Wild Cub Weekly #6: the "Bear" in Bear-Paw

Welcome to Week 6 of Wild Cub Weekly!

“An environmental-based education movement—at all levels of education—will help students realize that school isn’t supposed to be a polite form of incarceration but a portal to the wider world.” ~ Richard Louv
 
This week, we are getting outside and into the snow!
Make sure you got your snow pants, boots, warm jacket, backpack with snacks and water, printed maps and a mask!
The featured hike takes us to Bear Brook State Park, a conserved area that was part of the inspiration for Bear-Paw's regional greenways. Bear-Paw's name comes from the idea of conserving wildlife corridors between BEAR Brook State Park and PAWtuckaway State Park.

I would love to hear about last weeks activity, or anything you would like to share from your Sit Spot. Post here, Google Drive . Sharing your knowledge with friends is so much fun!

Earthly Events

Charles Darwin, a 19th century Naturalist.
was born this month, February 12th, 1809.
Most well known for his theory of natural selection, 
which scientists use today to understand
evolution and the diversity of species.
A fund way to celebrate Darwin's birthday
is to create a "Phylum Feast"
and make a dinner that is as biologically
diverse as possible! 
You could also make trilobite cookies:
Recipe ideas here and here

On February 11th,1899 - USA The Great Blizzard
started sweeping across the country.
Montana reached a low of -61F and Nebraska at -47F.
New Jersey accumulated 34 inches of snowfall.
 Parts of the Mississippi River froze over
along with the city of New Orleans.

Peregrine falcons and bald eagles are returning
to New Hampshire to establish nesting sites.
The bald eagle pair has been seen over Bow Lake
(they have nested on Bennett Island for the past few years)
and NH Audubon's Peregrine Cam is lively with
mating falcon activity.

Photo:  Bear Brook in Allenstown, NH on February 6th, 2021

Winter Walks!
Here is an easy and fun place to walk around and enjoy the beauty of nature.

This week: Bear Brook Trail + Cascade, Sentinel Pine, and Carr Ridge trails.
Address: Parking lot at Podunk Rd. in Allenstown.
Link to map here

This is a really gorgeous and easy walk along the water. You enter the trail from the back left corner of the parking lot next to the park map stand. A lot of trails pop off from here, so just pay attention to the signage! Ultimately, you will want to be walking along the river.

The ice formations are awesome right now, and you can listen to the water rumble under the ice. You might even see otter slides over the ice and snow.
As you walk, do you notice how the trees change? It will seem like you are walking through a dark green tunnel, once you get to the other side, it lightens up and the trees are further apart. The "Dark Tunnels" are the Conifers, like Eastern Hemlock or White Pine. Click Here for a conifer ID guide.

If the snow has not quite built up where the dirt is exposed, you will see that the earth is very red and sandy! Do you think the soil affects which plants grow in this location?

While you are walking, and you find a small pine tree, can you count how many rows, also known as whorls, of branches they have around the main trunk? They grow one row of branches every year - how old is the tree that you find?

​About half way down the Bear Brook Trail, the shore bumps out close to the water. Great place to have a snack! (This is also a good turning around spot for younger ones)
If you end up wanting to get in a good couple hour walk/hike with your older kids, keep heading down the trail! You will come to a larger snowmobile trail. Head straight across to Cascade trail.

​This trail is usually pretty icy since it faces to the north and in the shadows, but with all the snow, it has been perfect! Stay to the left of the river on Cascade Trail, which will eventually get you to Sentinel Pine Trail. You will reach a 4 way trail crossing, and take a left onto Carr Ridge Trail, and it will wind you back to the beginning of Cascade trail, crossing the snow mobile path back on to Bear Brooke Trail.
Enjoy! 
Remember to follow all park rules - masks are required when met with another group of people. Dogs should be on leashes, and always practice "Leave No Trace".

Parent Resources

Book ($5.95)
Tree Finder: A manual for the identification of trees by their leaves
By: May Theilguard Watts

Conifer ID - click here for pdf file

"Stay Wild"
-Grace Bailey, Education Consultant