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Just Our Nature - news, updates and insights

The Story Behind the Monthly Climate Action Vigil in Canton

Protesters waved flags at the September Monthly Climate Action Vigil.
By Alex Calk on
Blog: In the Schools
Once a month, a group of people stand on the corner of the local park, a handmade sign reading “Monthly Climate Action Vigil, Join Us!” erected behind them. People as young as 12 and as old as 86 hold signs or flags protesting the climate crisis. Some give speeches, some lead chants. Others interact with people walking down the street, encouraging them to get involved in climate action. But our…

Saying Goodbye to Summer

Nature Up North summer naturalist interns, posing while eating ice cream
By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Whether you're paddling on the Grasse River, visiting one of our countless waterfalls, or picking up fresh veggies at a farmer's market, summer is one of the best times to be in the North Country. This summer, the four college students interning with Nature Up North got to experience that firsthand. For almost 9 weeks this summer, our team more than quadrupled as Val, Grace, Lydia and Emily…
The interns learn water sampling using nets Interns pose with Dairy Princess parade float

Cattails: A Tale of Nine Lives

Cattails blowing in the breeze
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our Nature
The two cats at my place have endured life-threatening traumas such as falls, fights, and the compulsory “devotions” of small children. It’s amazing the hazards they can survive. Sadly, my contacts in the veterinary field continue to assert that cats have but a single life, and that the whole nine-lives thing is just a cat tale. However, the story about cattails having at least nine lives is no…

Wrangling Today, Protecting Tomorrow

Adult goose held by Emlyn Crocker of Nature Up North
By Lydia Dwyer on
Blog: Just Our Nature
The Canadian goose population began to decline in the 1970s due to increased harvesting. However, long-term efforts from our dedicated local Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are successfully reversing the decline. In late June each year, the DEC invites community members of all ages to help with the sexing, tagging, and of course, wrangling of Canadian geese at several Wildlife…
Isolated pen of goslings. DEC member wrangling a goose for tagging.

A North Country Turtle in Trouble

Blanding's Turtle
By Glenn Johnson on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Perhaps due to their iconic shells, great longevity, and slow movements, turtles form an assemblage of about 320 species that are instantly recognized and often loved, by nearly everyone.  However, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, turtles as a group are declining worldwide, faster than nearly every other vertebrate group.  Threats include widespread habitat…
Blanding’s turtle captured after nesting in field. Common snapping turtle Painted turtle.

Fish Forestry

Lost Pond Trail. Photo: Bill Hill, 2019
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our Nature
As many anglers know, trees and trout are closely related. Not in a family sense, of course. And not like the way in which tomatoes and fish were briefly married in a 1996 experiment at Oakland, California-based DNA Plant Technology in an attempt to get a frost-tolerant tomato (or possibly a saucy fish). If it weren’t for tree cover, cold-water fish species would not survive in most of the…

Nature Up North 2020 Calendar Photo Contest

July | 2019 Nature Up North Calendar. Photo: Janine Wright
By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: Just Our Nature
It's midsummer, and that means it's time for our annual call for submissions for the Nature Up North 2020 Calendar! Over the years, members of the community have shared thousands of photos, observations, and stories with us online at www.natureupnorth.org/encounters.  Each year in September, we select our favorite photos from the previous 12 months to highlight in our annual Nature Up North…
Cover | 2019 Nature Up North Calendar. Photo: Maya Williams Back cover | 2019 Nature Up North Calendar

Registration Open! Teacher Workshop, July 30-31

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By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: In the Schools
This workshop has passed. To learn about upcoming workshops or to inquire about working with Nature Up North as an educator, please contact us at info@natureupnorth.org. Visit www.natureupnorth.org/educator-resources to explore our teacher resources.   Are you a St. Lawrence County teacher interested in incorporating more nature-based learning into your lessons? Do you want to increase…
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Meet our Summer 2019 Naturalist Interns!

Summer 2019 Naturalist Interns
By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Nature Up North is pleased to introduce our 4 summer naturalist interns, Emily, Val, Grace and Lydia. We are thrilled to have them working with us this summer to bring more public events, citizen science, and outdoor fun to the North Country community. Read below to learn more about each of them and to hear what they've been getting up to so far! Photos: Emily Gerber (left), Val Maldonado (right…
Exploring the local sites!

Controlling Lily Leaf Beetle – Part I

non-native species of lily known as tiger lily
By Paul Siskind on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Gardeners throughout the northern United States are likely familiar with the Lily Leaf Beetle (Lilioceris lilii), a non-native invasive insect that can quickly decimate lilies in gardens.  However, the beetle also has potential to extirpate populations of native lilies.  In North America, native lilies tend to grow in small, low-density populations. Native lilies alone offer the beetle a limited…