Summer is in Full Swing at Five Rivers 

The sun is shining and the birds are flying 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.

Wednesdays, June 26 through October 16   

1:00 p.m.  Citizen Science: Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP)   

Take part in ongoing research on monarch butterflies. For more than 15 years, data collected at Five Rivers has been contributed to this continent-wide citizen science project conducted through the University of Minnesota. The goal of the MLMP is to better understand how and why monarch populations vary, with a focus on their distribution and abundance during the breeding season in North America. Volunteers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico aid in conserving monarchs and advance understanding of butterfly ecology and migration in general. Wear long pants and bring a sun hat and water. We will meet at the visitor center. Go to University of Minnesota website to learn about the project.

Saturday, June 29

10:00 a.m. Guided Hike: Wild Turkey Trail   

This two-mile walk on Wild Turkey Trail features some of the best grassland habitat Five Rivers has. We will walk along Five Rivers’ WHIP (wildlife habitat improvement program) parcel and discuss the management of this grassland. We will observe the species that benefit from all the hard work our staff and volunteers put into maintaining the meadow. This walk then circles through a beautiful hemlock forest before bringing you back to the meadow. If you have them, bring binoculars to observe our grassland species.

2:00 p.m. Watchable Wildlife: Turtle Talk and Walk   

We will begin indoors with a half-hour presentation featuring live turtles. We will then venture outside to walk along the shores of Five Rivers’ ponds to identify species of basking turtles. Along the way, we will also listen for and learn how to identify frogs by their calls. Bring binoculars if you have them.

Mondays, July 1

1:00 p.m.  Family Fun: Monday Funday Explorers  

Get outside and explore Five Rivers! Meet us in front of the visitor center to head out on an adventure. Each week we will have a different theme and explore a new trail. Come for as many sessions as you’d like, and dress for outdoor activity. For children in grades K-5 and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome. 

5:00 p.m.  Citizen Science: Five Rivers WAVE Training

Have you ever wondered about the cleanliness of a stream? Be a part of the WAVE as a Water Assessment Volunteer Evaluator! Did you know that we can easily determine the water quality of our streams by sampling for animals? Join us for a 45-minute presentation indoors, and then a hands-on sampling demonstration on the Vlomankill. Be prepared to walk the stream and get your hands wet! Close-toed shoes required. This program is designed for ages 12 and up. Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Thursday, June 27 to register.

Saturday, July 6

10:00 a.m.   Watchable Wildlife: Herp Search  

Join us for a reptile and amphibian exploration! We will hike the trails and search for the elusive herpetofauna living here at Five Rivers. Along the way, we will learn some of the cool adaptations that help these animals survive, and some of the threats they face. Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 3 to register.

2:00 p.m.   Citizen Science: Annual Butterfly Count  

If you like “coppers” and “blues,” you’re either inside watching police dramas or outside watching butterflies. And what a show these “flying flowers” can be! Join us for a close-up look at common butterflies of the Capital District as we continue our annual bio-assay. Nets (for catch and release) or binoculars are welcome. Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 3 to register.

Upcoming Workshop for Teachers

Wednesday and Thursday, July 10 & 11

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.   Living Environment Institute: Wonderful Wetlands  

Hosted by Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in coordination with the National Estuarine Research Reserve and Cornell University

What: Wonders of Wetlands (WOW)
Where: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar, NY
Date: July 10–11, 2019
Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a light dinner provided on Thursday during our wrap up
Cost: $50.00 for resources and refreshments

To register or for more information, call 518-475-0291 or email 5Rivers@dec.ny.gov

Join us for the Living Environment Institute (LEI), as we explore wetlands. Wetlands are relevant and exciting topics for students and teachers alike. LEI participants will explore the wide variety of wetlands. We will look at the wetlands through the multidisciplinary eyes of artists, scientists, resource managers, and ourselves.

LEI participants will bring home an understanding of the essential role of wetlands, gain valuable knowledge, standards-based curriculum and activities, and connect with a network of peers. We'll do this with the guidance of experts who will share techniques for engaging students across disciplines and grade levels.

Teachers and youth educators of all ages and grades are welcome. NYS-Certified teachers and administrators will receive NYS Department of Education’s CTLE hours, and this program fulfills the requirements of the National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) program.

For more information, contact Five Rivers at 518-475-0291, email Five Rivers at 5rivers@dec.ny.gov, or visit http://dec.ny.gov/education/1905.html.