Things are Cool at Five Rivers 

The heat is rising and the shade is luscious 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.

Mondays, July 8, 15, and 22

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. This is for children in grades K-5 and their caregivers, but all ages are welcome. 

Wednesdays, July 10 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, July 13

10:00 a.m. I Bird NY: Cool Facts About Common Birds   

Join us for a leisurely walk on Five Rivers flat trails. During this walk around ponds and through fields and forests, we will look and listen for some of the common local birds. Come learn about distress calls and territorial songs and other interesting aspects of these species' lives. Please bring binoculars if you have them.

2:00 p.m. Guided Walk: Vlomankill Trail

This lovely trail follows the banks of the Vlomankill stream through towering hemlocks. It is one of the coolest trails on the property, especially on a hot day. On this walk, we will travel about a mile and will encounter some small hills. We hope to see wildflowers and squirrels and listen for birds along the way.

8:00 p.m. Family Fun: Night Hike

Join a Five Rivers naturalist for an unusual guided hike! Enjoy the light of the waxing moon as we take a walk to learn about the nocturnal wildlife living here at Five Rivers. We will stop a few times along the trail to put our senses to the test with nocturnal games. All ages are welcome. Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 10 to register. In the event of inclement weather, this program will be canceled.

Saturday, July 20

10:00 a.m.   Guided Walk: Habitats of Five Rivers  

Five Rivers is home to so many different animals! Join a center naturalist for a walk around the property to see and discuss the different habitats that support these animals. We will see field, forest, marsh, and pond habitats. All ages welcome. Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 17 to register.

2:00 p.m.   Watchable Wildlife: Beaver Tree Trail  

We will take a walk along the Beaver Tree Trail to see what the beavers are up to. We’ll watch for turtles, dragonflies and other critters that share this habitat, as we check the status of the beavers’ dam and lodge. Space is limited. Call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, July 17 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 a.m. to 5 p.m., 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 e-mail 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, e-mail Five Rivers at 5rivers@dec.ny.gov, or visit DEC's website.  

Upcoming Meet the Artists Reception

Thursday, July 25, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.  
Inspired by Five Rivers: Art Exhibit 
Exhibit on Display, July 3 - August 29

Many people are inspired by Five Rivers, including local artists. During July and August, members of the Bethlehem Art Association will exhibit some of their works related to the site in the visitor center.