PHENOLOGY
Check back for weekly photos and observations from our students, and team of Naturalist Educators.
SEPT. 30, 2022
There are TWO reports this week. One from Dawson from Braham, and a second from Lilly from Ramsey Elementary. Wooly Worms and Stinkhorns... click to see it all.
SEPT. 23, 2022
This weeks report is brought to you by Will and the students from Davinci Academy. The highlights of the week were frequent encounters with Garter Snakes.
SEPT. 16, 2022
Where have you gone little Loon? The saga of our Loon chick has reached a climax. Unfortunately, we may never know the ending. Plus, we had Grey Jays.
SEPT. 9, 2022
This week's report is brought to you by brand new naturalist Amanda Gray. Our Loon chick wandered onto shore and we've had a lot of really cool Milkweed Tussock Caterpillars.
SEPT. 2, 2022
It's a busy and eventful time in nature with lots and lots of fun stuff happening, but we are focusing one really cool aspect this week: Oak Galls.
August 26, 2022
Earl, Kathy, Terry and the members of the Minnesota Astronomical Society had lots of sightings of birds, bees and stars, including Monarchs building cocoons on telescope tripods?
August 19, 2022
Future teachers from Minnesota North College Itasca Branch experience peak summer with hints of a fast-approaching autumn. They harvested and ate the season's first Chicken of the Woods!
July 29, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Chloe, Adeline, Clare, Finn, Sam and the campers from Outdoor Explorers Camp. It's the peak of summer and life is bursting.
JuLY 8, 2022
Summer has settled upon Long Lake. It's the tail end of baby season, but still not Loon chicks. The Sundews are blooming and the Geese and Swans are back!
June 17, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by the young explorers who attended the Forkhorn I Firearms Safety, and Fishing Camps. The loons have eggs on their nest!
May 27, 2022
Nature is in a state of perpetual creation. Everything is alive and thriving, making even more life. We had our first Goslings and Dragonflies of the year. It's a beautiful world. Get outside and enjoy it.
May 6, 2022
This week's phenology report is by Blake, Connor and the students from Crooked Lake in Andover. We had a porcupine visitor, Flickers and our first sights of bats AND Red Bellied Snakes
APRIL 15, 2022
This week's phenology report is by Julia Kuhns and a very grumpy Dave McMillan. Why grumpy? Because winter simply refuses to go away, that's why! Despite the cold, nature is still pretty awesome!
March 25, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Chloe and Alex from St. Francis of the Lakes. This week's report was highlighted by the return of the otters and a mass of slithering garter snakes. Great job young naturalists! Keep exploring!
March 4, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Chloe and Zoie from Bertha-Hewitt. Spring is definitely in the air. Chickadees were heard making their two-note mating call and the Ojibwe Hard Crust on the Snow moon lived up to it's name. See the report for more. Great job young naturalists! Keep exploring!
FEb 11, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Nolan, Sydney and Kora from St. Agnes, St. Mary's and Sacred Heart. During their adventures, they saw some uniquely shaped snowflakes, an otter hole, porcupines and more. Great job young naturalists! Keep exploring!
Jan. 21, 2022
Beth Haaskens tells us that Redpolls are at the feeders, deer and turkeys are acting funny, and the porcupines are busy. Plus, get a fishing reports from the teachers of Aitkin School District. Hint: the crappies are biting.
August 12, 2022
Beth Haasken takes you on a short walk from her office to the lake. It's amazing all the nature you can experience in a mere 200 feet.
July 22, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Lauryn and the campers from Forkhorn I Camp. The report contains encounters with Barred Owls, fresh raspberries and cedar wax wings.
JuLY 1, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Sara and Tika from Forkhorn I Camp. It was baby week at Long Lake with sightings of lots of newborn critters. So fun. Enjoy
June 10, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Maddy and the students from Madison Elementary in Blaine. This hearty group of fifth grade students encountered the worst mosquito hatch in years, but persevered to see some really cool nature!
May 20, 2022
This week's phenology reports are brought to you by the students from Battle Creek's 5th and 7th grades, and the students from Fertile-Beltrami! The students experienced perfect spring weather, thunder storms.
April 29, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Sam from Highland Catholic School in St. Paul. The highlights of the week were close encounters with beavers, and ICE OUT! Thanks for exploring nature with us!
April 8, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Rosie, Caylee and the students of Delano Middle School, AND Avery and Nora from St. Joe's from Grand Rapids and St. Nathan's from Perham. It's mud season, but it didn't stop these intrepid young naturalists! Thanks for exploring nature with us!
March 18, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Edwin and the students of Great River Schools. Spring weather arrived, and the students spotted the first Robin AND tadpole of the spring. Thanks for exploring nature with us!
fEB. 25, 2022
The students from Our Lady of Victory saw the first bald eagle of the year. It's a true sign of spring when the eagles return to nest. They also saw porcupines and had beautiful clear skies for stargazing. Thanks for exploring nature with us!
FEB 4, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Brayden and Savana and the students from Paynesville Schools. During their adventures, they saw a pair of porcupines, lots of deer tracks and a few even managed to entice some Chickadees to eat out of their hands. Great job young naturalists! Keep exploring!
Jan. 14, 2022
Bitter cold turned to pleasant temperatures allowing our students and Naturalists to venture deep into the woods following assorted tracks. One track led to a porcupine hiding in a hollow of a tree. What a treat to get an up close look at this beautiful animal.
August 5, 2022
Berries and butterflies, oh my. We have passed the tipping point of summer with Monarchs emerging chrysalis and lots of fresh berries to eat. Life is good, but we are already seeing signs of autumn. We are not ready!
July 15, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Lucy, Jalynne and Bubbles the baby Painted Turtle. The report recounts nearly stepping on a fawn, close encounters with poults and the season's first berries.
June 24, 2022
This week's phenology report is a reminder how beautiful, yet how cruel nature can be. We experienced a Snapping Turtle egg massacre, but saw an abundance of new life. Summer has arrived!
June 3, 2022
This week's phenology report is all about pollinators - the return of the Monarchs and Long Lake's new bee hives - thanks to our friend Roger Sorben!
MAY 13, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Waylon, Avery and the students from Central Elementary in Norwood Young America. The highlight were the season's first Oriole, 70 degree temps and lots of life.
APRIL 22, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by Jonah, a student who visited as part of Long Lake's first ever Homeschool week. The nature hightights included the season's first Great Blue Heron and one uninterrupted day of sunshine. Thanks for exploring nature with us!
APRIL 1, 2022
Thomas from St. Raphael Catholic School in New Hope brings you this week's phenology report. Among the highlights were squirrels chasing each other in spring courtship and "Stabby Squirrels". Thanks for exploring nature with us!
March 11, 2022
Greta from St. Joe's Rosemount brings you this week's phenology report. Among the highlights were icicles that taste like spring and snow melting around the base of trees, signaling that soon the sap will be running. Thanks for exploring nature with us!
fEB. 18, 2022
The students from St. Mary Help of Christians, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Andrew of St. Cloud had some nice winter weather to explore. Among the highlights was a moon halo, lots of deer, porcupines paired in a tree and a friendly squirrel they named Fred. Thanks for exploring nature with us!
Jan. 28, 2022
This week's phenology report is brought to you by the sixth grade students of Rippleside Elementary School. The porcupines were spotted again, and we had new visitors to our feeders - Pine Grosbeaks! How fun. Great job young naturalists. Keep exploring!
