By Katherine Gilbert

By Justin Dalaba

This winter Nature Up North is featuring a Winter Ecology Series, in which St. Lawrence University students in Dr. Karl McKnight's Winter Ecology course share their observations from a weekly field trip to Glenmeal State Forest in Pierrepont.  We hope you enjoy their accounts from days spent in the woods examining the fascinating ways plants and animals endure the North Country winter. 

By Catherine Bennet

It will be news to no one that we’ve have some cold days lately – not your average winter chill, but the bitter, biting cold that makes you cough immediately upon breathing outdoor air. The good news is that warmer weather is on the way and the recent snow has opened up a whole world of outdoor winter recreation opportunities. The North Country’s snowbound forests and icy waterways are truly beautiful in winter, as long as you’ve got the right attitude and enough layers. You could hibernate, but we think getting outdoors is the best way to embrace the season.

We're in the middle of some fascinating astronomical events.  Jeff Miller, wandering celestial minstrel and professor of physics at St. Lawrence University, keys us in on the action in the night skies this week. 

8/11/2014

The Perseid meteor shower peaked this weekend; unfortunately, the Moon was full this weekend (more on that in a minute), so it will obscure all but the brightest meteors.

Hey NoCo...

What is your favorite thing to do outside? There are a million and one things to do outdoors in the North Country. We couldn’t think of a million, but here are 15 ways folks at the Canton Farmer’s Market like to spend their time in the great outdoors. So what are you waiting for? Turn off that computer screen and go explore!

Not everyone agrees that smartphones have a place in the outdoors. For me, the trick is to use smartphone apps in the outdoors that will enhance the experience, not to become the experience. For example, sometimes while hiking I want to know how far it is to the top so I whip out my free altimeter app.

            What is a better way to kick off the summer and the 4^th of July weekend than by planning a family camping trip or cookout?  However, no camping trip is complete without roasting s’mores!    Yet, most of us probably don’t think about where that firewood for our campfire came from or what might be in it.  If you’ve ever taken a walk through the woods you have probably heard a pileated woodpecker whacking at a tree in search

On May 15th, over 60 fifth grade students and students from Colton-Pierrepont, St.

 Self-expressions through explorations of our five senses in nature

By Allison Paludi and Kate Almon