Spring is Coming to Five Rivers

Come smell the fresh spring air at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar, Albany County. Five Rivers is your place for exploring the sights and smells this season brings. Our grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Our visitor center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except state holidays.

Reminder: 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.

Programs are free of charge unless otherwise noted. Outdoor programs may be canceled due to inclement weather. Call to confirm. Organized groups should call ahead to ensure we can accommodate your group. If not, we are happy to make alternate arrangements. You can also review our online calendar on our programs and events page. Call 518-475-0291 if you have questions.

We welcome those who have any type of physical challenge to our programs. Call ahead to let us know your needs. We will be happy to learn how we can accommodate you.

Friends of Five Rivers: Friends of Five Rivers (FOFR) is the year-round community support group for the Center. Members receive a discount on select items at the FOFR store, complimentary snowshoe loans, reduced fees for some programs, and a subscription to the newsletter River Ramblings. Membership levels and volunteer information are available at FriendsofFiveRivers.org or call 518-475-0295.

Snowshoes are available for rent from the Friends of Five Rivers (FOFR) for $5 per pair; free for FOFR members (must show a current member card or be on the current members list). Rental fees apply during guided programs, except for “learn to…” programs. Snowshoes may only be used on site and must be returned by 4 p.m. on the day of rental. No snowshoes will be rented after 3 p.m. Renters must be at least 16 years old and complete the rental agreement form available at the greeters desk. To minimize damage to the equipment, there must be at least six inches of snow on the ground.

Saturdays, March 23 and 30

1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Maples Open House   

Join us for an introduction to maple sugaring, from tap and sap to syrup. You’ll get to twirl a brace and bit, pound a spile, inspect the sap flow, enjoy the aroma of sap boiling in our evaporator and take the maple syrup taste test challenge. A local maple producer will be on site to answer questions and offer a variety of maple products for sale. Organized groups, please call to register.

Tuesday, April 2  

6:30 p.m.  The Future of Moose: A View From Vermont   

The moose, the largest mammal to walk in the Northeast since the mastodon, was eliminated from much of the region, including all of New York, before the Civil War. Even as a regional recovery was underway in the 1970s and 1980s, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds, from hunters to hikers, celebrated their return, an ominous storm was forming on the horizon. Join Scott Darling, Big Game Director for Vermont Fish and Wildlife, as he tells the story of moose in Vermont and what this storm means across the region and the country.