PATHWAYS Summer 2024

PATHWAYS
Official Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association

www.nysoea.org • 845.288.3444 • Summer 2024
Pathways Summer 2024 1

In this Issue…
Welcome to your summer issue of PATHWAYS,
filled with the latest updates in the exciting field NYSOEA Board of Directors
of outdoor education. Venture to a treasure of the President – Rebecca Houser
Metro Region, Teatown Lake Reservation, in our
VP Administration – Kevin Wickersham
affiliate spotlight. Learn about the “Invasion of the
Spotted Lanternfly,” take a migratory journey with VP Communications & Technology – Conrad Baker
butterflies in a book review of Bicycling with VP Human Resources – Ashawna Abbott
Butterflies, and explore the concept of home in VP Programs – Mary Ronan
Tom Stock’s “Teacher Tips.” Ellen Rathbone looks Secretary – Sunny Corrao
back on the path that led to a career in outdoor Treasurer – Carol Rogers
education in our “Formation” piece. Reflect on Office - Lily Ropes
the value of what we teach in an article from the
archives. Plus, you won’t want to miss a preview of
all the connection and learning to come at the 56th Regional Directors
Annual NYSOEA Conference to be held at the Y at
Eastern – Anna Harrod-McGrew
Watson Woods!
Metro – Christina Tobitsch & Ciara Scully
Northern – Linda Besio
Table of Contents Western – Elijah Kruger
Central – Josh Teeter
3 President’s Message
4 Editor's Corner: Prioritize Play
6 Affiliate Spotlight: Teatown Lake Reservation

PATHWAYS
Chief Editor
10 home
Jaime Winans-Solis
12 2024 Conference Info
Issue Editors
16 Book Review: Bicycling with Butterflies Jill Eisenstein
20 From the Archives: Does What We Teach Have Value? Jessica Kratz
24 Formation: Ellen Rathbone Graphic Designer

Emily Marcet
26 The Outside Story: Invasion of the Spotted Lanternfly
Photo Editor
Kayla Altland
Content Editors
Jill Eisenstein
Communications & Technology Committee Chair

Jaime Winans-Solis
Contributors
Jessica Kratz
Sally McCracken
Tom Stock
Stephanie Schelble
Cover Photo
Cover photoby by
Sharon St. Clair
Jaime Winans-Solis
2 Pathways Summer 2024

A Message from the President
I hope you have been embracing all that summer has to offer. I have been trying to find
new adventures with my kids in our backyard, which has included spending a lot of time
fishing, swimming and gardening, as well as enjoying the fireflies each night. I have been
in awe of the thousands of fireflies in my yard, they are like little fairies lighting up the
night sky. I am not sure why there are so many this summer, but I feel like a kid again
catching them in my hands and watching them glow.
In the beginning of the summer, I co-led a three-day teacher professional development,
where the theme was Fishing, Foraging and Farming. We learned a variety of skills related
to the land from historic Native land use practices to modern foraging and farming skills,
to urban and schoolyard gardens and eating sustainably. I learned so much about foraging
for wild plants and how these plants are used for medicine and food. In some Native
languages the term for plants translates to “those who take care of us”. These little sparks of
curiosity are at the heart of what motivates me to learn more and teach. I encourage you all
to check out one of our affiliates, Wild Hudson Valley, whose mission is to inspire learning
and build connection through shared experiences in nature, history, and wild foods.
The experience I had during that professional development got me thinking about our
annual conference, and how excited I am to learn from all of you. I hope you will consider
joining us this year, November 7-10 at the Y at Watson Woods. The conference committee
has been hard at work planning a really engaging weekend. The theme, Outdoor
Education: Our Natural Community will combine a variety of strands from agriculture
to natural communities, to outdoor and classroom education. You can experience the
conference for one day or spend the weekend with educators from all over NYS and
beyond. Network with peers, attend workshops, and participate in outdoor activities, all
while supporting environmental education! Conference scholarships are available, so
please reach out if you need assistance. Or if you would like to be a sponsor, please reach
out to me, we have several students that would love the opportunity to attend.
I want to thank our membership for your continued support of our annual appeal and
our various scholarship funds. We are excited to announce we have a new Environmental
Studies Scholarship award, which aims to support high schoolers entering college and
undergraduates who are passionate about environmental studies. By providing financial
assistance and recognition, this scholarship aims to empower young individuals to
pursue their academic and career goals in this field. Our board is excited to offer these
new opportunities and will continue to work with our communities and members to offer
environmental and outdoor education.
With gratitude and dedication to the path ahead,
Rebecca Houser
President, NYSOEA
[email protected]

PRIORITIZE
PLAY Written by Jaime Winans-Solis
Summer is the season of play, with long

days and firefly-filled evenings that create
the magic of childhood. All children should
experience those expansive, magical play-
filled summer days with plenty of nature, fresh
air, and adventure.
Those days that are all about play—or even

small moments of free play—are immensely
beneficial to children’s development. And yet,
children today are playing much less than
the generations before. In fact, there is great
concern about the decline of play and its
impact on children’s happiness and health.
There is some evidence that the loss of

independent play is linked to the current
mental health crisis among children and
youth. A recent article in The Journal of
Pediatrics (Gray, Lancy & Bjorklund, 2023)
highlights an evolutionary perspective of
play and contrasts the current status of
children’s independent play to the “ancestral
conditions in which children’s innate
tendencies and needs would have evolved.”
These “ancestral conditions” remain central
to children’s healthy development today, yet
the opportunity to access these conditions—
to play freely in nature and the outdoors in
general—is greatly diminished.

