A Bug’s Life!

Insects comprise over 80% of terrestrial species on Earth. They are an important part of the ecosystem and come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes.

Explore the diverse population of insects at the Preserve with entomologist, Lou Sorkin, and 8-year-old entomologist-to-be, Wyatt Hoffman, on this 2-mile family-friendly hike.

Meet in the Visitor’s Center courtyard.

Please bring water to drink and wear comfortable closed-toed shoes. Long pants tucked into your socks are recommended to prevent exposure to ticks and poison ivy.

In case of bad weather, the hike will be postponed; you will be notified via email the day before.

Max: 20 people.

Lou Sorkin has been interested in animals since he was a youngster. While working on a pre-med degree at the University of Connecticut, he took a summer field entomology course that changed his career path. Lou graduated and went on for a Masters in entomology at UConn. 2 weeks after graduating, he began spider systematics research at the American Museum of Natural History and continued for over 43 years until retirement in 2020. Lou continues to work in forensic and medical entomology at Entsult Associates, Inc. and still keeps pet arthropods – including bed bugs.

Wyatt Hoffman is in third grade and has been passionate about entomology ever since he started walking. When he was three, Wyatt saw an army of ants scuttling on the ground carrying big pieces of food and he was instantly hooked. Ever since, Wyatt reads endlessly about entomology, and tries to find one insect wherever he goes. His favorite motto is “the small things always count.” Wyatt has led hikes for his classmates at Blue Rock school in Nyack and loves getting people excited about nature.

Photo courtesy of Kim Fendrich