Winter Fun Challenge

Make the Most of Winter

Take on the Tug Hill Winter Fun Challenge

The Tug Hill Winter Fun Challenge

Snowshoe, XC Ski, Downhill Ski, Tube Sled, Fat Bike, Mush and more — there's an adventure to suit everyone!

Join our winter challenge and explore the magical snow-filled landscapes and wildlife habitats in the Tug Hill Region

Choose any of Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust's scheduled winter programs AND/OR choose to experience an activity on your own. They all qualify!

Take part in a minimum of 8 adventures from the large range of possibilities, then go to the Winter Fun Challenge form, list your sites, tell us about your experiences, and submit!

Once your challenge form is received, we'll send you your choice of a Winter Fun Challenge Patch or Decal to congratulate you on your accomplishment!

To document your experiences, upload photos or stories:

Nature shots
Wildlife you've spotted
Fun times with your family or pet

Submit for Patch or Decal

Would you like to have more winter fun options?

Help us protect more important Tug Hill winter landscapes by donating to Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust! Any amount makes a difference.

Donate for More Winter Fun!

Find An Experience

Check out the Tug Hill Recreation Guide Winter Fun Challenge maps and information links below. Look for a XC ski icon on the trail map indicating that winter activity is allowed.

NOTE: With the exception of BREIA and Winona Forest trails, sites in the Recreation Guide are generally marked, but not groomed, so be prepared to break trail. This includes NYS Parks and Forests.

Hit the Trails

With 29 Trail Maps and a lot of local community information read the Tug Hill Recreation Guide

Download Map

Locate Trails

13. Whetstone Gulf State Park

14. Chateauguay State Forest

15. Salmon River Falls Unique Area / Reservoir

16. Hall Island State Forest

17. East Branch of Fish Creek State Forest

18. Carpenter Road Cross Country Ski & Hiking Trails

19. Oswego County Nature Park at Camp Zerbe

20. Boonville Canal Trail

21. BREIA Jackson Hills Trails

22. BREIA Egypt Road Trails

23. Pixley Falls State Park

24. Klondike State Forest

25. Forest Park

26. Delta Lake State Park

27. Buck Hill State Forest

28. Trenton Greenbelt

29. Oswego County Recreation Trail

30. Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area

31. Oneida Lake

32. Tug Hill Traverse Trail

33. Clark Hill & Penn Mountain State Forests

34. Delta Lake State Park

35. Lowville Forestry Demo Area

36. Mad River Big Brook State Forests

Use Avenza Maps® app to view the PDF on your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. Using your mobile device’s built-in GPS, track your location, plot locations and photos, measure distance and area, and more.

Tug Hill is Wild... Be Prepared

While Tug Hill is not wilderness in a strict sense, its densely forested terrain can become confusing even to the most seasoned hiker and cross-country skier.

There are considerations you should keep in mind to make your trip safe and enjoyable. Make sure to tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Cell phone coverage is limited, especially in the core area.

Make sure you have the proper clothing, maintained equipment, and emergency and first-aid supplies. The weather in the Tug Hill region can be very unpredictable, especially with lake-effect storms in the winter. The area is wet in the spring and summer, consideration should be given for mosquitos, deer flies, ticks and other pests.

winter snowmobile trail heading into the sunset

Kaiden Steria

COVID-19

How to Social Distance on the Trails

Responsible, respectful, local recreation outdoors is a healthy way to stay active, spend time with immediate household and family members and friends, and reduce stress and anxiety when practicing social distancing.

STAY LOCAL
Stay close to home. Keep visits short. Avoid high-traffic destinations.

BE SAFE
Avoid crowds and groups. Recreate only with members of your immediate household. Keep a distance of 6 feet or more from others. Alert others as you're about to pass or step aside to let people pass. Wear a mask when you cannot maintain social distancing.

BE READY
Move quickly through parking lots, trailheads, and scenic areas. If crowded, choose a different park, trail, or time to visit.

STAY HOME
If you're not feeling well, stay home. Anyone with a compromised immune system should postpone their visit.

DEC Social Distancing Guidelines

STAY CURRENT

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Tug Hill Winter Fun Challenge Submission

Submission Form

Tug Hill Winter Fun Challenge

CONGRATULATIONS

You've met the Challenge!

We like to send you a Tug Hill Winter Fun Challenge patch or decal to commemorate your achievement.

