Join us for the 2nd annual North Country Cardboard Sled Race! Come on over to the SUNY Canton Sledding Hill and race on sleds you create yourself from cardboard. Teams or individuals are invited to enter, and each sled must carry one team member. Registration and sled judging will run from 9:30 - 10:00, with the races beginning at 10:30. Sleds will be judged overall for special categories and by division for fastest time.

*instructions for parking at SUNY Canton the day of the race will be announced leading up to the event.

An afternoon of winter play for all ages! Join Nature Up North and friends for an open house with many of your favorite winter activities including: snowshoeing, animal tracking, cross country ski clinic, and an indoor cardboard sled building workshop (cardboard sled races Sat 2/16). We will also enjoy an ongoing campfire including free hot cocoa and hot cider. 

*This event has been POSTPONED. Stay tuned for upcoming volunteer trainings next year!

Join Nature Up North for a winter hike up Mount Arab to celebrate the new year. Just north of the town of Tupper Lake, Mount Arab is one of the most scenic easily-accessed peaks in the Adirondacks. We will enjoy a wooded hike and expansive views from the fire tower at the summit. This hike is 2 miles round trip (1 mile to the summit) with some steep sections and a rocky, root covered trail. Please wear warm layers and pack water, a snack or lunch, and an extra layer, as it gets windy on top! Depending on conditions the trail may be snowy or icy.

Join us this week on a walk of the Kip Trail in Canton to learn about the secret lives of the many nocturnal animals here in the North Country. We'll talk flying squirrels, skunks, bats, owls and many more of our common, but rarely seen nocturnal neighbors. Plus, we'll discuss some of the fascinating adaptations these critters have that allow them to navigate the world at night. This walk will be led by Nature Up North Project Manager Emlyn Crocker.

Do you love trail running, hiking, and exploring new places? Come by this Sunday during our Fall Orienteering Open House to check out the Orienteering Course on the SLU campus. 

Not familiar with orienteering? Head over to our Orienteering page to learn about the sport and the permanent course at St. Lawrence University.

Join us at Indian Creek Nature Center to learn about various native tree species and the part they play in the forest ecosystem. This program will cover leaf, bark, and bud identification for species occurring in mixed northern hardwood forest, as well as natural history and ecosystem services. We will also discuss exciting volunteer opportunities with two of Nature Up North's citizen science initiatives, one focused on slowing the spread of emerald ash borer and a second researching the relationship between climate change and sugar maple decline.

The Nicandri Nature Center in Massena and Nature Up North seek volunteers to sample water quality in Massena at the Fire Department on the Grasse River. This hands-on volunteer sampling session will last just over two hours and focus on simple water-monitoring techniques. Please meet at the Fire Department at 2:00 pm and wear or bring closed-toed shoes that can get wet (boots or old sneakers). Registration is appreciated, please contact Emlyn Crocker at ecrocker@stlawu.edu to register.

The St. Lawrence Land Trust and Nature Up North seek volunteers to monitor water quality at Hart's Falls Preserve! This hands-on volunteer sampling session will last three hours and focus on simple water-monitoring techniques. Please meet at the Hart's Falls parking area at 9:00 am and wear or bring closed-toed shoes that can get wet (boots or old sneakers). Registration is appreciated, please contact  Emlyn Crocker at ecrocker@stlawu.edu to register.

From sumac lemonade and wood sorrel to dandelion salad and cattail pancakes, you'll be sure to learn something new on this walk. Join us this month for a tour of common and uncommonly found edible plants on a walk of the Kip Trail in Canton. Having a solid understanding of what is edible and what isn't is key - and will enhance your connection to the local environment as well as your survival skills. This walk will be led by Nature Up North Project Manager Emlyn Crocker.