BEMIDJI — Here is a look at some upcoming events throughout May at Lake Bemidji State Park "Welcome to our enchanting nature story time; a magical experience specially crafted for curious minds aged three to five though all ages are welcome," a release said children can spend time playing at the playground and nature play area The program will meet at the amphitheater behind the visitor center May 3: Bog Discovery: Naturalist on the move "Ever wondered what in the world a bog is?" the release said "Want to know when the Showy Lady's Slipper and other orchids start blooming Or did you know that there are plants that eat insects here in Minnesota Bring your questions and curiosity to the tranquil bog at the park and chat with a naturalist who will be strolling along the boardwalk." The gravel bog walk trail is one mile long The release recommends folks wear sturdy shoes and bring water and snacks "Come celebrate the spring season by indulging your senses and rejuvenating your spirit with a wellness nature walk," said the release "Immerse yourself in the tranquility of a spring forest as you embark on a guided journey designed to promote relaxation paved loop eventually overlooks Lake Bemidji The release asks participants to wear appropriate shoes Those interested in the walk can meet at the west picnic area near the lake and the west parking lot May 17: Bald Eagles: Guardians of the Sky  "Calling all nature enthusiasts," said the release "Join us on an exciting journey as we uncover the secrets of the mighty bald eagle From their colossal nests to their incredible fishing talents get ready for an encounter with these awe-inspiring birds It's an adventure that will leave you soaring with newfound knowledge and appreciation for these magnificent creatures." This event will meet at the visitor center and begin with a trivia game centered around the bald eagle participants will take a short walk to see the park's bald eagle nest with a chance to see an eaglet May 25: Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park Annual Memorial Day Pancake Fundraiser  "Indulge in a morning of delicious generosity at our Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser," the release said "Bring your appetite and your support as we flip for a cause Your participation will help us raise funds for The Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park making every bite a step toward positive change for the park." The release asks that attendees bring their own plates and utensils "Put on your detective hat and uncover the secrets hidden in skulls," the release said "Can you figure out which animals they belong to using clues Examine animal skulls to learn how to identify them by their teeth congruent with the pancake breakfast fundraiser May 25: Bog Discovery: Naturalist on the Move May 31: Bald Eagles: Guardians of the Sky  MARSHFIELD – Earlier this month in the mid-morning a man and his dog walked down a narrow dirt road off Webster Street He had left his truck in a small pull-off parking area opposite the entrance into the Green Harbor Golf Course (A power company sign where he parked reads 637 Webster St.) The unpaved road he was walking down didn't particularly look like it held many prospects for a scenic outing until he had gone a few hundred yards. Then a large cranberry bog opened up on his right with a raised pathway across the middle of the bog The man and his dog headed off on their walk He had discovered one of the town's newest conservation areas, called Red Gold Farm, which is a working cranberry bog with walking trails open to the public all around it How to find Red Gold Farm in MarshfieldSigns have not been posted yet with the name and other information about the new trails but there is a sign down the narrow dirt road at the bog entrance stating it is town property The North and South River Watershed Association, the NSRWA, recommends that visitors do not use this dirt road that leads in from the small Webster Street pull-off parking area The road belongs to Eversource and is used regularly by large trucks (This parking area pull-off is not always plowed and remained uncleared at the start of this week after the Presidents' Day weekend storms.) Eventually a more suitable entrance trail adjacent to the dirt road will be constructed and marked there is another way to reach the bog trails from the parking area on Webster Street: after parking your car walk north a short distance on Webster Street until you reach a sign that says "MassDEP" and then follow that path over a bridge through the woods to the cranberry bog trails there is roadside parking and trail access at the end of Red Gold Farm Road are quite wide and flat and extend in various directions for about 2½ miles Red Gold Farm is one of nine featured new walking areas in the January newsletter of the association In her recent monthly nature column for the NSRWA, Kezia Bacon describes how the Red Gold Farm trails wind around ponds The Marshfield Trail Committee will soon be marking the “public use” trails Visitors (including dogs) are permitted on these trails but they are not allowed in the bog at any time Some of the trails in the western section of the property are very close to private homes; these trails are not open to the public and will be marked in the future according to the association's description The cranberry