Please fill out the form below, including a list of the ten trails you traveled by foot, bike, snowshoe, or paddle.

Also, upload photos documenting your experience:

Nature shots
Wildlife you've spotted
Fun times with your family or pet

Tug Hill Winter Fun Challenge

First Name *

Last Name *

Address

City

State

Zip Code

Email *

Phone

Select your reward

Please choose which Tug Hill Winter Fun Challenge reward you would like to receive:

Patch

Decal

Share your eight experience with us

What's the name and location of where your adventures took place? Tell us a bit about it...

Experience #1 (name and location)

Experience #2 (name and location)

Experience #3 (name and location)

Experience #4 (name and location)

Experience #5 (name and location)

Experience #6 (name and location)

Experience #7 (name and location)

Experience #8 (name and location)

Did you discover a new place or try a new adventure?

Tell us about it!

Upload a photo from each of your experiences. (Optional)

A portrait or an up close image of you, your pet or family, in-action or recreating.

Image size in pixels 1200 x 800, approximately 3 MB in a .JPG file format.

File Upload

Maximum file size: 4MB

May we post your photos?

I give Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust permission to post my photos on social media or on their website.

Yes, you may use my photos

Yes, but would prefer for you to call me first. Note please share your phone number.

No, I prefer not to have the photos shared.

Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust congratulates you on meeting our Winter Fun Challenge.

We hope to see you on the trails again soon.

Help us to reduce spam...

STAY CURRENT

Subscribe to eNews

Signup Now

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12 Steps eBook Download

12 Steps to Conserving Your Land

What’s involved in completing a permanent conservation agreement

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eBook Download

Click on the book or button below to download your copy of 12 Steps to Conserving Your Land.

ebook to help understand the conservation easement process

Download Now

Thank you for your interest in conserving your land.

Related information:

Landowner Information Questionnaire

Success Stories

Tax Benefits

FAQs

Download 12 Steps eBook

12 Steps to Conserving Your Land

What’s involved in completing a permanent conservation agreement

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Download Your 12 Steps eBook

Thank you for your interest in conserving your land.

Fill out the following information and download the e-Book. Let us know if you have questions.

Related information:

Landowner Information Questionnaire

Success Stories

Tax Benefits

FAQs

Kids Activities

Kid Activities

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SUBTITLE

Getting creative is a great way to engage the kids.

Look around the back yard or neighborhood and create a scavenger hunt.

Ask for some simpler finds, like pine needles or a pinecone, and then dig deeper: are there any plants with purple leaves in the neighborhood? Maybe a certain yard has a red flower (look but don’t touch!)

rolling out dough or clay to press leaves, sticks and natural items into

Got Playdoh?

Discover textures in nature. Compare the imprint of different trees.

Next Level: identify the trees and start a nature journal with your findings.

Trail, creek or neighborhood cleanup.

Put on a pair of work gloves, grab a bag, and do your part and help clean up a trail, river or creek bank, or street in your community.

Next level: Categorize what you have found in your nature journal. What is the most common material you found? What can be recycled? Composted? Put in the garbage?

storytimekatie.com

What’s the weather today?

Create a weather wheel.

Draw or print out different types of weather and put them in a circular pattern. Use a paper clip or laundry clips to mark the days weather.

Next Level: Be more specific. Record the temperature, humidity, percent rain or sun and log it all into a nature journal.

Bev Pellegrino

Storming outside?

If there aren’t hazardous conditions, put on your raincoat and head outside to watch!

Or you can head to your window or your car and watch in a protected place, too.

Next level: Record the length of the rainstorm or snowstorm. Does how hard the rain or snow falls change? Does the rain change to hail or snow or vice versa? Write down how long the storm lasts and describe the sounds and sights you observe.

Do you speak bird?

No? Then here is your chance.

Download a birding app, like eBird.org, and start identifying what’s in your backyard. Learn birds’ songs and characteristics.

Next level: Visit bird feeder web cams to observe birds found nearby or in different parts of the world (start here: allaboutbirds/cams). Install one or more birdfeeders and fill them with different types of seed. Keep a feeder journal, try to draw the birds you see and describe their outstanding features.

Next, next level: Become a citizen scientist! Sign up to participate in the Tug Hill Tomorrow Bird Quest at tughilltomorrowlandtrust.org/bird-quest in the spring, or sign up to collect bird sightings November through April for Cornell’s Project Feederwatch at feederwatch.org.

