On Wednesday, July 15, from 2 to 3 p.m., Skidmore Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Joshua Ness will lead a tour focusing on the distribution and consequences of non-native species in the woods.  "I'll focus on plants and animals that might be familiar to many folks and deemed to be innocuous or positive, like burning bush, Norway maple, garlic mustard, and earthworms," said Ness.  The group will then explore how these new species act to the detriment of certain amphibians and how they weaken the mutually beneficial interactions between certain plants and animals.

The second tour will cover the cultural history of the North Woods and will take place Sunday, July 19, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.   Led by Robert Jones, associate professor of economics, the event will begin with an overview in Bolton Hall 281 from 1:30 to 2 p.m., followed by a one-hour walk along some of the area's historic carriage trails.  Participants will receive a current North Woods map along with a map from the 1880s and some historical photographs.

Jones explains that the present Skidmore campus is located on land that prior to 1960 was known as Woodlawn.  Its grounds contained largely forested land with several estate homes, a large lawn, and more than 20 miles of carriage trails dating back more than a century.

Skidmore's North Woods is home to numerous native species, including migrating songbirds and 33 types of ferns. With southern oak, hickory, and northern hardwoods as well as ponds and marshes, the woods support a biologically diverse animal and plant population that is important to faculty and student research.  Much of the area is available for public use. 
 
For further information on the North Woods or the upcoming tours, contact Erica Fuller, campus sustainability coordinator at Skidmore, 518-580-5865.