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
Tracking Tracks with Adventurous Girl Scouts
By Dan French on
Blog: Just Our NatureThe North Country has been blessed (or cursed depending how you look at it) by a blanket of white gold this winter. Several winter storms accumulating several feet of standing snow shows that Punxsutawney Phil might not be that unreliable of a winter predictor after all. Phil and his hibernating friends tend to stay indoors during the winter, but if you take a walk out on a trail this time of…
7th Annual Cardboard Sled Race Recap!
By Dan French on
Blog: Just Our NatureThe 7th Annual Cardboard Sled Race this past Saturday, February 8th was better than we could have hoped and a great way to kick off Canton's Winterfest! It was a balmy 25 degrees and sunny morning, perfect for speeding down SUNY Canton's sledding hill. Competition was fierce, with many racers fighting their way to the finish line by dragging, flipping, rolling, or getting a boost in their sled…
Tree Species Focus: Basswood Best for Wooden Bass
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureAfter receiving my first pocket knife at age eight, I wasted no time in launching my career as a sculptor. How hard could it be, I thought, as I gathered 2x4 scrap-ends from behind the garage. To warm up before producing my masterpiece, which I figured would be done by supper, I set about to carve a fish.
I had just graduated from Dad’s rigorous Sharp Object Safety Course (“Always cut away from…
Speak Softly and Carry a Sharp Quill
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureOne of our more unusual native residents has an adorable face, makes welcome mats out of their own poop, openly carries weapons, and plows snow all winter. If you snowshoe or ski in the backcountry, you’ll likely come across its furrows. Often, these trails will dead-end at a large tree, and if you look up, you might actually see the rascal itself, a ball of fur and quills sleeping among the…
Charismatic Critters
By Liz Anderson on
Blog: Just Our NatureWhat would catch your eye more – a photo of a bald eagle or a photo of a freshwater mussel? If both were asking for funding for important conservation work, which would you donate to? For many people the bald eagle is the easy choice. This comes down to the species’ charisma, and some human psychology. Charisma might be something you associate with the recent pop culture term “rizz,” but it can…
Talking (and Listening) to Your House Plants
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureThe idea that plants benefit from kind words, or from speech in general, has roots that go back at least to Charles Darwin, who supported the concept. Sound evidence that speaking to plants makes them healthier came to light several years ago – it turns out the “silly” folks who talk to their gardens and hoe plants have been right all along. And this effect is not due to the carbon dioxide we…
Nature Up North 2025 Calendars Are Here!
By Dan French on
Blog: Just Our NatureProceeds from calendar sales benefit Nature Up North's community outreach initiatives. Each year, Nature Up North reaches hundreds of local residents through guided hikes, paddles, workshops, and K-12 programs. Thanks for your support!
We hope you’ll support our programs and locally-owned businesses by buying a Nature Up North calendar this year. Proceeds from calendar sales directly…
Ask a Fairy: Fall 2024 Answers
By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a FairyThimble and Blossom let us know that they loved all of the nature questions you had for them this year, and were thrilled to receive a selfie too! Although it was a warm fall and they were able to enjoy the North Country into November this year, they had to continue south in search of warmer climates for the winter. Before they left, they took a moment to write their answers down and share them…
North Country Voices: Paul Hetzler
By Dan French on
Blog: North Country VoicesThis installment of North Country Voices is a little different than usual. You might recognize the name Paul Hetzler from any number of articles posted to our page about different features of North Country nature, and you may remember the articles for their jokingly light yet incredibly informative writing style. Paul recently finished a new book titled Birds of Happiness Aren't Blue and we…
Event Recap - Girl Scout Survival Day!
By Wejden Jemmezi on
Blog: Just Our NatureAs part of a unique program, I recently had the opportunity to attend a Girl Scout event that left me both inspired and enlightened. This experience not only allowed me to connect with our community's youth but also taught me valuable skills and deepened my appreciation for nature. What struck me most was the girls' enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge. Their curiosity about our surroundings was…