are encouraged to interact with. Sometimes this
is as simple as a muddle puddle, or a bicycle rack
on a city street, or a low tree branch that beckons
to be swung from. Often these ‘other’ spaces
that children transform with their imaginations
support more engaged play than spaces that are
actually designed (by adults) for play. Children see
and create opportunities for play that adults have
grown blind to.
However, the unfortunate reality for many

children is that they are lacking safe, nearby
outdoor play spaces. In general, opportunities
for play are commonly linked to demographic
factors, with children from low-income
communities and communities of color
When kids are immersed in play, they are much less likely to have access to parks and
transported to a realm of their own making. other high quality play spaces, creating a play
Their creative capacities are fully engaged as inequity. Because play, and especially play in
they transform their everyday surroundings with nature, offers so many developmental benefits
their clever imaginations. These moments are that may support health and wellbeing into
restorative, allowing children to escape adult- adulthood, disparities in opportunities for play
driven realities to a place where they make the are an important environmental and social
rules. justice issue. I encourage you to explore a recent
Research Digest from the Children and Nature
Who can really dispute the benefits of outdoor Network focused on play equity at https://www.
play—promoting physical, mental and social childrenandnature.org/resources/research-
capacities which manifest as happy, healthy digest-play-equity/.
kids. Natural environments, whether forests or
beaches or streams, provide a range of conditions Despite their technology driven lives—where they
that are central to rich, imaginative play. The are handed screens at younger and younger ages,
loose materials afforded by nature are essential; where learning often means glazed over stares at
sticks are a consistent favorite among children, apps designed to improve math fluency or other
of course. Nature play is often autonomous, child academic skills, and where parents are modeling
led and imaginary. Playing in nature also helps screen-focused behaviors—children still innately
children develop a sense of connection with know how to play.
nature—a feeling of oneness with the natural
The seasons of childhood and summer are short.
world—that is central to stewardship or care
Let’s not miss out on their magic. Keep play a
of nature during childhood, but also through
priority and keep childhood summers joyful.
adulthood.
We must view play as a sacred right of children

and work to expand opportunities for play. It’s the WORKS CITED:
job of educators and parents to recognize when
play is happening and to allow it the space and Gray, P., Lancy, D. F., Bjorklund, D. F., (2023).
time to unfold. Decline in independent activity as a cause
of decline in children’s mental well-being:
Imagine a world where play is the priority—where
Summary of the evidence. The Journal of
the places children frequent in their everyday
Pediatrics, 260.
lives have safe, engaging spaces for play that they

Affiliate Spotlight
↑ Entrance to Wildflower Island
TEATOWN LAKE
RESERVATION Written by Stephanie Schelble
If you visit Teatown Lake Reservation, you menace of invasive species. Wildflower Island has
might find yourself traveling from the visitor its own curator and boasts healthy populations
center towards Teatown Lake. During the short of Pink Lady Slippers, Trilliums and Bloodroot.
trip you pass through what Education Director Wildflower Island alone would be worth a trip to
Emily Edmonds-Langham (she/her) describes Teatown, but you would miss out on the amazing
as an ideal Hudson River Valley forest on the community Teatown has built through their
Lakeside Trail. This trail leads you to a gatehouse stewardship efforts.
that welcomes guests onto a small island within
Teatown Lake. The island hosts an impressive Teatown has managed to grow their roots deep
280 species of plants on its two-acre outcropping. with the support of their community. Summer
After crossing a short bridge, you can view the camps are one of the cornerstones of Teatown.
island’s plants that are imperiled on the mainland Summer camps progress from four to 14 years
by deer browse and the ever-encroaching old and are separated by age groups. Camp
All photos courtesy Teatown Lake Reservation

counselors guide the campers on a topic of the local community the opportunity to learn how
day, but it’s the campers driving the focus for to use scientific principles to answer ecological
where the activities may lead. One day there questions with hands-on research guided by
may be a focus on frogs, where campers may Teatown staff and scientists from Pace University.
participate in a frog craft, then travel to the ponds This collaboration gives students essential tools
with nets to better understand frog habitats and and experience to jumpstart their career in the
even get a chance to catch a sight of one of the sciences. Previous students of this program have
slimy critters themselves. After a day of pond researched the effect of eutrophication on aquatic
exploration adventurers might return to have a macroinvertebrates, the role of mycorrhizal
one-on-one encounter with one of Teatown’s growth in soil water retention, and how lichen
ambassador animals, the Grey Tree Frog. This serve as bioindicators for air pollution to name
loose and exploratory style offers the campers a some projects from just last year.
personalized and rich experience. The success
of Teatown’s summer camp is apparent in the While providing all of these amazing
campers returning year after year and often many opportunities to their local youth, the educators
camp counselors are recruited from these same at Teatown keep a keen eye out for holes in their
campers. programming and respond to their community’s
needs. After seeing a drop off in young women
Summer camps are not the only way an inspired participating in camps and other activities
youngster can further their development at offered at the preserve, the staff at Teatown found
Teatown. Older children can volunteer with grant funding for their Nature Girls program
the stewardship team through their Teens in which invites young women from underserved
Teatown program for students aged 14 and up, communities in Ossining and Peekskill to
who help remove invasive species and improve participate in outdoor activities. Nature Girls is an
the habitat of Teatown. Youth may also participate after-school program for 5th grade girls to help
in TESA, the Teatown Environmental Science them identify as outdoors and STEM women as
Academy which offers 12 students from the they continue to grow.

