The Adirondack Naturalist | Paul Smith's College VIC

Cranberry Craze

Sep 15, 2019

By Thompson Tomaszewski, Lead Naturalist For some, the coming of fall is signified by the changing of the leaves. For others, it’s the appearance of pumpkins in local supermarkets or the crisp, cool breezes that make you pull your sweater a little tighter as you walk...

Solo Sit

Sep 1, 2019

By Katrina Relyea, VIC Summer Naturalist As sunset happens earlier and the night air takes on a chill, I am reminded of the slow advance of time. Monarchs are beginning their migration south. I’m leaving the Adirondacks, too, and on this sunny day, I find myself...

Butterfly Blessings

Aug 10, 2019

By Katrina Relyea, VIC Summer Naturalist The first time I ever interacted with a butterfly was in early elementary school. Our classroom had a unit on butterflies, which resulted in me getting to release a monarch in my backyard. Since then, I’ve only...

Little Brown Bug Eating Machines

Aug 9, 2019

By Thompson Tomaszewski, Lead Naturalist/Environmental Educator Picture this: it’s 10:30 pm. You’re sitting comfortably near an open, still body of water. Behind you, dark trees stretch their limbs upwards towards the Milky Way, which you can see sparkling in the...

The Mind of a Restoration Ecologist

Aug 4, 2019

By Jesse Rock, VIC Summer Naturalist So, what is ecological restoration? At the core of its practice, ecological restoration follows the most basic form of the scientific method. One must firstly observe a site deemed degraded through human use and gather as...

The Secret Lives of Crayons

Jul 28, 2019

By Joline Hall, VIC Summer Naturalist For most American families, the simple crayon is a staple item in kids’ bedrooms, playrooms, and throughout the house. Often, children learn to write their first “ABC” using a crayon of some kind. Crayons are regulars of...