Niagara Region Park Interpretive Programs

The #empirestatetrail is fully open!

First Day Hikes from across New York State!

Thank you for kicking off 2021 with our First Day hike at Evangola State Parks. #FDH21 #10thanniversary #nystateparks #getmoreoutdoors

Happy New Year! Thanks for kicking off 2021 with our First Day hike at Knox Farm State Parks. #FDH21 #10thanniversary #nystateparks #getmoreoutdoors

Thank you to all who joined us on our Dose of Nature Autumn Woods Walk program today at Wilson Tuscarora State Park! We appreciate everyone's respectful understanding and cooperation of our current requirements for distancing and mask usage!

Happy New Year! Thanks for kicking off 2021 with our First Day hike at Fort Niagara State Parks. #FDH21 #10thanniversary #nystateparks #getmoreoutdoors

#SundayFunday The Agents of Discovery are getting ready for Halloween! Go on an augmented reality, family friendly, scavenger hunt with them and see if you know more about Halloween than they do. Download the Agents of Discovery app for free from Google Play or the Apple Store, and search for the NYS Parks at Home Halloween Hunt Mission. Print off the image triggers and hide them for a fun hunt or scan them from the computer screen to unlock the challenges. Scan each animal when you find it using the app on your phone. Why not dress up in your Halloween costume to join the fun! Download the images here: parks.ny.gov//AgentsofDiscoveryNYSParksPlayatHomeHalloween or get them from the comments.

A huge thanks to everyone who came on the Daredevils of Niagara Falls Walk! We appreciate everyone's respectful understanding and cooperation of our current requirements for distancing and mask usage!

DYK: New York State is home to 9 bat species! #BatWeek https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/batsofny.pdf

#FridayReads Tomorrow is the birthday of Annie Edson Taylor, and the 119th anniversary of her historic plunge over Niagara Falls! Happy Birthday, Annie!

Fall Foliage Report for the week of October 21-27, 2020!

#TBT October 28, 1992, more than 100 volunteers responded to an early morning fire at Beaver Island State Park. The Casino building was a complete loss, but their efforts prevented any injuries and further damage.

#WildflowerWednesday Dandelion Though seen as a weed in lawns and gardens, Dandelions are bountiful blooms with an array of benefits for wildlife and humans alike. Perennial flowers growing on a hollow stem from a deep taproot and a group of saw-toothed basal leaves, these yellow petals can be spotted in a variety of habitats from May to October. The vibrant yellow color is created from 150-200 petals around the center, which eventually turn into as many as 400 puffy white seeds that are dispersed when a wish is made! While some may not want to see these flowers as they are commonly viewed as weeds, Dandelions offer food for wildlife such as rabbits and groundhogs, nectar and pollen for pollinators, and provide an abundance of vitamins and antioxidants for humans.

#WhereAreWeWednesday Remember the photo taken was somewhere within a New York State Park in the Niagara Region. We have 18 New York State Parks in the Niagara Region. Good Luck!

A huge thanks to the Houghton Colleges Botany Class, for joining us at Knox yesterday for a tree identification course!

In New York State, state parks are managed by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). The state parks and historic sites are organized into eleven regions across the state. Can you guess the regions? #TriviaTuesday

#MicroMonday Below is a magnified picture of something from the local natural world. Take a guess as to what it might be! Good luck!

Watch for our #KayakSafetySunday videos! Each week we will be sharing a new tip to be safe while paddling our waterways - this week will be kayak Strokes. Have fun, be safe, and paddle smart! #nystateparks