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!

Oswegatchie River Water Chestnut Hand Pull

Event date and time
July 11, 2025 - 9:45 AM to 3:00 PM
Event description

Make a difference in your community by joining a volunteer effort to remove water chestnut from the Oswegatchie River near the Village of Heuvelton on Friday, July 11th, from 9:45 AM to 3:00 PM. z

This event is open to all, and no experience is needed! Registration is required, and we encourage you to sign up early to secure your spot. This is a great opportunity to enjoy time on the water while contributing to the health of our environment.

April Showers Bring May (Black) Flies

As we move from winter to spring and spring to summer, everyone's “favorite” insects are blackflies. So, where have they been for the past few months? Why do we even need flies in our world? Wouldn’t we be better off without them? We wouldn't be.  

Community Paddle - Hopping Tunes: The Music of Toads and Frogs

Event date and time
August 9, 2025 - 6:30 PM to August 9, 2025 - 8:00 PM
Event description

Join Nature Up North for our final community paddle of the summer!

In this paddle, learn to identify some common frog and toad calls, or croaks, as we paddle along the Little River. While we go, we'll try to spot these critters along the shoreline. Some common calls we'll be listening for are spring peepers, bullfrogs. and American Toads.

Community Paddle - Little River Aquatic Plants

Event date and time
July 26, 2025 - 6:30 PM to July 26, 2025 - 8:00 PM
Event description

Come join Nature Up North for the last paddle in July! We will be investigating the aquatic plants that border the Little River. This will be a great chance to get on the water and enjoy a leisurely early evening paddle.

Our paddles are free and come with equipment provided. All you need are clothes you don't mind getting wet! We launch from the Little River Boat Launch on outer Park St. in Canton at 6:30 with the goal of returning by 8pm. Each outing comes with a theme for us to investigate while out on the water.

Community Paddle - Oxbow Lakes and River Dynamics

Event date and time
July 12, 2025 - 6:30 PM to July 12, 2025 - 8:00 PM
Event description

Join us on Saturday, July 12th for a peaceful paddle down the Little River as we explore how rivers shape the land around them! We’ll follow the bends of the river and learn how meanders form, how oxbow lakes are created, and why rivers are always on the move. Perfect for curious paddlers of all experience levels. We’ll be going with the flow and learning as we go! 🛶

Free and open to all. Canoes provided. Meet us at 6:30 pm at the Park Street boat launch. 💧🚣

Community Paddle - Learn to Canoe!

Event date and time
June 14, 2025 - 6:30 PM to June 14, 2025 - 8:00 PM
Event description

Join Nature Up North for our first community paddle of the year!

Our paddles are free and come with equipment provided. All you need are clothes you don't mind getting wet! We launch from the Little River Boat Launch on outer Park St. in Canton at 6:30 with the goal of returning by 8pm. Each outing comes with a theme for us to investigate while out on the water.

Community Campfire - Night Sky Talk with Dave Prosper!

Event date and time
August 1, 2025 - 7:30 PM to August 1, 2025 - 9:30 PM
Event description

Join Nature Up North for a community campfire! This campfire will be put on with a collaboration from Potsdam Pride. They've asked a local community member, Dave Prosper, to lead participants on a night sky talk!

Community Campfire - Wild Prints

Event date and time
July 18, 2025 - 7:00 PM to July 18, 2025 - 9:00 PM
Event description

The fourth installment our Community Campfire series is here! Have you ever been curious about what little critter tracks you've been seeing, but don't know what they are? Well come join Nature Up North to learn about wild animal tracks, and as always indulge in a few s'mores! Friday, July 18th from 7-9pm at the Watchmeister Field Station in Canton.

Community Campfire - Pressed Petals!

Event date and time
July 3, 2025 - 7:00 PM to July 3, 2025 - 9:00 PM
Event description

Description for social media posts:
🔥Community Campfire: Pressed Petals🌼
Next week’s campfire is in full bloom! Join us for Pressed Petals, where we’ll explore common wildflowers found on the Sand Banks Trail, learn how to identify them, and take a short walk to collect blooms for pressing.
You’ll get the inside dirt on how to ID common wildflowers of the North Country, share blooming brilliant tips for spotting local species, and teach you how to preserve your petals long after the campfire’s out.
🗓️ July 3rd
📍 Wachtmeister Station, Canton

Community Campfire - Fun Fungi

Event date and time
June 20, 2025 - 7:00 PM to June 20, 2025 - 9:00 PM
Event description

Join us for s'mores and funtastic fungi facts at Wachtmeister Field Station on outer Park Street on June 20, 7-9pm. Come learn about the fascinating fungi that are hiding all around you. We will have fun fungi activities, s'mores and a campfire as always. Bring your favourite fungi pun! See you there!