Earth and Me-Bioengineering and GMO's
Bioengineering and GMO…… why should we care! The widely controversial use of bioengineered foods and GMOs in agriculture is a heavily debated topic, due in part to misinformation and misunderstanding of how and why they are used. This workshop promotes healthy discussion of GMO usage and potential positive as well as negative impacts on society while drawing on participants personal experience.
Workshop presenter, Gioya Fennelly is an OCCA Board Member and lifelong educator. Before moving to Otsego County, she taught stem classes in New York City schools. She now grows countless types of peppers in her huge garden and teaches online classes.
Presentation will be held at the Clark Sports Center at 1 pm on April 18th in partnership with the Connections Program.
Earth Fest!
Earth Fest 2024 is coming! Mark your calendars for Saturday April 20th. The fun starts with a DOAS bird walk at 8 am. Lots of environmentally focused exhibitors and vendors to check out with fun and FREE activities for the whole family.
Earth Festival Workshop-Enjoying your woodlot
Join New York Forest Owner's Association (NYFOA) President Stacey Kazacos for a talk he has entitled, "Enjoying Your Woodlot -- Management, Educational Support, Sweat Equity, and Fun." Kazacos will briefly overview NYFOA's mission as an educational resource serving the private woodlot owner and talk about the available resources. He will also detail the importance of forests in New York State and discuss our role in keeping them healthy.
Earth Festival Workshop-Working Towards a Net Zero Carbon Household
Working Towards a Net Zero Carbon Household
The dollars and 'sense' of an old home retrofit.
Over the last 4 years, the O’Handley family has been working on shifting their household towards zero-carbon goals and has been able to significantly reduce their carbon impact. In this program, Susan O’Handley will delve into the why, the how, and the how much - demonstrating all the ways this transition has resulted in daily quality of life improvements in their 1902 Victorian farmhouse and the ability to save money on their monthly expenses.
Earth Festival Workshop-Herbs 101
Herbs 101: culinary, medicinal and cultural use of herbs with Gert Coleman.
Gert Coleman loves, grows, eats, and reads avidly about herbs. Retired Associate Professor of English at Middlesex County College in New Jersey, she lives on 106 acres in Middlefield, New York, where she and her husband grow herbs, flowers, trees, and at-risk native plants. She has authored numerous books and articles on herbs and most recently completed a piece on yarrow. Her current focus is chamomile.
Earth Festival Workshop-Make your own spotted lanternfly trap
Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) are on the move! How can you help?
Join the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) in making DIY SLF Traps to help monitor the spread of SLF. Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) are invasive insects from Asia that have significant negative impacts on important NY crops such as grapes and sugar maples as well as a number of native plant species. SLF have not been detected in Otsego County but have been found in multiple counties in NY and have spread rapidly in the last few years. Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) is key in helping slow their spread and prevent their establishment in new areas. Homemade SLF traps are an excellent way to help scientists track and respond to SLF and are a great way for homeowners and aspiring environmentalists to take an active role in stopping their spread. All materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to B.Y.O.M.J (Bring Your Own Milk Jugs) and be prepared for a short jaunt outside to learn what trees are most vulnerable to SLF and how to attach your SLF Trap!
Earth Festival Workshop-Birds and Climate Change
Susan O’Handley, Education Chair, Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
This program will overview the challenges that bird populations are expected to face as climate change warming scenarios take place and will look deeper into the impacts on key local species. We will feature online tools that participants can use to gain information on projected trends in populations, changes in breeding and wintering habitats, as well as tools to help track these changes over time. We will also examine ways that people and our local communities can help to prepare for and offset some of these impacts.
Susan O’Handley is a career Environmental Education professional turned techie, who now works with small businesses in the digital marketing space. She has been involved with local Audubon chapters for over 30 years and has served on the Board of Directors for the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society since 2012 (10 years as a Co-President). Susan also works with the Audubon NY/CT Council Board which is composed of 27 Audubon Chapters in NY State and 6 Chapters in CT, and serves on the Advisory Board for Audubon NY/CT State Office as the Chapter Representative.
Save the Date-Drive Through, Drop Off
Please join us on April 27, 2024, for our third Drive-thru Drop-off Recycling event! Were thrilled to be partnering with Brewery Ommegang for the second time. Bring your difficult to recycle materials, including clothing and textiles, Styrofoam, cork, paper shredding, and more! After you've dropped off your materials, enjoy a meal at Brewery Ommegang's Tap House Cafe.
