Everyday Ecologist

Everyday Ecologist We CAN be Environmentalists EVERYDAY! My name is Liz Ellsworth and I am an Environmental Educator and Writer. in English from Bates College.

I specialize in conservation and recycling initiatives, and I have taught people of all ages. I have taught at an environmental outdoor center and managed a municipal recycling program; my work experience also includes greening local businesses, advising student environmental groups, leading civic learning seminars, and serving on conservation committees. I have a weekly educational column, The Everyday Ecologist, in The Villager newspapers, which covers a wide variety of ecological topics. I have a master’s degree in Environmental Education from Antioch University New England and a B.A. I’m also an avid nature photographer. As a writer, I’m very interested in the connections between nature and history, between ecology and literature, and in the importance of everyone's creating his or her own natural, special place. As an educator, I’m especially eager to see that children participate in creative, eco-inspired, and imaginative play as they learn about the natural world. I like to capture nature scenes with my camera, and to share the feelings that each image evokes. My favorite tree is the White Birch, and I love the sound of the spring peepers. I do wish there wasn’t so much trash lining our roadways! Contact ME (liz "at" everydayecologist.org) for educational programming options, writing proposals and requests, questions, or just to start a conversation.

09/19/2026
09/18/2026

As we celebrate Back to School month at NNOCCI, we are so thrilled to share our newest resource: the NNOCCI Climate Action Toolkit! 🔧🌏

Directing individuals toward community-level climate solutions is at the core of our work, and our new Climate Action Toolkit shows what these solutions can look like. Each of them — from e-bike libraries to regenerative farming to Indigenized energy — represents equitable, inclusive, and accessible actions that each and every one of us can take in our own communities.

If you’re looking to dive a little deeper, our very own Bailey Robbins, NNOCCI Secretary and lead in the creation of this resource, stars in this month’s editorial with a Q&A on how this toolkit came to be.

🔗 Visithttps://nnocci.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Climate-Action-Toolkit.pdf for access to the Climate Action Toolkit, and read Bailey's Q&A at https://nnocci.org/introducing-the-climate-action-toolkit!

And this is just the beginning! We hope to grow the Climate Action Toolkit with more unique and innovative solutions from around the world, with the help of our network.

What climate actions do you take in your community? Share in the chat, or even better, ✨add your own solution!!✨ by submitting one here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzWJzZoztweEnIB8ZlltaZbPQEENBugEE6jbzfOivVhLmqoQ/viewform?pli=1

“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.”- Oscar Wilde 🌳☀️🍃🍂🍁🪾
09/18/2026

“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.”
- Oscar Wilde 🌳☀️🍃🍂🍁🪾

🪶💚
09/17/2026

🪶💚

🎶We're soarin', flyinnnn' 🎶

Red-tailed hawks, our most common raptor, can be found soaring over cities, suburbs, and fields around now.

If you see a soaring or perched bird that is the right size and shape, but it has a brown, banded tail, that is one of this year’s juveniles. They will not grow their distinctive brick-red tail until next year.

Want to impress your friends and be an expert in ID-ing raptors flying overhead? Download our handy pocket guide 👉 https://www.massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/go-wild-for-wildlife/go-wild-for-red-tailed-hawks

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk © Nicole Mordecai

09/17/2026

Just a little squirrel and his very important acorn collection! 🤭🍁

A little random doodle ✍🏻✨

Love, Kate x

Sketchbook / Watercolour / Drawing
Children’s Book Illustration / Illustration / Artist

🥾⛰️
09/16/2026

🥾⛰️

The best trips are well-rounded. Like a well-packed backpack. Or a bear.

Planning a national park trip? Excellent. You could simply arrive with flip-flops, no water, and the confidence of someone who has watched one nature documentary.

Or, hear us out. You could impress your friends, family, or just yourself, with our handy dandy trip planning tips.

📌 Learn about the park

Know where you’re going, what the conditions might be, and whether the wildlife considers you a friend or foe. Mostly foe. It’s not you, it’s, well, it’s you.

📌 Find out what activities you can do

Hiking? Camping? Birding? Scenic driving? Find out what’s available before you arrive so your big adventure doesn’t become an unexpected afternoon in the parking lot.

📌 Know your limits

Be honest about your fitness, experience, weather conditions, and ability to turn around. The mountain will still be there in the morning. Your overconfidence…not so much.

📌 Pick the right activity for YOU

Choose activities that match your skills, experience, interests, and comfort level. You don’t have to summit anything. Sometimes the best adventure is a gentle stroll and a snack. Watch out for that speed bump. Nailed it.

📌 Check regulations, permits, and reservations

Some activities require permits, reservations, or specific rules. These are not suggestions to ruin your fun. They exist so everyone, including the park itself, can have a good day.

📌 Create a backup plan

Because weather, closures, crowds, and unexpected circumstances exist. If you tempt fate…well. Let’s just say nature will not consult your itinerary.

📌 Share your trip plan

Tell someone where you’re going, what you’re doing, and when you expect to return. Ideally, someone who likes you.

In conclusion, national parks can be wild and unpredictable, but your planning doesn’t have to be.

NPS Image

Autumn on the ground 💛🍁🌱
09/13/2026

Autumn on the ground 💛🍁🌱

We Remember and We Never Forget. 09/11/2001 🇺🇸 🗽
09/11/2026

We Remember and We Never Forget. 09/11/2001 🇺🇸 🗽

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