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 finally you’re wrapped up in a blanket of bliss and comfort.

I have such fond memories of returning to school. I was always feeling motivated to learn and take on new challenges. After years of many first days of school I know that not everyone feels the same about starting a new school year. Now that I am often the one standing in front of classrooms filled with mixed emotions I can share my excitement for discovery with students and hopefully ease any nerves about nature education.

The Baltimore Woods Nature in the City program is gearing up for a brand new year and I am thrilled to be joining classrooms around the city to teach about nature in Syracuse. The welcoming smiles and joy from students when they see a Nature in the City t-shirt coming into their school or classroom never gets old.

Soon fall field trips will ramp up and we’ll guide classes through streams of crunchy autumn leaves to different ecosystems at Baltimore Woods. I look forward to seeing the beaming expressions on students’ faces as they transcend down the Valley Trail into a whole new world. During nature journaling field trips, students often feel uninspired looking over the prompts written inside until we travel down into the preserve. I often see inspiration ignite while walking along the Meadow Trails that are lined with goldenrod plants standing at attention ready for their beauty to be captured or while catching creatures in the pond. As they spot spectacular autumn colored leaves on the ground, their pencils quickly start scribbling across their journal pages.

So much is in store for students and us this fall and we can’t wait to go on this journey of nature discovery with you!