Have you ever wondered about the flowers growing in your back yard? Picking them can be a pretty addition to your dinner table, but there are other ways to capture their beauty and learn about them without plucking them from the ground. Join Nature Up North for a wildflower drawing workshop, where you will learn how to set up your notebook to draw, paint, and sketch for beauty and function!

Mushrooms evoke a wide range of images including fairies and gnomes, poison and decay, and even gourmet dinners for some! In order to begin to appreciate the numerous roles mushrooms play in ecosystems and human cultures, it is important to be able to identify them. In this beginner level workshop, local mycologist Claire Burkum will introduce us to the features used by mycologists to distinguish different genera (groups) of mushrooms.

Natural dying is an ancient practice of using natural plant or animal products to dye textiles. Most clothing today is dyed with synthetic dye, but you can experience the magic of coloring an article of clothing with plants you can find in your backyard! Join us at the Potsdam farmer’s market on July 15th during Potsdam Summerfest to color white bandanas (free) and white Nature Up North t-shirts ($10) with natural dyes. Feel free to bring your own white or light-colored 100% cotton fabric to dye, as well.

Looking to get out on the water this summer? Join us for a relaxing evening paddling on the Little River in Canton. You can bring your own canoe or kayak, or borrow one from us for free! Meet at the Canton Boat Launch on Park Street at 6:30pm. Please RSVP to info@natureupnorth.org and include the number in your group who would like to paddle and your canoe/kayak preference.

Natural dying is an ancient practice of using natural plant or animal products to dye textiles. Most clothing today is dyed with synthetic dye, but you can experience the magic of coloring an article of clothing with plants you can find in your backyard! Join us at the Canton farmer’s market on July 4th to color white bandanas (free) and white Nature Up North t-shirts ($10) with natural dyes. Feel free to bring your own white or light-colored 100% cotton fabric to dye, as well.

Join us for our second evening paddle of the summer in Canton. We will spend some time exploring the Little River where it meets up with the Grasse River, while observing water plants growing along the river's edge. You can bring your own canoe or kayak, or borrow one from us for free! Meet at the Canton Canoe Launch on Park Street at 6:30pm. Please RSVP to Emlyn at ecrocker@stlawu.edu and include the number in your group who would like to paddle.

It's time for some reel talk… Join the Nature Up North Team to learn about local fish and how to cast! Once a year, New York State opens up their waters for free fishing for NYS residents, so no previous experience or fishing license required! About 10 fishing poles will be provided but feel free to bring your own gear. You may also want to bring sunscreen, water, and a camera (to post pictures of your catch on natureupnorth.org). Be prepared to get a little wet! Shorts and close-toed sandals or old sneakers are ideal for wading in the water.

Cool down and unwind after a long summer day with an evening paddle down a calm river. We will spend some time exploring the Little River where it meets up with the Grasse River, while providing some basic canoe/kayak tips. You can bring your own canoe or kayak, or borrow one from us for free! Meet at the Canton Canoe Launch on Park Street at 6:30pm. Please RSVP to Emlyn at ecrocker@stlawu.edu and include the number in your group who would like to paddle.

Come celebrate the longest day of the summer sun with Nature Up North as we hike up Coney Mountain for sunset! Located just south of Tupper Lake, Coney Mountain is a short 1 mile ascent with a just a very few sections of steep terrain. We'll watch the sun set from the top as we enjoy 360 views of the Adirondacks to the East and Tupper Lake to the North. Please RSVP if you plan on attending, as our group size is limited. Transportation is available from Canton, please contact us at natureupnorth@gmail.com if you would like to ride with us.

Nature is fruitful, but fruits aren't the only edible parts of wild plants. Join Nature Up North as we reveal common and uncommonly found edible plants on a tour of the Remington Recreational Trail in Canton. Collecting your own wild edible plants can add a nutritious element to salads, jams, teas, trail snacks and more. Having a better understanding of what is edible and what isn't will enhance your connection to the local environment as well as your survival skills. Come spend a few hours learning how to find, identify and prepare local edible plants both responsibly and safely.