The Naturalist’s Blog

Week of February 15, 2026 – February 21, 2026 by Amelia Gross, Environmental Educator Every time I’m congested, struggling to breathe out of my nose, and wondering how many more tissues I can possibly go through, I tell myself the same lie: “When I’m done being sick, I will appreciate my normal breathing more.” This lasts for a day or two at most, before I forget I was ever sick and [...]

Week of February 8, 2026 – February 14, 2026 by Katie McLaughlin, Environmental Educator On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, I am out with a homeschool group exploring the preserve. Thursdays this year are a new experience for all of us as we are piloting a Bushcraft Trail School program for teens (and pre-teens). Jeff Devine and I take this small group of young teens out onto our newest part of Baltimore [...]

Week of February 1, 2026 – February 7, 2026 by David DuBois, Director of Stewardship We devote a lot of time and energy discussing the negative environmental impact that our species can wreak on the world around us. From land clearing to development, there is no question that human impacts have the potential to negatively impact the environment. However, humanity’s power to do great damage is coupled with an equally amazing [...]

Week of January 25, 2026 – January 31, 2026 by Kaylen Iorio, Environmental Educator Nature is full of wondrous curiosities. When I was thinking about what to write for my blog this week I thought about the house cat tracks in the parking lot of Baltimore Woods I’ve been seeing each morning. I’m immediately intrigued by them, who they came from, where they were going, how long ago they made them… [...]

Week of January 18, 2026 – January 24, 2026 by Anna Stunkel, Environmental Educator Have you taken time to think about the many different ways that animals around us move? While we spend most of our time walking and running to get around the world, other animals are flying, swimming, waddling, hopping, and slithering around us. Every species is uniquely adapted for moving in their own ways to find food and [...]

Week of January 11, 2026 – January 17, 2026 by Elizabeth Suzedell, Environmental Educator Have you ever seen a flock of thousands of crows? If you’ve ever been in Syracuse or Auburn, NY on a winter evening, then you probably have. In these cities, along with many other urban areas around the country, tens of thousands of American crows gather at night to roost. These activities are a rather spooky thing [...]

Week of January 4, 2026 – January 10, 2026 by Katie McLaughlin, Environmental Educator We officially made it through 2025! I see a lot of people creating resolutions for the New Year, from exercising more, eating better, spending less. However, I find myself aligning less with resolutions and more and more with the seasons. The winter has just begun – and when we look at nature in winter it is a [...]

Week of December 28, 2025 – January 3, 2026 by Kaylen Iorio, Environmental Educator During last week’s Winter Solstice Hike at Baltimore Woods, one participant expressed how year after year this hike helps them reset and remember what’s really important during the holiday season and I couldn’t agree more. It feels like we are often frantic this time of year, trying to find the perfect gifts or plan the perfect party. [...]

Week of December 21, 2025 – December 27, 2025 by Anna Stunkel, Environmental Educator At precisely 10:03 am this morning, did you notice an extra chill to the air? I am just joking; winter solstice isn’t guaranteed to cause more chilliness, but it did take place this morning. Winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. 10:03 am was the precise moment that the Northern Hemisphere [...]