Education & Outreach

Check out ways to learn about loons by joining a guided paddle, scheduling a presentation or inviting our Education and Outreach Coordinator to your classroom!

Scroll to learn more, and be sure to look for already scheduled events in your area on our Events page.

All Events
Student Art Contest
Two men sitting in a canoe on a lake, each looking through binoculars, with a backdrop of trees and cloudy sky.

Join Us

Paddle with Loons

Let nature show the way.

ACLC staff will guide you on the water while you observe loons in their natural habitat and learn about their behavior and natural history… all from the comfort of your own canoe or kayak.

Paddles cost $75 per person. While every effort is made to locate and view loons, loons are wild animals and their movements are not controlled or influenced.

Register for a Paddle

2026 Guided Paddle Schedule 

***PLEASE NOTE: All paddles will take place within a 20-minute drive of Saranac Lake, unless otherwise specified. We contact all registrants one week before the paddle with the location and directions to allow us the flexibility to paddle where the loons are most active or avoid areas where loons are receiving too much attention.

  • Thursday, May 28 (rain date Sunday, May 31) from 9 am - 12 pm. This is a special paddle event sponsored by the Northern NY Audubon to kick-off the Great Adirondack Birding Celebration.

  • Thursday, June 11 (rain date Friday, June 12) from 10 am - 12 pm

  • Thursday, June 18 (rain date Friday, June 19) from 10 am - 12 pm

  • Thursday, June 25 (rain date Friday, June 26) from 10 am - 12 pm

  • Thursday, July 2 (rain date Friday, July 3) from 10 am - 12 pm

  • Thursday, July 23 (rain date Friday, July 24) from 10 am - 12 pm

  • Thursday, Aug. 13 (rain date Friday, Aug. 14) from 10 am - 12 pm

  • Thursday, Aug. 27 (rain date Friday, Aug. 28) from 10 am - 12 pm

  • Thursday, Sept. 10 (rain date Friday, Sept. 11) from 10 am - 12 pm

  • Thursday, Sept. 24 (rain date Friday, Sept. 25) from 10 am - 12 pm

Cover of a book or flyer titled "Special Wildlife Photography Paddles" with photos of a bird and a photographer, indicating partial proceeds support the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation.
Learn More & Register Here

What to Bring on a Guided Paddle

  • Participants are required to bring their own canoe or kayak and paddles - please plan on transporting your boat to the lake or arrange for a rental company to provide transport. See below for local rental companies.

  • Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or “life vest” for each person (required to wear while paddling)

  • Water bottle and snacks

  • Binoculars and/or camera

  • Hat and/or bug protection

  • Water shoes

  • Rain gear and/or windbreaker

Need a Canoe or Kayak?

Canoes and kayaks can be rented at:

Educational Programs

A woman giving a presentation at a conference with a slide titled 'Loons & Lead' on a large screen, showing an image of two loons on water. The audience is seated at round tables, listening.

Presentations

  • We present on a variety of topics, including but not limited to:

    • Are Loons On Thin Ice with Climate Change?

    • Loons and Lead: It’s Time to Make the Switch

    • Loons as Environmental Sentinels

    • The Secret Lives of Nesting Loons: What We’ve Learned From Nest Cam Studies

  • Speaking fees for presentations vary according to staff availability, opportunity for engagement, driving distance and day of the week, but generally start at $150 for an-person presentation within 30 miles of Saranac Lake or a virtual presentation.

    Click below to email us with a presentation request, and we will happily work with you to schedule a presentation that fits your budget.

Email to Schedule a Presentation
A woman and a young girl giving each other a high-five on colorful stepping stones in a grassy outdoor setting, with a large tent and event booths in the background.

Youth Programs

  • We present science-based, interactive lesson plans and programs to youth ages K-12 in formal classrooms, at summer camps and in any other youth-centered venue. Email us by clicking below to see our line up of lesson plans and youth-presentation topics.

  • All youth programs are free!

Email to Coordinate a Youth Program
A young boy with red hair and freckles wearing a blue fleece jacket, sitting at a table, opening a plastic fishing tackle box filled with fishing supplies.

Lead-Free Tackle Boxes for Kids

  • We want to help young people understand that their choices matter. Wildlife deaths by lead poisoning are 100 percent preventable when anglers choose to fish with lead-free tackle. This program provides a science-based, fun lesson and game to help young anglers understand how lead harms loons, and every young person walks away with a lead-free tackle box starter kit. The target audience for this program are youth ages 5-12.

  • All youth programs are free!

Email to Schedule a Lead-Free Fishing Program for Kids