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2023 Walks in the Woods & Other Cool Things to Do Outside
Our Walks are as popular as always, limited only by parking/access restrictions at the delightful, often off-the-beaten-path locations.  New locations this year include Sound View Dunes Park, Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Laurel Hill Farms and Hofstra University. Some of you may have already experienced our new protocol of delaying registration for each walk until 2 – 3 months prior to, so they don’t all get filled up before our calendar brochures reach members’ mailboxes. 70 attendees enjoyed walks in our first quarter, shown in photos here. Join us for these upcoming Walks in the Woods. Advance registration is required and events are subject to change. To register or for more information, visit our website at www.northshorelandalliance.org/events. Thursday, June 29th, 6:00 pm Youngs Farm, Old Brookville Led by Tim Dooley Tim will lead us on a tour of one of Nassau County’s most treasured family farms. Saturday, July 15th, 10:00 am Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Quogue Led by Matt Kaelin Quogue Wildlife Refuge is home to all three of the types of carnivorous plants found on Long Island. Matt will introduce us to these and other curious species with a presentation on carnivorous plants and their habitats and a tour of the bog at the Refuge. Saturday, August 5th, 10:00 am Hallock State Park, Riverhead Led ByMaryLaura Lamont In partnership with Long Island Botanical Society MaryLaura will introduce us to the 18 species, some now very rare, of native Long Island wildflowers planted in Hallock’s garden. They all attract a huge variety of pollinating bees, butterflies and other insects. We will then stroll to the Sound for a look at the beach and cliff plants. ($8.00 parking fee) Tuesday, August 29th, 7:00 pm (rain date: Wednesday, August 30) Humes Preserve, Mill Neck Led by Peter Martin When the full moon is nigh, Peter will lead an exploration across Humes’s meadow. We may find migrating birds, crepuscular and nocturnal mammals and who knows what else? Saturday, September 23rd, 6:00 pm Wawapek, Cold Spring Harbor Led by Meghan Leverock Meghan, who resides at and manages the property, will tour its habitat restoration and formal garden areas whose dramatic improvements she has overseen, then lead us through the preserve’s woodland. The tour will end at our newly installed Ralf Lange Garden and restored greenhouse. Saturday, October 7th, 9:00 am Laurel Hill Farms, Cove Neck Led by Enrico Nardone, In partnership with Seatuck Environmental Association Join Seatuck’s Enrico (and friends!) for a walk at Laurel Hill Farms. It includes some of the best North Shore deciduous forest in Nassau County. The changing foliage of early autumn and the fall bird migration should provide plenty of interest, and the topography will ensure some exercise! Saturday, November 18th, 11:00 am (rain date Nov. 19) Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich Led by Glen Malings Afraid you’re relying too much on GPS? Want to practice your map reading skills? Orienteering is like a treasure hunt in the woods using a map to find controls (box shaped flags) hanging from trees. We’ll give instructions and then you can go out alone or with friends. The course should take about an hour, if you don’t get lost.
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Preview our 2023 Walks in the Woods
2023 Walk in the Woods Preview Saturday, January 21st, 1:00 am – Sisters of St. Joseph Brentwood Led by Abby Bezrutczyk, Bill Jacobs and Melody Penny Join the Long Island Invasive Species Management area to learn about winter tree and shrub identification as we explore the diversity of both native and invasive plants along the property’s cosmic trail. Sunday, February 19th, 2:30 pm – Shore Road Sanctuary, Cold Spring Harbor Led by Gwen Ugan Don your citizen scientist hat and join Gwen the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count to survey winter waterfowl in Cold Spring Harbor. Saturday, March 25th, 11:00 am – Matheson Meadows, Lloyd Neck Led by Richard Weir and Lisa de Guzman Visit Matheson Meadows with a dynamic duo when you will find egg cases – first discovered here by Lisa – for an insect unusual in these parts. Richard, a marvelous teacher and expert horticulturist, will enlighten you about the Meadows’ diverse plant community. Saturday, April 29th, 9:30 am – Williams Preserve, Lattingtown Led by Peter Meleady and Jane Jackson Peter and Jane will lead a tour of our newest preserve – a charming 4.5-acre property consisting of mature native trees, emerging meadow and freshwater pond – and discussion of habitat restoration underway. Saturday, May 12th, 9:00 am – Sound View Dunes Park, Southold Led by John Turner Explore Sound View Dunes Park’s 57 acres of beach, dune, wetland and forest habitats with one of Long Island’s most loved and respected naturalists. The focus will be on birds during their spring migration. Friday, June 16th, 6:00 pm – Hofstra Arboretum, Hempstead Led by Mike Runkel Explore Hofstra University’s plant communities as Mike discusses how a warming climate plays into decisions about shifts in heat hardiness zones and what species to plant here on Long Island. Thursday, June 29th, 6:00 pm – Youngs Farm, Old Brookville Led by Tim Dooley As harvest time approaches, Tim will lead us on a tour of one of Nassau County’s most treasured family farms. Saturday, July 15th, 10:00 am – Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Quogue Led by Matt Kaelin Quogue Wildlife Refuge is home to all three