September 22 marked the autumnal equinox - end of summer and the beginning of the fall season. You could hardly tell with the heat, the humidity and an evening thunderstorm more typical of July than late September. But Sept. 22 did mark the first of our orientation field trips for new students who will carry on where last year’s groups left off. We had 47 students on this first trip and next week we expect probably just as many. After everyone has seen the preserve in its entirety, we can begin to divide up the tasks and set some goals and timetables for October and November.
Yesterday, even with the above average temperatures in mid-80’s, we covered the area quickly and saw all the highlights -Alley Tidal Creek (at high tide) headwater streams (cold, clear and flowing strong) the ‘secret’ spring (always beautiful) and poison ivy in full bloom - so maybe they can recognize it in the weeks to come. I think the students were suitably impressed and I was glad to share the day with co-leaders Frank Cantelmo and Paula Lazrus. I think we work together well and I think the students appreciate that too.
The trails are completely passable (generally good to excellent but with a couple of rough spots). Sometimes its easy to forget that when we are out with people for the first time, they can’t really anticipate what we are asking of them. One unfortunate student ran into a real problem with footwear. Those elevated platform heals just weren’t going to work on earthen trails. We did give fair warning about the walking conditions and proper dress and footwear but when you are working with rookies this is something to look out for before we step out into the preserve.
I hope next week is a bit cooler but just as beautiful and just as successful.
We shall see.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
READY…SET…GO!!!
Our fall field work in the preserve is about to start. We have two orientation field trips for the starting students on schedule for Sept. 22 and 29. There are three trip leaders (Paula Lazrus, Frank Cantelmo and myself) and there will be a large number of first year students. The results should be outstanding.
Before the APEC board meeting last night, I went out into the park and walked some of the most challenging sections of the trail. I just had to ease my mind that we could make our way without too much trouble. What a great night! All the trails were dry, firm and very passable. They certainly need all the TLC we can give them but they are in great starting shape.
Reflecting back to our starting position last year I can now see exactly how far we have come; last year at this time we were only beginning to plan for this trail project; we had installed none of the marker blocks and trail distances and the last third of the trail was all but impassable. We could get to the hidden spring and parts of trails were soft, wet and blocked by trees pulled down by choking vines; We freed the trees, drained the worst trail spots and put the marking blocks in on almost two thirds of the trail. We finished cutting the trails by the end of this summer and so it is READY… SET… and…GO for this next generation of stewards.
I'm really looking forward to their reaction next week when they visit the preserve for the first time; I can only imagine all of the progress they will make this season.
Before the APEC board meeting last night, I went out into the park and walked some of the most challenging sections of the trail. I just had to ease my mind that we could make our way without too much trouble. What a great night! All the trails were dry, firm and very passable. They certainly need all the TLC we can give them but they are in great starting shape.
Reflecting back to our starting position last year I can now see exactly how far we have come; last year at this time we were only beginning to plan for this trail project; we had installed none of the marker blocks and trail distances and the last third of the trail was all but impassable. We could get to the hidden spring and parts of trails were soft, wet and blocked by trees pulled down by choking vines; We freed the trees, drained the worst trail spots and put the marking blocks in on almost two thirds of the trail. We finished cutting the trails by the end of this summer and so it is READY… SET… and…GO for this next generation of stewards.
I'm really looking forward to their reaction next week when they visit the preserve for the first time; I can only imagine all of the progress they will make this season.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Welcome to September
Weather is still the worst but the trails conditions are improving remarkably. Summer heat in the preserve is really unbearable. Drains you of all energy. We are also on the edge of Hurricane Earl and can only hope it doesn't hit the east coast but it should be out of here by tomorrow night.
In spite of the dogs days of summer we are making progress and are back to campus for a week now. Trails in the preserve are open and passable which is more than we had at the start of last year. Great starting group of students this year and I expect they will do remarkable service in the preserve this semester and in the future. I finished buying some of the tools, gloves and equipment they will use this term and it should be in soon.
Next big step is to give all of these enthusiastic and idealistic young people a great tour of the preserve and a clear idea of what they can do. Human energy and creativity is a true 'resource' and I really believe we have a vast new pool we can tap.
In spite of the dogs days of summer we are making progress and are back to campus for a week now. Trails in the preserve are open and passable which is more than we had at the start of last year. Great starting group of students this year and I expect they will do remarkable service in the preserve this semester and in the future. I finished buying some of the tools, gloves and equipment they will use this term and it should be in soon.
Next big step is to give all of these enthusiastic and idealistic young people a great tour of the preserve and a clear idea of what they can do. Human energy and creativity is a true 'resource' and I really believe we have a vast new pool we can tap.
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