The Naturalist’s Blog

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 [...]

Week of December 14, 2025 – December 20, 2025 by Lizzy Suzedell, Environmental Educator Have you heard about the polar vortex on the news lately? This week, I saw article titles saying that the “polar vortex has broken,” and that this will bring a “wrecking ball” and “mother lode” of “icy vortex air” across the country. While this weather phenomenon does bring us extremely cold temperatures, I always laugh a little [...]

Week of December 7, 2025 – December 13, 2025 by Katie McLaughlin, Environmental Educator Did you know that there is an old Christmas tree farm at Baltimore Woods? Originally planted in the early 1980s, this area has grown to astounding heights. It is located near the northern side of the boundary trail; you can spot an evergreen stand that looks a little odd. Within this area is a plethora of Abus [...]

Week of November 30, 2025 – December 6, 2025 by Kaylen Iorio, Environmental Educator As I have been preparing for the Discovering Wildlife Through Trail Cameras program here at Baltimore Woods I’ve been able to take the time to reflect on why I am so drawn to this type of technology. Anyone who knows me knows I am not tech savvy in the slightest. Computer systems? Confusing. Smartphones and all their gadgets? Nonsense. [...]