Last Sunday, January 29th, the Springwater Trails’ hikers enjoyed a Treasure Hunt for 4 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze treasure tickets to be redeemed at the social following the hike.  Nine out twelve tickets were found.  Twenty people attended.  Mark Hopkins, Trail Master, writes: “We had 11 climbers who hiked the perimeter of the farm.  The group headed up the path to the fields and through the woods and past a young plantation of Christmas trees.  Passing south through the forest, we found Christmas trees east of the pond marked for the Cornell Integrated Pest Management Trial and found two treasure tickets in the 6 inch snow cover.  In the Cathedral pines we found two more treasure tickets and then continued west with some bushwhacking around the dam of a small pond and out onto Story Road.  Heading back across the fields, we took advantage of the frozen field to cross the corn stubble rows to a grove of 40 year old Christmas trees ready for the center of an indoor mall that may call in the future.”  Wendy and Rick led a group of five through a northerly route parallel to Liberty Pole Road where Nannette found a treasure ticket.  They also found the large Christmas trees and then headed over to the pines and back.  Katherine led a group of 3 around the perimeter of the nursery pointing out the exotic trees, the nursery stock, and the 2 sequoia that are almost 28 years old.  All then took the 4×4 Case up through the woods where we picked up Gene and Georgia and drove into the fenced trees where we found four treasure tickets, then drove to the pines and back to the house for the social.

Next week, Springwater Trails will return to Cummings Nature Center on Gulick Road in Naples, start time 2 PM.  Come and enjoy the great outdoors, reduce cabin fever, and visit with hikers along the way.  Take advantage of purchasing a Springwater Trails membership (donation toward building hiking trails in Springwater) at the discounted price of $10 prior to our Annual Meeting on March 19th.  Details are available at SpringwaterTrails.org.

Katherine Humphrey and Jerrianne Scheiderich were honored to receive a Cornell IPM Award at the joint Pennsylvania and New York CTFANY (Christmas Tree Farmers Association) winter meeting scheduled in Binghamton, NY, Thursday – Saturday, January 26-28.

This post was exerpted from this weeks’ Springwater Party Line by Katherine Humphrey. The full article is available online.

Mark said, “this was different for many of us.” Pam added “you were really good sports!”  and….” If you just take the time to be silent in nature, anything can happen!”  Others added…”I really saw nature in a different way than ever before.” ” I felt like a child again!” “We are entering into another one of the four seasons, the circle of life, death to rebirth.” 

A two hour “forest therapy walk”, led by Deb Denome was truly an inspirational experience for many of us as we were guided slowly on a cold late fall day through nature.  As 16 of us traveled through the forest tapping our senses, observing, listening, seeing, smelling, and sensing motion,  we silently experienced nature on a personal level and shared it with others as we gathered around the well attended campfires.

Some of us had unusual experiences, like talking to objects in nature and getting a response.    Others traveled to places within the forest to sit quietly and reflect. We were called back to share our experiences by our leader’s flute or bird call.  Someone made a perfect crow call that got everyone’s attention.  

What was really interesting to me was that we experienced seeing our hiking friends in a new and deeper way.  As they shared their thoughts, gratitude, and connectiveness with nature, we all gained new insights. Many had a sense of peace, calmness, while others related what they experienced in nature to a call for personal growth.  

A Forest Therapy experience is said to last at least 7 days.  I know for myself I have gone back to my spot in the woods to reexamine Mr. Vine and his family, listen more acutely, and share the beauty of the forest with others.  There are lessons to be learned, and many answers…if we just are silent. Thanks to Deb for taking us there.

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On November 27, 2016, 18 Springwater Trails hikers enjoyed a hike through the Wesley Hill Preserve.

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On Sunday, November 13, 2016, 20 hikers enjoyed the Finger Lakes Trail Bristol Hills Branch. In a new hike for the group, we made a loop on the Huckleberry Bog link and then back on the main trail.

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