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

A Beginner's Guide to Summer Stargazing

A long exposure shot of stars the movement of stars throughout the night sky.
By Alyssa Watson on
Blog: Just Our Nature
As we approach the three-month mark of quarantining at home with our families and loved ones, it is more important than ever to get into nature in creative ways. If you’re working from home with little ones running around, a college student looking for a creative outlet, or simply looking to expand your own horizons, follow our guide to explore the summer night sky. In the North Country, hiking…

Nature Up North Photo Contest for 2021 Calendar

2020 first place photo and calendar cover
By Madison O'Shea on
Blog: Just Our Nature
July 1st, 2020 to August 9th, 2020 Calling all North Country nature photographers! Got your camera at the ready? Nature Up North is once again hosting our annual calendar contest for nature photos that will be featured in our 2021 wall calendar. At Nature Up North we hope to inspire exploration and appreciation of the North Country environment. One way we do this is through the Encounters feature…
2020 calendar winner photos

Ask A Fairy: Spring 2020 Answers

Purple Violet
By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a Fairy
Thank you for visiting the fairies this spring! You had some really great questions and Thimble and Blossom had so much fun answering them. It was especially nice to stay connected while we were apart. The fairies are already up in Canada where they'll be spending the summer, but are excited to come back next fall! Keep reading below to find Thimble’s and Blossom’s answer(s) to your question(s).…
Nature explorer Nature explorer

"Love Your Mother" Bingo

Love Your Mother Bingo
By Madison O'Shea on
Blog: Just Our Nature
May 15, 2020 - May 22nd, 2020 Join us for a game of "Love Your Mother" bingo! We've created a virtual bingo game that you can participate in over the next week by completing a variety of outdoor, hands-on and on-line activities all while social distancing. How to Play: 1. Download the bingo card attached below to choose the activities you would like to participate in to complete a row or column…

The fairies are back for spring 2020!

Home in Stone Valley
By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a Fairy
Come visit our fairy homes! Each spring we migrate through the North Country on our way home for the summer. We live in the woods, where we spend our days bonding with birds, talking with trees, buzzing with bugs, and getting friendly with fungi. As you might guess, we've become expert naturalists. At any time between now and May 26th, find our homes using the clues below. This year, to help us…
Toadstool home Paper birch home

Ask a Fairy 2020

By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a Fairy

Easy Bird Feeder Designs You Can Make at Home

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By Kathryn Jepson on
Blog: Just Our Nature
While being stuck at home during Earth Week isn’t ideal, there are still many ways you can make a difference and celebrate from home! One great way to benefit your local ecosystem is by making bird feeders. Below are two different ways you can easily make a bird feeder for your yard, depending on what materials you have available. Enjoy!   Wooden Open-Side Birdhouse Feeder     For this project,…
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The Earth Day 7K has gone virtual!

50 Years of Earth Day, 5 Years of the Earth Day 7K
By Madison O'Shea on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Four years ago, Nature Up North and the St. Lawrence Land Trust created the First Annual Earth Day 7K.  That race, in 2016, brought eighteen participants together as they ran and walked in support of Mother Earth. Since that first race, the number of participants has grown to over 100. The Earth Day 7K was initially designed to foster a deeper connection to, and appreciation for, nature in the…

Happy Earth Day!

Toad with words "Happy Earth Day!"
By Erika Barthelmess on
Blog: Just Our Nature
The year 2020 will, for most of us, go down as one of the strangest in our lifetimes. And for some, it will also be one of the most tragic. We will move forward from this point in time referring to the "pre-pandemic" and "post-pandemic" parts of our life.  Going forward, it will be easy to overlook the fact that 2020 also marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.  And yet the COVID pandemic and…
Sunset with words "Happy Earth Day" View from Coney mountain with words "50th Anniversary of Earth Day"

Climate Action in the North Country Ramping Up

Potsdam Climate Vigil
By Alex Calk on
Blog: In the Schools
On Friday, December 6th, a group of people sang together in harmony in the Canton Park.  We were bundled up in coats, hats, and gloves as icy wind and snow swept through town. The lyrics, I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas, joined us for a singular purpose - climate activism. As cars sped by and people passed with children, we raised our voices in song. The goal of all 50 people present, old and…