Would you like to protect your land? Do you know someone who might be interested in protecting their farm, woodlands or wetlands?
People protect their land for a variety of reasons. Many times, it’s a way to ensure that their love of the land will remain intact after they leave. For others, it’s a way to honor their parents and grandparents. Sometimes it helps with estate planning or financial management plans.
If you would like to explore whether conservation is right for you and your family, give JJ Schell, Associate Director, a call at 315-779-8240 or email him at [email protected].
All conversations are confidential to provide your family the privacy it needs to make a decision that is right for you.
When was the last time you visited a school with an outdoor, nature-based, classroom?
Nationwide, educators and conservation organizations are partnering up to create natural areas and trails that are on or near school grounds.
Whether nature-based playgrounds, walking trails, or relaxation and inquiry spaces, these efforts have increasingly proven effective in improving students’ learning, engagement, and social interaction.
Additional research notes that hands-on educational activities help foster greater understanding and learning retention.
A good example is Black River Elementary School, in Jefferson County. They are creating their own outdoor learning trail with a special grant from the Army’s Federally Impacted Schools Education Foundation as part of their Learning Coming to Life initiative.
“Hands-on nature activities have kept my students engaged and learning, even with just two in-person classroom days a week,” explained Tricia Pierce, a second-grade teacher helping to lead the effort.
“With current limits on time and expenses, creating a trail right on school property helps us incorporate outdoor learning more regularly at all grade levels, and community members have opportunities to join in and benefit from it as well.”
This past winter, the Lewis County Board of Legislators took the first step necessary to become certified as a Climate Smart Community, by adopting a 10-point pledge and appointing the newest county Planning Department member to lead the charge toward certification.
To date, 329 communities and counties across New York State have registered to become “climate smart”—working towards a variety of actions including climate-smart land use, decreased energy use, and innovations towards green economies.
We are standing by to assist local communities as they implement their land conservation goals related to climate-smart plans. Examples include supporting local farming and farmland protection, dual-use solar and farming, and
regenerative agriculture.
To find out more, check out the Climate Smart Communities website at climatesmart.ny.gov.
When Sam* looks out the window, he’s not thinking about math, biology, or history.
“Some days are bad days for him, but coming here to watch the birds for a while quickly calms him down so he can relax a little before going back to the classroom,” explains Susan Jeffers, a second-grade teacher at the Mount Markam Elementary School, who participated in this year’s Bird Quest. “It’s been particularly relevant this year.”
Many of the over 40 school, homeschool, family, and individual teams have reported the same impact while watching their feeders in 2021.
Birds are everywhere. Combine that with the fact that people were cooped up from Covid and it’s not surprising that there has been a big increase in birdwatching.
Indeed, the online database eBird reported a 37% increase in users documenting their sightings, with more than two million people using the Merlin Bird ID app in 2020. That’s good news for conservation too.
“As kids and adults start to appreciate birds, they also start to consider what birds need to thrive. For some, this is the first time they’ve considered the larger picture” explained Lin Gibbs, our Community Programs Director.
This program is possible because of our donors’ generosity and community support.
If you shop at State Street Hardware, Lowes, Walmart, Home Depot, or Rudd’s Town and Country, please tell them how much you appreciate their support of the Tug Hill Bird Quest.
We couldn’t offer the free bird feeders and bird seed to our Bird Quest teams and schools without them.
*Name changed to ensure privacy.
“As kids and adults start to appreciate birds, they also start to consider what birds need to thrive. For some, this is the first time they’ve considered the larger picture.”
As you venture out on the trails this summer to find a special place to relax and spend time with family and friends, Tug Hill’s waterfalls could be just the ticket.
We are fortunate that the lands surrounding Tug Hill’s spectacular waterfalls are remarkably intact, many with beautiful trails and overlooks and sparkling clean water.
“Water is one of the things that Tug Hill does best,” notes Katie Malinowski, Tug Hill Commission’s Executive Director. “But we can’t take it for granted.”
As noted by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the Northeastern U.S. has experienced
a 38% increase in the amount of precipitation falling in very heavy events from 1901 to 2016 accompanied by longer periods of summer drought. That trend continues.