bog was established prior to 1950 but is best known for more than 70 years of farming by four generations of the Garretson family was one of the first in the area to use vegetable oil in its equipment and was one of the early users of pheromone traps for pest management It also placed carbon filters on its flumes to avoid releasing contaminants into the Green Harbor River Part of the annual maintenance of the cranberry operation involved inspecting the course of the Green Harbor River on foot removing fallen trees and other obstructions some of the upland was developed with new homes There is also a walking entrance into the trails from Whitford Circle A boardwalk and connector trails are comingThe association is going to keep track of further trail work planned for this exciting new option including a boardwalk and a connector trail to several other walking areas in town For more information, the Marshfield Conservation Commission can be reached at 781-834-5573 the man behind the 2021 crash that resulted in the death of a woman when a minibus plunged into the Rio Cobre was on Monday sentenced to two years’ probation and fined $350,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment in the St Catherine Circuit Court Justice Bertram Morrison also ordered that his driver's licence be suspended for one year Wynter had pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving in November 2023 but was not sentenced until yesterday He was charged with the death of Valerie Ennis Wynter was represented by attorney-at-law Oswest Senior-Smith Ennis was a passenger in a Toyota Hiace minibus that was heading towards Linstead from Spanish Town The court further heard that while travelling along the roadway a Toyota Fielder motor car overtook a line of traffic and crashed into the minibus The impact caused the Hiace to careen into the Rio Cobre including Wynter and a passenger in the Toyota Fielder who was ejected from the minibus and was taken from the river by divers An investigation was conducted by the St Catherine North Traffic Department He was subsequently charged and made numerous court appearances Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. Shadel Ffrench had little knowledge of basketball when she migrated to the United States five years ago. But when coaches at her high school in Southern California saw her height, they encouraged the Jamaican to take up the sport. That she did, and with remarkable results. The 19 year-old, six foot, one inch freshman was one of the standouts for Glendale Community College in the recent Western State Conference in California. Described by her team as a “defensive standout and rebound dynamo”, Ffrench excelled for the Glendale Vaqueros, who finished with 26 wins and five defeats. They beat San Diego Mesa and Citrus colleges in the Southern California Regionals, defeated Delta College in the state tournament before falling to defending champions Orange Coast College in the state semifinals. Ffrench, a former student at Bog Walk High School (now Enid Bennett High School) in St Catherine, broke GCC’s record for rebounds in a game twice, posting a new mark of 26 against Citrus College in their final regular season game on February 21. Along with three of her team-mates, Ffrench was named to the All WSC First Team. She also made the California All State First Team. Her sophomore year was at Saint Monica Preparatory, a high school in Santa Monica, California. Moving to GCC, where she majors in nursing, Ffrench made an immediate impact. She credits the coaching staff there for her sustained improvement. “I am so blessed and grateful to each and every one of my coaches who have been there to guide me throughout this journey. The saying is true that it takes a village. I have the best support system to help me remain positive and stay on track,” said Ffrench, whose favourite players are Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing. Established in 1950, the 18-team WSC is the oldest community college conference in California. Founded in 1927, GCC’s noted alumni include actors Eva Mendes and Angie Dickinson, and television personality Ryan Seacrest. highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems He's a Twin Cities-based writer with a BA in English and an MFA in creative writing and the proud father of two adult children With more than 15 years of freelance outdoor and travel writing experience under his belt Trent is often out exploring his favorite topics: Minnesota's woods Share LinkMost People Don’t Even Know This Little-Known Destination In Minnesota Even ExistsThe Mickey Elverum Bog Walk in Orr is a hidden gem offering a unique nature experience with a boardwalk through a bog But I came across a spot a few years ago that was an incredibly pleasant surprise and I think it’s a place that not too many folks know about The Mickey Elverum Bog Walk in Orr is one of my favorite hidden gems in Minnesota and you should really consider putting on your must-visit list Orr is a northern Minnesota small town of about 200 on Pelican Lake City of Orr/FacebookIt’s 25 miles or so from the Canadian border (more like 50 miles by car) It’s a gateway town for both Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Trent Jonas/OnlyInYourStateThe bulk of the town’s businesses are geared toward tourism and outdoor pursuits The town also has several