Turtles Are Out at Five Rivers

Come see new life emerge 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.

Thursday, April 18

4:30 p.m.  Watchable Wildlife: Outdoors After School   

Join us after school to get some fresh air, stretch your legs, and have fun outdoors. We’ll meet in front of the visitor center to head out on an adventure. Each week will have a different theme and will include time to explore. Come for as many sessions as you’d like, and dress for outdoor activity. For children in grades K–5 and their caregivers.

Saturday, April 20

7:30 a.m.  I Bird NY: NHMBC Field Outing - Early Migrants II   

Join members of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club for a walk through the varied habitats of Five Rivers as we explore fields, ponds, woodlands, and marshes. You can observe more than 40 bird species on a favorable day in mid-April. Be prepared for wet trails. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot.

10:00 a.m.  Family Fun: Outdoors Explorers' Treasure Hunt
Follow a map and some playful clues to find some nature fun at Five Rivers on this guided outing. Your young outdoor explorers will help us read the map and hints along the way, so those who enjoy a quest are encouraged to join us on this expedition!

2:00 p.m.  Guided Walk: Beaver Tree Trail
Join a Five Rivers naturalist for a guided walk around Beaver Pond. We'll watch for signs of activity from beavers and their neighbors as we enjoy a leisurely stroll along the trail.

Monday, April 22

All Week Family Fun: Five Rivers Scavenger Hunt

Stop in at the visitor center and pick up a scavenger hunt before heading out to walk the trails at Five Rivers. Bring your imagination and your observation skills, because this scavenger hunt is not about collecting things. Instead, it’s all about completing a list of activities, from gazing at clouds, to touching the earth, to taking a closer look at insects. Visitor center hours: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Watchable Wildlife: Turtle Trek   

Meet us in the visitor center to learn a little about turtles before exploring the Beaver Tree Trail. Join us after school to get some fresh air, stretch your legs, and have fun outdoors. We’ll meet in front of the visitor center to head out on an adventure. Each week will have a different theme and will include time to explore. Come for as many sessions as you’d like, and dress for outdoor activity. For children in grades K–5 and their caregivers. 

2:00 p.m.  EarthQuest Simulation Game

Join Rob Breen from DEC’s Office of Climate Change to play EarthQuest, a role-play game focused on climate change and sustainability. Appropriate for middle and high school students, the game will challenge players to think creatively about solutions for environmental problems. Our version of the game will be set in New York State’s Capital District and the Upper Hudson River Estuary. Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 to register. Organize your friends and bring a group.

Wednesday, April 24

2:00 p.m.  EarthQuest Simulation Game

Join Rob Breen from DEC’s Office of Climate Change to play EarthQuest, a role-play game focused on climate change and sustainability. Appropriate for middle and high school students, the game will challenge players to think creatively about solutions for environmental problems. Our version of the game will be set in New York State’s Capital District and the Upper Hudson River Estuary. Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 to register. Organize your friends and bring a group.

Friday, April 26

10:00 a.m.  Zion National Park: Carving the Canyon - The Geologic Story of Zion

Zion National Park’s geologic story involves deposition, uplift, and erosion, and is a stunning example of the geologic processes that created Earth. Zion National Park is located along the edge of a region known as the Colorado Plateau. The rock layers have been uplifted, tilted, and eroded, forming a feature called the Grand Staircase, a series of colorful cliffs stretching between Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. Through this program, you will gain an understanding of the unique and complex geologic story of Zion and the American Southwest. Attendees will interact with park rangers via the internet to discuss the formation of the canyon, and then engage in a critical-thinking activity about erosion and engineering. The program lasts approximately one hour and is designed for grades 4, 5, and 6, but all ages are welcome.

2:00 p.m.  EarthQuest Simulation Game

Join Rob Breen from DEC’s Office of Climate Change to play EarthQuest, a role-play game focused on climate change and sustainability. Appropriate for middle and high school students, the game will challenge players to think creatively about solutions for environmental problems. Our version of the game will be set in New York State’s Capital District and the Upper Hudson River Estuary. Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 to register. Organize your friends and bring a group.

Saturday, April 27

10:00 a.m.  Guided Walk: Signs of Spring   

Join the Five Rivers staff for a family-friendly walk using our senses to observe signs of spring. In this outdoor program, we will talk about animal signs and sounds, vernal pools, and plant life that emerge as the days get longer and warmer. Please dress appropriately for the weather.