Five Rivers Environmental Education Center - Upcoming Programs

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Welcome to Winter!

Snow has arrived, and Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, at 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar, Albany County, is your place for exploring the wintry outdoors. Our grounds are open daily, from sunrise to sunset. Our visitor center is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, except state holidays.

REMINDER: Dogs and other pets are not permitted at Five Rivers. If you are looking for a natural area to walk with your pet, we are happy to recommend nearby locations where they are welcome. Call us at 518-475-0291.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS are described below. You can also review our online calendar or print the PDF of our schedule through the end of March. Both are on our programs and events page. Call 518-475-0291 if you have questions.

Saturday, December 23, 10:00 AM – Family Fun: Wild About Winter

We’ll play some games and complete a craft focused on nature in winter, both animals and plants. All are welcome. Adults must accompany children.

Saturday, December 30

10:00 AM – Guided Hike: Wild Turkey Trail

A two-mile round-trip will take us along field edges and into the woods. We may see wintering birds flying over the fields, or grazing deer, experiencing both expansive open-sky views and the intimacy of dense forest. The terrain is flat but uneven at times. An additional half-mile on the Foresman’s Loop is an option.

rabbit tracks

2:00 PM – How to do it: Signatures in the Snow

What do mice, rabbits, deer and birds have in common? They are all active in winter. As they go about eating, drinking, looking for shelter, and avoiding predators, the signs they leave behind tell a story. After an indoor presentation on tracking, we will go out to decipher the clues that give us a glimpse of where animals have been and what they have been doing.

 

 

Sunday, December 31, evening – First Night Celebration

Five Rivers’ staff and friends will be at Bethlehem’s First Night celebration in downtown Delmar. We’ll have games and activities about local wildlife for kids of all ages.

Monday, January 1, 2018, 9:00 AM – Citizen Science: New Year's Bird Count

Join local bird experts for our 37th annual New Year’s Day survey. Seventy-one different species have been found at Five Rivers on Albany’s “First Morning,” and the birds found over the decades of this long-term study show interesting range changes for many species. Binoculars are helpful but not necessary. Dress warmly. If severe weather is forecast, call 518-475-0291 on Saturday, December 30 to confirm if the event will be held.