Explore a place.

Discover your world.

Foundry Cove, courtesy of IES. It’s not too good to be true! Our friends at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies really are offering a topnotch program absolutely free.   The first 20 registrants will receive a $50 gift card. All participants will take home a collection of lessons and be eligible for a stipended pilot program this spring.         Ecology and Evolution: Toxins in the Hudson River at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, Saturday, February 18, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Snow date: Sat., Feb. 25.)   Dr. Jeff Levinton and educators from IES will introduce new secondary classroom activities exploring the relationship between ecology and evolution. These topics are typically taught separately, but the IES lessons use the story of oligochaete worms and how they the evolved to be cadmium-resistant. The worms are found in Foundry Cove on the edge of the Hudson near Cold Spring. Cold Spring was once the site of a battery plant and other industrial uses, including the ironworks that built Civil War-era Parrott guns, and Foundry Cove was among the most cadmium contaminated sites on earth. It is recovering after a successful Superfund cleanup project, and the public can now enjoy nearby Constitution Island and Marsh as well as West Point Foundry Preserve. Register by Monday, Feb. 13 with Mid-Hudson Teachers Center, course number: MST-1112008, or e-mail Mira Gentry. For more information e-mail Celia Cuomo, 845-677-7600, ext. 179.   Can’t make the workshop? Visit Cary’s website for other workshops and lesson plans or visit THV’s website for activities related to West Point Foundry.

Visit the sugar shack and enjoy a variety of family activities to include hikes, our newly upgraded planetarium and live animals from Animal Embassy.   Visit our farmer’s market including potters, cheese maker, candle maker, soap maker, papermaker, honey and syrup vendors, etc.

Schedule online www.sharpereservation.org or call the Nature Center (845) 896-5910.  This event is co-sponsored by the NY State Outdoor Education Association.

Workshops led by Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies education staff are free and open to middle school and high school teachers.  Learn how to use the Hudson River to teach about ecology, evolution, and environmental science using local data.

Data and Ecology: Hudson River Food Webs

• April 17, 2012, 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Norrie Point Environmental Center in Staatsburg, NY, Course # MST-1112009; registration deadline: April 12, 2012.

Ecology and Evolution: Toxins and the Hudson River

• February 18, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, (snow date: February 25, 2012), Course #MST-1112008; registration deadline: February 15, 2012. For this workshop only, we are offering $50 gift cards for the first 20 teachers who sign up, and you will also become eligible to become a pilot teacher this spring, which provides you with a stipend of $200.  Contact Celia for more information.

Data and Ecology: Using Local Data to Learn About Pollution

• February 28, 2012, 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Marlboro Middle School in Marlboro, NY (snow date: March 13, 2012) Course #MST-1112007; registration deadline: February 23, 2012.

OR

• April 24, 2012, 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Beczak Environmental Education Center, Yonkers, NY, registration deadline: April 19, 2012.

For more information go to the Cary Institute at http://www.caryinstitute.org/ed_teacher_workshops.html  or contact Celia Cuomo at cuomoc@caryinstitute.org.

Register online at the Mid-Hudson Teacher Center or contact Mira Gentry at gentrym@caryinstitute.org.

First Friday Hike; Frozen Flora

Friday January 6, 2012, 12:00pm- 1:00pm

Winter is not over yet, and the plants of the northeast remain dormant until longer and warmer days.  Explore with us the dormant state of familiar Pine Bush plants and take a last glimpse of their winter appearance before spring arrives.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Kids New Year Bird Count

Saturday January 7, 2012 10:00am- 12:00pm

Start a new family tradition this winter.  Join us for our second annual KIDS Holiday Bird Count at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center.   Learn how to use binoculars and what birds are living in the preserve in winter.  The program will start inside with a brief introduction to birds, bird counts and binoculars.  We’ll move outside in small family groups to tally the birds around the Discovery Center and finish up with a hot cup of cocoa and the final tally for the day!  A fun morning for beginning birders!  Please dress warmly.  Binoculars provided.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Discover the Pine Bush

Sunday January 8, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:00pm

An extraordinary journey into the Albany Pine Bush, the best remaining example in the world of an inland pine barrens. Our experts will guide you through this one mile hike over rolling sand dunes where you will discover Pine Bush natural history, seasonal surprises and transformations. Please remember to wear sturdy walking shoes, long pants and bring drinking water. Snowshoes will be available as weather dictates.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Full Moon Hike (Almost)

Tuesday January 10, 2012, 6:30pm- 8:00pm

Enjoy the Pine Bush at night with an hour long hike under the almost full moon. We will walk approximately 1 mile over rolling topography stopping intermittently for night vision and sound observations. Please remember to dress appropriately for the weather.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Snowshoe Adventure

