Celebrate the loon at Paul Smiths VIC Oct. 5

SARANAC LAKE | The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (ACLC) invites everyone to the 2025 Loon Celebration to be held at Paul Smith's Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 12 to 4 p.m. The day starts off with a guided paddle on Lake Clear from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with ACLC staff members to learn about loons from the comfort of your own boat. Registration for the guided paddle is required; this is the only event of the day that requires a fee. Visit adkloon.org/paddles to learn more and to register online. The Loon Celebration officially begins at 12 p.m. with games and face painting for kids, live music by Fulton's Folly, food for purchase, and a chance to learn about ACLC programs and research. Anglers who would like to turn in lead tackle can exchange it for a $10 voucher to purchase non-lead tackle at participating tackle shops. See a full list of participating tackle shops on our website at adkloon.org/lead-tackle-buy-back-program. Northern New York Audubon will lead a guided nature walk on the VIC's trails beginning at 12:30 p.m. Prepare for a one-hour walk: wear comfortable shoes and bring appropriate layers for the weather. This is also the last chance to purchase raffle tickets for a beautiful, 10'6" Classic Hornbeck canoe. This ultralight backcountry canoe weighs only 15 lbs. and is the perfect vessel for exploring Adirondack lakes and waterways. Raffle tickets are one ticket for $20 or six tickets for $100. Tickets can be purchased through ACLC's website, in person at the Adirondack Loon Center on Main Street in Saranac Lake or at the Loon Celebration until 3 p.m. At 2 p.m. all will be invited to participate in a Loon Call Contest. Everyone is encouraged to participate, and compete for prizes awarded to the "best" (loosely defined) loon callers. Guest speaker James "Jim" Paruk will deliver a presentation called "A Journey into the Loon World" at 3 p.m. in the auditorium. Jim is an associate professor in the biology department at St. Joseph's College of Maine. He is also a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Research Institute's Loon Center for Conservation. Jim has studied loons for more than 20 years and is considered an expert on the species. He is the author of the book "Loon Lessons." Each chapter describes a different aspect of the common loon's biology and natural history in engaging storytelling and approachable scientific prose. Copies of "Loon Lessons" will be available for purchase at the Loon Celebration. This year's limited edition Loon Celebration T-shirt features a print by Toronto artist Laani Teetsov, available for purchase at the event. Remaining T-shirts will be available at the Loon Center in the days after the event, but when they're gone, they're gone. It's not too late to start your collection of annual Loon Celebration shirts. Check out @adkloon on Facebook and Instagram to see the T-shirt reveal in the days leading up to the Loon Celebration. "We're really excited for this year's event," said Denise Silfee, ACLC Director of Education and Communications. "We can't do what we do to conserve Adirondack loons without the support of our communities. We want this event to be fun and accessible to everyone, to show our appreciation of that support." To learn more, visit the ACLC website at adkloon.org. For questions, please call the Adirondack Loon Center at 518-354-8636.

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Celebrate the loon at Paul Smiths VIC Oct. 5

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