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 Posts
Large Predators: Who Lives in Northern New York and Who Once Did?
By Abrianna Schlickenmayer on
Blog: Just Our NatureWhat comes to mind when you think of a large predator? Maybe a powerful lion? Or a burly bear? Did you know that the Adirondacks and all of New York State were once home to a variety of top predators, including cougars, wolves, wolverines, lynx and black bears? Out of these five species, only one is still present here today… maybe you’ve seen it. That’s right, the only remaining top predator in…
The Bell Pepper Story: Too Much Clapping, Not Enough Applause
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureApril 1, 2019 marks the 90th anniversary of the development of the modern sweet pepper, also known as the bell pepper. Native to Central America, as well as to Mexico and northern South America, there is evidence that numerous types of peppers (Capsicum annuum) have been cultivated by native peoples for at least 6,500 years.
Hot peppers were the first New World crop grown in Europe, with seeds…
Nature Up North March 2019 Teacher Workshop
By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: Just Our NatureAre you a k-12 teacher in the North Country? Take your science outside with us and learn to use place-based, local citizen science projects to meet Next Generation Science Standards at this CTLE approved workshop!
Join the staff from Nature Up North at St. Lawrence University for an opportunity to (re)discover outdoor teaching as a way to motivate students and teach science standards. If you are…
SAD in the Winter: Get Outside and Feel Better
By Abrianna Schlickenmayer on
Blog: Just Our NatureIn the midst of a North Country winter, you might be experiencing the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder. You may have low motivation and be tempted to withdraw from social interaction... it might feel like your own personal hibernation. Some people dismiss this as simply “the winter blues”. It might be, but it also may be more than that. Shorter winter days in the North Country result in a…
Apply to be a Summer Intern!
By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: Just Our NatureWant to spend the summer in the North Country hiking, meeting new people, and learning about environmental education? We're hiring!
Nature Up North summer naturalist interns are talented, driven undergraduate students with interest in place-based outdoor education. Interns spend the summer developing leadership skills, leading outdoor programs and workshops, and becoming better environmental…
Wild Eats: Tea Time
By Isabella de Buy Wenniger on
Blog: Just Our NatureHave you ever wandered through the woods, looked at all the plants surrounding you, and wondered, “are any of these edible?” Good news: there are many species of edible plants found in the wild all around us! With a little knowledge of how to identify and prepare wild edibles, local forests become a bountiful place to explore.
In the late fall and winter, after deciduous trees and shrubs have…
Consider a Gift to Nature Up North
By Erika Barthelmess on
Blog: Just Our NatureDear friends and neighbors,
It's that time of year again; the snow is flying, the geese have (mostly) left. Must be time to consider making a contribution to support Nature Up North! We'd be delighted and appreciative if you made a donation to help environmental education here in the North Country.
Specifically, your gift will help to support activities such as:
Free or low-cost environmental…
2019 Nature Up North Calendars
By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: Just Our Nature*Update: As of February 1st, 2019, we only have a handful of calendars left. If you would like one for $5, please email us at info@natureupnorth.org.
We are pleased to announce that 2019 Nature Up North calendars are on sale through early 2019! These printed calendars features some of our favorite photos shared by community members as Encounters on natureupnorth.org in the past year. Plus, we…
Happy Biology
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureHappiness may be elusive, but it sure has spawned a lot of aphorisms. Folk-wisdom indicates one can be happy as a pig in poop—or in mud, which makes me wonder if those two hogs are equally content, and if they had other options. It also suggests you can be pleased as a pig in a peach orchard, which would make sense unless harvest season was over. Additionally, one might feel happy as a pup with…
Run, Dorothy—Emerald City is Falling
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureWatertown is poised to become an Emerald City, but that’s not good news. Jefferson and Lewis will soon be Emerald Counties, and St. Lawrence County began the process of change two years ago. Unfortunately, this kind of transformation does not involve happy endings.
When the emerald ash borer (EAB) kills an ash, something happens never before seen—the tree becomes brittle and hazardous very…