What's Your Nature?
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Just Our Nature - news, updates and insights
2018 Nature Up North Calendars
By Emlyn Crocker on December 1, 2017
We are pleased to announce that 2018 Nature Up North calendars are on sale now through January! The printed calendar features some of our favorite photos shared by community members as Encounters on natureupnorth.org in the past year. They also feature Nature Notes highlighting seasonal wildlife behavior to look for each month.
Proceeds from our calendar sales benefit Nature Up North's…
Blog category: Just Our Nature
Caterpillar Soup
By Paul J. Hetzler on November 22, 2017
When it comes to personal growth, the Wicked Witch of the West had the right idea. Quite possibly she got it from monarch butterflies, which must exist in Oz, since they are found worldwide except for polar regions. Many times, a rearrangement of the self-image we have come to know is needed to achieve our fullest potential. In my experience this is always hard, and seldom is it voluntary.
We…
Blog category: Just Our Nature
Trees and Streams: Citizen Science in the Schools
By Emlyn Crocker on October 16, 2017
A student shouts— “This one! This one’s ours!” and runs back for a measuring tape. She and her partner have found their assigned maple tree on the school lawn, and are about to record seasonal observations for the first of many weeks this fall. The student, a 7th grader at Norwood-Norfolk Middle School, is participating in Monitor My Maple - one of several citizen science initiatives at Nature Up…
Blog category: In the Schools
Seeing Red
By Paul J. Hetzler on October 2, 2017
We need to figure out a way to have Amazon deliver the weather in the future. I don’t believe Mother Nature intended to give us a record-setting wet summer; I just think all the good weather probably got misplaced on a loading dock in Topeka, or something like that. The spate of mild sunny weather we’ve been having over the past couple of weeks, while very enjoyable, was clearly meant to be…
Blog category: Just Our Nature
Making Fire by Hand
By Emlyn Crocker on September 27, 2017
Ever made fire by hand? Students in the Intro the Environment and Society class at Colton-Pierrepont High School met with Dr. Timothy Messner, Archaeology professor at SUNY Potsdam, this September to learn how to make fire by hand using just a simple tool and the energy in their hands and breath. Below, students Summer Scovil and Ariel Garvin provide an insight into the experience:
Friday the…
Blog category: In the Schools
Northern Oysters
By Paul J. Hetzler on September 18, 2017
Carnivorous oysters are lurking about in the North Country, and residents who venture into the woods are advised to carry butter and a skillet at all times. Oyster mushrooms, Pleurotus ostreatus, native wood-decaying fungi often found on dead and dying hardwoods, are delectable when sautéed in butter. Maybe hikers should carry a few cloves of garlic and a press as well. It’s good to be prepared.…
Blog category: Just Our Nature
An Introduction to Earth’s History as told by the North Country Landscape
By Maya Williams on August 3, 2017
Have you ever thought about what the earth was like millions of years ago? It’s hard to imagine the world before we were born, let alone before the human species existed. But if the history of our planet was represented by a single 24 hour day, the presence of modern humans would only be equivalent to less than 4 seconds. What do you think Earth will look like in another million years? The more…
Blog category: Just Our Nature
Nature Up North made me Nuts About Nature!
By Nancy LaFaver on August 2, 2017
I attended the Nature Up North Summer Workshop to find new ways to incorporate nature and to enhance my Nuts About Nature after school program. After two days of information overload and field experience, I was able to map out an entire school year of nature programs and activities! It was wonderful to not only hear about what Nature Up North is doing but to feel like it could be integrated into…
Blog category: In the Schools
Nature Up North Teaches the Teachers!
By Susan Dodds on August 2, 2017
Let the adventure begin! Once again the NUN crew delivered on their promise to provide relevant and engaging environmental education activities to our area teachers. This year's group of teachers included some veteran's of the NUN program and a couple of newcomers. Participants were engaged throughout the two day workshop in activities such as an Encounter walk at Heritage park, MOWing the Grasse…
Blog category: In the Schools
Nature Up North Calendar Photo Contest
By Emlyn Crocker on July 10, 2017
**contest closed -- winning submissions will be announced by mid October, 2017**
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 2018 wall calendar. At Nature Up North we hope to inspire exploration and appreciation of the North Country environment.…
Blog category: Just Our Nature