The following is the first in a weekly blog series by Environmental Educator Tracey Hall of Boothbay Region Land Trust. Tracey will be sharing her observations of nature and providing insights into environmental changes throughout the season. We encourage readers to check back frequently at bbrlt.org to keep up with the latest posts.

Living on the coast of Maine, we find lots of examples of plants and animals that have adapted to our cool climate and rugged terrain. Pointed evergreens rise from shallow soils, sometimes grasping to cliffs with visible roots. These trees tolerate fog banks and strong winds rising from the ocean, and are home to adept animals that move from branch to branch to find food and shelter. Under the trees, wildflowers fight for the specks of sunlight that reach the forest floor, sending up leaves where light is detected.

These adaptations happened slowly over time, but I have been noticing that adaptations can also occur rapidly. When COVID-19 struck our planet, humans quickly changed their behaviors and physical appearances. Now we strive to stay six feet away from one another and wear masks in an effort to protect each other and ourselves. Our schools and some workplaces are now online, and we quickly learned how to do Zoom meetings.

I have had to adapt my work as an environmental educator for Boothbay Region Land Trust, shifting from in person programming to solitary and virtual offerings. I see my job as connecting people to nature, and through this pandemic I have discovered there are many ways to do that. I am starting this blog as a way to share the beauty and wonder of the forests, fields, and waterways we call home until I can walk the trails with you once again. Wishing you the best of health and the solace of nature during this challenging time.