We are not doing scheduled appointments this year, but please sign up to let us know that you are coming, so we can know how many people to expect. Thank you so much!
Morning Birds with Becky Gretton
With a mix of fields, woods, gardens and lakeshore, Mohican Farm is an excellent place for birding. Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Co-President, Becky Gretton leads this early morning walk at Mohican Farm in search of the early birds. This walk is suitable for beginners and experts alike. Bring binoculars, bird guide and be prepared for any weather (and plan for walking in wet grass). Program is free, but pre-registration is required using the form below Attendance is limited to 20.
Be Informed-Apple Grafting
Join Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services from the Catskill Forest Center for an informative program on Apple Grafting. The Program will take place at Mohican Farm (7207 State Route 80, Cooperstown). We will start in an OCCA classroom space and then move outside for a hands-on workshop.
Got a fruit tree of sentimental value? Grafting is the only way to preserve a particular variety. Grafting is a technique that takes twigs, or scionwood, from apple trees and fuses them onto the stem, or rootstock, of another apple tree. CFA recommends this process to preserve old and desirable varieties on apple trees, as well as an alternative to planting new ones. Through grafting, edible fruit is typically produced within 3-4 years, compared to around 5-10 years for newly planted trees.
Planting new trees can pose various challenges, including heavy clay soils, unfavorable site conditions, planting depth, waterlogged roots, inadequate fencing, mulch & weed control, watering, and poor weather conditions. Grafting eliminates many of these risk factors. We use established fruit trees that indicate existing favorable site conditions. To protect from deer browse, grafts are done at or above 6 feet. Costs for the tree itself, for deer fences, vole or rabbit fences, mulch, and weed control aren’t applicable, and there’s less need to worry about watering.
Queer Outdoors-Spring Picnic
Picnic at Wilber Park!
Outdoor appreciation is easy when there’s good food involved! Come to a picnic with outdoor games, mocktails, and great people. Bring a favorite dish or just your appetite!
Please contact Will Kuss at 607-375-7280 or water@occainfo.org with any questions!
Homeschool Nature Walk-Fetterly Forest
Join OCCA Educator Shelby MacLeish for a walk in Fetterly Forest on Friday, May 10, as we check out the vernal pool, explore our surroundings, and gaze over Canadarago Lake. May is the perfect time of year to wander in the woods. I hope you will join in the fun.
To the Falls!
Enjoy spring in the woodlands of Robert V. Riddell State Park in Davenport with OCCA. We’ll hike up to the waterfall and back, about 3.5 miles total. Along the way we’ll look for wildflowers, trees, and talk a little about the park’s history. The trail requires a steady uphill climb and may be wet.
Be Informed-The Buzz About Pollinators
Join OCCA on May 15th at 7pm for our Be Informed lecture series when we will hear from Dr. Jeffrey Heilveil about Native Pollinators. For the May program we are partnering with the Farmers' Museum to help kick off the new "Buzz about Pollinators" exhibit.
From well-known bumblebees to leaf-cutter bees, hover flies, and hawk moths, there are hundreds of different pollinator species in Otsego County. We'll look some of our native pollinators and the plants they pollinate, both common and rare, and talk about how we can best support these hard working species.
Dr. Jeffrey Heilveil is a Professor and Chair of the Biology Department at SUNY Oneonta, where he teaches courses in entomology, aquatic entomology, and stream ecology. His favorite classes are the field-based courses he teaches in the summer on the Thayer Farm property of the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station. His research primarily focuses on how human alterations to rivers affect stream insects. He earned his MS and PhD in Entomology from the University of Illinois.
Paddle and Pull--Goodyear Lake
Get a jump on New York’s annual Invasive Species Awareness Week (June 3-9) with a pleasant day on Goodyear Lake! Join us for a fun day on the water as we search for and remove water chestnut (Trapa natans), an invasive plant that has troubled Goodyear Lake since 2005. Don’t know what it looks like? We’ll teach you! Bring your own watercraft or borrow a canoe from OCCA (it’s free). Meet at the New York State Fishing Access Site on NY-28 in Portlandville. Use the form below to sign up. Be sure to tell us how many people you’re registering and if you need to reserve
June Mushroom Walk
OCCA mushroom walks are back! Walk leader, Margret Grebowicz lives locally and aims to broaden your understanding of mushrooms and inspire you to learn more. In early June we will be hunting for reishi. The group will meet at the highest point of Vibbard Road, Cooperstown. Participants should dress for a walk through the woods and make sure to wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. If you want to bring mushrooms home, bring a bag along and knife for cutting. Sign up using the form below.