Got Rocks?

Create a mandala.

Place the rocks in artistic circular patterns. This can be done in your backyard or with the rocks at Sandy Neck. Take pictures and share with family and friends.

Next Level: Read into the origin of a mandala. Add the information to your nature journal.

Want to explore how to do this?

Email Lin for more info

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Links?

Education – All Content

Education...ALL CONTENT

Experience Nature When We Can't Embrace Each Other

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We humans are social creatures

Even our so-called “anti-social” behaviors, like staying in and getting online, are in search of a connection with others. We also have to acknowledge that humans at their core are still animals – and as animals we are all part of nature and respond to it in various ways.

Study after study shows the connection between our health and access to nature, from such obvious factors as the health effects when we lack access to clean water and fresh air, to those not so obvious factors like the connection between spending time outside and increased focus and concentration.

While social distancing may feel constraining, it also provides a great opportunity to step back and embrace our connection with nature. If we cannot seek out physical connection with other humans, what better place to seek a physical connection than in the woods, the meadows, the ponds and beaches?

SUBTITLE

Okay… Well, I want to do something while I’m out here!

Here are a few suggestions

Start with taking a short walk.

You can pay tribute to, or honor, someone special to you with a gift that will last for generations to come. We will send a card, as appropriate, to convey your appreciation…

Start a nature journal!

Take a notebook on your walk and find a place to sit and make observations—maybe there is a rock that faces a creek, or a patch of plants just pushing through the soil. Look around and take note of everything you observe, hear and smell.

Next Level: hone in on a specific item. Perhaps there is a tree that is just getting its spring buds.

What do the buds look like? How quickly do they grow – is it a weekly change, daily, hourly? What sort of insects and animals like this tree? What kind of moss, lichen or fungus is growing on it?

Take an extra-long walk…

And bring your furry pal along! What new places can you find by spending an extra ten minutes walking?

Next Level: challenge yourself to walk further. Pick a distance (maybe you walk half a mile each day) and see if you can go a little further, then a little further.

How does the extra distance feel? Have you discovered a new neighborhood? Maybe a small street you hadn’t seen before, or a cool new spot along your favorite trail?

Trails for hiking, biking, snowshoes, and paddles

Are you looking for a great place to see water falls, perhaps go a hike in a quiet woodland, or explore the wetlands and meadows when looking for amazing birds?

Places to Explore

A Sanctuary for beaver, fox, songbirds, and more

Open year-round to the public for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and XC skiing, the Joseph A. Blake Wildlife Sanctuary is the perfect place to visit with kids.

Hit the wildlife trail

These are all great, but I have kids…how do I get them outside and interested?

Ways to explore and learn outdoors!

What are you curious about?

Got Playdoh?

Discover textures in nature. Compare the imprint of different trees.

Next Level: identify the trees and start a nature journal with your findings.

Trail, creek or neighborhood cleanup.

Put on a pair of work gloves, grab a bag, and do your part and help clean up a trail, river or creek bank, or street in your community.

Next level: Categorize what you have found in your nature journal. What is the most common material you found? What can be recycled? Composted? Put in the garbage?

storytimekatie.com

What’s the weather today?

Create a weather wheel.

Draw or print out different types of weather and put them in a circular pattern. Use a paper clip or laundry clips to mark the days weather.

Next Level: Be more specific. Record the temperature, humidity, percent rain or sun and log it all into a nature journal.

Bev Pellegrino

Storming outside?

If there aren’t hazardous conditions, put on your raincoat and head outside to watch!

Or you can head to your window or your car and watch in a protected place too. Describe the sounds and sights you observe. Does the way the rain or snow falls change in strength? Does rain change to snow or hail, or vice versa?

Next level: Place a measuring cup outside on a stable surface in a place where there is only open sky above it. Grab a notebook and write down how long the storm lasts. Record the amount of rain or snow that fell into the measuring cup once the storm has ended.

Do you speak bird?

No? Then here is your chance.

Download a birding app, like eBird.org, and start identifying what’s in your backyard. Learn birds’ songs and characteristics.

Backyard Pines?

How many different pine cones can you find?

As you explore outside, look for different sizes and shapes of pine cones. Look up! Do the pine trees still have cones on their branches? Can you find which trees the different pine cones you see on the ground came from?

