Breaking News

Outdoor

Audubon Little Explorers learn about bears Saturday, January 13

Bears are one of the biggest mammals around, so where do they go during the winter? On Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. those interested can find out during the next Audubon Community Nature Center Little Explorers, aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 8 and their parents, to investigate the black bears often found in the Chautauqua and Warren county area. What makes the black bear different from other kinds of bears and what do all bears have in common? The shy, playful animals have a varied diet and adaptations to help them survive. Join Audubon to learn more about their ...

Adrift on the river of life

I wanted to write an article for you about setting goals for the year. It was going to be a practical and spiritual path to accomplish something for fun, for growth, and for self betterment. But I can’t write it. I feel like I should have a pile of resolutions and goals for the year, yet ...

Natural Rule breakers

Nature always surprises me. That’s one of my favorite things about it. It’s unpredictable and exciting. I never know what I am going to stumble across while out on a walk, or while reading up on an animal, even one I thought I was familiar with. Recently, I’ve been compiling ...

Chapman Dam State Park to host First Day Hike

Chapman Dam State Park will participate in the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resource’s First Day Hike on New Year’s Day. The guided hike will begin at 9 a.m. and will take hikers around the lake. Participants are asked to gather at parking lot 1. The hike is anticipated to last until approximately 11 a.m. Chapman is one of 43 state parks hosting nearly 60 hikes all occurring on Jan. 1. DCNR hosts the hikes annually. The theme this year is “Connecting More in 2024.” The hikes are “designed to promote a healthy start in the New Year while offering ...

Urban Connections backpacking program comes to ANF

The Allegheny National Forest joined forests nationwide this year to provide urban residents a chance to connect with nature. Over the summer, individuals from major urban areas visited the forest for the Urban Connections backpacking program. The ANF offered overnight backpacking trips with loaned equipment. ANF staff lead the trips and provide information on safe and responsible camping in remote areas. The trips are supplemented with informational materials provided by the Forest Service. The National Forest Services offers the program to residents of Boston, Minneapolis/St. ...

Going off-trail in the winter

The bare branches and dormant plants of winter may seem like a one-note experience with just a cursory glance, but they also provide a window into an otherwise hidden world if you take time to look in the trees and search between the brambles and dead grasses. Look up into the tree branches ...