of its own really nice parks and natural areas My personal favorite is the Mickey Elverum Bog Walk Roamin’ Rich/Google ReviewsThe trail is an easy half-mile boardwalk loop that traverses a bog along the south end of Pelican Lake Merripen57/TripAdvisorThe boardwalk, itself, was completely replaced in 2022, so it’s in excellent condition and a pleasure to walk along. Jesse James White/Google ReviewsYou can also find other bog specialist plants A section of the boardwalk snakes through the cattails along the lakeshore Kris Pillar/Google ReviewsThere you may see all sorts of bird species I saw a ruby-throated hummingbird working the flowers along this part of the boardwalk on my last visit Were you aware of the Mickey Elverum Bog Walk in Orr? Have you walked it? What are some of your favorite hidden gems in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments! https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/minnesota/black-bear-sanctuary-mn/ Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... Enjoy your own private fishing pond and then head to one of Missouri's underrated fishing spots with a stay at this cozy cabin. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! Copyright © 2025 Multimedia Jamaica Ltd peaty wetlands that do double duty as carbon sinks I cautiously stepped off the narrow wooden boardwalk and settled my foot onto what looked like a patch of rusty grass red-tinged water hiding underneath to squish through and remind me that what I was actually trying to do here was walk on water Aivar Ruukel grew up in the area of Soomaa National Park and has been leading tourist activities since soon after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 who grew up in this area and opened a bed-and-breakfast along the Navesti River in 1992—just a year after Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union Soomaa National Park was designated in 1993 Ruukel became the first person to lead canoe trips here He added bog hiking tours soon after; they are best experienced in the summer and early fall (though he also leads hikes on the frozen bog in Estonia’s cold winter) we’d driven by a wooden post on a country lane marking some of the highest water levels in recent memory: The 2010 line is as high as our car Within this region is one of Estonia’s remarkable peat bogs, the Riisa bog. These marshy wetlands cover about 6 to 7 percent of the country. Scientists can tell that Estonian bogs are more than 5,000 years old because of the thickness of the peat layer that grows across the top: The layer grows 1 mm annually and today it’s an average of five to seven meters thick Imagine a spongy plush carpet floating on a pond and you’ll start to get an idea of what the bog looks like—and what it feels like to walk on it The Riisa boardwalk extends about three miles through the bog in Soomma National Park After Ruukel canoed our small group across the river we made our way through a thin band of trees to the boardwalk He picked wild blueberries and bog bilberries from the underbrush and my whole face puckered when I popped them into my mouth I made a mental note to try to find riper ones in cakes and jams later in my trip We ambled for a couple minutes and then emerged into the sun and the sight wowed me: a far-reaching plain of mottled yellow I could see a few open ponds that had broken through the peat and grass people in the area often come for a dip in the cold water Ruukel explained that some people prefer to stick to the boardwalk on his guided hikes but those who are up for it can don the special shoes he’s adapted and tread onto the bog itself I’m up for it—this is the reason I came to Soomaa National Park I kicked off my sandals and slid my bare feet into the special bog shoes Ruukel had brought and Ruukel pointed out that their wide footprint would distribute my weight to keep me from sinking more than an inch or so on the peat I realized that they are also hilariously awkward I felt like a toddler plodding around in them—exaggerating each stride so as not to trip over my own feet and failing to stifle a delighted giggle every time I watched my foot squelch down into the mossy carpet The sensation was mind bending: The buoyant peat beneath me felt securely thick and supportive but just unstable and bouncy enough to send signals to my brain that I was definitely not walking on solid ground The only thing I could think to compare it to was imaginary: like walking on a wet squishy cloud—sensorially disorienting in the most delightful way possible after the specialized plastic footwear that helps you stay afloat I eventually got the hang of it and waddled over to the swimming hole where the peat opened to reveal a pool of deep While the depths looked dark and mysterious Ruukel assured me it was safe to swim here The natural acidity of the bog water prevents bacteria from growing—plus it is rich with organic compounds that supposedly soften the skin talking more about the bog and the park and his life in Estonia Then we rested on the platform while drying off in the summer sun and eventually made our way back to the canoe and his lodge across the river for drinks and snacks so it’s easy enough to make this a day trip Fun fact: Ruukel is also an experienced mushroom hunter and he and his sister will use varieties from the park’s forest to whip up such treats as a