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!

Nature Up North

Fire Making and Hand Drumming Campfire with Len Mackey

Event date and time
July 9, 2015 - 7:30 PM to July 9, 2015 - 9:00 PM
Event description

Want to roast some s'mores? Learn the Earth's oldest ways of making fire with hand or bow drill. Feel the deep, peaceful power of songs from Native North America and Guinea West Africa, and learn how to play traditional rhythms during this interactive performance by Len Mackey.

Introductory Fishing Workshop

Event date and time
June 27, 2015 - 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Event description

It's time for some reel talk: join the Nature Up North Team to learn about local fish and how to cast! No previous experience required! 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). You should be prepared to get a little wet. Shorts and close-toed sandals or old sneakers are ideal for wading in the water.

Participants over the age of 16 are required to have a fishing license. Please RSVP as we have a limited number of fishing poles.

Nature Up North Snowshoe to Lampson Falls

Event date and time
February 28, 2015 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Event description

Join Nature Up North on a snowshoe hike to Lampson Falls and the Grasse River Wild Forest. On this approximately 2 mile, mostly flat out and back hike we will explore the explore the winter woods and view ice formations on the Grasse River. Beginner snowshoers and first timers are welcome. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring water, a snack, and a camera. Snowshoes are available to rent for the day at no charge.

Nature Up North First Friday Snowshoe Walk on the SLU Trails

Event date and time
March 6, 2015 - 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Event description

Nature Up North is beginning a series of afternoon outings on the first Friday of every month. For our first event, join us on a winter stroll through the St. Lawrence University trail system. This will be a great opportunity to get outside and explore the snow covered woods! This is an easy 2.8 mi round trip walk on flat terrain. Beginner snowshoes and first-timers are welcome. Meet at the Wachtmeister Field Station (first driveway on the left after crossing the wooden bow bridge heading south out of Canton on Park St/County Rte 27) at 4pm.

Build Your Own Bird Feeder

Event date and time
December 7, 2014 - 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Event description

Come join Nature Up North at the Wachtmeister Field Station for an afternoon of building your own bird feeder. You will have the option to make a simple feeder using a pine cone, peanut butter, and seed (great for kids) or a bigger feeder using a recycled plastic bottle (great for the kids at heart). Anything you build can be taken home with you!

Geocaching in the NoCo!

Event date and time
December 6, 2014 - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Event description

Want to have the opportunity to experience a real-world treasure hunt in your area? Look no further! Come take part in our Geocaching event! This outdoor hunt is a family friendly event that has you working together to navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates where a geocache will be hidden. Start your adventures here and let your curiosity expand around the world!

The only necessities are a GPS device OR a GPS-enabled mobile phone so that you can navigate to the cache. Dress accordingly, we will be outside for part of the event!

Habitats up North

Event date and time
December 6, 2014 - 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Event description

Ever wonder what the common gray squirrel's home looks like? Want to know more about the habitats around you?

Come one, come all down to Wachtmeister Field Station and participate in a habitat scavenger hunt! Learn about some common habitats of creatures that live near you, and take part in a gnome/fairy home competition!

This event is rain or shine, so dress accordingly. Don't forget to bring a parent/guardian to share the fun!

Community Campfire JAM featuring Barb Heller

Event date and time
August 28, 2014 - 7:30 PM to August 28, 2014 - 9:00 PM
Event description

We’re delighted to announce we’ll be hosting another community campfire jam featuring Barb Heller! Bring your guitar and your friends and family for a campfire sing /play -along jam. Expertise NOT required...just 4 or 5 basic chords will do it. Barb will guide you through the chord changes, so just come and have a good time. We'll be playing and singing traditional campfire songs, with a few requests added. No pressure -just fun! S’more supplies are on the house. Come a few minutes early if you need help tuning up.

Evening Paddle on the Little River

Event date and time
August 5, 2014 - 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Event description

Cool down during the dog days of summer with a relaxed evening paddle on the Little River in Canton. We will provide some basic canoe/kayak tips and spend an hour or two exploring the Little River and surrounding wetlands. You can bring your own canoe or kayak, or borrow one from us for free! Boats are limited. Please RSVP to let us know you're coming! Adult-sized life jackets are provided, but if you are bringing kids, please bring your own kid-sized life jackets.

Fungus Walk with Claire Burkum

Event date and time
August 15, 2014 - 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Event description

Join us for a fungi focused walk with local expert Claire Burkum, a biology instructor at St. Lawrence University. As we walk along the Red Sandstone trail we will discuss major characteristics used to identify fungal fruiting bodies, including mushrooms, shelf and bracket fungi, coral fungi and others. We will also talk about the various roles fungi play in a forest ecosystem and some ways humans use fungi. Wear comfortable walking shoes and you may also want a hand lens (or magnifying glass) and some bug spray.