizzy Suzedell, Environmental Educator When we think about the weather, measurements like the temperature, clouds, rain, and wind always come to mind. However, to make a forecast, one of the most important considerations is the air pressure. We hear meteorologists talk about it all the time on TV as high and low pressure systems approach, but what does that actually mean [...]
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Week of August 17, 2025 – August 23, 2025 by Katie McLaughlin, Environmental Educator Have you heard of the 3 R’s? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This camp season at Baltimore Woods, campers had a wonderful opportunity to learn about the recycling rules for Onondaga county! While many of us know our basics of what to recycle like paper and plastic – there are certain rules that go along with each of those [...]