mushroom quiche and mushroom salad for your lunch plus a delicious cake that featured some of the berries I’d sampled in the wild His company, Soomaa.com nothing measures up to the wonderful weirdness of bog hiking The peat layer in Riisa bog can be as much as 10 feet thick so visitors don’t necessarily need a guide for that part (it’s also wheelchair and stroller accessible) but if you want to step off the wooden trail and hike on the bog itself • Where to stay: In Tallinn, the Hotel Telegraaf, Autograph Collection is a modern and sleek update of the city’s old telegraph office. In Tartu, Hotel Lydia is perfectly situated a block from the main square and walking distance to just about everything plus watersafe shoes or sandals and a swimsuit if you want to take the plunge Ruukel or one of his guides will provide bog shoes and you can wear them over your regular shoes or use them barefoot AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. The natural rock formation in the Bog Walk gorge that is said to resemble a part of the female anatomy is getting increased attention from entrepreneurial couple Curtis ‘Mike’ Davy and Latoya Douglas With the formation popularly known as ‘P_ _ P_ _ Rock’ Douglas has created a brand with that name and told The Gleaner that the aim is to make the rock a world-famous tourist attraction “We stopped there one day and when we got out and we walked down we were amazed People always tell us about this rock and we thought this would make some nice T-shirts some ‘I Love P_ _ P_ _ Rock’ for the tourists That’s where it started and that was 2015,” Davy said “We got someone to make our logo and made our first shirts then we used to go out by the rock and string them up on the wall and a few people would stop by and buy some T-shirts,” he added After a prolonged break, while he was working overseas, the couple started refocusing on the brand and was able to secure the website www.p__p__rock.com last year ‘Provocative Apparel for Women Inspired by Nature’ they are now able to sell their branded shirts online “We are about making P_ _ P_ _ Rock a tourist destination,” Davy declared “We would also like at some point for Jamaica to give it its fair due as a tourist attraction We would love to see a lot of tourists come to the island and We believe there is a lot of symbolism there Davy said he expects some amount of push-back to their efforts to place the rock among the list of Jamaica’s top tourist attractions but is not worried “That part is easy because the rock is not going anywhere There’s a wood carving of a Rastaman with his big member so what’s wrong with something natural?” in addition to their efforts to create acceptance to a natural rock formation the couple said they are trying to take something that’s down and make it rise up We are advocates of women rising and taking their rightful position in society,” Davy said “I personally believe that the rock is nature’s symbol of woman empowerment,” Douglas reasoned “As to whether our brand will be a success once Jamaicans become more forward thinking and realise that God and nature are one I also think that the rock can be a boost to tourism “We hope that the rock gets the respect that it deserves and pray that the brand becomes popular worldwide to allow us to support the various causes of women in Jamaica.” Davy said he is trying to clean up the area in proximity to the rock “The place looks terrible; it needs to be properly landscaped It needs to be accessible; it needs to be beautified We want it to be a clean and respected place I think it’s a good tourist experience and I just think it’s worthy of being something big,” he said tour operators occasionally bring tourists to the location proving that there is some merit to what Davy and Douglas are saying editorial@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. An investigation has been launched into a suspected suicide in the community of Wander Lane in Bog Walk was found hanging from an ackee tree by a piece of cloth The discovery was made on Saturday afternoon around 12:15 p.m The Bog Walk police are investigating the matter View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. 17 volunteers from the Crozet Trails Crew met in Old Trail to build a bog bridge in the area designated by Albemarle County for Western Park more than 250 feet of a new pathway had been built to keep feet dry when walking across a low If you go into the area of Old Trail that has been set aside for Western Park you will see a sign marking the Lindy Baine Loop that shows the route of a trail that had previously been used for walking and running especially by teams from Western Albemarle High School Part of that route goes through a marshy area a few small bridges had been built over the wettest spots as the development of Old Trail changed the routes of trails in the area and the existing wooden structures deteriorated Members of the Old Trail HOA reached out to the Crozet Trails Crew to say that community members wanted the trail to be reestablished After conferring with Albemarle County Parks and Recreation—which is responsible for the area—the Trails Crew agreed to take on the job of repairing the trail and making it more accessible to casual walkers Members of the Trails Crew and Old Trail residents reconnoitered the area with Tucker Rollins the trail maintenance supervisor