FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Despite heavy rains in the region, an estimated 650 people attended the 2nd Annual Outdoor Adventure Day at Fort Drum on Saturday, off of Route 26.
The event was a partnership between Fort Drum's Environmental Division and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County to create a free, family-friendly event focused on outdoor recreation and natural resources. Other event participants included Fort Drum's Parks and Recreation and McEwen Library; Fort Drum's Directorate of Emergency Services Fire and Police Departments; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Mineral Resources; the Sci-Tech Museum of Northern New York in Watertown; Thousand Islands Land Trust in Clayton; FishCap in Canton; Jefferson Community College in Watertown, and the Fort Drum Chapter of Project Healing Waters.
The event featured hands-on activities and live demonstrations appropriate for adults and children of all ages.
Activities included tree felling and chainsaw safety demonstrations; shooting air pistols; archery; casting with different types of fishing rods and handling live bait; learning about trapping, including live demonstrations of skinning a beaver, fox and raccoon; using GPS units to find geocaches; trying waterfowl, turkey and deer calls; scaling a climbing wall; seeing an Air Force weather station operate and making a homemade weather station; learning about local rocks and minerals; getting up close to equipment used by the fire department and game wardens; making trail mix; and much more.
There also were live animals and taxidermist mounts from Fort Drum on display; an arts and crafts tent; and a visit from Smokey Bear.
To learn more about Outdoor Adventure Day, visit Fort Drum's Fish and Wildlife Management Program website at http://fortdrum.isportsman.net.
Fort Drum's Fish and Wildlife Management Program
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