What's Your Nature?
Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!
Just Our Nature - news, updates and insights
February Frolic - Snow Sculpting!
By Kayla Edmunds on February 17, 2021
One of my favorite snowy day activities is building snow sculptures, whether that be the classic snow family or something a bit more outside of the box. And with all this fresh snow from our most recent winter storm, now is the perfect time! Matthew Morris, of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, has taken the snow sculpting game up a notch. See his most recent sculpture, a rendition of the Tower of Pisa,…


Blog category: Just Our Nature
February Frolic - Who’s Frolicking With You?
By Kayla Edmunds on February 8, 2021
If you’ve been getting outside and frolicking this February, you may have noticed some signs left in the snow that you aren’t alone! This gallery features some tracks found by other North Country explorers, as well as resources to help you identify what you're frolicking with! And remember, no matter what you spot, be sure to share it with us via our Encounters page (https://www.natureupnorth.…







Blog category: Just Our Nature
February Frolic: Get Outside With Nature Up North
By Valeria Maldonado Ortiz on February 1, 2021
Are you tired of being inside? Don’t let the cold weather get you down, get up and get outside with Nature Up North! Here are some activities you can do outside while in the North Country. Make sure to always layer up and stay warm!
Snowy Hike
You can’t go wrong with a hike during the cold winter months. Make sure to layer up and stay hydrated as you explore the winter wonders of the North…




Blog category: Just Our Nature
Ask a Fairy Fall 2020
By Thimble & Blossom on November 19, 2020
Our fairy friends Thimble Hickory and Blossom Dewdrop are back to answer your questions about North Country nature and the lives of fairies. While they're settled into the warmth of the tropics for winter, they're already excited to return to the North Country next spring!
#1: Cal Lock Morgan, 7, How many clovers are there in the world?
Hi Cal!
Wow! Although sometimes we like to count the…
Blog category: Ask a Fairy
Ask a fairy: The fairies are back!
By Thimble & Blossom on September 28, 2020
Besides the fall foliage and fresh apple picking available in the fall season, there’s one other thing we all look forward to - the return of the fairies! Each fall Thimble and Blossom migrate through the North Country on their way south for the winter. During their travels they spend a lot of time chatting with chipmunks, lounging with ladybugs, playing with plants. Through all their woodland…
Blog category: Ask a Fairy
The Secret World of Fireflies
By Kayla Edmunds on July 23, 2020
If you look outside on a warm North Country summer night, you’re likely to see tiny blinking lights floating through the sky, disappearing and then reappearing a few feet away. These fireflies (Lampyridae) are not made of fire nor are they flies! They’re actually a member of the beetle order, Coleoptera, the largest known order of organisms in the world with over 350,000 beetle species described…


Blog category: Just Our Nature
Virtual Nature Coloring Book
By Valeria Maldonado Ortiz on July 14, 2020
Nature Up North presents a virtual nature coloring book! This coloring book features different animals and plants that you can find in the North Country. It includes fun facts about each species, tree identification, and more. Post and tag us in your finished coloring book pages on social media and use the hashtag #colorwithnun. Stay tuned for more coloring pages coming soon!

Blog category: Just Our Nature
Herb Gardening for Beginners
By Valeria Maldonado Ortiz on July 5, 2020
Are you interested in building a small garden at home, but don’t know how to start? Or are you simply looking for a new hobby during quarantine? Keep reading to learn how to get started and the benefits of having a herb garden at your disposal. These herbs are ideal for beginners because they’re easy to grow and take care of!
Find a home for your herbs
You can start your herb garden by placing…



Blog category: Just Our Nature
A Beginner's Guide to Summer Stargazing
By Alyssa Watson on June 30, 2020
As we approach the three-month mark of quarantining at home with our families and loved ones, it is more important than ever to get into nature in creative ways. If you’re working from home with little ones running around, a college student looking for a creative outlet, or simply looking to expand your own horizons, follow our guide to explore the summer night sky.
In the North Country, hiking…

Blog category: Just Our Nature
Nature Up North Photo Contest for 2021 Calendar
By Madison O'Shea on June 30, 2020
July 1st, 2020 to August 9th, 2020
Calling all North Country nature photographers!
Got your camera at the ready? Nature Up North is once again hosting our annual calendar contest for nature photos that will be featured in our 2021 wall calendar. At Nature Up North we hope to inspire exploration and appreciation of the North Country environment. One way we do this is through the Encounters feature…
Blog category: Just Our Nature