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Naturalist Notes: October, 2019
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings: There are so many wonderful things about fall that it is hard to pick a favorite, but high up on the list of reasons to love autumn are mushrooms. Mushrooms come in an amazing variety of colors and shapes, make a great addition to dinners,
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Naturalist’s Notes: September, 2019
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings:One of the things that I love about the Nature Center is getting to see so many people outside enjoying nature. The number of people from so many walks of life doing so many different things always amazes me. From dog walkers to birdwatchers to kids
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Naturalist’s Notes: June, 2019
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings:Summer is almost here and we are gearing up for another round of our summer program. Each year we try to offer an exciting and affordable science-and-fun-filled outdoor experience for 4- to 14-year-old's. We have two classrooms:one is the Nature Center cabin, and the other is
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Naturalist’s Notes: May, 2019
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings:One of the many functions of the Closter Nature Center’s Board of Trustees is to manage this amazing parcel of land and do what's best for its inhabitants. Over the last couple of years we have taken this job seriously and are devoted to protecting not
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Naturalist Notes: April, 2019
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings: Each spring, ponds like our very own Ruckman pond go through an amazing seasonal shift. First, the increasing day length and higher sun angle lead to a melting of the ice and a warming of the pond’s water and bottom sediment. The shallow nature of
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Naturalist Notes: March, 2019
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings:Many of the animals that we love and care for here at the Nature Center were once brought here as unwanted pets. Their stories vary considerably, but they all have a common thread - they really needed a new home. Sometimes it is a simple case
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Naturalist Notes: February, 2019
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings:For many years now we have offered programs for kids during school vacations. These programs started due to the number of calls I would get prior to (and during) vacations asking if we have anything for kids to do while they are out of school. We
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Naturalist Notes: January, 2019
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings:When winter really sets in, there is no better place than the Closter Nature Center for a quick hike. Considering the ordeal of getting dressed for the cold and snow, it gets hard in the winter to go outside for some exercise, but the benefits are tremendous. To offset
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Naturalist Notes: December, 2018
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings:December is here and the days just keep getting shorter. The phenomenon of long days in the summer and shorter ones in the winter is one that we learn to live with, but it’s the real calendar for the comings, goings, and doings of Nature. While
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Naturalist Notes: November, 2018
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings: The first time I started a fire with two sticks and a small pile of tinder it changed my life. My interest in the skills of our ancestors started when I was a small boy. I had learned that there were people who lived
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Naturalist Notes: October, 2018
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings:Every season has its own special basket of gifts from nature, but in my mind fall takes the cake. With the coming of cool nights and ample rain, the fungi of the forest start to fruit and make their reproductive structures: Mushrooms! October is typically the
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Naturalist Notes: September, 2018
>> Naturalist Notes & Musings:Another round of summer programs is in the books, and it is time to look back and reflect on the last 9 weeks. First off, being the front man of the Nature Center, I too often end up getting more credit than I deserve. It is