for the county also noting what old bridges needed to be removed It is a difficult area for trail building because of the wet soil It’s also an area that will eventually be developed as a county park After investigating some solutions on other local trails in similar environments and will move up and down with the degree of wetness The sections are attached to each other to maintain stability so any particular section can be replaced if necessary The restored trail is more rustic route than the graveled trails elsewhere in Western Park but it provides a loop walk for anyone wishing to walk from the community gardens off Brook View Road to the hill behind the Lodge at Old Trail It also provides a more direct route for pedestrians from the neighborhood south of Jarmans Gap Road to the commercial center of Old Trail The Crozet Trails Crew has been working with Albemarle County to identify other areas where trails can be improved and developed in Western Park with the goal of providing connected routes and beautiful places for people to walk and bike and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) is reporting that the road through the Bog Walk Gorge St Catherine is now impassable due to a landslide near Kent Village impacting the agency’s ability to safely respond and have the road reopened adding that it has sought the assistance of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS )with addressing that issue motorists are being advised to exercise caution in the area and to use alternative routes where possible JPS is carrying out repairs on its transmission poles in the Bog Walk Gorge Jamaica— The police have advised that the Bog Walk Gorge in St Catherine is now open to the motoring public The corridor was closed to facilitate the clearing of debris from the road following the passage of Hurricane Beryl Hurricane Beryl made landfall in southern Jamaica last Wednesday READ: Hurricane Beryl leaves trail of devastation in St Elizabeth View the discussion thread. St Catherine—The Bog Walk Gorge in St Catherine is partially blocked due to a trapped truck on the bridge The police are advising motorists to exercise caution or use alternative routes where possible Earth Day Match: 10x your impact for nature today! Standing out in vivid contrast to the surrounding Pocono Mountains landscape Tannersville Cranberry Bog provides a snapshot of colder times a large glacial lake occupied the space of what has since become a thick soup of peat moss Affectionately known locally as “The Cranberry,” Tannersville Cranberry Bog is ingrained in the local community and culture nature lovers and photographers who visit each year Of special interest are some of North America’s most beautiful native orchids including rose pogonia and the state-endangered heart-leaved twayblade the unique ecosystem that remains today serves as the southernmost low elevation boreal bog along the eastern seaboard It represents an intricate transformation that took place over the millennia and would be impossible to replace if destroyed The Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve is one of TNC's first nature preserves in Pennsylvania. The preserve in managed in partnership with the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center who provide educational opportunities for the local community careful stewardship by TNC and partners including Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and a local volunteer stewardship committee has yielded great returns as the bog soaks up rain and runoff like a giant sponge—cleansing water and controlling pollution throughout the Pocono Creek watershed North Woods and Fern Ridge Trails are open to public access Directions to Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve There is a small parking lot on the left near the trails and a bulletin board explaining the trails at the start of the North Wood Trail section The Fern Ridge Trail is another 0.3 miles on the right PLEASE NOTE: Do not turn into the home at 107 Lavender Lane (at the corner of Lavender Lane and Cherry Lane Road) This is a private residence and you are trespassing Restoring the diversity and vitality of Tannersville’s leatherleaf-cranberry bog community is necessary to keep this ecosystem thriving Although the infilling and growth of shrubby vegetation and forest succession is a natural process it may be happening more rapidly due to nutrient input from nearby roads and from residential development in the watershed Ray Milewski and students from East Stroudsburg University established several small study plots at the preserve Their research suggests that removing woody shade producing vegetation allows rare bog plants to reestablish themselves In an effort to engage our conservation community and encourage the return of certain species not seen at Tannersville in decades (like the grass pink orchid Calopogon tuberosus) trustees and volunteers came together in late March and early April 2022 for a series of grueling but rewarding workdays Weather was the biggest wild card—the temperature at the first day’s morning meeting location was a bracing 20 degrees Regular changes in weather occurred during the two weeks snow and sleet showers experienced during the first week The work involved removing trees with chainsaws lopping smaller brush and limbs and dragging the cut material to the