Check Out the Wildlife at Five Rivers 

Come see what the local wildlife is up to in the peak of the summer heat 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, August 5, 12 and 19

1 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, August 7 through October 16   

1 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, August 10

10 a.m.  Watchable Wildlife: Beaver Tree Trail  

A favorite with families, this trail features several scenic overlooks and close approaches to the Beaver Pond, with excellent opportunities to enjoy seasonal flora and fauna and the beaver lodge. Join us as we watch for muskrats, turtles and their neighbors.

2 p.m.  Guided Walk: Wow, It's Hot!  

Take a stroll along the Service Loop Trail as we talk about how animals keep cool in the summer heat. Did you know vultures poop on their feet? Coyotes use their tongues to cool off. What do snakes do? And hey, we can't forget the plants! They must do something when they get hot, too.

7:30 p.m.  Family Fun: Night Hike - Night Owls  

Who who who whoooo wants to learn about nocturnal life at Five Rivers? Join the staff on a night hike and learn how animals have adapted to life in the dark. We’ll use our senses to explore. All ages welcome. Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, August 7 to register. This program will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.

Saturday, August 17

10 a.m.   Family Fun: A is for Apple!  

Join us for a fun-filled walk for the whole family as we create our own Five Rivers alphabet booklet. We’ll photograph animals, plants and people in action at Five Rivers, until we have a photo for each letter of the alphabet. I wonder what we’ll find for Q and Z!

2 p.m.   Watchable Wildlife: National Honey Bee Day   

Honey bees have both fascinating and important lives. Come celebrate National Honey Bee Day with Five Rivers staff! We will talk about the importance of honey bees, threats to their survival, and ways you can help. Take a walk to see our different hives where we will observe honey bee behavior and taste their delicious honey! Space is limited. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, August 14 to register.

Upcoming Workshop for Teachers

Tuesday through Thursday, August 20, 21 & 22

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.   Living Environment Institute: Watershed Adventures  

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

What: Watershed Adventures
Where: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar, NY
Date: August 20–22, 2019
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an evening program on Wednesday (until 7 p.m.; light dinner provided)
Cost: $60.00 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 Institutes (LEI), as we explore watersheds. Watersheds are relevant and exciting topics for students and teachers alike. LEI participants will explore the Hudson River watershed, from New York’s mountains to the river itself. We will look at the watershed through the multidisciplinary eyes of artists, scientists, resource managers, and ourselves.

LEI participants will bring home an understanding of the essential role of watersheds, 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.