PHOTOS: Youngsters make leaf prints in celebration of fall season

Sibley State Park leaf printing 001.jpg — Keeli Beckman, 5, of Benson, listens to Sibley State Park interpretive naturalist Savannah Stephenson explain how to make a leaf print at the Sibley Interpretive Center on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

By Macy Moore

October 22, 2022 06:59 PM

SIBLEY STATE PARK — As autumnal leaves fluttered slowly to the forest floor around the Sibley Interpretive Center inside Sibley State Park on Friday afternoon, children and their families flooded into the building for a chance to learn more about fall colors and make a leaf print to take home as a memento during a program led by the park's new interpretive naturalist, Savannah Stephenson.

Children had their pick of various leaf shapes commonly found in Sibley State Park, along with a choice of autumnal colors with which to make their prints.

Stephenson said programming in October focuses on the leave and the changing of the seasons.

"The natural world for everybody can be a little intimidating," Stephenson said. "This opens the doors to questions and (so people can) learn more about what's going on around us."

Future programming can be found on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website under the Sibley State Park page's calendar .

Sibley State Park leaf printing 002.jpg — The ink on a pair of leaf prints dries during a leaf printing program at Sibley State Park on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

Sibley State Park leaf printing 003.jpg — Youngsters line up for their chance to make their very own leaf prints at Sibley State Park on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. The program was led by park newcomer Savannah Stephenson, who serves as an interpretive naturalist.

Sibley State Park leaf printing 004.jpg — Teagan Beglinger, 6, of Minneapolis, paints a leaf before making a leaf print at Sibley State Park on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

Sibley State Park leaf printing 005.jpg — Daisy Slinkard, 3, of Willmar, focuses on painting a leaf during a program at Sibley State Park on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

Sibley State Park leaf printing 006.jpg — Sibley State Park interpretive naturalist Savannah Stephenson talks about why leaves change colors to youngsters during a leaf printing program on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

By Macy Moore

Macy Moore is an award-winning photojournalist at the West Central Tribune in Willmar, Minnesota.
She can be reached via email: mmoore@wctrib.com or phone: 320.214.4338.

PHOTOS: Youngsters make leaf prints in celebration of fall season

Area youth were invited to make leaf prints at Sibley State Park in celebration of the fall season on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.