Friends of School in the Woods

A huge thank you to all the Friends who came out to volunteer with us today and support Section 16 and School in the Woods! The group today was a beautiful representation of the FOSITW community, including alumni naturalists ranging from the ’25-’26 Bobcat class to the ’01-’02 Abert’s Squirrel class, high school-age alumni, alumni who are now parents, parents of alumni, SITW staff, and community members!

What they accomplished was nothing short of amazing! The team disposed of over 15 huge bags of mullein seed heads, with each bag containing between 200 and 300 heads each. Every mullein head can contain between 175,000 and 220,000 seeds! Do a little math, and that is a lot of seeds that will now not be contributing to further crowding of the native plants in the burn area! We were treated with lots of ladybugs, some resident deer, and many Colorado wildflowers that we are clearing the way for.

It’s a great day when a little work with your hands creates a noticeable positive difference in the natural world around you. Once a naturalist, always a naturalist! 🌲🌾🐞
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Looking for a way to spend this gorgeous morning outside?! Meet us at SITW and help take care of Section 16! We'll be out there from 9-12! See you soon!

Mullein is tricky! It looks like nature’s toilet paper (which is a soft plant called lamb’s ear), but its leaves are actually covered in tiny, hooked hairs that can be highly irritating to skin. Mullein is also a pain in the natural landscape’s backside! It’s invasive and crowds out native plant species.

The Black Forest fire cleared out some areas, making it easy for mullein to move in, but we’re fighting back! FOSITW is partnering with School in the Woods to take care of beautiful Section 16, and we need your help “Pullin’ that mullein”!

Let us know at the SignUp Genius link in the comments if you’re planning on joining us on June 16! 🌲🌱🪏

We had a beautiful morning out on Section 16 in Black Forest this past Saturday. The weather was perfect for a hike, and we had fun getting to welcome many of the newest alumni Naturalists from the Bobcat Class. A huge thank you to everyone who came out to explore with us!

As always, we paused on the back side of the trail loop to admire Pikes Peak from the burn scar. In the photo posted, you can see all the tops of the invasive mullein plants that quickly moved in and spread after the Black Forest fire.

Our next get-together will be on June 16th from 9-12, when we will be joining forces with School in the Woods for a w**d mitigation project to remove as much of that mullein as possible to allow for native species to fill back in. Stay tuned for more details. We hope to see a bunch of Section 16 enthusiasts and w**d warriors out there! Keep Wondering! 🥾🌲🌱

Join us this Saturday from 9am-11am for a hike around Section 16. Everybody is welcome. You never know what me might see. Meet at the section 16 trailhead off of Burgess Road just before 9am. Join us all the way around or turn back for a shorter hike. Don’t forget your water!

A huge thank you from your FOSITW board to everyone who joined us at the Gathering this morning! We loved getting to spend time with everyone. We will post more pictures later in the week, and feel free to share your own. Once a Naturalist, Always a Naturalist! 🌲

Reminder that tonight School in the Woods is holding their Choice Information Meetings

Reminder that we will be having our Open House tonight, Thursday, February 5th, from 4:15-6:15 here at SITW! Please bring your 3rd grade student with you.
4:15-5:15 last names ending with A-M 5:15-6:15 last names ending with N-Z