This Land is Our Land

This Land is Our Land image 1

Spring and summer are the perfect time for families to hit the road and leave all of their responsibilities (and devices) behind! These day trip suggestions will take you to three different types of land conservation areas, each of which offers multiple ways to connect with the natural world.

Where to Go

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Montezuma

Families may have seen Montezuma from a distance while driving east on the New York State Thruway and wondered what it was all about. Why not make this the year you find out? According to Visitor Services Manager Andrea VanBeusichem, the refuge was established in 1938 in response to a significant change in the landscape which impacted many native species. Connecting Seneca and Cayuga lakes to the Erie Canal changed the hydrology of the area, draining away most of the water and forcing wildlife and birds to seek out new homes. In response to this, the National Park Service purchased the nearly seven thousand acres that is now Montezuma and restored the area to its natural state. A designated Audubon Important Bird Area, the refuge is in the middle of one of the most active flight lanes in the Atlantic Flyway, giving migratory birds and waterfowl a place to rest, nest, and feed.

Andrea recommends that families begin their day in the Montezuma Visitor Center. There you can pick up a map and get oriented to the park, check out the taxidermy displays, watch the osprey cam live-streaming, and find out if there is anything special going on at the Refuge that day. The Visitor Center offers “Nature Backpacks” (free to use for the day) to their young guests, complete with field guides and binoculars.

Then head back to your car and take the three-mile Wildlife Drive along the main pool. Keep your eyes open for all types of birds, muskrat, deer, mink, rabbits, and an occasional beaver. For maximum viewing pleasure, Andrea suggests you stay in the car which, like a blind, allows parents and kids to observe the refuge residents without disturbing their daily routines.

Once you’ve taken the drive, stretch your legs on one of the refuge’s trails. South Spring Pool is well-suited for younger children offering an easy walk with diverse scenery. If they’re slow and quiet, kids might spot woodpeckers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Great Blue Herons, or frogs. Older kids will enjoy the slightly more challenging Esker Brook Trail. Don’t forget to take advantage of the viewing towers and platforms!

Montezuma offers one of the best chances to see Bald Eagles in the wild, Andrea says, and there’s a map in the Visitor Center marking their locations. The eagles sit on their nests in the early spring and the young eaglets will evolve into fledglings during summer, an inspirational sight for people of all ages!

3395 US Route 20 East, Seneca Falls
(315) 568-5987
www.fws.gov/refuge/montezuma
Trails are open from dawn to dusk and there is no admission charge. Visitors can bring a picnic lunch or visit one of the nearby stores for refreshments. There are bathrooms both in the Visitor Center and on the property and a well-stocked gift shop.

Beaver Lake Nature Center

Beaver Lake #2

Founded in 1970, Beaver Lake Nature Center (BLNC) is part of the Onondaga County Park system. The park’s mission is “to foster local and global stewardship of nature through diverse recreational and educational opportunities” and the Nature Center offers numerous outdoor activities, along with 400 programs, each year. Naturalist Meg Valovage came to BLNC as a SUNY Cortland intern and never left! With her love of recreation and her desire to teach people about the outdoors, she was instantly drawn to the 2,000 acre, all-seasons Baldwinsville park. “There’s something really special about this place,” she explains. Between school groups and summer camps, more than10,000 kids visit BLNC each year, but it’s just as much fun for individual families, Meg notes and the warmer months are a good time to see migratory birds and to meander through the cool, quiet woods.

Your first stop should be the Visitor Center to pick up a map. Be sure to ask the friendly volunteers or naturalists if there are any special trail conditions to be aware of or any “pop-up” nature walks scheduled for that day. Like Montezuma, BLNC has backpacks for kids to use during their visit, which include a Junior Naturalist Vest, guaranteed to enhance your family photos! The Center also has exhibits, a Wildlife Viewing Room, and a Children’s Room that has quiet activities like books, puppets, and nature videos and games, making it a perfect place for children to rest and recharge between outdoor activities.

There are two ways to enjoy this park, by water or by land. Beaver Lake is 200 acres and no motorized boats are allowed. Kayaks and canoes can be rented from 9am-3:30pm for $10/boat and Meg highly recommends that families try this mode of transportation. “Seeing things from the water gives you a whole different view of nature,” she explains. Trails range in length from the popular Bog Trail, which is about a mile long, to the three-mile Lake Loop Trail. All the trails showcase different habitats, including forests, meadows, pond, and wetlands and there are plenty of opportunities for sharp eyes to spot turtles, frogs, snakes, and various other birds and animals.

