SUNY Canton Outdoors for All

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SUNY Canton Outdoors for All

Providing the gear, skills, and community to help SUNY Canton Faculty, Staff, & Students explore the outdoors. Because adventure is for everyone.

05/01/2026

For our last field notes Friday of the semester we will be celebrating National Bike Month. Did you know that cyclists often notice more wildlife than walkers or drivers? Because bikes move quietly and at a steady pace, you are much more likely to spot a Great Blue Heron along the Grasse River or catch a glimpse of a fox near the trail edge while heading to your next lab. This May, we are celebrating that connection between two wheels and the world around us. Whether you’re zipping across campus between classes or mountain biking on the campus trail network, you’re discovering the hidden spots that make our campus unique.

Noticed anything on your campus rides lately? Drop a comment with your latest sighting while riding, or tag us in your May bike photos!

04/24/2026

It's Field Notes Friday! If you have ever wondered why a quick walk through the trees suddenly makes your more relaxed? You can thank the chemistry of the forest. Trees actually release airborne chemicals called phytonicides to protect themselves from bugs, but when humans breathe them in, our bodies respond by lowering cortisol levels and boosting our immune systems.

In Japan, they call this Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing, and it is basically a free, natural hack for your brain. Just twenty minutes of sitting outside can significantly lower your stress hormones and recharge your focus better than a third cup of coffee ever could. Nature is not just a backdrop for a hike or a photo op, it is a biological reset button for your nervous system.

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day, SUNY Canton!

You don’t have to be a hardcore "outdoors person" to care about our planet; you just have to find your own way to connect with it. Whether you’re scanning the trees for birds, catching a North Country sunset through a lens, geocaching with friends, or stargazing on a clear night, these moments remind us that we are part of something bigger.

When we find our own way to appreciate the natural world, we naturally want to ensure it stays healthy and vibrant for the faculty, staff, and students who come after us. Conservation starts with a single hike, a night under the stars, or a quiet moment by the river. When we take care of the trails and waterways in our own backyard, we aren’t just preserving a view; we’re protecting the clean air, water, and wildlife that sustain us all. Let’s make sure we leave these places better than we found them.

Show us how are you getting outside today by tag us in your Earth Day adventures!

04/21/2026

TODAY AT 4PM!
There is a hidden world right under your nose and tucked away in the campus woods just waiting for you to find it. Geocaching is essentially a global high-tech treasure hunt where anyone with a smartphone can track down hidden containers ranging from tiny magnetic canisters to large containers. Whether you are a tech enthusiast or just love a good mystery, our upcoming clinic will teach you how to use GPS coordinates to find these caches and navigate the etiquette of the game.

We will cover everything from how to log your finds to the "trackables" you might discover along the way that travel all over the world. Once you learn the art of the hunt, you will start looking at every hollow log and park bench a little differently. Come join us for Geocaching 101 at the volleyball courts to learn the basics and get a reason to explore the outdoors with a brand new perspective. Happy hunting.

04/13/2026

The stars are disappearing, but we can bring them back. Today marks the start of International Dark Sky Week, a global movement to "Go Dark" and protect our view of the night sky from light pollution. You can participate right here in Canton by using citizen science apps like Globe at Night to measure sky brightness, or if you're curious about the impact of light pollution where you live, you can even check the brightness of your own hometown using the Light Pollution Map at https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/. Whether you are stargazing on campus or heading out to the Adirondacks, remember that keeping our nights dark protects local wildlife and preserves the natural beauty of the North Country. Let’s keep our skies clear and our stars bright!

04/10/2026

With rain in the forecast for most of the next week, let's talk about how to stay warm and dry for this Field Notes Friday. Ever hear the saying that "Cotton Kills"? Cotton is basically a sponge that holds onto water and collapses against your skin, sucking away your body heat 25 times faster than dry clothes. If you’re stuck in the rain, you want to stick with wool or synthetics. Wool is a total legend because it actually stays warm when wet; its fibers have a natural crimp that keeps air pockets open for insulation even when you're soaked. It even goes through a weird chemical reaction that releases a tiny bit of heat the moment it hits water.

Synthetics like polyester are your other best bet because they are hydrophobic, meaning they hate water and push it away from your skin so you don't get that gross, swampy feeling under your raincoat. The goal is to keep "dead air" trapped next to your body, which acts like a thermal shield against the cold rain. If you do get totally drenched, wring your gear out immediately. Getting rid of that excess heavy water makes it way easier for your body heat to keep you in the game instead of shivering through your hike.

04/05/2026

SUNY Canton Empire State Service Corps students Cameron Reina of Camillus and Josh Kubik of Attica show off the outdoor items that students, faculty, and staff can borrow from the new Outdoors for All program trailer. Upcoming Outdoors for All programing can be found on the program’s webpage. 🏕

04/03/2026

Happy Field Notes Friday! Today we will be looking at the amazing world of Mushrooms. Beyond being the largest and one of the oldest living things on our planet, mushrooms are basically the unsung heroes of our entire ecosystem and our own health. While the mycelium acts as a giant underground recycling center that breaks down dead material to keep the forest floor healthy, the mushrooms themselves are nutritional powerhouses. They are one of the few non-animal sources of Vitamin D and are packed with unique antioxidants that help your immune system stay sharp during a long semester.

Whether they are providing vital nutrients to the trees around them or helping us stay healthy, mushrooms prove that being a little weird is actually a biological superpower. It is pretty incredible that something so small on the surface can be so massive and beneficial underneath. To learn more about which ones are helpful and how to spot them in the wild, come hang out with for a mushroom walk next Friday at noon at the Volleyball Court. It is the perfect way to see this massive, healthy network in action.

Check out all of our upcoming events at Http://www.canton.edu/outdoors

04/01/2026

Don't let the date fool you, this is not a prank. Take a look at the mockup of our Outdoors for All gear trailer, launching TODAY! We invite all students, faculty, and staff to join us for an look at the equipment available for your outdoor excursions. This trailer serves as your direct gateway to the North Country, providing the gear you need to hit the trails or the water. Stop by Parking Lot 13 (The Miller Campus Center) between 12pm-5pm to meet the team, explore the inventory, and learn exactly how you can check out equipment for your own personal trips. Plus, students who stop by and complete a quick survey can enter for a chance to win one of two $50 College Store gift cards!

03/27/2026

Welcome back to Field Notes Friday! Did you know that as the snow melts in the Adirondacks, our local rivers like the Grasse and Raquette can flow up to ten times faster than they do in mid-summer? This "Spring Rise" is caused by a combination of melting snowpack and spring rains, which can turn a calm creek into a powerful force in just a few hours. Even if the air feels warmer, this meltwater stays near freezing temperatures, making any accidental fall into the water extremely dangerous due to cold water shock. To help you prepare for these early-season hazards, we are hosting a Wilderness First Aid Course next weekend where you can learn how to recognize and treat cold water shock and other wilderness emergencies. Visit canton.edu/outdoors for all the details and to secure your spot.

Address

34 Cornell Drive
Canton, NY
13617

Telephone

+13153867000

Website

https://www.canton.edu/outdoors/

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