This report is brought to you by Tegan, Paycen and the students from Bertha-Hewitt Elementary who braved the cold for a fun outdoor adventure.

During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center on January 22nd and 23rd, it was cold. Really, really, really cold with the high temperature of 7 below zero and a low of 30 below zero. It was the coldest temperature of the year. The last time it was this cold was February 13 , 2021, when it reached 31 below. Many schools in the state were closed, but it didn’t stop us from getting outside and exploring. In the “warmth of the day” we bundled up, played snow snakes on the lake, and went crosscountry skiing. We learned that when it gets really cold, trees that are holding lots of moisture can crack and explode. No trees exploded during our trip. We tested a theory that you can pound a nail with a frozen banana and it actually worked. We tested another theory to see if bubbles froze and they did. Although we went exploring, the mammals seemed to be bundled up. We only noticed a few Chickadees, Nuthatches, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and red and gray squirrels. They grabbed a quick meal of seeds and quickly went back to warm up. It’s always fun to explore nature, and we encourage everyone to unplug, bundle up, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!

This report is brought to you by Ray, George, Jake and the new Minnesota Master Naturalists! Welcome to club nature!

Phenology Friday. Winter appreciation photo edition.

Deer bedding on LLCC campus at 4:40pm.

Track evidence of bunnies munching on a down maple branch.

Winter sunshine! Always a welcome sight.

This report is brought to you by Emma Kippley-Ogman and the other writers from the Legends and Lore Winter Writer's Retreat.

During our visit from January 4th to the 7th, the low temperature was 16 degrees Fahrenheit and the high was 35. This week we noticed many birds – a female hairy woodpecker pecking out a rhythm on an old birch tree, red-bellied woodpeckers on the trees near the dining hall, pileated woodpeckers calling and flying through the trees, a raven calling and another one picking up and flying off with a snowball in its beak, blue jays, white- and red-breasted nuthatches, a pine grosbeak and black-capped chickadees. We saw a vole scampering across the snow, and a red squirrel chasing a gray one away from the leftover pancakes. We saw deer tracks and scat. We noticed birch seeds on the snow, and bright green and orange lichens of many textures on the trees. We noticed thaw circles at the bases of trees. On our way here, despite temperatures in the 20s, rain fell in freezing pellets, coating car windshields and stinging our faces. One morning the rime frost from an overnight fog outlined every oak leaf like a crayon drawing and every twig and needle. We had a great time writing and sharing; hearing from remarkable local storytellers Beth Hautala, Hope Flanigan, and Michael Goldberg, and learning with the naturalists of Long Lake; hiking, skiing and making pine needle baskets, and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside, and LIVE CONNECTED!

PHENOLOGY REPORT - THE YEAR IN PHOTOS

This phenology report is a celebration of our favorite critters - the smart, curious, weird, funny and enthusiastic campers, students and friends who fill our days with laughter and joy! Thanks for the memories! Here's to another great year!