Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve

Lions and tigers andno just kidding! But lots of deer, birds and other night animals on tonight’s full moon walk! Check out our other programs to register to join in the fun.

We're looking forward to searching for pollinators during our Wild Wednesday program today! #NationalPollinatorWeek

Should you be a "Day in the Life" educator? Follow our flow chart and find out! We still have some room in our summer educator workshops- find out more and register at https://reinsteinwoods.org//programs-s/educator-workshops/

Father's Day is this Sunday...In need of a gift? Give the gift of time (and BBQ)! Pre-order tickets for our BBQ dinner, July 17, 2021. It may be a month later, but you can enjoy a delicious dinner while spending time together. You can also bid to win him a new bike, propane firepit, or Lifetime cooler for all the cool things your dad loves to do! Let's show dad some love! https://reinsteinwoods.betterworld.org/

Congrats to April, who just won our afghan giveaway!! C’mon down to Reinstein Woods today 11a-5p to buy your BBQ ticket!

Hey teachers! We know you want to give your students the best hands-on science experiences and we're here to support you. Join us for one of two workshops this summer and become eligible to borrow our Watershed STEM bins any time throughout the year. Take them to a local pond or river or use them to conduct tests on schoolyard runoff. Register online for a training today: Summer Teacher Institute: Day in the Life of the Niagara River/Lake Erie Watershed: July 20-21 Watershed... STEM: August 5 http://reinsteinwoods.org//programs-se/educator-workshops/

I wonder... Why do some oak and beech trees keep their dead leaves in winter? Link to Northern Woodlands article: https://northernwoodlands.org//why-do-some-leaves-persist-

We love freebies and Educate Outside has a bunch! Get your family or students outside every day for a month with these fun ideas! Miss traveling? Download the guide in British English!

Submit your "I Wonder..." questions today for a chance to be featured on Facebook LIVE tomorrow at noon! https://forms.gle/L44sCGbnvmjMg21LA

I wonder...what is in Reinstein Woods’ sanctuary??

This program is now full with a waiting list- thank you for all your interest!

Live at noon today: I Wonder... What's in Reinstein Woods' Sanctuary??Live at noon today: I Wonder... What's in Reinstein Woods' Sanctuary??

Just before this last snowfall, staff noticed multiple large areas of confetti on and off the trails. This plastic confetti will not decompose and may end up eaten by wildlife or breaking up into microplastics in our waterways. We know it is hard to find outdoor places to celebrate with friends and family at this time- and we love that so many people are choosing to share joy at the Woods- but please be sure to celebrate responsibly.

Shout out to our Operations crew who answered our plea for help! The parking lot is open- it's not perfect but it is usable. If you can't find a spot, please consider finding another park so everyone can stay safe and distant on the trails!

Congratulations to April Manna and her son Logan, who were selected as the door prize winners for the 20-2020 Fall Festival! And thank you to Friends of Reinstein Woods, Niagara Frontier Koi and Pond Club, Penn Dixie Fossil Park, Buffalo Audubon Society and the Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District for donating items for the door prize this year.

Join other Friends members for a hike at Knox Farm State Park, led by former Reinstein Woods intern and Park Naturalist Matt Nusstein. For Friends of Reinstein Woods members only. Not a member yet? Join here: https://reinsteinwoods.org/join/ Call 716-683-5959 to register. You will receive a call confirming your registration or waitlist status. PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY when leaving your phone number as our system does not have caller ID. Unless you receive a callback, you are not registered.

Concerned about climate change but not sure what you can do? Looking for ways to save energy and money? On October 24, join a conversation with others striving to take fossil fuels out of their lifestyles. Learn more and register: http://reinsteinwoods.org/events/sustainability-discussion/

There's still time to register for Friends of Reinstein Woods Annual Membership meeting on October 21, featuring Naturalist Mark Carra presenting about insects. Not a member yet? You can join when you register. https://reinsteinwoods.org//2020-annual-membership-meeting/

Wild Wednesdays are back (at a new time)! Call 716-683-5959 to register for "Wild Wednesday," an hour-long outdoor program for kids in grades K-5 and their parents or caregivers. This week's theme is weather. You will receive a call confirming your registration or waitlist status. PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY when leaving your phone number as our system does not have caller ID. Unless you receive a callback, you are not registered.

Have you been sneezing and sniffling this fall from allergies? Blame this, not that! This is common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Ragweed is a native plant that produces wind-carried pollen. Each plant can produce a billion grains of pollen in its bell-shaped flowers over the season! The lightweight pollen can also travel hundreds of miles. While the pollen can irritate people, ragweed seeds are an important food source for a variety of birds, including goldfinches..., juncos and several species of sparrows. That is goldenrod, specifically rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa). There are more than a hundred different species of goldenrod in the U.S. The bright yellow flowers rely on bees, butterflies, beetles, wasps and other insects for pollination, not the wind. These late summer and fall blooms are also an important nectar source for migrating monarch butterflies. So keep the goldenrod around for the bugs and don’t blame it for your allergies!

Please welcome our fall Environmental Education intern, Britney-Bay Croyle! "I grew up mostly in Niagara Falls, NY, but my family also spent a few years in Florida. That’s where I fell in love with all things outdoors. My two brothers and I would spend the full day running barefoot through the fields in search of red ant hills, collecting tadpoles to watch them grow and looking for manatees in the canals. My favorite bird is the red-tailed hawk and I still jump when I see spi...ders! I graduated from the University at Buffalo with Bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Studies and Studio Arts and a minor in Education. I am working on a Master’s degree at U.B. in Sustainability Leadership. I am very passionate about environmental and socio-economic justice for our WNY community! I look forwarding to meeting everyone and spending time together masked up and six feet apart in the woods!"

We're closing our 20-2020 festival out with a HUGE shout-out to every member and volunteer of Friends of Reinstein Woods. We are so thankful for this dedicated team of green-shirt friends! Our Friends group is the beating heart of our organization- join the family at https://reinsteinwoods.org/join/. #RWFallFest2020

Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District is bringing some more fun your way this festival with all sorts of activities on their website- from DIY bird feeders to a watershed coloring page! Check it out at ecswcd.org/ #RWFallFest2020

Our Fall Festival has always been a place where fun and learning intersect- and this year our friends Erie County Department of Environment and Planning are helping us deliver! Learn how to make a pop bottle planter while learning about the importance of rain gardens. Learn more about how you can protect local water quality at https://www2.erie.gov/environment/index.php #RWFallFest2020