Reconnecting with the Natural World

The Value of Reconnecting with the Natural World
8pm

During this brief program introduction, we’ll learn about the legacy our ancestors gifted to us in the forms of tracking and awareness, survival skills, and complex and effective social structures. We’ll have a nature display to evoke questions and conversation. This will be educational and fun for the entire family.

The Five Voices of the Birds
7:30am

Do birds really talk? Consider that birds have been on the planet for approximately eighty million years and that they possess enhanced vocal and auditory apparatus. Here we will learn not only who is vocalizing but reach into the question of why, and, just as important, what this can teach us about ourselves and our relations with the natural world.  1 mile, easy pace, all are welcome.

Mammal Search
10:30am 

Mammals live all around us, yet often go unseen. Join Dan Bogan for a search for these animals and learn about the natural history and ecology of mammals inhabiting the Shawangunk Ridge.

Environmental Stewardship Walk and Talk
2:30pm

Join an outdoor conversation about environmental stewardship – what it is and why it’s important for both the natural world and our own wellbeing.

Fox Walk – The Way of our Ancestors
7:30am

Learn how moving efficiently in nature helps to pattern our brains for expanded awareness and our bodies for balance, agility, and strength. Shifting to our ancestral gait makes us instantly quieter in the woods and enables a more intimate perspective into the natural world. 1 mile, easy pace, all are welcome.

Amphibian and Reptile Walk
10:30am 

What cold-blooded, charismatic species share the woods and waters around the Mountain House? Join us as we explore the fascinating world of amphibians and reptiles of the Shawangunk Ridge. We’ll discuss their interesting lives and search their habitats to get a close-up look at these elusive animals

The Geology of the Shawangunk Ridge
2:30pm

Trees are one of the most important resources on Earth. They fix nutrients in and cool the soil, prevent erosion, bank carbon dioxide, and so much more. On this casual walk through the forest we’ll cover approximately 20-25 species of tree, learn how they grow and where, and learn their uses and their teaching role in native lore. 2 miles, easy pace, all are welcome.

The Geology of the Shawangunk Ridge
2:30pm

The Shawangunks formed as a result of several tectonic collisions followed by periods of erosion that lasted for a billion years. Come take a walk through time as we observe some of the key evidence that reveals the geologic history of the region, including the source of the famous conglomerates, the fossil record, and the influence of mile-thick glaciers.

Discovering Species Around You
7:30am

Plant blindness has become a large problem in our society, with most people no longer able to tell the difference between oak and maple trees. Join Dr. Jackie Schnurr for a nature walk along Mohonk Lake, where we will discover the most common species that are flowering and learn to appreciate the identities of our plant neighbors.

Natural History Workshop
10:30am 

The Shawangunk Ridge, where the Mohonk Mountain House is located, is one of the most biodiverse places in the northeastern United States. Join Dr. Jackie Schnurr in this hands-on workshop to learn to identify the common species of plants, animals, fungi and lichens that surround us and to use our newfound skills to explore a section of Eagle Cliff Trail.

The Gift of Water— Hike to Mossy Brook Spring
2:30pm

All life on Earth depends on water. Since the dawn of our species and beyond, we have drank water from the surface of the earth. This of course has become a much rarer event as our culture has tainted much of this vital resource. However, there are still plenty of places to find fresh, healthy surface water; all we need to know is how to read the landscape. On this beautiful path, we will also learn about waterborne pathogens and how to purify water when necessary. Strenuous 2 miles, all are welcome.

The Gift of Water — Hike to Mossy Brook Spring
2:30pm

All life on Earth depends on water. Since the dawn of our species and beyond, we drank water from the surface of the earth. This of course has become a much rarer event as our culture has tainted much of this vital resource. However, there are still plenty of places to find fresh, healthy surface water; all we need to know is how to read the landscape. On this beautiful path we will also learn about waterborne pathogens and how to purify water when necessary. Strenuous 2 miles, all are welcome.

Night Hike to Copes Lookout
9pm

Moving deftly and silently and tapping into our night vision. Be on the lookout for creatures and events of the night—owls, insects, coyotes, stars, and satellites. We’ll tap into our deep sensory awareness to take in as much information as possible.  Approximately 1 mile, all are welcome. No flashlights or cellphones.

The Building Blocks of Fairy Gardens: Ferns, Mosses, and Lichens
7:30am

On this walk around Lake Mohonk, we will observe those members of the plant and fungus kingdoms that are underappreciated and seldom observed: ferns, mosses, and lichens. When observed closely, there is a whole world that can be discovered. Learn how these simple plants and fungi are important to the ecosystem, and discover a new world right below your feet!

Michael Ridolfo

Michael Ridolfo is the Naturalist at Mohonk Mountain House. After 20 years of rock climbing, ice climbing, mountain biking, skiing, winter mountaineering, nature photography, writing, and music, he began practicing the art of tracking, wilderness survival, and the native mentoring model. This journey has evolved into teaching children and adults how to deepen their relationship with the natural world. In 1999, he founded Wilderness Mind (now The Earthtime Project), a school dedicated to preserving the ancient arts of tracking and nature awareness.

Dr. Jackie Schnurr

Dr. Jackie Schnurr is a Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Wells College, a small liberal arts college located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. She has been working with plants for over 25 years, and her research mostly looks at the roles that biotic factors, such as small mammals, and abiotic factors, such as light and nutrients, have on dictating plant distributions.

Lynn Bogan

Lynn Bogan is the Conservation Section Head at New York State Parks. Lynn received her Bachelor of Science from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry and her Masters of Science in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy from SUNY Albany. She has worked with reptiles and amphibians throughout her career and focuses on environmental stewardship and conservation of native biodiversity.

Dr. Dan Bogan

Dr. Dan Bogan is an Assistant Professor at Siena College and Summer Lecturer at Paul Smith’s College.  He earned his doctorate in Wildlife Science from the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University.  Dan’s research investigates the ecology of wildlife, particularly carnivores, to understand how animals are responding to changing environments.  Gaining this information helps to understand human-wildlife interactions to reduce the potential for conflicts and to conserve wildlife.