Summit Sunday
Join us and our friends from CRISP (Catskills Regional Invasive Species Partnership) and CR-PRISM (Capital Region Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) for a fun, informative, and meaningful day removing European frog-bit from Summit Lake and Weaver Lake in Springfield. You may bring your own watercraft, or reserve a space in an OCCA canoe. This program is free, but registration will be required. Details will be forthcoming, check back soon.
Summer Wildflower Walk
Come join OCCA Board President and botanist Donna Vogler for a midsummer walk in the woods. We will amble through the Thayer Farm woodlands, and down to a pond. The hike is moderate and will highlight the identification of trees and blooms bustin' out in June. The hike will begin at 1 pm. Dress for the weather. Use the form below to sign up.
July Mushroom Walk
Walk leader, Margret Grebowicz lives locally and aims to broaden your understanding of mushrooms and inspire you to learn more. In early June we will be hunting for chanterelles plus other early summer goodies. The group will meet at the highest point of Vibbard Road, Cooperstown. Participants should dress for a walk through the woods and make sure to wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. If you want to bring mushrooms home, bring a bag along and knife for cutting. Sign up using the form below.
Queer Outdoors-Goodyear Lake Paddle
July 7th, 2-5pm
Queer Outdoors Goodyear Paddle
Join us at Portlandville Launch for a paddle to Goodyear Lake! We have a limited number of kayaks and quite a few canoes available, so please let us know when you register if you will need one. This is an improved-accessibility launch and we are happy to assist anyone who needs a hand getting out on the water! Rain date July 14.
Location: Portlandville Fishing Access Site, Portlandville, NY 13834
Please contact Will Kuss at 607-375-7280 or water@occainfo.org with any questions!
Be Informed Lecture-An EV Cross-Country Road Trip: Are We There Yet?
Many car buyers considering an all electric (“EV”) vehicle frequently hold back because of a perceived uncertainty of the EV infrastructure on long-distance US travel. To address this head-on, Jim and Donna Vogler elected to rent an EV for a 3,800 mile round trip to Colorado in Sept. 2023. This talk will address the limitations of interstate EV infrastructure and essential Apps, and the trials and tribulations of adapting to EVs from the perspective of two folks with zero prior experience driving electric vehicles. Spoiler Alert: despite the challenges we are still considering an EV for our one-car family.
Geology Walk at Owen D. Young Nature Center
Join SUNY Oneonta Professor of Geology, Les Hasbargen to explore the rocks, caves, waterfalls and fossilized plants along Otsquago Creek by the Owen D. Young Nature Trail and examine the interesting interactions between the rocks and waters of the gorge.
Homeschool Nature Walk-Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park
Canceled-Low enrollment
April is an excellent time for exploring Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park. Let's poke around and search for signs of spring along Andy's Trail. Dress for the mud and weather.
Queer Outdoors-Emmons Pond Bog
Catch the first greenery of spring with us at Emmons Pond Bog! Learn about bogs, how they develop, and their cultural significance while enjoying the 1.4 mi loop. This trail is likely to be muddy, so please dress accordingly. We will meet at the parking lot.
Location: Emmons Pond Bog, 2028 White Hill Rd, Oneonta, NY 13820
Please contact Will Kuss at 607-375-7280 or water@occainfo.org with any questions!
Get the kids out-Invasive Species
Canceled Due to Inclement Weather
Join OCCA Intern Laura Santos on Thursday, April 4, at Fortin Park in Oneonta to learn about invasive species as we explore the park. This program is a fun introduction to the invasive species in our area, which will include hands-on activities and games.
Family Nature Walk
Join us for a signs of spring walk through Glimmerglass State Park as we prepare for the Spring Equinox. We will observe waterfowl, explore the beach, and search for signs of animal tracks. We will meet at the Beaver Pond Trail. As this is a school holiday, we are combining the homeschool nature walk and get the kids out program.
Be Informed-History of Farmland and Forest in Otsego County
Today we appreciate the wooded hillsides that surround Otsego Lake. While the forest is now a place to retreat for recreation, historically trees have been viewed as resources to capitalize on and remove to expand farms and agricultural production. Timber conservation practices, introduced before the Second World War, helped shape the landscape we know and love. Learn more about the relationships among woodlots, waterways, and agriculture here in Otsego County at this talk by Cindy Falk.