The change in weather patterns makes it even more important to conserve the lands surrounding streams, wetlands, rivers, and waterfalls.
Heavy downpours cause intensive runoff which, in turn, carries sediment and nutrients, increasing the likelihood of water contamination and rendering habitat unsuitable for fish and other wildlife.
Conserving Tug Hill’s waterways is an ongoing priority for us. Our partnerships with municipalities, conservation organizations, and local landowners are growing.
This summer and fall, with support from people like you, we hope to conserve farms, woodlands, and wildlife habitat that will contribute to maintaining the clean waters of Tug Hill. In the meantime, check out what’s already been conserved.
Cross Island Farms was founded as a sustainable farm in 2005 and since that time farmers Dani Baker and David Belding have never looked back.
In fact, they keep looking forward—finding innovative ways to support local conservation initiatives that connect people to the land, local food, and one another.
The 102-acre farm, located on Wellesley Island, NY, produces certified organic fruits, vegetables, beef, pork and goat meat. Their one-of-a-kind Enchanted Edible Forest consists of over 300 incredible fruits, nuts, berries, and edible flowers. Check them out at crossislandfarms.com.
As the lead donor of the Sanctuary’s all-access trail, they walk the walk of connecting food, community, and healthy land. Local businesses like this make all the difference!
What a day! Eighty-five hardy folks dusted off their sneakers and joined us for the Tug Hill Soggy Sneaker 5K trail race/walk this April. The event was held at our very own Joseph A. Blake Wildlife Sanctuary in Rutland, only 15 minutes from Watertown.
Some came to run, others to walk with friends. Many were there because they were itching to do something after a winter of being cooped up. Everyone wanted to experience the woodland trails.
The race was staged in waves of 10 minutes (with 10 runners per wave) to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Virtual participation was welcome, too, where people registered to run/walk the course at another time.
“It was so much fun. I love that kids were there, getting dirty, having fun outside. It’s inspiring to see so many people who care about the land and want to do something as a community,” remarked Kylie Schell, the event organizer who volunteered her time and talent to make this a success.
All registered runners received a Tug Hill Soggy Sneaker pint glass and a custom-made finishers medal created by Kylie.
A special thank you to…
Kylie Schell,whose passion and event skills made the Soggy Sneakers 5K a reality. Kylie has extensive experience
with trail runs and planned the course, logistics, and outreach. With trail running/walking becoming increasingly popular, Kylie notes, “There’s a need for more trails close to where people live and work, so they can get out in nature, easily.
The land doesn’t have to be hundreds of acres to have an important local impact. We need fun, healthy ways to get outside and connect with nature and our community. The Sanctuary is a good example of that.”
Thank you to our lead Soggy Sneakers sponsors
GYMO, a local architectural, engineering, and land surveying company knows land. And they also know about livable communities and giving back. With more than 40 years of regional professional experience and service, GYMO brings cultural and local knowledge to every project across the North Country. That’s been true for conservation work as well.
GYMO regularly sponsors their employees to attend events like Soggy Sneakers and come out for trail workdays. They’ve also donated the preliminary design for our grant application for an all-access trail at the Sanctuary. It’s local businesses, like GYMO, who are demonstrating that being part of the community goes beyond the expected. Thank you!
Check out these enthusiastic Snoggy Sneakers participants!
You would have thought that social distancing, and wearing masks, would bring our land trust’s trail work to a halt. Not so. Tug Hill folks are Tug Hill tough. People came together and the results speak for themselves—and next year we will be ramping up, even more.
The three miles of trails are specifically designed for kids and families to provide interesting, and easy, access to various woodland habitats and experiences.
Over the course of the summer and fall, land trust staff were out every week checking the trails to ensure that the Sanctuary continues to be a welcoming place for our community.
“The Sanctuary is a great outdoor classroom, especially this year,” explained Lin Gibbs, Tug Hill Tomorrow Land
Trust’s Community Programs Director. “We’ve seen a lot of people tapping into this public conservation area because their kids love it.”
The first trail of its kind
That’s one of the reasons we are so appreciative of people like Cindy Stewart, from the Black River Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club, who volunteered to help create what will be the 20-mile Tug Hill Traverse Trail.