boardwalk and out of the bog to a chipping area The resulting mulch will be used on upland trails TNC staff and volunteers were able to complete six of the planned ten days of restoration work giving us a great start to our ongoing plan for opening up areas of the bog The total area where vegetation has been removed to date comes to approximately 0.37 acres—about 0.25 acres were cleared this year The target restoration area inside the boardwalk loop is approximately 1.3 acres Our restoration efforts are focused along and around the bog boardwalk to allow us to continue building on past restoration success and provide the greatest opportunity to showcase that success to preserve visitors There is still much work to be done and we’ll be reviewing and assessing those changes through our partnership with Monroe County Conservation District – Kettle Creek Environmental staff through their public walks in the bog scheduled throughout the year this bog ecosystem is home to several rare and unique sights and wildlife Because of its fragile nature, the bog itself can be visited only during regularly scheduled walks conducted by the Monroe County Conservation District's Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center Private walks are available for groups upon request; dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk trail Public access is always permitted on the North Wood and the Fern Ridge trails PLEASE NOTE: when traveling to the preserve please do not turn into the home at 107 Lavender Lane (at the corner of Lavender Lane and Cherry Lane Road) This is a private residence; please respect our neighbor's privacy This flat loop trail system passes along the edge of the wetland and through a mature hardwood forest dominated by oak trees The shorter loop along the edge of the ridge offers a better view of the area and the longer loop passes through several areas of ever- green trees and through excellent wildlife habitat these trails are good for cross-country skiing This single loop trail rises slowly in the beginning through an oak hardwood forest Then it follows an old road and eventually proceeds down a slight hill to run along the very edge of the bog with lots of wetland trees shrubs and ferns including blueberry bushes The Boardwalk Trail remains accessible by guided tour only; dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk trail Learn more about regularly scheduled hikes by contacting the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center at 570-629-3061 Plants: visitors will find plants such as calla lilies gold thread and carnivorous sundew and pitcher plants as well as native orchids such as rose pogonia and the state endangered heart-leaved twayblade Other endangered plants include bog rosemary and Labrador tea sheep laurel and swamp azalea can also be found here wild turkey and snowshoe hare can be found here eastern towhee and whip-poor-will have also been spoted at the preserve We are creating a community science database of all kinds of life—from lichens to ants birds to mammals and everything in between for our preserves in Pennsylvania and Delaware TNC's roots began with local citizens and scientists concerned about special places and species. That legacy continues today. Across our lands, we are utilizing iNaturalist—a digital platform that gives users an opportunity to share and discuss their findings Of the 14 preserve projects in iNaturalist nine have observations recorded; help us increase that number and our understanding of the species—good and bad native as well as invasive—that can be found on TNC lands across the state This information can also help guide and inform our conservation staff's management and monitoring decisions The Nature Conservancy is dedicated to building a world where both people and nature can thrive together Our mission is to protect lands and waters on which all life depends We strive to offer opportunities for individuals of all ages and perspectives to develop a lifelong bond with the natural world We believe that nature should be accessible to all and we invite you to enjoy the outdoors safely and fairly at our public preserves We invite you to attend one of our many public events and guided walks through the unique ecosystem of our Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve during our 2025 season Join environmental educators from the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center to learn about the bog’s formation *Walks typically take about 2.5 hours and cost $6 Please call 570-629-3061 for directions and to register Public walks and events are open to anyone but pre-registration is required and limited; no walk-ins will be accepted Roger Spotts has long been one of the Tannersville Cranberry Bog’s most recognizable and knowledgeable ambassadors he has led guided tours on behalf of the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center in Monroe County sharing his wide-ranging expertise with countless visitors He is beloved in the community—particularly among local 4th-grade students who tour the bog each year—and serves as an invaluable source of knowledge about the history and unique characteristics of this special landscape TNC extends its heartfelt thanks to Roger for his invaluable service and his tireless commitment to educating the stewards of tomorrow we invited him to share