Teatown’s job is not finished with
the education of the community’s
youth. There is much to learn and
celebrate at Teatown. This past
February the 20th annual EagleFest
was organized by staff. This
celebration is put on every year to
celebrate the return of the Bald Eagle
to the Hudson River Valley after
their extirpation for years due to the
effects of DDT. This winter festival
includes live bird shows, guest
lecturers, bird walks, and many
activities in cozy, heated tents with
fellow environmental organizations
and groups throughout the
community. Teatown knows it is
as important to acknowledge their
successes as it is to recognize the
challenges they need to overcome.
Looking to the future, Teatown is

hoping to break ground in 2025
on many improvements to their
facilities. These improvements
will focus on creating dedicated
classroom spaces, updating their
exhibits in the visitor center,
adding an all abilities playscape
and improving accessibility for all
visitors. One area that will be seeing
a lot of changes in the near future
will be the Raptor Loop that contains
native birds that are unable to be
released back into the wild. Their
collection of animals is impressive
with Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures,
and Red-tailed Hawks to name some
of the larger birds in the collection.
These non-releasable animals are
important ambassadors for wild
creatures so visitors may gain
understanding of their importance
in healthy local ecosystems. The
trail to these lovely animals will
be updated to improve access by
mobility aids, increasing the impact
these animals have on Teatown’s
local community.

It's clear that Teatown is dedicated to
stewardship of the Reservation while
also maintaining their commitment to
positively impacting their surrounding
community. By continuing to foster ties
with the people around them and their
conservation efforts, Teatown looks to
have a bright future. Visit www.teatown.
org to learn more about the Teatown
Lake Reservation.

home
Written by Tom Stock
What will children say when you ask them “what

is a home?”
Every species on Earth has a home. We are

all living together in our respective habitats.
So many habitats are being destroyed for
development. We are destroying habitats and in
so doing, we are destroying homes.
Here are some examples of observing some

animal homes. The tessellated darter is a small
fish that lived on the bottom of a gravely stream.
I saw it there waiting to ambush. Its skin imitated
the gravel it rested on. It didn’t move. It had
chosen a place where it can dart forward and
capture prey. This is its home.
I once found a spider who had found the open

pod of a yucca plant. It had found a home to hide
in and hunt from. Bats in their cave home hang
from the ceiling, then fly out to search for insects.
In a strip mall, English sparrows made a home in
the letter O of the European Bank sign. I couldn’t
miss this home because it was messy – pieces of
grass hung down from their nest.
Robert Frost had this to say: “Home is the place

where, when you have to go there, they have to
take you in.” My comment: Earth always takes
me in, along with every being. With the help of
gravity, I am always home.
Home is a great topic for outdoor educators

and children of all ages. Go outside to look for

animal homes. The instructor might model this
challenge to direct their energy. The bark of a
tree is a good place to try. Tiny spider eggs and
spiders make their home under bark. We know
this because the white-breasted nuthatch looks
under bark for food. Seeking out hidden homes is
open-ended. There will be lots of other things to
observe while becoming “homebuyers.” Another
related activity is to challenge the people in your
class to create their own home. Below is a list of
some homes:
Tree bark crevices; holes in trees; holes in the

ground; bee hives; cocoons; dens; cracks; soil;
wood pile; etc.
I once found a mouse nest in the air filter of my

car. It was cold and this mouse needed a warm,
cozy place to stay -- a clever location. I only
discovered this when my mechanic discovered it.
I once had a job of filling in carpenter bee tunnels
with caulk. Their home was in the pine trimming
at the edge of the roof. When I visited Hempstead
Plains (a 19-acre sanctuary located in Nassau
County surrounded by more than a million
people), I found a rabbit hole. I knew it was a
rabbit because of hairs stuck to the ceiling.
The concept is to consider the expanded idea of

home. It is where someone lives. When driving to
visit a park, you are already home. We are always
in the biggest home imaginable…Earth.

What to Expect
at the 56th Annual NYSOEA Conference
Written by Mary Ronan, 2024 Conference Co-Chair
November 7-10
Painted Post, NY
The last NYSOEA Conference held at Watson I am humbled to be co-hosting this year’s
Woods in 2016 was my first introduction to conference and returning to the space that first
the organization. I had recently moved back to drew me into NYSOEA. While the Conference
Western New York for a job at Reinstein Woods has annual traditions, like the live auction and
Environmental Education Center and was excited evening bonfires, there is something new to
to spend a fall weekend nestled in the colorful experience for even the most seasoned attendees.
hills of home. My sister had fond memories of Here is a brief overview of what to expect this
attending a NYSOEA Conference years earlier November:
as an SCA member, but the world of formal
conferences was new to me, and I was not sure For new attendees: Welcome! If you are an
what to expect. The weekend turned out to be outdoor educator, formal teacher, or somewhere
transformative- full of laughter, inspiration, in between, this conference is for you! The magic
and comradery. I had been back in Western of NYSOEA lies in the intersection of these worlds
New York for three months, but I had never felt and the ideas that we generate when we come
more at home than when I was surrounded by together. You are guaranteed to leave with a new
the NYSOEA family. “These are my people,” I project or activity for your center or classroom,
remember thinking. “This is where I belong.” a scribbled brainstorm that may transform your
career, new peer connections, and a wealth of

