Nature First

Take a walk among nature along the St. Lawrence River in Massena, NY.

Story by Amanda DeLosh
Photos courtesy of Jordan Tyo

Lions and tigers and bears, Oh my! Well, maybe not. Yet if you subtract those other animals, and add deer, raccoons, and squirrels in their place, then you have the Massena (NY) Nature Center.

As part of the Robert Moses State Park, the Nature Center is nestled in between the woods near the Eisenhower Locks, and the New York State Power Dam. It brings children and adults of all ages together to join in and explore.

Nicole Hayes, a past employee at the Nature Center said there are real and mounted animals occupying the main building along with nature trails for the adventurous type. Also, there are some activities offered for kids.

"I like the nature trail because it allows myself to think more clearly without the hustle and bustle of everyday life."

These activities range from learning about wildlife to different plant life surrounding the area.

Donna Henrie, a teacher at Nightengale Elementary School in Massena, NY, has taken her students out to the Nature Center for field trips. She says, "The students can tour the Nature Center, touch fur from real animals, make animal tracks in plaster, see Axel the parrot, Iggie the iguana and other live birds, also the ferret."

She goes on to say, "They (students) walk the trails in both spring and winter." She also says that they have taken picnics there and were able to feed the birds and observe other animal habitats.

As you enter the Nature Center, there are live exhibits as well as stuffed animal mounts. An aquarium filled with different fish is something else children can enjoy looking at.

After visiting some fish, visitors can make their way to a cabinet filled with live bees, which are all making delicious honey while protecting the queen bee.

Also inside the nature center is a gift shop. All of these profits go towards up keep with the animals and the center in general. There are shirts, stuffed animals, and other souvenirs people can buy for remembrance of their trip.

"I like taking the kids there because it’s so educational. It gets the kids outdoors and helps them learn about and appreciate the environment," says Henrie. "It’s also very ‘hands-on’."

While visiting the Nature Center you can have a guided tour. Hayes says, "If there were visitors I would show them around and take the animals out for them."

Jordan Tyo, who is a frequent Nature Center visitor, says, "I like the nature trail because it allows myself to think more clearly without the hustle and bustle of everyday life."

He continues saying, "I go to the nature trail to think about things and see the scenery and how beautiful nature can be."

"We’ll go again because it’s so educational. So many kids are not in touch with nature. It helps them to appreciate our environment and become familiar with nature, plants and animals,"

The nature trails are throughout the woods, Tyo says, "It borders the St. Lawrence River so you can see some water."

While walking on the trails people will witness nature at its best following the sounds of many different birds, along with the noise of crickets in the summer time, and maybe spotting a few deer along the water.

If you enjoy wintertime, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing will be a favorite activity.

Henrie says the last time they went to the Nature Center was in February for a winter walk. "We toured the Center, made plaster casts of animal tracks, observed and touched live animals and fed birds right out of our hands."

After you bare the cold, inside the visitor area there is a fireplace and benches around to warm up during wintertime after a day outside. "We had a nice picnic lunch in their fireplace room," says Henrie.

Some of the employees at the Nature Center are volunteers. These people help out with keeping the visitor center clean and help with daily activities that occur.

With the friendly employees and volunteers, the time spent at the Nature Center is sure to be a good one. Tyo says, "Every time I had a question they answered it well, like what certain animals do when threatened."

While visiting the Nature Center people will be able to take away not only the beauty of nature but also a learning experience that will always stick with them.

"We’ll go again because it’s so educational. So many kids are not in touch with nature. It helps them to appreciate our environment and become familiar with nature, plants and animals," says Henrie.

Would you ever visit the Nature Center?