types of carnivorous plants found on Long Island. Matt will introduce us to these and other curious species with a presentation on carnivorous plants and their habitats and a tour of the bog at the Refuge. Saturday, August 5th, 10:00 am – Hallock State Park, Riverhead Led by MaryLaura Lamont in partnership with Long Island Botanical Society MaryLaura will introduce us to the 18 species, some now rare, of native Long Island wildflowers planted in Hallock’s garden. They all attract a huge variety of pollinating bees, butterflies and other insects. We will then stroll to the Sound for a look at beach and cliff plants. $8.00 parking fee Tuesday, August 29th, 7:00 pm – Humes Preserve, Mill Neck Led by Peter Martin When the full moon is nigh, Peter will lead an exploration across Humes’s meadow when we may find migrating birds, crepuscular and nocturnal mammals and who knows what else? Saturday, September 23rd, 6:00 pm – Wawapek, Cold Spring Harbor Led by Meghan Leverock Meghan who manages the property, will tour its habitat restoration and formal garden and then lead us through the preserve’s woodland. The tour will end at our newly installed Ralf Lange Garden and restored greenhouse. Saturday, October 7th, 9:00 am – Laurel Hill Farms, Cove Neck Led by Enrico Nardone, in partnership with Seatuck Environmental Association Join Seatuck’s Enrico (and friends!) for a walk at Laurel Hill Farms, which includes some of the best North Shore deciduous forest in Nassau County. The changing foliage of early autumn and the fall bird migration should provide plenty of interest, and the topography will ensure some exercise! Saturday, November 18th, 11:00 am – Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich Led by Glen Malings Afraid you’re relying too much on GPS? Want to practice your map reading skills? Orienteering is like a treasure hunt in the woods using a map to find controls (box shaped flags) hanging from trees. We’ll give instruction and then you can go out alone or with friends. The course should take about an hour, if you don’t get lost. Events are subject to change. Please check our website (www.northshorelandalliance.org/events) for updates.
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2021 Walks in the Woods Preview
Here’s a preview of our 2021 Walks in the Woods, which are open to the general public. Sunday, February 21, 11:00 a.m. – North Fork Preserve, Northville In partnership with Long Island Botanical Society and led by Eric Lamont This extensive property contains many fascinating ecological communities. We will walk through old growth forest in the Harbor Hill Moraine and successional fields on the outwash plain. Saturday, March 6, 11:00 a.m. – East Meadow Farm, East Meadow In partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension – Nassau County, Led by Mary Callanan Explore a diversity of demonstration gardens at this highly educational location. There will be a focus on the thriving arboretum started in 2013 and you may even learn some pruning techniques. Saturday, April 10, 10:00 a.m. – Fox Hollow Preserve, Laurel Hollow Led by Dave Taft Enjoy this dramatic property before the trees leaf out when its native groundcovers are particularly inviting. Saturday, May 1, 2:00 p.m. Marine Nature Study Area, Oceanside Led by Peter Martin This program will feature a variety of the wonders of spring, particularly shorebirds and warblers stopping over at the preserve during their migration north. Saturday June 19 (Juneteenth!), 11:00 a.m. Red Cote Preserve, Oyster Bay Cove Led by Meghan Leverock In honor of NYS Invasive Species Awareness Week come out and explore Red Cote Preserve where you will learn about invasive plants common on Long Island and how you can help prevent their spread. Saturday, July 17, 10:00 a.m. Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood Led by Amanda Furcall If you’ve never visited the Sisters’ sprawling and thriving campus you are in for a treat! Amanda, landscape ecologist, will show us the grounds and introduce us to some of its inhabitants. Tuesday, August 24, 9:30 a.m. Caumsett State Park, Lloyd Neck Led by Virginia Dankel Virginia’s literary walk will highlight lots of inspirational readings in addition to nature (of course!). Saturday, August 28, 10:00 a.m. John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden and Shu Swamp, Mill Neck Led by Ann Lotowycz and Mary Schmutz Learn all about iconic cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), its value to wildlife and a research project when its striking bloom marks its presence. Friday, September 24, 7:00 p.m. Wawapek, Cold Spring Harbor Led by Stella Miller Stella does the best Eastern Screech Owl call around and has a knack for enticing other owl species. Saturday, October 23, 10:00 a.m. Cranberry Bog Preserve, Riverhead In partnership with Long Island Mycological Club – Led by Andy Greller – Join us at this magnificent preserve when mushrooms, cranberries in the bog and fall color make it the most beguiling time of year. Saturday, November 6, 11:00 a.m. Roosevelt Preserve, Roosevelt Led by Jane Jackson, Michael Kliger and Leslie Pieters This is arguably the most beautiful time of year to explore Meadow Brook and Roosevelt Preserve. Take it all in as we learn about foraging and recognize the October 27th birthday of Teddy Roosevelt. Sunday, December 5, 11:00 a.m. Cushman Woods, Matinecock Led by Richard Weir Richard will lead us through this majestic tucked-away woodland and introduce us to its diverse plant community as we make our way up and down its extensive hilly trails.
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