Champlain Area Trails (CATS), an accredited land trust, held its first Winter Day Celebration on Saturday, March 2nd, at SUNY Plattsburgh’s Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center. CATS partnered with SUNY Plattsburgh’s College Auxiliary Services (CAS) to encourage community members to spend the day outdoors, participate in winter recreational activities, and connect with nature.
Close to 30 community members gathered to celebrate winter and explore the trails at Twin Valleys, which Champlain Area Trails improved with the help of volunteers. While CATS anticipated that people would cross-country ski and snowshoe on snowy trails, hikers enjoyed exploring 10 miles of open trails, including wooded paths and scenic meadows. After the hike, they were welcomed back with a warm bonfire and refreshing drinks. The event was free and open to the public, providing an excellent opportunity for participants to discover and appreciate the beauty of the CATS trails. Children enjoyed finding sticks to roast marshmallows around the bonfire while everyone warmed up with hot cocoa after their hikes.
“A core part of our mission is to get people outside and help them develop meaningful connections with nature in all seasons,” said Chris Maron, Executive Director of CATS. “Events like our Winter Day Celebration show that there are plenty of ways to get outside and have fun during the colder months in the North Country.”
Catherine Keleher, Executive Director of CAS, expressed her gratitude for the partnership with Champlain Area Trails. She said, “It allowed us to welcome people to use our beautiful trails while honoring two of CAS’s core values – sustainability and community engagement. We are excited that our fellow community members came out and enjoyed this special day at Twin Valleys.”
Next up, CATS has planned its annual Grand Hike on May 11th, a 14-mile hike from Westport, NY, to Essex, NY, with an après hike block party celebration at the Essex Inn.
For more information on CATS and upcoming events, please visit www.champlainareatrails.com.
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