St. Lawrence University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Nature Up North (http://natureupnorth.org/) is a community-based organization based at St. Lawrence University whose mission is to foster a deeper sense of appreciation for, and connection to, the North Country environment and in doing so to create a bioregionally literate community that is committed to protecting the wild things and wild places that define this place we call home. The goal of Nature Up North is to use technology to encourage and enhance outdoor experiential learning. In a world increasingly dominated by technology and defined by a growing sense of apathy toward the natural world, Nature Up North seeks to build an environmental community in northern New York using the technological tools with which people are most familiar. Using web-based technology, Nature Up North enables sharing of experiences and observations in nature through science, art, photography or writing. We seek to foster connections between the North Country landscape, the people who inhabit it, and the inextricable connections between the two. There are many ways to get involved with Nature Up North: Get outside with us. We offer guided hikes, canoe paddles, naturalist walks, community campfires, and educational workshops that are free, open to the public, and led by our talented staff members! Citizen Science. Our citizen science projects will help you learn to become a scientific observer in your own back yard while contributing valuable information on the North Country environment. Have you ever wondered what flowers are the first to bloom in spring, what birds are first to migrate back to the North Country, or what trees are last to lose their leaves in fall? By helping us collect data about these events, you will be contributing to important scientific research that is going on across the country. Check out our Citizen Science page for more info. Join our online community. Create a free user account and start sharing your Encounters, download free trail maps, learn about the fun local outdoor events on our Events Calendar. Join the discussion by commenting on others' Encounter posts and clicking "Northworthy" on the posts you like. Become a community partner. Nature Up North is developing partnerships with individuals and organizations here in the North Country who are interested in environmental education, outdoor recreation, and healthy lifestyles. If you are interested in partnering with us, please e-mail info@natureupnorth.org. K-12 Programs. We are working with local teachers and enhance school curricula with more hands-on, place-based environmental learning opportunities. If you are a teacher or administrator, contact us to talk about ways we can work with you.

The North Country Symposium's (http://www.stlawu.edu/north-country-symposium) mission statement is to convene stakeholders in northern New York to explore and ultimately enhance the region's economic, environmental, and educational vitality.

The University's Sustainability Program Community Member Partnership (http://www.stlawu.edu/sustainability-program/community-members) recognizes that community partnerships are critical for creating the type of living-learning community where students can engage in both the theory and practice of sustainability. The program continues to cultivate existing and new partnerships with organizations and individuals in our region. The North Country is home to many community members with specialized knowledge and skills that they enthusiastically share with our students. Opportunities to partner with the Sustainability Program take the form of fieldtrips, workshops, seminars, and community based learning opportunities.