A Day of Discovery

A Day of Discovery: Students Explore Nature and Careers at Tifft Farm Nature Preserve

On a crisp and beautiful fall day, our college biology students traded the classroom for the great outdoors at Tifft Farm Nature Preserve, an incredible urban sanctuary that proves you don’t need to travel far to experience biodiversity in action. Just minutes from downtown Buffalo, Tifft stands as a rare gem: a 264-acre nature preserve built on a reclaimed landfill, now thriving with wetlands, forests, and grasslands teeming with wildlife. Having a place like Tifft right in our backyard offers students the chance to explore ecology, conservation, and sustainability hands-on, right where city life and nature meet.

Students enjoyed a guided tour of the preserve, led by environmental educators from Tifft’s Education Center. The group observed diverse plant and animal species, learned about ecosystem relationships, and asked insightful questions about how scientists study and protect natural habitats. “It was amazing to see how much life there is right here in the city,” one student shared. “It really makes you think about how important it is to protect spaces like this.”

After lunch, the students participated in a Life Discovery Interview with Kat, one of Tifft’s environmental educators and a science education specialist. Kat shared what it’s like to work in the world of environmental science and outdoor education. “A typical day starts around nine,” she said. “I spend an hour prepping for the day’s program, sometimes it’s a field trip, sometimes a workshop, and then we’re out on the trails with students, exploring and talking about nature.”

Though many might imagine her work as mostly outdoors, Kat explained there’s also a lot of behind-the-scenes effort: “There’s more desk work than people expect—writing programs, planning events—but I love it all, especially talking to students about nature. Seeing that spark of connection is really rewarding.”

Kat, who studied geology and environmental geosciences at Lafayette College, described how her passion for science and teaching developed unexpectedly. “I kind of stumbled into it in college,” she said. “I worked with an after-school science program and just fell in love with education. Getting kids excited about science, it fills my cup.”

She also shared one of her favorite recent projects: transforming a small, unassuming area near the parking lot into a native wetland habitat. “It looks like a muddy puddle now,” she laughed, “but soon it will be full of frogs, turtles, and aquatic insects, another place where visitors can observe wildlife up close.”

When asked what advice she’d give to students interested in environmental careers, Kat encouraged following curiosity: “There are so many routes, geology, biology, entomology, forestry. Find what you love, plants, animals, rocks, or bugs, and let that passion guide your path.”

This trip to Tifft was more than just a field experience. It was an example of project-based learning at its best. Students weren’t just hearing about biodiversity; they were touching it, seeing it, and talking directly with professionals who make science come alive. “Hands-on learning in nature gives students a sense of wonder that you just can’t replicate in a classroom,” said Ms. Kim Rauscher, Science and Healthcare Academy moderator and biology teacher, who organized the trip. “These experiences inspire future scientists.”

Our students left Tifft with muddy shoes, bright smiles, and a deeper appreciation for both science and the natural world. We are so grateful to Tifft Nature Preserve for their hospitality, to Kat for sharing her inspiring story, and to Ms. Rauscher for continuously providing opportunities that make learning truly come alive. It was, as one student summed it up, “a magical day in nature.”

Check it out - Tifft Nature Preserve