Beginning in Fall 2020 through a generous grant to Nature Up North from the Cloudsplitter Foundation, we are partnering with three North Country public libraries to pilot-test a program in which we loan "camera traps" (game cameras) to library patrons so that they can collect images of wildlife for us.
In this pilot-test, we hope not only to increase the number of camera traps we are able to deploy but also learn from volunteers about how to best work with community camera trapper volunteers. The aim is to expand the program to more libraries in the future.
In 2020, the participating libraries are:
- Canton Free Library in Canton, New York
- Hepburn Library of Colton in Colton, New York
- Clifton Community Library in Cranberry Lake, New York.
Patrons of any of these libraries who wish to volunteer will undergo training (coming soon!) on the Nature Up North website. After completion of training, your name will be submitted to your library and you will be permitted to check out one of our camera trapping kits. You will deploy the camera trap in a location of your choosing for 3 weeks and will submit the photographs that are collected on the camera to us via custom computer software. You will also be asked to complete a survey about your experience to help us best design the program for expansion into more libraries.
If you would like to be notified when the training becomes available, please complete this form.
