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Chair
Jul 1, 2016
Tom Wheeler
northflow@gmail.com
315-386-2482
It was quite a surprise to me when John Omohundro mentioned how many state forests there are within St. Lawrence County. We drive by a few on the highways we frequently travel but often give them but fleeting notice. However, after John brought this up I went to the DEC website and its listing of State Forests by region. There I found pages for each forest with descriptions and maps. A number of them are quite intriguing. Moreover, they are spread throughout the county outside the blue line. I have visited a few in the past month and some look quite inviting for a hike, birdwatching, or a walk in the woods. This also took me to areas within the county that I had not visited before. The experience enhanced my appreciation for what a scenic and varied county this is. We live in a county that is richly endowed with recreational opportunities. Our country roads are ideal for bicycling. Our rivers have scenic waterfalls and paddling opportunities. We have varied landscapes, ponds, lakes, swamps, fens, mountains, and hardwood, pine, mixed and boreal forests. Over 200 species of birds can be seen in the county. The varied landscape provides ecosystems with tremendous diversity in plant life. One could spend a lifetime outdoors in this county and still leave great portions unexplored. This is truly the land of recreational opportunity. And of course, our Canadian members would suggest that just north of the county there are additional wonderful recreational opportunities.
It is summer. This is the perfect time of year to get out and explore whether in a chapter outing, with friends and family, or on your own. Have a great summer.