Can you believe that spring is just around the corner? In Michigan, the beginning of March marked a celebration of maple sugaring season. Warm days in the 40s and cold nights below freezing cue the deciduous trees to start moving their stored nutrients. Trees have stored nutrients in their roots over winter and as soon as those warm days arrive, they start sending the nutrients up into the branches to begin leaf production. Since the nights are still freezing, though, they have to move that sap back into the roots before nightfall. This movement of the sap creates a pressure differential within the bark, and allows for tapping the tree to retrieve the sap! While we aren’t tapping trees in Colorado for maple sugaring, spring always feels like a rejuvenation and there is so much to look forward to!

Our programming starts to ramp up at the end of March with our brand-new Spring Break Camp launching March 21-25, and our After-School programs with Wilmot, Marshdale, and King-Murphy elementaries starting March 29, 30, and 31. We also have our remaining two snowshoe hikes with Georgetown Outdoor Discovery on March 12 and April 9, and additional bird outings near the end of March! Our summer camps are live, and even more partner programs are being developed! Before you know it, it will be the beginning of May and the start of another season at the Evergreen Nature Center. We will have volunteer opportunities to assist with exhibit installation, so please watch the website for dates to be posted.

I am rounding on the official one-year mark for my position with Evergreen Audubon, and cannot fully express how much joy I have had this past year working with you all. This is the most supportive and enthusiastic group of people I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and I am beyond excited to continue this journey with you all.