natural history knowledge you didn’t know you New to the Y at Watson Woods? If you glance at
were missing. While NYSOEA was founded in a map, it may look like this site is “in the middle
the 1960s, the organization is more than a bunch of nowhere” and that is why we love it! Spend the
of hippies singing songs around a campfire weekend surrounded by fall foliage, next to the
(although there’s plenty of that too!). Join like- Finger Lakes Trail, and immersed in nature. While
minded individuals who are committed to the site is rooted in old farmland and forest, the
creating a better, more connected world through facilities are recently updated! Enjoy a variety of
place-based and nature-based education. You lodging options that fit your budget, including
can expect high-quality workshops focused on hotel-style and dorm rooms. The site is located
five carefully chosen strands that support the near Corning, NY, home of the Corning Glass
conference theme: Outdoor Education: Our Museum and a delightful downtown. Watkins
Natural Community. Take a deep dive into a Glen State Park is also a short drive away.
specific subject on a field trip or pre-conference
workshop and chat with experienced educators Did we mention our commitment to
during the mentoring sessions. In the evening, sustainability? This will be a “default vegetarian”
enjoy fun activities including campfires, live conference! To minimize the climate impact of
music, and our annual awards banquet. Keep an the conference, the caterer will serve delicious
eye on your email for updates on events and tips plant-based options for every meal. You can
on what to pack. indicate that on your registration form if you
want to have meat or dairy with your meal. We
For returnees: A new conference means a encourage attendees to use public transportation
new theme and new workshops! We heeded and carpool options where possible. We will even
your feedback and have integrated more pick you up from the Corning bus station! Please
natural history skill-based workshops, outdoor visit the conference website for information on
experiences, and overall options during time these options. Attendees are encouraged to bring
blocks. The cocktail hour before the awards a reusable mug, cup, and water bottle.
banquet will feature a poster session to highlight
exciting environmental education initiatives and For more information and to register for the
projects throughout the state. We are honored to conference, visit nysoea.org/annual-conference.
highlight the Haudenosaunee roots of Western
New York with our two keynote presenters.
Marissa Manitowabi (Seneca) will provide an
interactive keynote address highlighting her work
to engage the community in Haudenosaunee
culture through hands-on experiences. Perry
Ground (Onondaga) is a renowned educator who
uses stories to educate people about the culture,
beliefs, and history of the Haudenosaunee.
For our seasoned attendees: We are so excited

to see all of you! Please consider joining us
for our Peer Mentoring sessions to share your
experiences in environmental education and the
growth of NYSOEA. We’re committed to carrying
on your legacy and built time into the schedule to
introduce new attendees to NYSOEA committees.
We can’t wait to share the new initiatives that
came out of this year’s Board Retreat during the
Annual Meeting. We know you are the first to rise
and the last to sleep, so get ready to boogie with
live music from Genesee Rising and a Buffalo-
themed tailgate party before waking up early for
the morning birding walks.
13
Longtime NYSEOA member Andy Angstrom leads a
workshop at the 2016 conference at Watson Woods.
As Buffalo Bills fans say, “Where

else would you rather be?

2024 Conference Strands
Natural Communities 101
Get to know your natural neighbors! Provide practical workshops on natural
history and how to teach it, as well as outdoor skills and other ways to
connect to nature through outdoor education.
Braiding Ways of Knowing

As educators, we need to challenge ourselves to understand- and teach- both
Western science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Share successful
activities or programs developed by or in conjunction with Indigenous
peoples.
Community Agriculture
New York State boasts a multi-billion dollar agricultural industry, yet many
New Yorkers do not know the source of their food. Connecting our audience
to the soil, plants and animals that sustain us is crucial as the systems face
the threat of climate change.
We are One–Classroom and Community Connections

Outdoor education can enhance community connections through
immersive experiences and action projects. This strand will highlight best
practices and programs for engaging students and community members
with nearby nature for place-based learning and stewardship.
Outdoors is for All–Equity, Access, and Inclusion

Showcase innovative ideas to address barriers to inclusion in outdoor
education activities, share successful stories on advocating for
environmental education and outdoor education, and share successes in
social and environmental justice programs and practices.
Pathways Summer 2024

2023 15
BICYCLING WITH
by Sara Dykman
Reviewed by Sally McCracken, PP 1980
Thank you, thank you Tom Stock! What a gift

you gave to all of us when you suggested
that I review Bicycling with Butterflies by
Sara Dykman. After reading a quick review, I
purchased a copy and here is my own review.
Dykman’s book won the 2021 National
Outdoor Book Award.
If you like biking, butterflies (especially Eastern population of monarch butterflies on

monarchs), travel stories, adventures and their multinational, multigenerational, roundtrip
anything to do with nature, you will love migration. She started her 10,201-mile trip by
Bicycling with Butterflies. Dykman cleverly bicycle on March 12, 2017, and finished it nearly
combines a travel log with science as she nine months later, on November 30, 2017. Her
recounts her inspirational journey following the bicycle was a 1989 Specialized Hardrock. She
migration of monarchs from Mexico to Canada called it her “Frankenstein bike” as she had made
and back to Mexico on a bike. It is a compelling it from used parts. The paint job was white
story that underscores the urgency of saving the and pink with rust-colored dings from past
threatened monarch’s migration and the many adventures. Sara said,” It is ugly, but it is reliable
other threatened systems of nature that affect the and my ticket to adventure.” With all her needs
survival of us all. packed in bags that were stored in buckets on
racks and tied down with bungee cords, the bike
Sara Dykman works in amphibian research weighed 70 pounds.
and as an outdoor educator inspiring young
people to delight in the complicated brilliance Dykman’s mission throughout her journey was to
of nature. She is the founder of beyondabook. talk, meet, greet, educate, present and continue
org, which fosters lifelong learners, boundary learning. She shared her passion for monarchs
pushers and stewards for Earth. Beyond a Book and their migration story with ardent monarch
links adventures to classrooms with projects like stewards supporting her efforts -- citizen
ButterBike, On the River, bike49 and Spoon in scientists, researchers, farmers, and high-rise city
the Road. She offers virtual and in-person events dwellers -- but also with skeptical bar patrons,
for audiences ranging from kindergarteners to unimpressed border officials and eager children
adults to educate her audiences on the plight of at school presentations she did along the way. At
monarchs, but also many other species in decline. many of the school sites, she visited gardens with
milkweed and other plants purposefully grown to
Dykman was the first person to follow the help butterflies and other animals.

