It was delightful to share a day at Fort Snelling State Park with the 5th and 6th graders of the Friends School of Minnesota on Novermber 8th.  Students and their teachers explored the day's weather and phenology, discussed climate change and solutions to it, and performed a service project for the park removing invasive buckthorn.  The trip was part of the Parks Climate Challenge and compliments the climate and weather sciences taught during their year at school.  Here are some of the things we found together ...

Phenology Observations:

• White-tailed deer! Male ("buck") deer were seen with large racks of antlers and grazing on buds and twigs.
• We found a yearling garter snake that was about to shed its skin - when do they start hibernating?
• The few remaining green leaves were mostly buckthorn - of which there are fewer now thanks to the folks at the Friends School!

Weather Observations:

• Temperature: 55-60 degrees (f) - which is nearly 10 degrees warmed than the historic normal high temperature of 49 degrees (MN Weatherguide Calendar)
• Barometric Pressure: 29.2 - 29.5 in/Hg
• Wind Speed: 2-8 mph
• Cloud cover: 80% cumulous in the morning.  Changed to 5-30% by the afternoon and cirrus.
• River temperature was approximately 44 degrees (f)

See up-to-the-minute weather data from the Fort Snelling State Park weather station!

Author: Leah, Bemidji State University

Location: On a dock on Bemidji Lake

Weather: Clear sky, sun shining, slight wind

Right now I am sitting on a dock at the edge of Lake Bemidji. It is a beautiful evening outside! The wind is slightly blowing which is making small waves on the lake. There are four ducks floating on the lake. They keep bobbing down trying to catch food for supper. There are sailboats, canoes, and speed boats out on the lake on this nice evening. I can smell the smell of fall. It is a cool and refreshing smell; quite a change from this hot and sticky summer we have had. The trees have started to chang colors; not too much, but a few of the leaves are a yellow color now. Pretty soon they will turn red and orange! That will be beautiful. The grass that was once lucious and green, is now turning dry and brown. Though it is not as pretty as the green grass, the brown color adds to the feeling of fall. Fall is just around the corner! I love it!

Author: Obama, Friends School Minnesota

Location: Crosby Farm Bluff

Weather: 21 Degrees F
0.5 Inches Precipitation
No wind, cloudy, light rain

Species Phenology list:
burs
stinging nettle
bass wood
jack in the pulpit
wild grapes
mallard ducks
canada geese
daddy long legs
american bass wood

Author: Kris, Friends School Minnesota

Location: Crosby Farm Lake

Weather: 21 Degrees F
0.5 in. Precipitation
No wind, Cloudy, Light Rain

Species Phenology List:
Stinging Nettle
Ivy
Reed grass
smooth sumac
Blue haron
canada geese
silver maple
cutlers
river grapes
duck weed
Jack in the pulpit

Author: Kris, Friends School Minnesota

Location: Crosby Farm

Weather: 32º
Snow
Windy
0 precipitation

Species Phenology List:
Deer Tracks
Golden Rod
Chickadee
Crow
Bur Oak
Finch
Red Osier Dogwood
Silver Maple
Mourning Doves
Sumac
Linden
Reedgrass
Ivy
Box Elder

Author: Kris, Friends School Minnesota

Location: crosby farm bluff

Weather: 55 degrees Fahrenheit

Species Phenology list:
burrs
bur oak
aspen
sugar maple
dandelions
red and gray squirrels

Author: Kris, Friends School Minnesota

Location: Crosby Farm Lake

Weather: 39 Degrees f
No precipitation
Very cloudy, Slightly Windy

Norway Maple
Silver Maple
Slippery Elm
Canada Geese
Pileated Woodpecker
Ivy
Dead Stinging Nettle
Beaver Dam
Cardinal
Moss
Sugar Maple
Box Elder Tree
Red Squirrel
Smooth Sumac
Reed Grass
Bur Oak
Milk Weed
Bass Wood
Pin Oak
Speckled Elder
Red Osier Dog Wood
Hackberry Tree
Black Willow
Cat Tails
Grey Squirrel

Author: Kris, Friends School Minnesota

Location: Crosby Farm Bluff

Weather: Temp: 39˚ F
Precipitation: 0
Cloudy grey sky, slight dusting of snow.

Species Phenology List:
Northern Red Oak,
Grey Squirrel,
Norway Maple,
Lilac,
Buckthorn,
Black Oak,
Goldenrod

Author: Kris, Friends School Minnesota

Location: Crosby Farm Floodplain

Weather: 21 Degrees F
0.5 in Precipitation
No wind, Cloudy, Light Rain

Species Phenology List:
Clover
Big-tooth Aspen
Moss
Eastern Cottonwood
Sugar maple
Stinging Nettle
American Basswood
American Elm
Quaking Aspen
Daddy Long Legs
Jack in the Pulpit

Author: Kris, Friends School Minnesota

Location: crosby farm april lake

Weather: 60F
no precipitation
sunny a few clouds

species phenology:
speckled alder
bumble bee
black willow
stinging nettle
marsh marry gold
violet
chipmunk
silver maple
box elder tree
slippery elm
duck weed
mallard duck
beaver