Skidmore to offer tours of North Woods
North Woods stewards Steve Pennell and
Jackie Slocombe, both Skidmore juniors,
will lead a tour on "Treasures of the North
Woods," July 22
Skidmore College will offer three guided tours of its North Woods, each one focusing on different aspects of the 250-acre wooded property located to the north of the college's main campus. The tours are open to the public free of charge.
The first tour, titled " What is New and Old in the Woods," will take place Thursday, July 15, beginning at 2 p.m. Led by Skidmore Assistant Professor of Biology Josh Ness, the walk will focus on interactions between plants, animals, and microbes of the North Woods. Ness will discuss how herbaceous plants are affected by their interactions with ants, trees, and one another. Walkers should meet at the North Woods kiosk at Falstaff's parking lot, by the main entrance to the woods.
The second tour, " The History of the North Woods" will be offered on Saturday, July 17, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Led by Robert Jones, associate professor of economics at Skidmore, the walk will follow some of the area's historic carriage trails. Jones will explain that the present Skidmore campus is located on land that prior to 1960 was known as the Woodlawn Estate. Its grounds contained largely forested land with several estate homes, a large lawn, and more than 20 miles of carriage trails dating back more than a century. The tour will begin with a brief historical overview from 10 to 10:30 a.m. in Skidmore's Bolton Hall, room 280. The walking tour will follow.
The series of guided tours will conclude with " Treasures of the Woods" on Thursday, July 22, beginning at 2 p.m. Guided by Skidmore's two North Woods summer stewards, Steve Pennell and Jackie Slocombe, both juniors at the college, walkers will identify "treasures" of the North Woods, such as noteworthy plants, salamanders, fungus, and trees. The walk will provide simple and memorable "nature nuggets" for participants of all ages. The tour will leave from the North Woods kiosk at the Falstaff's parking lot.
Skidmore's North Woods is home to numerous native species, including migrating songbirds and 33 types of ferns. With southern oak, hickory, and northern hardwoods as well as ponds and marshes, the woods support a biologically diverse animal and plant population that is important to faculty and student research. Much of the area is available for public use.
For further information on the North Woods contact Erica Fuller, campus sustainability coordinator at Skidmore, 518-580-5865, efuller@skidmore.edu.