Among the people who helped her along the
way were Kaylee Baumle, a key player in rearing,
rescuing, teaching, protecting and advocating for
monarchs in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and Chip Taylor
from the Monarch Watch in Lawrence, Kansas,
whose work on monarch migration patterns
bridges the gap between science, conservation
and education. Dykman also spent time with
Sandy Schwinn, one of the 24 Monarch Watch
conservation specialists across North America,
who discovered from Monarch Watch data that
monarchs are arriving earlier to their wintering
colonies in Mexico while it is still cold, causing
the loss of a whole generation.
After reading Bicycling with Butterflies, I no

longer look at milkweed the same way. There
are 73 native species in the US, many of which
are rare, threatened or endangered. Common
milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is nature’s mega-
market for insects, and among the most
important food plants for monarch caterpillars.
Monarchs can be helped by encouraging existing
patches of milkweed and planting new ones.
Dykman stated that “milkweed and monarchs are
like the canaries in a coal mine.”
In Dykman’s book, we learn much fascinating

information about monarchs. They lay eggs
on milkweed developing at the preferred
temperature of 70 -80 degrees Fahrenheit with a
humidity of 60%. Their life cycle takes between 18
and 32 days. Only 2% of the eggs will survive long
enough to produce the adults that will live about
three weeks. They are an indicator species. They
are known for their seasonal migration. Monarchs
fly by a flapping-and-gliding pattern. The gliding
movement is more efficient than the flapping.
They gain elevation on thermal currents. When
migrating, they average about 25–30 miles a day.
One tagged monarch flew 265 miles in one day.
On September 10, 1988, Don Davis tagged a male
monarch in Ontario, Canada. On April 8, 1989,
the tag was recovered in Austin Texas, showing a
distance of 2,880 miles.

The awe-inspiring process of migration is Vocabulary:
multigenerational. There are four small separate
generations in the full cycle from Mexico to eclose – to emerge from the eggshell or
Canada and back to Mexico, all occurring pupa case
within about eight months of the year. The
frass – butterfly poo
first generation occurs going north, the 4th
generation occurs going south and the 2nd and instar – phase between two periods of
3rd generations occur during the middle of the molting
entire migration cycle. They stop at least several
weeks in colonies during June and July. Butterbiker – what Sara called herself
Bicycling with Butterflies also includes cardenolide – toxic steroid found in plants
information on the places and organizations such as milkweed
that Dykman encountered on her trip, providing
a wonderful look at many states, Mexico and oyamel – fir forest found in Mexico, a
Canada. She stopped at places like the Hagerman unique mountain habitat
Wildlife Refuge, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere
kaleidoscope – a group of butterflies
Reserve in Mexico, the Royal Botanical Garden in
Niagara Falls, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower multigenerational – during the
center in Austin, TX, the Native American Seed monarch’s migration, the groups can be
Farm in Junction, TX, and The Katy Trail in multigenerational
Missouri, the longest rails-to-trails bike trail in the
world. She also mentions several places in Mexico neonicotinoid – insecticides -seeds treated
where tourists go to catch a glimpse of monarch can poison you
colonies, El Rosario being the most popular.
It is important to remember that monarchs are

threatened by extinction. The alarming decline
in their population is due to habitat loss (fewer
places to feed and lay eggs), climate change,
pesticides, parasites and pathogens which are
faced during their yearly migration.
There is much to be learned about monarch

butterflies in Dykman’s book. It is a topic that
many of us like to cover with our young students Resources
and naturalists. Even parts of her journey can be
shared by reading about some of her adventures YouTube
while helping spread the word about helping 32 MPH Super Monarch
the monarchs. If you live in New York, do you Ecells Super Monarch
know where and when you might find monarchs Central Texas Garden Bicycling
migrating? Do monarchs migrate through every
state? Enjoy the “ride with Sara.”
If you have a book that you might suggest for JourneyNorth.org: a tracking migration
review, please feel free to send me your idea at website established in 1994, a citizen science
[email protected]. program of the University of Wisconsin at
Madison’s Arboretum

Editorial Reviews
“An extraordinary story in which Dykman weaves together science, a real love of nature and
the adventure and hazards of biking with butterflies from Mexico and back. The book is a
lament for our thoughtless destruction of nature and at the same time a celebration of the
beauty that remains.”
~ Dr. Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of peace
Sara Dykman has recorded this improbable journey well. Her incredible account captures the
animal itself, the continent it crosses and its plight with style and a deep connection of the
systems that support wildlife and humans.”
~ Robert Michael Pyle, author of Chasing Monarchs and founder of the Xerces Society
for Invertebrate Conservation
“Told with a writer’s eye for detail and a biologist’s sensitivity to the fragile nature of the
systems that support wildlife and humans. Her narrative is an important wake-up call for the
need to stay connected with nature.”
~ Dr. Orley Taylor, director of Monarch Watch, Kansas Biological Survey
“This book is as much a poetic travelogue as it is informative about monarch butterflies.

Dykman’s research keenly supplements her experiences on the road. It may be one singular
bicyclist’s word, but represents a collective cry for climate action.”
~ Booklist
“Dykman deftly interweaves science with adventure. I can’t recommend this book enough.”
~ The Reporter

From the Archives
DOES WHAT WE
TEACH HAVE VALUE? Written by John A. Metcalfe, Assistant Professor
Illinois State University, Bloomington, Illinois
Editor's Note: This article is reprinted from NYSOEA’s The

