Field Journal: February 27 – Signs of Spring at the Institute
February 27 brought one of those late winter days when the air still holds a chill, but the light feels different. A little brighter. A little longer. A little more alive.
On Friday, Amy Seymour and LeeAnn Busson welcomed a group of fourth graders to the trails at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute for a hike that felt very much like a turning point between seasons.
One of the first stops was the retention pond near the parking lot. LeeAnn explained how it captures runoff and pollutants before they can flow into Cedar Creek and Brewster Lake. The students were intrigued by the idea that thoughtful design can quietly protect water long before we ever see the impact. It was an early reminder that stewardship often happens behind the scenes.
Further down the trail, the group paused at a large tree that had grown around an old wire fence. The metal now sits embedded in the trunk, a visible echo of the land’s agricultural past. Students learned that farmers once used standing trees as fence posts to mark property lines. The forest, it seems, remembers.
Amy then introduced the group to praying mantis egg cases, known as ootheca. Each foam-like casing can hold more than 100 eggs. When spring warmth arrives, tiny mantises will emerge ready to hunt immediately. Survival begins early in the insect world, and sometimes even includes a sibling or two. The students were equal parts fascinated and amazed.
The most electric moment came near the boardwalk. A Blue Racer snake had recently emerged from its winter burrow and was stretched out in the sun. The group gathered at a respectful distance, observing quietly as the snake absorbed warmth after months below ground. It was a powerful, wordless lesson in seasonal rhythm.
Rabbit tracks crisscrossed the snow. Deer sign dotted the edges of the trail. Everywhere there were subtle hints that the landscape is waking.
Late February at the Institute is not quite winter and not quite spring. It is a threshold. The snow still lingers, but life is stirring beneath it. Curiosity leads the way, especially when young explorers are involved.
Spring is on its way. The trails are telling us so.
Get outside and see what you can discover.
Nature Awaits
Come see us on the trails.