Dr. Cynthia Falk is Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies at SUNY Oneonta and long-time professor at the Cooperstown Graduate Program. Falk’s work focuses on material culture, including the agricultural landscape of New York. Falk additionally serves as Deputy Mayor of the Village of Cooperstown.
The talk will take place in the upstairs ballroom at the Cooperstown Village Hall (22 Main Street, Cooperstown).
Photo Credit: Rothstein, Arthur, photographer. Cut-over forest land, Otsego County, New York. United States New York Otsego County New York State, Sept. 1937. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017722897/.
Birds and Climate Change
Earth and Me-Birds and Climate Change
Susan O’Handley, Education Chair, Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
This program will overview the challenges that bird populations are expected to face as climate change warming scenarios take place and will look deeper into the impacts on key local species. We will feature online tools that participants can use to gain information on projected trends in populations, changes in breeding and wintering habitats, as well as tools to help track these changes over time. We will also examine ways that people and our local communities can help to prepare for and offset some of these impacts.
Susan O’Handley is a career Environmental Education professional turned techie, who now works with small businesses in the digital marketing space. She has been involved with local Audubon chapters for over 30 years and has served on the Board of Directors for the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society since 2012 (10 years as a Co-President). Susan also works with the Audubon NY/CT Council Board which is composed of 27 Audubon Chapters in NY State and 6 Chapters in CT, and serves on the Advisory Board for Audubon NY/CT State Office as the Chapter Representative.
Naked Eye Astronomy—Cancelled
****DUE TO CLOUDY/RAINY CONDITIONS, THIS PROGRAM IS CANCELLED****
Join us on a night of Naked Eye Astronomy. We will explore many first magnitude and brighter stars and the constellations with which they are associated. Additionally, the planet Jupiter will be visible. We also hope to view the most distant object visible to the naked eye…located 2.5 million light years away M31 The Andromeda Galaxy.
Please, bring comfortable folding chairs and dress warmly! We will meet before the presentation in the workshop on site and then return indoors afterward for hot chocolate. Free!
Stargazing is best with 100% clear and dark skies. The program will be postponed until March 9th if Jim Hill deems the skies and weather unfavorable on the 8th.
Queer Outdoors-Greenway Trail!
Try out the New Island section of the Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway Trail on March 3rd from 2-4! This is a short loop showing the hidden beauty along the Susquehanna shoreline. Plan for a relaxed walk that will likely be muddy in places and a tea break. As always, beginners, young folks, and introverts are welcome!
Park in Catella Park (accessed from Neawha Park). Walk or bike along the fence toward the highway. At the corner you'll see a gate, a sign to New Island, and a path to Lettis Highway.
Please contact Will Kuss at 607-375-7280 or water@occainfo.org with any questions!
Earth and Me-Natural Burial with the Upper Catskill Natural Burial Association
PROGRAM FULL! Check out our March 9th, Earth and Me program about birds and Climate Change!
Let's talk about death! If you are an environmentalist in life, you should be considering the potential ecological impact of your death. In this talk, we will go over the negative impacts of traditional American burial systems, the basics of natural burial and a few alternatives, and talk about the options currently available to residents of our area.
One Day Watershed Teacher Workshop
Join us for a FREE full-day professional development workshop at the A.J. Read Science Discovery Center at SUNY Oneonta, NY, from 9-3 on Saturday, February 10, 2024 to learn how to incorporate local watershed studies in your classroom. Participants will explore the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) framework, while furthering their own knowledge of environmental literacy and stewardship. The workshop will include hands-on activities, planning time and networking opportunities and is suitable for classroom educators, pre-service teachers, and informal educators. Lunch will be provided and CTLE credits are available. To register, please use this form.
Homeschool Nature Day-Mohican Farm
Join us for a walk down to Otsego Lake as we explore the grounds of Mohican Farm. The best prescription to cure cabin fever is to get outside and enjoy the wonders of winter. On the shores of Otsego Lake, we may see waterbirds or our resident Bald Eagle.
Park at the OCCA office 7207 State Route 80, Cooperstown. At the corner of Allen Lake Road of Route 80.
Queer Outdoors -Fresh Air in the New Year
Join us on February 4 at 2pm for a relaxing afternoon outdoors at Robert V. Riddell State Park after a busy holiday season! We will take a stroll around the park and, if there's any snow, build snow people. We will finish up with hot drinks and positive intentions for the new year. We will meet in the parking lot. Use the form below to sign up and contact Will Kuss at water@occainfo.org with any questions.
