BALDWINSVILLE, N.Y. (NCC News) — A few years ago, a group of students were scheduled to visit the Beaver Lake Nature Center on their spring break, but the night prior, a blanket of snow fell atop the facility. Despite the snow, the scheduled trip was not cancelled and the staff brought kids snowshoes in an adapted plan to the given day.
Syracuse weather is everything but predictable and the last few days have been no exception. Beaver Lake’s Head Naturalist, Dave Schubert, said weather changes like these, are not bothersome, though, as the staff at the nearly half-century old facility has learned to instruct through anything mother nature can throw. He says even after the snowfall Sunday night, everything went on as planned on Monday.
“We had our first bird walk of the season today,” Schubert said. “Our expert was a few minutes late because he had to shovel the driveway, but we still had people attending that.”
He said even with snow, people make their way to the facility. Sunshine is simply an added incentive.
“We would always rather have a little snow than cold rain,” Schubert said.
Those coming to the trails echoed his statements. Many in attendance were just looking to enjoy one of the last anticipated days of winter.
“I thought last weekend was going to be the last snowy woods I’d see,” said Betsy McTiernan, a visitor to the facility. “I love Central New York and I love winter.”
Schubert says the late season days like Monday often bring more people in. He even reached out to Jim Campbell, a part-time instructor at Beaver Lake, to come enjoy one last day of cross-country skiing.
Campbell said the trails were a little sticky to ski on, but he was happy to have gotten out one last time this season.