Next level: Put one of each type of pine cone next to each other on the ground. How are they alike? How are they different? Why do you think each tree's cones are the way they are?

Next next level: Take three of the same kind of pine cones home with you. Gather three see-through containers. Put one cone in each container. Draw or take a photo of each cone in each container. Fill one container with cold water. What happens to the cone? How fast does the cone change? How does is change? Fill a second container with hot water. What happens to the cone? How fast does the cone change? How does is change? Compare the cones in all three containers. What is different? What is the same?

Want to explore how to do this?

Email us for more info

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Links?

Education

Embracing Nature...

When We Can't Embrace Each Other

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We humans are social creatures

SUBTITLE

Okay… Well, I want to do something while I’m out here!

We have a plethora of suggestions for that, too.

Start with taking a short walk.

You can pay tribute to, or honor, someone special to you with a gift that will last for generations to come. We will send a card, as appropriate, to convey your appreciation…

Start a nature journal!

Take it on your walk and find somewhere to sit and make observations—maybe there is a rock that faces a creek, or a patch of plants just pushing through the soil. Look around and take note of everything you observe, hear and smell.

Next Level: hone in on a specific item. Perhaps there is a tree that is just getting its spring buds.

What do the buds look like? How quickly do they grow – is it a weekly change, daily, hourly? What sort of insects and animals like this tree? What kind of moss, lichen or fungus is growing on it?

Take an extra-long walk…

And bring your furry pal along! What new places can you find by spending an extra ten minutes walking?

Next Level: challenge yourself to walk further. Pick a distance (maybe you walk half a mile each day) and see if you can go a little further, then a little further.

How does the extra distance feel? Have you discovered a new neighborhood? Maybe a small street you hadn’t seen before, or a cool new spot along your favorite trail?

HIT THE TRAILS

Hiking, biking, snowshoes, and paddles

Are you looking for a great place to see water falls, perhaps go a hike in a quiet woodland, or explore the wetlands and meadows when looking for amazing birds?

Places to Explore

CONNECTING TO NATURE

A Sanctuary for beaver, fox, songbirds, and more

Open year-round to the public for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and XC skiing, the Joseph A. Blake Wildlife Sanctuary is the perfect place to visit with kids.

Hit the Wildlife Trail

Joshua Eaves

These are all great, but I have kids…how do I get them outside and interested?

We have suggestions for that, as well!

Activites for Kids

Do we need a module like this?

Text to be inserted.

Links?

Tug Hill 10 Challenge

Hit the Trails

Join the Tug Hill 10 Challenge

© Charlotte Witzigman

Walk, Hike, Bike, Snowshoe, or Paddle...

The Tug Hill 10 Challenge

Join our trail challenge and explore the many, diverse landscapes and wildlife habitats in Tug Hill.

Document (with photos) or just list for us 10 trails from the Tug Hill Recreation Guide that you visit. Then fill out our Challenge form.

We'll send you our Challenge Patch or Decal, your choice, to congratulate you on meeting the achievement!

Also, upload photos documenting your experience:

Nature shots
Wildlife you've spotted
Fun times with your family or pet

Submit for Patch or Decal

Would you like to see additional trails developed?

You can create more opportunities for trails like these by donating to Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust. Any amount makes a positive difference.

Donate to develop more Trails

Tug Hill Trails Locator Map

Download Map

Locate Trails

13. Whetstone Gulf State Park

14. Chateauguay State Forest

15. Salmon River Falls Unique Area / Reservoir

16. Hall Island State Forest

17. East Branch of Fish Creek State Forest

18. Carpenter Road Cross Country Ski & Hiking Trails

19. Oswego County Nature Park at Camp Zerbe

20. Boonville Canal Trail

21. BREIA Jackson Hills Trails

22. BREIA Egypt Road Trails

23. Pixley Falls State Park

24. Klondike State Forest

25. Forest Park

26. Delta Lake State Park

27. Buck Hill State Forest

28. Trenton Greenbelt

29. Oswego County Recreation Trail

30. Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area

31. Oneida Lake

32. Tug Hill Traverse Trail

33. Clark Hill & Penn Mountain State Forests

34. Delta Lake State Park

35. Lowville Forestry Demo Area

36. Mad River Big Brook State Forests

Hit the Trails

With 29 Trail Maps and a lot of local community information read the Tug Hill Recreation Guide

Introducing: new trails maps compatible with mobile devices

The Avenza Maps® app uses your mobile device’s built-in GPS, track your location, plot locations and photos, measure distance and area, and more.

