Monday, March 29, 2010

Step Into Spring! (3/18/10 - 3/24/10)

The Step Into Spring Fair at Jefferson Community College on March 24th drew in students and local community members who wanted to learn about recreational opportunities within Jefferson and Oswego Counties. Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Salmon River Stewardship and Habitat Coordinator Mary Penney, and I, Steward Liz Wolff, spoke to dozens of visitors about the various wildlife management areas that are free to visit in both counties and also about recreation along the Salmon River. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of people who had visited the Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes or Salmon River previously. Some people, however, were unfamiliar with those resource areas, and so we offered them maps, educational materials and suggestions about what locations they might like best.

Steward Liz Wolff welcomes visitors to the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Salmon River Stewardship and Habitat Program display at the Step Into Spring Fair at Jefferson Community College. The display includes photos from past educational programs and recreational opportunities at the Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and on the Salmon River. Photo: Mary Penney, Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Salmon River Stewardship and Habitat Program

The event was also a great place to meet other local groups who promote stewardship. We met with leaders of both Boy and Girl Scout organizations who wanted to know how their young people could become involved with volunteering in partnership with the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Salmon River Stewardship and Habitat Program (ELODSRSHP). Potential volunteer opportunities include invasive species removal and organized beach cleanups--two areas where the more enthusiastic volunteers who pitch in, the better the result! We also made another exciting connection with Fort Drum Community Outreach Educator, John Pike. John was interested developing a relationship between the ELODSRSHP and the Fort Drum community so that the stewards could educate soldiers and their families about fun and proper usage of local resource areas.

Fort Drum Community Outreach Educators John Pike and Nancy Fitting provided visitors with information and guides to local recreation. Photo: Liz Wolff, Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Salmon River Stewardship and Habitat Program

The Wild Center at Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks was another presenter at the fair. The Wild Center is a museum including live animals and exhibits that change daily. Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County also had a display; they have a program specifically dedicated to Agriculture and Natural Resources in Jefferson County. There is a multitude of fun and educational outdoor programs and activities in Oswego, Jefferson and other counties across New York State. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events section of this blog to find out what's happening next!

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County--one of the many vibrant and educational displays at the Step Into Spring Fair at Jefferson Community College. Photo: Liz Wolff, Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Salmon River Stewardship and Habitat Program

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