a few of his favorite reflections from his career My background in wildlife and land management really laid the groundwork for my career I arrived in the Poconos in 1983 as a naturalist with the Bureau of State Parks I’d gone to college at Penn State for wildlife biology and that’s always what I’d envisioned I’d end up pursuing But when [renowned local naturalist] Don Miller introduced me to the Tannersville bog I hadn’t ever traveled north to see a boreal bog before But I remember being fascinated by the insect-eating plants and all of the other wildlife in the bog ecosystem that you didn’t always see What would you say is your favorite part of environmental education My favorite part of being an environmental educator is all the interactions I’ve gotten to have with people coming to see the bog We’ve had 4th graders from Monroe County schools coming to visit for 40 years now It’s been a great partnership and the basic program is still the same It’s amazing: The kids don’t have their tech with them They make notes or draw things that they see I never have to worry that they’re not going to be interested The minute they see the insect-eating plants or they realize they’re actually floating on the boardwalk instead of standing on solid ground Any particularly memorable bog tours over the years We’ve had a number of state representatives and county commissioners visit over the years There was a group of Japanese dignitaries once that The Nature Conservancy brought through We had some Russian scientists who brought a translator and they shared that they had similar boreal bogs back home even if some of the species were different Another memorable encounter was when a group of 4th graders and I came face to face with a black bear on the boardwalk it moved away—and we weren’t about to go after it—but I’m sure those kids still talk about that to this day What big changes have you observed since you first started The audience has changed over the generations and so has technology or maybe a field guide that you pulled out and you’d have to try to match a picture or take it back to show someone to try to identify it And that tech element can be a very good thing in many ways but you do lose a little bit of that old wonder But one of the most impressive things that really hits home is when you stand in the middle of the boardwalk away from the traffic and housing of Monroe County and you realize that this bog itself hasn’t fundamentally changed in thousands of years It really gives you a deep sense of optimism that it is possible to protect natural spaces My greatest hope is that the work I’ve done has helped TNC raise awareness and share its mission with others not just in Pennsylvania but maybe even around the world I’m looking forward to having more time to fish But I’m not going to disappear from the bog I don’t ever want to stop being an educator and will still be around helping out whenever I can and enjoying all the people that I get to meet The Nature Conservancy owns nearly 1,500 preserves covering more than 2.5 million acres across all 50 states These lands protect wildlife and natural systems serve as living laboratories for innovative science and connect people to the natural world View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. Catherine-based Trade Winds Citrus Limited (Tru-Juice brand) is leading the resurgence Green noted that in addition to its involvement in citrus he is pleased that the company is now into dairy in a “very big way” The Minister said that the Government has made the dairy sector a priority and he believes that it has tremendous possibilities “We believe that the dairy industry has great scope for expansion,” Mr “We know that our citrus industry has gone through a difficult time not only in terms of oranges but I know everybody is trying to get some lime,” he said The Minister pointed out that the 30-acre lime farm is doing extremely well and that the company’s 125-acre pineapple farm is seeking to meet supply demand Green reported that the company is not only satisfying the fresh market but they are also looking to drive down imports and they have a plan to completely reduce any reliance on imported concentrate for pineapples Green said that during his upcoming Sectoral Debate presentation in the House he will outline a lot about the citrus revitalisation programme The Minister commended Trade Winds/Tru-Juice for its contribution to the agricultural industry Send An Email Get the latest news & updates from the JIS sent to your inbox Jamaica— The National Works Agency is advising the public to avoid the Bog Walk Gorge as it is flooded due to heavy rains The agency issued an urgent warning on social media a short while ago The river is now in spate and is now flowing over the Flat Bridge Do not use the Gorge Road at this time!” a post to X Parishes across Jamaica received increased rainfall Tuesday afternoon as a Tropical Wave progressed towards the island According to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica the system is expected to bring showers through to Friday READ: Tropical Wave to bring showers, thunderstorms until Friday says Met Office It warned that periods of thunderstorms are also likely and camping in a swamp may not sound like your ideal adventure weekend and an endurance athlete it was the expedition of a lifetime three men