Get the Kids Out-Winter Carnival
On this short stroll around the village, we will discover that nature is beautiful and interesting in winter too. On this slow-paced walk, we will be looking at whatever natural curiosities intrigue the group, from birds to trees. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly in layers. We will meet at the village library. There is no need to register. If you have any questions, please contact Shelby at 607-547-4488 or via email at coordinator@occainfo.org.
Walk the Planets
Journey from the sun to Pluto and back in a little over an hour! Bill Ralston guides us on a thousand-yard walk which models our solar system at a scale that is both relatable and awe-inspiring. Common objects such as bowling balls, peppercorns, and walnuts are used to represent the sun and planets—our feet are the rockets that will get us there.
Meet at the Otsego Land Trust’s Compton Bridge Conservation Area, 184 County Highway 11C, Cooperstown. Our walk will be along the railroad tracks. Dress to be outside.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Field Training
Hemlock woolly adelgid is an invasive insect that is threatening the eastern hemlock, a tree of great beauty and environmental significance. In this outdoor program, you will learn how to identify both the tree and the insect, and will learn how to keep an eye out for the adelgid when you are enjoying the great outdoors this winter. This program will take place completely outside, so dress for the weather. Please use the form below to sign up.
Note, we will meet outside the main doors at the Clark Sports Center, 124 County Road 52, Cooperstown.
Earth and Me Series-Herbs
JANUARY PROGRAM FULL
Earth and Me: a lunch series exploring our connections to the Earth
Herbs 101: culinary, medicinal and cultural use of herbs with Gert Coleman.
Gert Coleman loves, grows, eats, and reads avidly about herbs. Retired Associate Professor of English at Middlesex County College in New Jersey, she lives on 106 acres in Middlefield, New York, where she and her husband grow herbs, flowers, trees, and at-risk native plants. She has authored numerous books and articles on herbs and most recently completed a piece on yarrow. Her current focus is camomile.
The Freight Wheel Cafe, 3097 Co Hwy 11 Hartwick, NY on Friday, January 12 at 1pm -230pm. Snow date Jan 26
Lunch followed by talk, questions, sharing and discussion. Soup and drink are gifts of OCCA. RSVP using the form below.
Homeschool Nature Walk
Join OCCA Educator on Friday, January 12th, at Gilbert Lake State Park. In mid-January, we may be slipping over a frozen path or searching for signs of life among the fallen leaves. Either way, we will have fun exploring the winter landscape together. Use the form below to sign up.
First Day Hike
Join us for a beautiful walk through the woods, get some fresh air and greet the New Year at the Susquehanna Greenway: Silas Lane Trail on Monday, January 1st, at 1 pm. Enjoy the crisp air and winter landscape along the Susquehanna River. Participants should dress for cold temperatures. We will meet in the lot adjacent to the soccer fields, near the end of the road. Register using the form below.
Hemlock Hunters Volunteer Training
Winter seems an unlikely time for insect hunting, but it’s the best time for looking for hemlock woolly adelgid, a tiny invasive insect that threatens our region’s majestic—and very important—hemlock trees. Learn how to identify hemlock trees and the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), and how to survey for HWA and report your findings. You will also have the opportunity to sign up for a trail to survey. The training will take place both in and outside, so please dress for the weather. Co-sponsored by OCCA, The Clark Foundation/Mohican Farm, and Butternut Valley Alliance. Program takes place at the Morris Fire Department, 117 East Main Street, Morris. To register for this free program, use the form below.
Hemlock Hunters Volunteer Training
Winter seems an unlikely time for insect hunting, but it’s the best time for looking for hemlock woolly adelgid, a tiny invasive insect that threatens our region’s majestic—and very important—hemlock trees. Learn how to identify hemlock trees and the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), and how to survey for HWA and report your findings. You will also have the opportunity to sign up for a trail to survey. The training will take place both in and outside, so please dress for the weather. This training is co-sponsored by OCCA and The Clark Foundation/Mohican Farm.
Homeschool Nature Walk-Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary
For the last homeschool walk of 2023, we will meet at the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary in Oneonta. The Sanctuary boasts a variety of habitats, such as open fields, second growth forest, old pastures, and mowed fields plus a boardwalk and views of Oneonta. Let's investigate a winter forest together and see what we find. The address is 52 Grange Hall Road Spur, Oneonta.
