Biodiversity in the Backyard- Speak with your Trees!

"Nature' is not just a place that you visit sometimes. It is all around us, all the time. Whether your school is located in an urban, suburban, or rural area, opportunities to connect with & understand nature abound. By meeting the species we find close to home, learning about their lives & inter-relationships, we come to understand the cycles and processes of life everywhere. So where does one start? How about with your largest & most reliably present non-human neighbors: the trees!

Laura Wyeth, horticulturist & lecturer in Biology at SUNY New Paltz, will share a variety of ways that you can introduce students to the living world around them, while also creating programs connecting the entire school community- teachers, staff, parents, & neighbors- to the tapestry of life outside your doors. During an outdoor walkabout at the Duzine Elementary School in New Paltz, participants will learn how to identify a selection of trees native to NY state, then learn about their place in our local ecosystems, including the special relationships these trees have with birds, fungi, mammals, & more. Join us for a refreshing, educational walk outside. Comfortable shoes, layered clothing, & a bottle of water are recommended.