Communicator, Spring 1975. It has been very slightly edited.
Once in a large city there was a high school. A "flunk out" courses, and in truth, large numbers of
biology class was in session on the third floor the students fail one or both semesters of biology
when a large bright green dragonfly zoomed in in many schools. Instructors say, "we've got to
noisily. The class was alarmed and ducked and keep up our standards!"
dodged. The dragonfly went to a high ledge and
rested. Collecting nets were in the back room, I suspect that something may be wrong with
but instead a large plastic jar was procured. One these "standards." It is the purpose of this article
of the three teachers in the room suggested that to raise questions about "standards" and the goals
an ether-soaked ball of cotton be put in to kill of teaching the life sciences, what is taught, and
the insect. The fumes killed the dragonfly, but what might better be taught.
the ether also did a strange thing. The container
This sort of examination has been going on for
was partially dissolved and a perfect cast of the
a good number of years. Anyone interested in
insect's wings were left where they had been in
further study of the question would do well to
contact with the jar.
peruse back issues of various journals used often
The next day the class continued the interrupted by biology teachers. For background information
study of plants. It was a good session. The I consulted issues of The American Biology
students were quiet and the teacher lectured Teacher published by the American Association
on compositae and their place in the vegetable of Biology Teachers, and Turtox News, published
kingdom. A golden opportunity to teach about by the General Biological Supply House. Lately,
insects, their life history, usefulness, and wing a good deal of space has been devoted to the
structure along with a bit of chemistry had gone subject in Bioscience and Science.
forever.
A good proportion of biology instructors in both
Most students who graduate from high school secondary schools and colleges feel that the
and enter college must take at least a year of function of a high school biology course is to
laboratory science. A choice is usually given of prepare the students for college biology courses.
biology survey, general zoology, botany, earth Questions about percentages of students going
science, or beginning chemistry. Most regard the on to college or what biological concepts should
year with anxiety. Such subjects are considered be known by the average person are met with
suspicion.

Most biology courses are heavily laden with is time for the final exam. Lab courses include
taxonomy, physiology, and anatomy. The trend chemical experiments to prove that certain
is toward genetics, evolution, and cellular substances are present in living things, the study
physiology. These phases of the subject are of some physical phenomena, the dissections
valuable as background material for advanced of a number of organisms and observation of
courses in which they will be reviewed and preserved and living organisms. Most instructors
expanded upon. Their value, for many non- do such an enthusiastic presentation that many
biology majors, may be questioned. All science new biology majors come into being during the
teachers seem to be trying to create in their study.
students a sensitivity to problems, intellectual
honesty, open mindedness, accuracy, and the The essence seems to be "learn everything in the
habit of looking for true and logical explanations text and lectures on every group studied. Keep
of phenomena. To me, the information imparted a neat and accurate workbook and learn the
in this process is secondary to the attitude organisms you dissect thoroughly."
produced for the average person. Since all science
The non-major and his needs are being by-
is based on interpreting observations, it is logical
passed. Unless he happens to live near a seafood
to assume that lab or field experiences are of
restaurant, his ability to dissect and identify the
much more value than lecture alone.
parts of a crayfish will be of little use. Knowledge
of common local trees is of more value than
knowledge of phylogenetic trees. Unfortunately,
knowledge of gas exchange through membranes
One aim of education is not interesting enough even to the city dweller
watching factories poison the air. The more one
should be an increase
knows of genetics, the more he realizes that
undesirable genes are really unavoidable. Cellular
physiology? It's very interesting to cellular
of desire for knowledge physiologists.
It is always difficult to make judgements as
rather than a mere to what people should learn. For the biology
instructor, the problems are somewhat
frightening. How much background do the
increase in number of students have? Should the courses that are
required for everyone be the same as those for
known facts. beginning specialists? Since the one course

may be the last formal exposure to biology for
most students, what should it include? I dare
say that we should all know a fair amount about
how to keep ourselves healthy. We should know
how to preserve the "good conditions" of our
Most college survey courses start with theories
environment. We should be able to recognize
of life's beginnings. They include evolutionary
potentially harmful organisms and how to
advances and a phylum-by-phylum study of the
protect ourselves from their effects. We should
plant and animal kingdoms. Brief glimpses of
develop an appreciation for the biologist, his
biological history and its makers are included.
modes of inquiry, and his contributions. By
Reproduction and genetics are studied and it
knowing the common plants and animals of

our environment, we can learn to appreciate A fair goal for instructors might be that of
them more and fear them less. We should know exposing students to as many meaningful
their interrelationships too, and how they affect contacts with their environment as possible.
us. We may learn that enjoying and using them A number of different kinds of areas should be
could make our leisure time more satisfying. seen and differences and similarities noted.
Furthermore, by appreciating them we develop Specific organisms that interest the student
an interest that tends to make us want to learn should be studied. A number of organisms that
more about them and biology in general. are of interest to him should be examined in
their natural habitat, as well as in the laboratory.
An interest in protecting resources should be
transmitted.
This formula is an old and simple one. Good

teachers everywhere have been using and
advocating it for years. Still, you find people quite
frightened by common, harmless, creatures.
I once spent a summer living with a graduate

zoologist. On our last evening together, there
was a rustle in the old, cold, pot-bellied stove in
our cabin. As I turned the beam of my flashlight
on its door, a small bat crawled through the draft
opening and fell to the floor. It had fallen down
the chimney. When it took off and zig-zagged
around the room looking for an escape opening,
my friend was nearly hysterical with terror. The
door opened, the bat flew out, and I spent the rest
of the night calming my friend. He was, and is,
an excellent zoologist, a university instructor, and
the most rugged ex-marine I know. However, he
had never had a chance to be exposed to as much
field work as many farm boys.
One aim of education should be an increase of

desire for knowledge rather than a mere increase
in number of known facts. If we can develop an
appreciation for biological factors, we are more
likely to increase this desire at the high school
and beginning college level.
This problem, then, is that of finding an approach

to study that is interesting to the student. At the
same time, it cannot be bits and pieces that are
not welded into a coherent body of knowledge.
The program should attempt to match the
progress of biology today. Yesterday's biology
had great value - yesterday. Too many advances
have been made in the field recently to teach
vast catalogs of facts just because they "discipline
the mind." However, the study of life should be
a living thing taught as much as possible with
living things where they live. We should hope that
the student develops an understanding of living
things as they relate to him.