Queer Outdoors-Winter Hike
Bundle up and join us for a short hike and an amazing view of the valley! It’s the perfect time of year to get the furthest views. We will provide hot beverages at the slab and point out familiar places from a new angle!
Get Everybody Outside-Day after Thanksgiving Hike
Come for a hike with OCCA after Thanksgiving to Opt Outside at Fetterly Forest Conservation Area in Richfield Springs. Take this opportunity to meet Executive Director Amy Wyant and explore Panther Mountain. Participants can relax, socialize, and enjoy the panoramic views of Canadarago Lake while burning off some of their Thanksgiving meal. Be sure to dress for the weather. Hope to see you there.
Homeschool Nature Walk-Star Field
Homeschool Nature Walk at Star Field. We will meet on Chicken Farm Hill in Cooperstown for our November Hike and explore the Star Field Trail. Only time will tell if we are still exploring a fall forest or a winter wonderland. Dress for the weather.
Be Informed Lecture Series-Is it me or are there less people here? Explaining population decline.
New York City hit the highest population ever recorded in the last census, but Otsego County lost 6 percent of its population during the same period. How is this possible? Join Dr. Alex Thomas, environmental demographer and executive director of the PLACES Institute at SUNY Oneonta, as he explores the relationship between metropolitan growth, second homeownership, and our own population troubles. How do these trends affect taxes, the environment, and school enrollment? And what, if anything, can be done?
Naked Eye Astronomy
This event has been moved to November 11 due to cloudy skies on the 4th. We are hoping for clear skies next week!
November is a beautiful month for stargazing! The skies are darker, and it’s that magic time before winter begins. Dazzling planets are on display this month, with Jupiter and Saturn views! We also hope to explore a number of constellations, asterisms and possibly view the most distant object visible with the naked eye…The Andromeda Galaxy. Join Jim Hill for a night of Naked Eye Astronomy at Mohican Farm.
About 6,000 stars are visible to the naked eye when you can achieve the darkest conditions. Naked-eye astronomy refers to studying the night sky without the aid of any optic device like binoculars or a telescope.
Please, bring comfortable folding chairs and dress warmly! We will meet before the presentation in the workshop on site and then return indoors afterward for hot chocolate. Free!
Stargazing is best with 100% clear and dark skies. The program will be postponed until November 11th if Jim Hill deems the skies and weather unfavorable on the 4th.
Get the Kids Out-Nature Backpack Walk
Nature communicates through various sights, sounds, smells, and sensations. Join OCCA Educator Shelby MacLeish to explore the Village of Cooperstown as we work on getting to know our place and being more aware of our surroundings. Explorers will use Otsego Outdoors Nature Backpacks as exploration tools as we make our way through the village.
The Nature Backpacks are available to check out at Otsego County libraries. Otsego Outdoors is a collaborative program of Otsego 2000, the Otsego County Conservation Association, the Otsego Land Trust, and Butternut Valley Alliance.
If you are interested in this program, click on the link below to sign up.
Get the Kids Out-Emmons Pond Bog
Emmon's pond bog is a delight. Join OCCA educator Shelby MacLeish as we explore the trail, awaken our senses, and reconnect with nature. Our hike will allow us to identify trees and flora and learn the natural history of Emmons Pond Bog.
One Day Watershed-Teacher Training
Join us for a FREE full-day professional development workshop at the Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne, NY, from 9-3 on Saturday, November 4 to learn how to incorporate local watershed studies in your classroom. Participants will explore the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) framework, while furthering their own knowledge of environmental literacy and stewardship. The workshop will include hands-on activities, planning time and networking opportunities. Lunch will be provided and CTLE credits are available.
Spearheaded by the Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA) through a grant from NOAA’s Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program, this workshop is part of a multi-year project that has successfully engaged teachers across New York state in MWEE implementation since 2020.
MWEEs are not a cookie cutter program, but a framework that allows teachers to create learner-centered experiences that build environmental literacy while simultaneously implementing the science and engineering practices of the New York State Science Learning Standards. MWEEs engage the new standards across all grade levels and science curricula, as well as English, Math, Social Studies and Art.
Mushroom Walk-Late Fall-Postponed due to lack of mushrooms!
OCCA and Walk leader Margret Grebowicz are thrilled at how popular this series has become. Again, this walk will add and reinforce knowledge for participants who came on any of the first three walks but is also open to first-time participants. Participants should dress for a walk through the woods, wearing long pants and shoes you don't mind getting muddy. Margret also asks that everyone bring a small knife and paper bag for collecting. The location will be emailed to registered participants.