This month, the CFOC Nonprofit Spotlight features Otsego Outdoors. A collaborative program of four Otsego County nonprofits: Otsego 2000, the Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA), the Otsego Land Trust, and the Butternut Valley Alliance, Otsego Outdoors connects residents and visitors to year-round outdoor recreation in and near Otsego County.
“Spending time outside benefits physical as well as mental health,” says Peg Odell of Otsego 2000, which manages the Otsego Outdoors program. “The many outdoor spaces we share enhance the quality of life for those of us who call Otsego County home. Otsego Outdoors works to promote outdoor recreation, and connect people to events, volunteer opportunities, and places to explore solo, with friends, with family, or with an organized group.”
Otsego Outdoors promotes publicly accessible places to hike, paddle, fish, snowshoe, cross country ski, cycle, and enjoy our beautiful region. Otsego Outdoors offers a new Otsego Octet Challenge each season, and as an incentive, successful participants receive a free patch, a free sticker, and a listing on the Otsego Outdoors Challenge Roster. Since the program started in February 2021, more than 1,050 people (and dogs) have completed Otsego Octet Challenges.
The Community Foundation of Otsego County awarded Otsego Outdoors a grant for the Otsego Outdoors Nature Backpack program so they could reach out to more families with young children and give them tools to enjoy hikes together. As a result, all 13 public libraries in the county (Cherry Valley Memorial Library, Village Library of Cooperstown, Edmeston Free Library, Gilbertsville Free Library, Harris Memorial Library in Otego, Huntington Memorial Library in Oneonta, Kinney Memorial Library in Hartwick, Milford Free Library, Morris Library, Richfield Springs Public Library, Springfield Library, Unadilla Public Library, and Worcester-Schenevus Library) have Nature Backpacks for library users to check out free of charge with a library card. The Nature Backpacks include 5 field guides, kid-sized binoculars, activity ideas, pocket magnifiers, and magnifying “bug” boxes. The Backpacks are also available to check out for the day at Oneonta World of Learning in Fortin Park in Oneonta.
Library Directors are happy to have another resource available for their patrons. Four County Library System Outreach and Youth Services Coordinator Sarah Reid said, “These backpacks are a wonderful resource for families to get started exploring the beautiful outdoor spaces that our region has to offer. Public libraries are all about encouraging exploration and lifelong learning, and these materials support local families in both those areas! We are grateful to be able to partner with Otsego Outdoors on this fantastic project.”
“Kids are excited to carry the pack. Everyone loves the binoculars and the identification guides,” said Claire Ottman, director of the Cherry Valley Memorial Library.
Otsego Outdoors is using funds raised during CFOC’s Mohawk Valley Gives to purchase more items for the Nature Backpacks.
Content provided by Otsego 2000.
For more information, please contact outdoors@otsego2000.org or visit www.otsegooutdoors.org.