Since we have an essentially captive audience "The Mexican sierra has 'XVII - i5- IX' spines
taking required courses, we can expose them to on the dorsal fin. These can easily be counted.
many things. If the purpose of the exposure is to But, if the sierra strikes hard on the line so that
produce change in the life of the student, it must our hands are burned, if the fish sounds and
have meaning to the student and for the student. nearly escapes and finally comes in over the rail,
Beginning courses should deal with familiar his colors pulsing and his tail beating the air, a
things that are readily observed. whole new relational externality has come into
being - an entity which is more than the sum
Let the reader make a closer examination of what of the fish plus the fisherman. The only way to
occurs in his own classroom. Facts presented count the spines of the sierra unaffected by this
may have slight relation to what is learned. second relational reality is to sit in a laboratory,
What is learned may have little or much value. open an evil-smelling jar, remove a stiff colorless
The material and its presentation is essential to fish from formula solution, count the spines, and
the vitality of the subject. Most of the students write the truth, 'D.XVII - 15 - IX'. There you have
who take biology courses will never become recorded a reality which cannot be assailed -
professionals in the field. However, they can still probably the least important reality concerning
derive a great deal of knowledge and appreciation the fish or yourself. And there is no reason why
about biological facts. I do not propose that either approach should be accurate. Spine count
knowledge and appreciation need to be separate description need not suffer because another
entities. Rather, I suggest that in a liberally- approach is also used. Perhaps out of the two
educated person both be present. approaches we thought, there might emerge a
picture more complete and more accurate than
John Steinbeck was, for a while, a biologist.
either alone could produce."
Biology's loss was literature's gain. His biological
training must have taught him to observe. In one
of his books, The Log from the Sea of Cortez, he
related the following:

FORMATION:
Ellen Rathbone
Written by Ellen Rathbone
I always loved being outside as a child. I ran barefoot all summer long,
despite Mom’s unhappiness about dirty feet on the sofa. I knew where
every thistle in the yard was located.
My love for nature must’ve been obvious, for the guidance counselor
suggested I go to the “forestry school” for college, which I did. I loved
discovering new things about the natural world and sharing that
information with others, so how lucky was I to get offered a naturalist
internship at a local nature center!? The rest, as they say, is history!
As a naturalist/environmental educator, I have lead hikes, paddle

trips, ski trips, snowshoe excursions. I’ve taught botany, dendrology,
entomology, ornithology, ethnobotany, ecology. I’ve explored bogs,
old-growth forests, prairies, and forest plantations. I’ve removed
invasive species and participated in prescribed burns (I do love me a
good fire).
I’ve worked in five different states, and met people from all walks of life,
from campers as young as three years old, to senior citizens in care
facilities, and people with developmental challenges. I’ve helped scouts
earn badges and have even helped a few people with phobias (most
notably snakes, but also some who fear spiders) face those fears and
learn to appreciate (if not actually like) those very same animals.
These days bushcraft is “in,” so my interest in primitive skills has now

found a market as well! How exciting is that, especially now when so
many people have lost their connection with the natural world? The
joy on a child’s face when s/he learns how to tie a knot, use a slingshot,
or even get smoke the first time using a bow or hand drill is amazing.
The advent of community science programs has been a boon to

the field, for now we can help people take the next step from simple
nature appreciation to feeling they are doing something to “help
nature.” Providing them with a venue for some simple research or
conservation activities can give them a great sense of satisfaction and
accomplishment. It has also prompted me to learn more about some
topics that I might never have addressed otherwise, like bee and wasp
24 Photos courtesy of Ellen Rathbone Pathways Summer 2024

FORMATION
ID (which I don’t think I will ever master, but it’s

sure been an eye-opener).
I admit that there are times that I worry that

what I do doesn’t have any impact. In the fast-
paced world of computers, video games, and pop
culture, it can be challenging to convince people
to slow down and spend time outdoors. But one
person at a time, we can make a difference.
From bats and boats to botany and bees, my

career as a naturalist and environmental educator
has been filled with so many eye-opening
experiences that I cannot begin to list them
all. I’ve watched the field change and develop
with the times, and as a result I have grown as a
person. And as much as I enjoy photographing
beetles or learning something new about bird
feathers, there is nothing quite as meaningful as
sharing the awe of nature with a person who is
experiencing it for the first time. Opening that
door for novices is the greatest reward there is.
How do outdoor educators become outdoor

educators? Each of us has a different route. What
influences shaped our lives? Were early outdoor
experiences important? What experiences early
or later became important to the roles we play
today?
Our stories need to be celebrated and told! Those

new to outdoor education ought to benefit by
reading about the pathways seasoned outdoor
educators have taken, and vice versa.
Consider submitting your formative story

to PATHWAYS. Send it to “FORMATION” at
[email protected]. Limit of about 500 words,
please. Avoid resumes; this is about humans
Above: Ellen as bold jumping spider in Spook the Dell being, not so much doing.
Right Top: Ellen on Cascade Mountain in the Adirondacks, 1983
Right Bottom: Ellen in Rockford, IL in winter We look forward to hearing from you,
Tom Stock, NYSOEA life member

