World Conservation Day in Cortland County

#CortlandConservation

World Conservation Day is July 28th and Cortland County SWCD is celebrating all week from July 25th – July 31st. As your local Conservation Agency – working to protect county soil and water resources and educate the public for 75 years- SWCD has created a variety of activities and resources so you can get outside, appreciate the natural lands in our community, and get involved in their conservation.

To get you thinking about conservation, we have created a list of some activities for individuals and families below.

We’ve compiled a list of County recreation locations to consider visiting, some well-known and some more unique and secluded.

A nature walk scavenger hunt is another fun way to get outside and celebrate natural resources in our community. We have made a checklist of fun nature items to look for on your stroll as a family, a couple, or during solo relaxation time.

NYSDOT sponsors roadside cleanups, or you can do a clean-up of your own along your street, in a park, or along a stream.  We’ve even created a SWCD Litter Clean up scavenger hunt to make things more fun and challenging!  Once you find an item, pick it up and cross it off the list, then bring all of the trash home so it can no longer impact the local ecosystem.

You can print your own personal flat Ronny Raindrop to take along with you on your outdoor Cortland County adventures!  Remember to take a photo to show where his friends have brought him, and post with the hashtag #FlatRonny.

With these materials we hope you can stop a minute to take a closer look at all the living things around us and how they make life better in Cortland County. Once we realize how lovely our natural lands in Central New York are, we should take some time and try our best to protect it.

Celebrate your efforts and take photos of your activities and experiences. Send them to us or post to social media with the hashtag #CortlandConservation, so we can see what you’ve been up to!

World Conservation Day Activities

  • Conduct a clean-up activity
  • Go for a hike or nature walk
  • Go on a scavenger hunt
  • Visit a natural area
  • Photograph something beautiful
  • Take “Flat Ronny Raindrop” exploring with you
  • Go berry picking
  • Plant a tree
  • Put up a bird house or feeder
  • Go fishing
  • Install a rain barrel
  • Start a compost pile
  • Go boating, kayaking, or tubing
  • Plant a native flower garden – natives support birds and pollinators!
  • Fly a kite
  • Go bird watching
  • Watch a sunrise, sunset or find a view from the top of a hill
  • Enjoy stargazing and identify constellations
  • Collect and press leaves
  • Go geocaching
  • Swim in your local lake or river – be safe!
  • Have a picnic in your local park or natural area
  • Take a picture while enjoying nature! #CortlandConservation