The winter issue of PATHWAYS brings together stories that highlight the connections between people and nature, and our role as environmental stewards. We begin with a message from our new President, Josh Teeter. In the Editor’s Corner, we explore how ice not only shaped the future of New York, but the whole world. Next we meet the Northern Region’s new director, Tori DesRocher! Microplastics in Lake Champlain explains what microplastics are and their potential effects on wildlife. The Loon Connection informs us on how migration patterns are affected by human-altered landscapes. In Teacher Tips educators will find practical winter activities to employ in the cold season. Our archive article revisits a timeless question about humanity’s relationship with the natural world. A review of Jordan Thomas’s When it All Burns considers the realities of wildfire in a changing climate, and Water for Outdoor Educators offers inspiration for teaching about the humble chemical bond that is water. Finally, The Outside Story highlights the remarkable winter survival strategy of one of nature’s tiniest mammals, reminding us that even the smallest creatures have extraordinary stories to tell.