Thanks to her hard work, along with other fun and hardworking folks, seven miles are now completed. Cindy laughs as she considered what it was like, including the long trek in to initiate new trail work. “It’s perfect timing to be out there in the woods given what we have all be going through this year. I’m excited that this trail will be the first non-motorized, long-distance trail on Tug Hill.”
Views of the East Branch of Fish Creek, wetlands teaming with birds, and craggy rock outcroppings are just a few of the trail’s highlights. The trail design and implementation are overseen by Bob McNamara, our tireless volunteer extraordinaire. It’s an amazing vision and community effort unfolding before our eyes.
People from all walks of life have joined the Tug Hill 10 Challenge. That means they’ve documented their trips in our region while exploring the diverse landscapes and wildlife habitats in Tug Hill—working towards a goal of exploring 10 places from the recently updated Tug Hill Recreation Guide.
The fun continues through the winter months.
As a participant in the Challenge you can include walking, biking, snowshoeing and x-country skiing. Document (with photos) or just list the ten trails you visit that are featured in the Tug Hill Recreation Guide. You can find ideas of where to go on our website, too.
To complete the Challenge fill out our Challenge form tughilltomorrowlandtrust.org/tughill10challenge. When we receive your information, we’ll send you a Challenge Patch or Decal (your choice) to congratulate you on meeting the achievement.
We’d love to feature you on our Facebook and Instagram pages so email or Facebook Message us your nature shots, photos of you out on your adventure, and fun times on the trails with your friends, family members, or pets.
That’s what Jenny Spencer did, when she shared, “This challenge was so much fun! I’ve loved reconnecting with the natural beauty of the region.”
Robert Williams III explored ten fabulous places in Tug Hill and received the Tug Hill 10 Challenge patch in recognition of his efforts. “This challenge has sent me to a new area that has family friendly adventures for all seasons and abilities. Although the challenge calls for ten visits, we plan on visiting all the areas of the Tug Hill Challenge region. From x-country skiing to fall hiking, it is a great area to visit.”
We can’t wait to see what places you explore in the coming months!
2020 was a good year for wildlife conservation, as the Staying Connected Initiative took several strides forward in its work to conserve lands and waters critical for wildlife.
The initiative works to safeguard wide-ranging and forest-dwelling wildlife such as bear, moose, lynx, marten, and bobcat from the impacts of habitat fragmentation and climate change by maintaining and restoring landscape connections.
The project focuses on seven priority areas across the Northern Appalachians from Tug Hill to Maine, where landscape connections for wildlife movement are at risk due to barriers like development and highways.
Staying Connected is a joint project of The Nature Conservancy and Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, along with 18 other state and local conservation organizations in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Our part of the project focuses on assisting landowners and communities in the area between Tug Hill and the Adirondacks. While each property is unique, landowners can take actions that will sustain wildlife and local community values such as hunting, fishing, forestry, agriculture, and outdoor recreation in a rapidly changing world.
That’s good news for wildlife.
Many species need to move around to meet their basic life needs, such as finding food and breeding areas, moving between winter and summer habitats, or dispersing from an overcrowded territory.
Large mammals like black bears can range up to 10 miles a day, and up to 40 square miles over the course of a season. Smaller animals like fishers can cover three to five miles a day.
That’s one of the reasons why we must maintain large areas of core habitat to sustain healthy populations of wide-ranging mammals and other wildlife.
The conservation strategy therefore needs to include farmland, woodlands, wetlands, and river and stream systems that together comprise an integrated landscape.
This year, we are working to complete four projects which will conserve over 1,300 acres.
These lands build upon the 800 acres already conserved in partnership with a local sporting club in Herkimer County and The Nature Conservancy.
Over the next year we will be working on conservation agreements with three additional landowners to strengthen habitat linkages between Tug Hill and the Adirondacks.
Linda Garrett, Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust’s Executive Director, stresses that this voluntary conservation effort is dependent on local landowners. “We are so grateful to the sporting clubs, farm families, and landowners who understand the critical nature of this effort. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible.”
Mother Black bear with cub taken by remote wildlife camera courtesy of Staying Connected Initiative
Thank you to our lead Soggy Sneakers sponsors