Tug Hill is Wild – Be Prepared

While Tug Hill is not wilderness in a strict sense, its densely forested terrain can become confusing even to the most seasoned hiker and cross-country skier.

There are considerations you should keep in mind to make your trip safe and enjoyable. Make sure to tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Cell phone coverage is limited, especially in the core area.

Make sure you have the proper clothing, maintained equipment, and emergency and first-aid supplies. The weather in the Tug Hill region can be very unpredictable, especially with lake-effect storms in the winter. The area is wet in the spring and summer, consideration should be given for mosquitos, deer flies, ticks and other pests.

COVID-19

How to Social Distance on the Trails

STAY LOCAL
Stay close to home. Keep visits short. Avoid high-traffic destinations.

BE READY
Move quickly through parking lots, trailheads, and scenic areas. If crowded, choose a different park, trail, or time to visit.

STAY HOME
If you're not feeling well, stay home. Anyone with a compromised immune system should postpone their visit.

DEC Social Distancing Guidelines

STAY CURRENT

Subscribe to eNews

Signup Now

Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe.

I want to hear about project updates, conservation tips, breaking news, and events.

BE SOCIAL

Bird Quest Crafts

Tug Hill Bird Quest:

Arts & Crafts

An Outdoor Classroom Right in Your Backyard

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Egg Carton Bird Masks

Use something as simple and everyday as egg cartons to create these beautiful masks. They’re like a menagerie of birds.

Supplies Needed:

Egg cartons
Scissors
X-acto knife
Hot glue gun
Craft paint/watercolors elastic ribbon

Steps:

Cut the flaps off the carton and turn it on its side.
Cut off the 2 top compartments to use as the mask. See how it resembles a bird with eyes and a beak?
Use an X-acto knife to cut out holes in the center of the eyes.
Now comes the fun part. Using the rest of the carton, cut out feathers and other features and hot glue them to your mask. You can also use regular paper to create a longer beak.
Paint all the parts of the mask using craft paint or watercolors.
Hot glue an elastic ribbon to the back of the masks.

Thank you to Sweet Paul Magazine >>

Mask Setup from Sweet Paul Magazine

Complete Masks from Sweet Paul Magazine

Egg Carton Owls

Supplies Needed:

Egg cartons
Scissors
Glue
Markers
Optional: feathers, buttons, rick-rack

Steps:

Cut off the base of the carton & cut as shown.
Cut wings from the side
Cut feet from the top.
Glue the two pieces together.
Stick on buttons for eyes.
Color & decorate your owl.

Thank you to Michelle McInerney at MollyMooCrafts >>

Pine Cone Owl

Supplies Needed:

Large pinecones
Felt (5 colors)
Googly eyes (I used 1/2" round eyes). You can also use felt or paper to create the eyes.
Scissors
Hot glue gun
Stapler (or tacky glue)

Steps:

First, cut out your felt. You can mix up the colors any way you want, but here is a suggestion:

• rust for 2 wings in a leaf-ish shape (2 3/4" long/1 1/4" at widest point)

• orange for the beak (3/4" wide x 7/8" tall)

• dark brown for the face/ears (2 3/4" wide x 1 1/2" tall at highest point)

• turquoise for 2 large eye circles (1 1/4" round)

• mustard for 2 small eye circles (7/8" round)

(Your measurements may differ, depending on pinecone size & your preference, but I've listed them anyway, as a guideline.)

The shapes are so forgiving, & it doesn't have to be perfect.

Just get out your scissors & cut!

Snip the largest eye circles all the way around, as pictured in the slideshow.

Next, attach the beak to the face with hot glue.

Now, stack the pieces in this order & use a stapler to keep it all together. (I have 25 minutes to do this craft with a handful of 9 year olds. I was trying to think of the quickest way to assemble without having to use glue.) And, honestly, my stapler did give me an attitude. So, if you're not pressed for time, use the hot glue gun!

Attach the googly eyes (or felt- or paper-made eyes) with hot glue.

TIP: apply the hot glue to the felt first, & then place the googly eyes on top of the glue. The tip of the hot glue gun can melt the back of the googly eyes & cause a googly mess.

Finally, attach the face & wings to the pinecone with more hot glue.

Thank you to Nikki at Whimsy Love >>