The Air is Clear and Cool at Five Rivers 

Enjoy the fall season and changing colors 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.

Now through November 29

Art Exhibit: Brew the Roost    

What’s the connection between Capital Region birds and the coffee in your cup? Explore this question with Brew the Roost, a series of interactive quilts that highlight the seasonal migration of birds and the importance of shade-grown coffee in maintaining biodiversity in coffee-growing regions. Quilts will be updated every two weeks as the fall migration progresses. This family-friendly art exhibit, created by local artist Katherine Lynn Bierman, will be on view in the visitor center through Thanksgiving.

Tuesdays, October 1, 15, and 29

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Young Conservationists Book Club    

How do YOU think we can protect nature for the future? Join the conservation conversation. Our meetings will start with a short hike or activity and end with a discussion about the week’s topic. Participants will receive a free Conservationist for Kids magazine that will be used as a guide for our conversation. Parent(s) and child(ren) must accompany each other. This program is designed for children in grades 2–8.

Thursdays, October 3, 10, 17 and 24

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.  Friends of Five Rivers Talk n' Trek: Homestead Crafts    

We will be heading outdoors to learn about wildflowers, mushrooms, grasses and trees/nuts that grow at Five Rivers. On our walk, we’ll discuss life cycles, ecosystem niches, and importance or use to homesteaders. We will collect a few samples and head indoors to create a keepsake. Not into crafting? Feel free to leave after the walk. Participants are asked to dress for the weather and bring along water and a snack. Please meet at Five Rivers’ Guided School Program Building.

Fee: $50 for members, $75 for non-members for all five weeks

Registration: Contact Nancy Conway at gsp5rivers@outlook.com or 518-475-0295.

Thursdays, October 3 through 24

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Outdoors After School    

Are you tired of sitting at a desk all day? Join us after school to get some fresh air, stretch your legs, and have fun outdoors. Meet at the visitor center to begin our adventure. Come for as many sessions as you’d like, and dress for outdoor activity. For children in grades K-5 and their caregivers.

Friday, October 4

Feathered Friends: Birdseed Orders Due    

This is the last day to order birdseed through the Friends of Five Rivers’ Annual Birdseed Sale. This benefit sale not only helps the birds, but also generates supplemental funding for Five Rivers’ programming. Order pickup will be at Five Rivers on Saturday, October 19. For more information or an order form, visit the Friends of Five Rivers website, or call the Friends at 518-475-0295.

Saturday, October 5

10:00 a.m. Guided Walk: World Habitat Day   

Celebrate World Habitat Day by exploring the habitats of Five Rivers! Join us for a short informational presentation about the habitats found at Five Rivers and the animals that call them home. Afterward, enjoy a guided nature walk along Five Rivers trails looking for wildlife and signs of their activity in their habitats. All ages are welcome.

2:00 p.m. How to Do It: Vermicomposting

Let worms do the work. Did you know 30–40 percent of food is thrown out and ends up in landfills, and that food waste is a contributing factor to climate change? Learn ways to reduce your carbon footprint by using worms to compost food scraps, transforming them into nutrient-rich compost. Best of all, it can be done indoors and is easy to maintain.

Saturday, October 12

10:00 a.m. Guided Walk: Trek Among the Trees   

Let’s seek out the best fall foliage at Five Rivers. The destination will depend on where the best colors are found in mid-October. Hike may be 2–3 miles, depending on conditions.

2:00 p.m.  The Amazing World of Lichens    

Ever see green spots on trees or rocks and wonder what they were? They are not plants—they are lichens, which are a combination of fungi and algae. Starting in the classroom, we will learn how lichens help animals and people. Then we will explore outside and find these mysterious organisms. Designed for ages 10 and up.

Sunday, October 13

8:00 a.m. HMBC Guided Program: Fall Migration   

Explore Five Rivers’ trails with members of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club and watch for some of the many avian species found here in this season. Details for this guided walk are available on the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club website.  

Upcoming

Saturday, October 19  

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Feathered Friends: Birdseed Order Pickup

If you ordered birdseed from the Friends of Five Rivers, your order will be ready on Saturday, October 19. Please plan to pick it up then. If you have any questions, please call the Friends of Five Rivers at 518-475-0295.