Signs of Spring Walk at Mohonk Preserve
What do you consider to be a sign of spring? To our daughter, it’s the shoots that she sees coming up from the bulbs in the garden. To our son, it’s the dwindling sap buckets on our maple trees. What does spring look like right now to your family? How about taking the entire crew out for a leisurely stroll to discover more signs of spring together?
On Saturday, March 23 from 2 to 4 p.m., the Mohonk Preserve presents the 25th annual Signs of Spring Walk. Those of us fortunate enough to have experienced previous nature walks with the awesome naturalist Ann Guenther will recall how she invites us to connect personally with something in nature, whether it’s a particular rock, tree or flower or something else that delights you out there. This year’s challenge is to find 25 signs of spring during the 2.5-mile ramble. Let’s take what Ann has taught us for so many years, and share it with our kids and grandkids by simply asking, “What do you notice?”
This is a free program, but I suggest getting a Mohonk Preserve membership if you don’t have one already, so you can come back for a whole year’s worth of outdoor adventures. The Signs of Spring Walk is open to all ages, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are not necessary; just show up at the Spring Farm trailhead.
Spring Farm is located at Upper 27 Knolls Road, off Mountain Rest Road/County Route 6 in Marbletown. For more information, call (845) 255-0919 or visit https://mohonkpreserve.org.
Whether the spring season finds you pregnant, in the adoption process or currently parenting little ones, here are two offerings to support you in your journey:
Spiritual Pregnancy & Adoption Circle in New Paltz
Springtime abounds with new growth, and some of you are experiencing this swirl of energy in anticipation of a new addition to your family. For pregnant or adoptive expectant Moms, these months of waiting and preparation can be rich with essential insights into this child and to our subsequent parenting; we just have to attune ourselves to the messages. My own Wyld Acres Healing Arts & Prenatal Communication presents a monthly Spiritual Pregnancy & Adoption Circle to do just that.
This intentional gathering of currently pregnant or adoptive mothers-to-be can help awaken the relationship between mother and child. Participants will explore and practice ways to connect intuitively with their children. There is no monetary fee for this circle; the exchange for each session is to share a personal discovery that took place during the circle with another expectant mother.
Each gathering takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month, from March 24 through December 22. Participants are welcome to attend one or more circles. Space is very limited, and reservations are required each month.
Wyld Acres is located at 3 Paradies Lane in New Paltz. To reserve a spot or for more information, call (845) 255-5896 or visit www.wyldacres.com.
Moms share birth stories in Rhinebeck
Spring can be a time not only for celebration of birth, but for reflection as well. Its wide range of emotions and memories include positive as well as challenging, painful elements. I believe in the power of birth stories, both for healing for the mother as well as for helping to inspire, inform and educate others, so I was thrilled to hear about the Dutchess County Holistic Moms Network’s upcoming birth stories meeting.
So many of us get skewed impressions of birth from television or hearing only one tiny part of a dramatic birth experience. For some women, evenings such as this are the first time that they have ever shared their birth story with someone else. It can be cathartic and illuminating to tell the story and to hear others’ birth stories.
On Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m., come to the meeting and tell your birth story in a supportive environment, or just listen to others’ sharings. Meetings for the Dutchess County Holistic Moms Network are free and take place at the Starr Library, located at 68 West Market Street in Rhinebeck. For more information, e-mail hmndutchess@gmail.com or visit www.holisticmoms.org.
Learn to make pysanky in Ellenville
The fresh newness of springtime means pysanky time! Pysanky is Ukrainian-style egg-decorating using wax to create traditional designs. It comes from the Ukrainian word pysaty, which means “to write.” It’s like a deluxe version of that crayon trick where you draw on the eggs with a white crayon before dyeing them, leaving visible words or patterns through the color.
If you’re ready to up your egg-decorating game, check out the Ukrainian Pysanky Egg Decorating Workshop at ArtsWAVE this week. Pysanky takes place on Thursday, March 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. The workshop is open to children aged 10 years and older for a fee of $10, and adults for $15, and the fee includes supplies to take home.
Already a pysanky expert? Can’t make the workshop? Prefer to figure it out on your own? I heard that Manny’s in New Paltz is stocked up in Surma Ukrainian art supplies.
ArtsWAVE is located at 12 Market Street in Ellenville. To register or for more information, call (845) 443-5319 or visit www.artswave.org. Manny’s Art Supplies is located at 83 Main Street in New Paltz and online at www.mannysart.com.
Erica Chase-Salerno celebrates spring in New Paltz with her husband Mike and their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
