Durango Nature Studies - The Durango Herald

It’s spring! Celebrate Earth Day and more

Last weekend while canyoneering with friends and talking about the ongoing opportunities to snowshoe, one friend emphatically declared that spring had started March 21, intimating that she w...

DATE: Apr 8, 2019 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

Sharing our world with animals demands we respect them

March 3 was World Wildlife Day, so I’ve been thinking about the animals that share space with us. At Durango Nature Studies, we are transitioning to our springtime programs for k...

DATE: Mar 10, 2019 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

The subnivean world is a busy, important place for ecosystem health

One of my favorite things about work is the office banter that occurs when our educators plan lessons for our education and after-school programs. Last week, the education team w...

DATE: Feb 12, 2019 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

Resolve to be curious about the natural world

We’re almost to mid-January. How are those New Year’s resolutions going? I’m still vacillating over whether or not to actually make any resolutions. I have a number of goals for ...

DATE: Jan 11, 2019 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

Understanding nature is critical in this changing world

If you are like me, your morning routine isn’t complete until you’ve checked Jeff Givens’ latest forecast. His blog, durangoweatherguy.com, is bookmarked on all my devices, and h...

DATE: Dec 8, 2018 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

The power of outdoor play benefits kids – and all of us

I feel like it has been a stressful year in our neck of the woods. Political divisions and economic stressors have been exacerbated by drought and wildfires. Casual conversation...

DATE: Nov 12, 2018 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

Hiking in France to connect to nature, history, culture

Durangoans live for adventure, and it’s pretty typical to spend Monday mornings getting the latest news on weekend exploits from colleagues. This summer, it seems like half the t...

DATE: Oct 12, 2018 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

One word at a time, our understanding of nature is diminishing

Acorn. Blackberry. Bluebell. Heron. Pasture. These words all share something in common. True, they may be things you see when hiking around these parts, but that’s not exactly it....

DATE: Sep 7, 2018 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

Thousands of students benefit from visits to Durango Nature Center

The natural world provides an important laboratory for all learners. Just when it started to feel like a normal summer, I turned the page on the calendar to see the start of the s...

DATE: Aug 10, 2018 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

Summer camps connect children to nature, each other

We are in the midst of summer camp season. New friendships and memories occur on a daily basis. At the start of every camp, children’s nervousness may override excitement, but at...

DATE: Jul 13, 2018 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

Wildfires scare us but yield opportunity for nature

The 416 Fire has consumed thousands of acres of treasured forest this week. It is safe to say it has also consumed many of our thoughts since it broke out June 1. People have res...

DATE: Jun 9, 2018 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

On Earth Day, commit to protecting our natural resources

The topic for this month’s column came easily to mind – Earth Day. It is April, after all. The 48th anniversary of Earth Day is April 22. My predecessor, Sally Shuffield, has elo...

DATE: Apr 16, 2018 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies