Category Archives: Outdoor

Written by Kennedy Zittel, Assistant Naturalist On my way to work, I have passed by the same group of four sandhill cranes every morning. What started as two small chicks and the two parents has now t...

We've had it good so far this autumn. Bird migration and the seasonal die-back of plants are still the most notable aspects of the season, and both are advancing at a swift pace now. Bird migration be...

My summer internship at Woodland Dunes was filled with endless amphibian finds including wood and leopard frogs, toads, spring peepers, and even the occasional salamander! While these little guys woul...

Ripples from the Dunes by Jim Knickelbine The onset of autumn is both sobering and joyful. Although the change in season reminds us of challenging times to come, the delight of cool weather energizes ...

Ripples and photo by Nancy Nabak As our birds are getting ready to head south for the winter, this is also the time that fungus starts popping up in brilliant forms and colors everywhere. I am a birde...

by Frances Meyer, Woodland Dunes Summer Intern Recently, visitors exploring the nature center may have noticed an unpleasant smell coming from under the deck. A mother skunk had decided to make the de...

Owls have always fascinated people. Native people sometimes feared them, and told scary stories about them to their children. After all, they are mysterious, wide-eyed, and have a curious, all-knowing...

Article by Jim Knickelbine For thousands of years, people have lived here. Native people thrived in this area, because the land provided everything they needed. Natural resources were abundant, and th...

Ripples from the Dunes by Nancy Nabak, photo by Nancy Nabak They aren't normally considered caped heroes, but our pollinators are just that. Heroes. This week is National Pollinator Week and we're hap...

Article by Jim Knickelbine I remember 50 years ago being part of a Boy Scout campout at Maribel Caves. There were a number of activities involved, including planting spruce trees in the field along th...