The Outside Story
Invasion of the
Spotted Lanternfly
Written by Declan McCabe
In September 2021, one boy’s blue ribbon- in 2014 and is considered a harmful invasive in
winning 4H project at the Kansas State Fair the United States, causing much stress to plants,
made national news. The exhibit included a gardeners, foresters, and farmers. Although
colorfully-spotted, inch-long, moth-like insect it is firmly established in the northeastern
that immediately attracted the attention of United States, the 4H exhibit was the first time
entomologists. The insect, which the boy had entomologists had noted the spotted lanternfly’s
found on his front porch, was a spotted lanternfly existence so far west.
(Lycorma delicatula). Native to Asia, this species
was discovered in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Spotted lanternflies belong in the mostly tropical

family Fulgoridae. The common name comes otherwise might not infest a particular plant
from a false belief that a projection from the stick to and then propagate molds that are both
heads of many species glowed in the dark, a unsightly and injurious to many plants.
myth propagated through the European scientific
literature during the 1700s. Preventing the spread of this invasive species is
a particularly difficult, because lanternflies are
The insects hatch from eggs between April and indiscriminate egg-layers. While many insects
June and develop through four nymphal instars. deposit eggs only on the perfect larval food
The nymphs have stubby black bodies with white source, some insects with broad host ranges lay
spots and long legs. When I tried to snag a few eggs on nearly any plant. Lanternflies take this
for a closer look during a visit near Philadelphia, to the next level. They will lay eggs on nearly
I learned that they are fast movers, and I had anything standing still. This includes bridges,
little hope of success without a net. The adults homes, and – most worryingly – vehicles and
are found between mid-July and fall’s first frost. trailers, where eggs can be unwittingly moved
I found many deceased lanternflies available for from place to place.
examination.
Early Pennsylvania distribution maps showed
The spotted lanternfly’s preferred host is the spread from Berks County to adjacent counties,
tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), another straight west along the Pennsylvania Turnpike
aggressive invasive species. But spotted route, and north along the Northeastern Turnpike
lanternflies will also nibble on the tender parts Extension. More recent maps show expansion
of more than 170 plant species, including hops, from these initial Pennsylvania counties
apples, grapes, walnuts, and a range of hardwood into bordering states of Delaware, Maryland,
trees that lack defenses to deal with Asian insects. New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and
West Virginia, and as far afield as Indiana and
Like other hemipterans or true bugs, lanternflies Massachusetts. Isolated individuals have been
have piercing mouth parts. Lanternflies use their found in locations including Rutland, Vermont –
sharp drinking straw-like apparatus to tap the and the Kansas State Fair.
stems and branches of their hosts for sugary sap.
While extracting plant nutrients directly weakens Scientists believe spotted lanternflies could
plants, it is just the beginning of several steps that survive as far north as southern New Hampshire,
cause plant illness and death. Like the rest of us, southern coastal Maine, and through warmer
lanternflies need nitrogen to make proteins. But portions of the Champlain Valley into Vermont
plant sap is mostly water, with some sugar in the and Upstate New York. Discovery of spotted
mix; nitrogen is far down the list on the nutrition lanternflies – or other invasive species – in
facts label. To accumulate enough nitrogen for Vermont should be reported to vtinvasives.org
growth, sap feeders must ditch all of that water and in New Hampshire to nhbugs.org.
and sugar as a waste product called “honeydew.”
Declan McCabe teaches biology at Saint
Ants take advantage of this waste and “farm” Michael’s College. His first book, Turning Stones:
honeydew from aphids to get a high-calorie Exploring Life in Freshwater will soon be published
supplement to their diet. Lanternflies, however, by McDonald and Woodward. Illustration by
lack devoted ant followers, so honeydew Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is
accumulates on plant stems, rendering the bark a assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands
sticky mess. Just as human-derived waste causes magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn
algal blooms, lanternfly waste causes a bloom of Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable
Foundation: www.nhcf.org.
a different kind: mold. Spores from molds that

Official Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association
www.nysoea.org • 845.288.3444 • Summer 2024

PATHWAYS Summer 2024

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PATHWAYS

Official Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association

Pathways Summer 2024 1

4 Editor's Corner: Prioritize Play

6 Affiliate Spotlight: Teatown Lake Reservation

24 Formation: Ellen Rathbone Graphic Designer

Communications & Technology Committee Chair

2 Pathways Summer 2024

With gratitude and dedication to the path ahead,

Pathways Summer 2024 3

Summer is the season of play, with long

Those days that are all about play—or even

There is some evidence that the loss of

4 Pathways Summer 2024

However, the unfortunate reality for many

We must view play as a sacred right of children

Pathways Summer 2024 5

↑ Entrance to Wildflower Island

All photos courtesy Teatown Lake Reservation

Pathways Summer 2024 7

Looking to the future, Teatown is

8 Pathways Summer 2024

Pathways Summer 2024 9

What will children say when you ask them “what

Every species on Earth has a home. We are

Here are some examples of observing some

I once found a spider who had found the open

Robert Frost had this to say: “Home is the place

Home is a great topic for outdoor educators

10 Pathways Summer 2024

Tree bark crevices; holes in trees; holes in the

I once found a mouse nest in the air filter of my

The concept is to consider the expanded idea of

Pathways Summer 2024 11

12 Pathways Summer 2024

For our seasoned attendees: We are so excited

As Buffalo Bills fans say, “Where

14 Pathways Summer 2024

Braiding Ways of Knowing

We are One–Classroom and Community Connections

Outdoors is for All–Equity, Access, and Inclusion

Pathways Summer 2024

Reviewed by Sally McCracken, PP 1980

Thank you, thank you Tom Stock! What a gift

If you like biking, butterflies (especially Eastern population of monarch butterflies on

16 Pathways Summer 2024

After reading Bicycling with Butterflies, I no

In Dykman’s book, we learn much fascinating

Pathways Summer 2024 17

It is important to remember that monarchs are

There is much to be learned about monarch

18 Pathways Summer 2024

~ Dr. Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of peace

~ Dr. Orley Taylor, director of Monarch Watch, Kansas Biological Survey

“This book is as much a poetic travelogue as it is informative about monarch butterflies.

Pathways Summer 2024 19

Editor's Note: This article is reprinted from NYSOEA’s The

20 Pathways Summer 2024

of desire for knowledge physiologists.

It is always difficult to make judgements as