traversed one of the largest swaths of terra (in)firma in the Lower 48 John Storkamp of Rocksteady Running and ultrarunner Rob Henderson drove to the northern reaches of Minnesota The goal was to access by (soggy) feet a natural area that very few “swamp” probably isn’t a fair assessment otherworldly biome is actually a thriving peatland preserve and among the continent’s largest biomass sinks it’s bigger than Rhode Island and stretches to the horizons as an expanse of partially-decayed vegetation But it’s also a pure physical challenge with total immersion in nature (Note: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources approved a special research permit to allow for this traverse of a protected state scientific and natural area.) Storkamp chronicles the journey: a 50-hour 43-mile trip he described as “a long-time dream.” My friend and colleague Jason Husveth hatched the project And he’s an ecologist working on wetland restoration So he’s a native-plant identification nerd and happens to be one of the state’s leading experts on native sedges Jason’s company is Critical Connections Ecological Services I moonlight as a field technician with his firm and we have spent countless hours and miles in wetlands and bogs in Northern Minnesota over the years—both for work and play Our goal was to access areas that very few humans ever have Our mission was a complete east-to-west traverse of the Red Lake Peatland via the Western Water Track Scientists are normally the only ones to visit the area—from helicopter all covered in 50 hours with a total of 16 hours of rest To stay as light as possible we went with only bivy sacks and did not use sleeping bags There were times we were able to move as quickly as three mph but other times we could only cover about one mile every two hours A side note: We tried this same crossing last winter we still found lots of thin ice and liquid water in the bog We abandoned after the first day because of breaking through the ice and getting into water numerous times Those conditions made forward progress so slow and arduous that there was no choice but to abandon the attempt we did not use any special gear on our feet We wore trail-running shoes with wool socks because running shoes drain well On good “floating-mats” we sank anywhere from four to eight inches regularly The entire mat of vegetation compressed and moved – imagine walking on a waterbed there was either standing water on top of the mat and your foot and leg plunged into the water below And in the more acidic areas with sphagnum moss Some of the slowest stuff we encountered were bog shrubs mixed in with sphagnum the forested edges on the way out involved deep bushwhacking and were brutally slow running shoes and wool socks—and having feet that are used to doing this kind of stuff and being wet hours on end—was the key With enough time to dry out a little at night But the grueling trek and mucky conditions were a reminder that this is not a place for humans and hospitable solely to its thriving wetland flora and biome and the world is better with these empty places –John Storkamp is the founder of Rocksteady Running. We interviewed him about the Arrowhead 135 winter race in 2016 Jamaica — The Bog Walk Gorge in St Catherine is currently impassable due to an accident involving a large truck Motorists are advised to use alternate routes until further notice from the police The government has allocated almost €16,000  for two bog walks in Co Roscommon Kilteevan Tidy Towns has been given over €4,500 for a project called the Lilliput Way And €11,400 has been allocated for the Carrowbehy/Cahir Bog Walk in west Roscommon A total of 45 conservation projects are set to benefit from €800,000 in funding Sign up now to keep up to date with the latest news please check your email to confirm your subscription https://www.tipperarylive.ie/section/1235/advertise-with-us Keep up to date with the latest news in Tipperary as it happens with TipperaryLive.ie The latest Tipperary news,sport and business from TipperaryLive.ie National - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news What's on - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news sport and business from Tipperary with the team from TipperaryLive.ie sport and motoring as it happens from TipperaryLive.ie Tipperary Live Met Eireann Weather Forecast Deaths - Tipperary Live - Find the latest Tipperary Clonmel Ireland Local County Region breaking news Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism The Two Mile Borris Bog Walk will take place on Monday This event is being organised by Thurles Lions Club with funds raised going to local charities and the Two Mile Borris community projects Registration is from 10am at Bannon's Lounge starting in the village and following the Clover Bog route tea and coffee will be ready in Bannon's after the walk however donations will be gratefully accepted Your support would be very much appreciated for this worthwhile event " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news People in Tipperary Town have been advised to keep their doors locked 5 March at the Halla Na Féile in Cashel In Pictures: Meet the cast of hit play 'The Ferryman' including a 'very well behaved baby' Night of nostalgia at Tipperary Museum with 125 year Clonmel High School reunion Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.