Join naturalist and author Susie Spikol for a walk through the fall, as we explore the signposts of this shifting season. From bird migration and late-season flowers to mushrooms and the mighty acorn, come discover how seasonal changes influence the flora and fauna of the Monadnock Region. You’ll also keep a personal almanac to track nature’s journey towards winter. Field trips will be supported by readings from Bernd Heinrich, Peter Marchand, and other writers and researchers.

This Environmental Studies Institute (ESI) course will meet on Tuesdays, September 22 & 29, and October 6 & 13, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Harris Center and local field sites. Space is limited, and registration is required.

Cost: $80 for Harris Center supporters / $100 for all others. Space is limited, and registration is required. For questions about registration, contact Miles Stahmann. For all other information, including questions about accessibility, contact Susie.

Susie Spikol (photo © Ben Conant)

About Susie Spikol

Writer and Harris Center teacher-naturalist Susie Spikol spends her autumn searching for signs of mammal activity. Her favorite thing to find is a bear nest high up in a beech tree. When she isn’t out searching for wild signs, she is writing or leading programs for the Harris Center. Throughout her 30-year career as a naturalist and educator, Susie has inspired thousands through hands-on programs and public talks, earning numerous awards for her work. A regular contributor to Yankee, Northern Woodlands, and Taproot Magazine, she also writes the “Backyard Nature” column for the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. Her first book, published in 2022,  The Animal Adventurer’s Guide, was recognized with a National Parenting Products Award. Her new book Forest Magic for Kids: How to Find for Fairies, Make a Secret Fort, and Cook Up an Elfin Picnic is filled with activities inspired by imagination, folklore, and science and an invitation to all readers to step outside and discover the beauty and magic of the world. Her newest book, The Book of Wild Wonder, will be hitting shelves in the spring of 2027.