The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s mission is sharply focused on protecting areas that have the highest ecological, hydrological, and scenic value in our region, as well as improving those values in areas that have been compromised by prior land uses. Recently we developed a Geographic ...

Human beings are deeply connected to the natural world around us. Whether we’re pet owners, gardeners, or farmers, this bond with nature is something we instinctively seek. Those who keep a connection to the natural world either physically, emotionally, or even spiritually understand that ...

We’ve come to that time of year when we must decide how to manage the leaves that are falling on our yards and grounds. We humans are the guests in our forest environment. The trees and wildlife preceded our disturbance and occupancy. Over time, we’ve learned that leaves provide valuable ...

Unstructured outdoor play, once a defining feature of childhood, has significantly diminished over recent decades due to societal changes of debatable degrees of logic. This decline has serious implications for our kid’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development, and as with so many ...

Here at Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, we protect the land that protects the water. Even though we are nestled on Chautauqua Lake, as a land trust, the lake is not our number one focus. There are so many ponds, creeks, streams, rivers, and even the headwaters of the Mississippi River in our ...

When I arrive to work at the Nature Center each morning, one of the first things I do is check on the hundreds of other ladies in the building. They are usually already working by the time I get there. Some are cleaning while others build, work security, or gather and prepare food. There are ...