8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville
(315) 638-2519
www.onondagacountyparks.com/parks/beaver-lake-nature-center
Trails are open from 7am to 8pm in the warmer months and park admission is $4/car (free for veterans and active military). There are restrooms, a picnic area, and a gift shop there. Please note that BLNC does not permit swimming, hunting, fishing, grills, or dogs and it’s a “carry-in/carry-out” park.

The Great Swamp Conservancy

Great Swamp

Executive Director Marilyn “Rusty” Patane has been part of the Great Swamp Conservancy (GSC) in Canastota from its founding in 1996. “I grew up on a family farm,” she says. “The unspoken message from my parents was that it was our job to be stewards of this earth.” When she became aware that the wetlands around her were rapidly disappearing or being filled in for development, it was cause for concern. “Most species have to rely on the wetlands at some point in their lives,” she explains. With this in mind, Rusty and other dedicated volunteers formed a 501 (c) (3). Working tirelessly with local landowners who were similarly interested in restoring or improving their property, the group acquired 6,000 acres (the most acreage ever put in the wetlands program in the nation!) in the Lenox and Sullivan townships. These restoration efforts also provided GSC with a wonderful opportunity to educate area residents about land conservation through public meetings, many of which included the government scientists, biologists, and engineers who were assisting with the project.

GSC’s West Side Trail is recommended for younger children. It’s about a mile and they’ll be able to see turtles, frogs, and all types of birds, especially on sunny days. For older kids, the East Side Trail (across the street from the Visitor Center) is a 5K loop that traverses through fields, forest, and beaver ponds. There are maps on the front porch of the Visitor Center if you arrive before it opens or after it closes, which are the two times the birds and animals are most active. Don’t forget to stop at the Anne V. Pickard Wildlife Overlook, a pull-off with a panoramic view of the surrounding wetland.

Over 183 species of birds live in or visit the Great Swamp and spring is prime viewing time. “They fly over us and think it looks like a marvelous place to rest and nest,” Rusty says proudly, adding that the one of the most important bird sightings in recent years was the Cerulean Warbler, a bird who has experienced declining numbers in recent years.

For parents that enjoy nature and getting their kids outdoors in a safe place where they can “run, romp, and be children,” GSC is definitely worth the drive. Rusty adds, “We need the younger generations to feel a connection to nature so they will want to protect it and care for it.”

8375 North Main Street, Canastota
(315) 697-2950
www.greatswampconservancy.org
Trails are open from dawn to dusk and there is no admission charge, though donations are much appreciated. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and spend the day. There are restrooms and a gift shop in the Visitor Center (open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am to 3pm.). Dogs are allowed on a leash. Don’t miss the Osprey nesting platform.

Meg believes that a visit to Beaver Lake will be well worth it. “It’s a neat chance for families to disconnect, get back to the basics, and enjoy nature as a family,” she says, noting that doing something active and healthy together in the fresh air is an added bonus of the day trip. “If kids learn to care for the environment and the world around them now, as adults they’ll be more in tune with their environment and make positive decisions such as volunteering in a nature center like this one, being part of an Earth Day cleanup, or even planting a garden in the town they live in,” she adds.

Montezuma can be a meaningful day trip, Andrea notes, because it gives kids the chance to form some positive memories of fun times outdoors while they’re still young and impressionable and they don’t take things for granted the way adults tend to. The wildlife refuge is a perfect place to instill a love of nature in children that, with any luck, they’ll carry with them throughout their lives. “Hopefully as adults they’ll act in ways that support nature and conservation, both in their personal lifestyle and in the way they vote,” she concludes.

What’s the Difference?

Conservancy Land conservancies are community-based, nonprofit organizations dedicated to the permanent protection and stewardship of natural and working lands for the public good. Land conservancies help landowners and communities provide services like water quality protection, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation.
National Wildlife Refuge The National Wildlife Refuge System refers to public lands and waters set aside to conserve and protect America’s fish, wildlife and plants. These areas are managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Nature Center A nature center is an organization with a visitor or interpretive center, usually located within a protected open space. It’s designed to educate people of all ages about nature and the environment.

Susan Henninger is a mother of three and contributing writer to Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. She lives in upstate NY. Contact her at [email protected] or online at www.fingerlakeswriter.com