2010 Winter Naturalist Series: Reading the Woods We Ski
Animal Tracking
Saturday, February 13th
2PM – 4PM JERICHO RESEARCH FOREST
Join professional tracker and UVM instructor Mike Kessler on a leisurely paced ski or snowshoe through the Jericho research forest. We’ll be looking for signs of animal activity, following tracks, and, of course, keeping an eye out for the elusive Catamount. Dress warmly – we’ll be stopping frequently. We’ll warm up by the wood stove with warm drinks and snacks afterwards. If the snow cover is light, feel free to leave your skis and snowshoes at home.
Parking for 20 cars is available and we’ll meet inside the Forrest E. Orr Conservation Center on Tarbox Road. Directions can be found on UVM’s Green Forestry website. FREE.
Natural History Tour
Sunday, February 28th
2PM – 4PM DORSET PARK NATURAL AREA (CALKINS)
Naturalist Teage O’Connor leads a tour through Calkins Park to discover the varied history of this city forest. We’ll venture off-trail on our skis and snowshoes to explore the intersection between geology, plants, animals, and people. Dress warmly – we’ll be stopping frequently. If the snow cover is light, feel free to leave your skis and snowshoes at home.
We'll meet outside the National Gardening Association (1100 Dorset Street). FREE.
Tree Ski
Sunday, March 7th
2PM – 4PM ROCK POINT
This afternoon event, led by permaculture designer Mark Krawczyk, will focus on the winter identification characteristics of trees and shrubs. We'll explore the incredible species diversity and woodland ecology at Rock Point, learning how to distinguish woody plants based on their foliage, branching patterns, buds, twigs, leaf scars, bark, growth form and habitat. This event will be outdoors, so dress appropriately. If the snow cover is light, feel free to leave your skis and snowshoes at home.
We'll meet in the parking lot across from the community gardens and the Bishop’s office. FREE.
Forest Management
Sunday, March 14th
2PM – 4PM DORSET PARK NATURAL AREA (CALKINS)
Many of the parks and forests we enjoy for recreation are also models of effective forest management. With woodworker Tom McDaniel we’ll traverse Calkins Park again, this time through the lens of responsible conservation, investigating how a forest’s health is maintained, how its products are harvested, and how we can do these things sustainably and on a small scale. If the snow cover is light, feel free to leave your skis and snowshoes at home.
We'll meet outside the National Gardening Association (1100 Dorset Street). FREE.
If this type of tour is something you’d like to see in your area of Vermont, you’d like to lead one, or you have suggestions for a naturalist event in your neighborhood, let us know! Give us a call or email our Outreach Coordinator at egleason@catamounttrail.org .