Enjoy the evening on the water and join nature Up North for a paddle down the Grasse. At 6:30pm, meet at the Little River Boat Launch on outer Park Street, just past St. Lawrence University campus. You can bring your own boat, or borrow a canoe or kayak from us! 

RSVP at natureupnorth@gmail.com to reserve a canoe or kayak. 

What if you could make paper with plants collected from your own backyard? In this workshop we'll guide you through the paper-making process, from collecting and processing the plants to pressing and drying the paper. We will start with a short walk on the St. Lawrence University Kip Tract, where we will identify good plant material together before returning to the Field Station to make our own paper. Screens and other materials for paper-making will be provided.

Come along on a jaunt in the night with Nature Up North at Wachtmeister Field Station to learn about the animals who stay up in the dark! We'll play games and do activities which will give us a better perspective of what nocturnal animals experience every night while we are asleep.

We need darkness for some of these activities, so we're starting at 8pm and ending at 9:30, for a few more minutes of dark than our usual hours. 

It might be a little chilly and buggy, so long sleeve shirts and long pants are recommended.

Have you ever wondered about the flowers growing in your back yard? Picking them can be a pretty addition to your dinner table, but there are other ways to capture their beauty and learn about them without plucking them from the ground. Join Nature Up North for a wildflower drawing workshop, where you will learn how to set up your notebook to draw, paint, and sketch for beauty and function!

Mushrooms evoke a wide range of images including fairies and gnomes, poison and decay, and even gourmet dinners for some! In order to begin to appreciate the numerous roles mushrooms play in ecosystems and human cultures, it is important to be able to identify them. In this beginner level workshop, local mycologist Claire Burkum will introduce us to the features used by mycologists to distinguish different genera (groups) of mushrooms.

Natural dying is an ancient practice of using natural plant or animal products to dye textiles. Most clothing today is dyed with synthetic dye, but you can experience the magic of coloring an article of clothing with plants you can find in your backyard! Join us at the Potsdam farmer’s market on July 15th during Potsdam Summerfest to color white bandanas (free) and white Nature Up North t-shirts ($10) with natural dyes. Feel free to bring your own white or light-colored 100% cotton fabric to dye, as well.

Looking to get out on the water this summer? Join us for a relaxing evening paddling on the Little River in Canton. You can bring your own canoe or kayak, or borrow one from us for free! Meet at the Canton Boat Launch on Park Street at 6:30pm. Please RSVP to info@natureupnorth.org and include the number in your group who would like to paddle and your canoe/kayak preference.

Natural dying is an ancient practice of using natural plant or animal products to dye textiles. Most clothing today is dyed with synthetic dye, but you can experience the magic of coloring an article of clothing with plants you can find in your backyard! Join us at the Canton farmer’s market on July 4th to color white bandanas (free) and white Nature Up North t-shirts ($10) with natural dyes. Feel free to bring your own white or light-colored 100% cotton fabric to dye, as well.

Join us for our second evening paddle of the summer in Canton. We will spend some time exploring the Little River where it meets up with the Grasse River, while observing water plants growing along the river's edge. You can bring your own canoe or kayak, or borrow one from us for free! Meet at the Canton Canoe Launch on Park Street at 6:30pm. Please RSVP to Emlyn at ecrocker@stlawu.edu and include the number in your group who would like to paddle.

It's time for some reel talk… Join the Nature Up North Team to learn about local fish and how to cast! Once a year, New York State opens up their waters for free fishing for NYS residents, so no previous experience or fishing license required! About 10 fishing poles will be provided but feel free to bring your own gear. You may also want to bring sunscreen, water, and a camera (to post pictures of your catch on natureupnorth.org). Be prepared to get a little wet! Shorts and close-toed sandals or old sneakers are ideal for wading in the water.