Sunday January 15, Year, 1:00pm- 2:00pm

Have you tried the sport of snowshoeing?  The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to get started with this fun sport.  Join us for about a 1 mile hike on snowshoes.  We’ll explore the frozen landscape of the pine barrens and gain a basic introduction to snowshoeing.  Snowshoes will be provided to program participants.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Monday January 16, 2012, 1:00pm- 3:00pm

Initiated by Congress in 1994, King Day of Service is a nationwide effort to transform the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. into a day of community service. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is all about promoting Dr. King’s vision of building broad and diverse coalitions, breaking down barriers, and making our communities the best they can be. It is much more than just a day.  Wear warm clothing, gloves, hats and good footwear. Be prepared to work outside. Pre-registration is required.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Owl Prowl

Thursday January 19, 2012, 6:30pm- 8:00pm

Love is in the air!  No, it’s not Valentine’s Day yet.  The breeding season for barred owls, great-horned owls and screech owls, residents of the Albany Pine Bush, occurs in mid-winter during some of the coldest months of the year.  During the breeding season you are likely to hear the territorial calls of male owls as they defend their territory.  Come join us for this night hike and learn about the habits of these nocturnal birds and listen for their calls.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Owl Prowl

Friday January 20, 2012, 6:30pm- 8:00pm

Love is in the air!  No, it’s not Valentine’s Day yet.  The breeding season for barred owls, great-horned owls and screech owls, residents of the Albany Pine Bush, occurs in mid-winter during some of the coldest months of the year.  During the breeding season you are likely to hear the territorial calls of male owls as they defend their territory.  Come join us for this night hike and learn about the habits of these nocturnal birds and listen for their calls.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Nuts for Squirrels –Squirrel Appreciation Day

Saturday January 21, 2012, 10:30am- 12:00pm

Did you know that January 21^st is National Squirrel Appreciation Day? Come join us for a brief inside presentation on the 3 squirrel species in the Pine Bush followed by a 1 mile hike to explore squirrel habitat and investigate the many signs they leave behind.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Winter Sleeperzzzzzz!

Sunday January 22, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:30pm

Ever wish you could sleep through winter and wake up in spring? Many animals in the Pine Bush do just that but in different ways, some hibernate and some sleep, and yes, there is a difference.  Learn why bears don’t hibernate, how mice can go months without eating and what keeps the bumblebees from freezing in this enlightening winter program.  After an indoor presentation, take a short hike and learn how animals survive the cold winter months in the pitch pine-scrub oak barrens of Albany Pine Bush Preserve.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

CSI: Critter Scene Investigation

Saturday January 28, 2012, 11:00am- 12:30pm

How are your detective skills? Do you have what it takes to be on a team of nature investigators, solving Pine Bush mysteries, by examining evidence?  Join us for a 30 minute indoor introduction followed by a 60 minute outdoor trek to look for clues and evidence of what lives in the Pine Bush. Our trek will be on snowshoes if enough snow is available. Dress for outdoors.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Groggy Groundhogs

Sunday January 29, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:30pm

Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow when he wakes up on February 2nd? Whether you call them groundhogs or woodchucks join us for a short presentation and walk to learn more about these common mammals. We will also discuss the origins of Groundhog Day and make our own predictions about how long winter will last!

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Pine Bush Pups: Sleeping, Sleeping, All Winter Long

Wednesday February 1, 2012, 10:30am- 11:30am

Sleeping all winter long may sound like an easy way to deal with winter, but hibernation comes with its own challenges and risks.  We will explore hibernation through story, song and play and learn what hibernation means and which animals of the Pine Bush hibernate. Pine Bush Pups Programs are for Pre-K audiences. Feel free to arrive early and explore the Discovery Center. Registration is required for participating children only.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: FREE

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

First Friday Hike: Midwinter Snowshoe

Friday February 3, 2012, 12:00pm- 1:00pm

Have you tried the sport of snowshoeing?  The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to get started with this fun sport.  Join us for about a 1 mile hike on snowshoes.  We’ll explore the frozen landscape of the pine barrens and gain a basic introduction to snowshoeing.  Snowshoes will be provided to program participants.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Aerial Acrobats: Hawks and Owls of the Pine Bush

Saturday February 4, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:30pm

Powerful, talented, and gentle giants of the Pine Bush. Hawks and owls are year-round residents. Learn why the Pine Bush is an important habitat for these birds of prey. Come join us for an informative program about these remarkable creatures.  Discover how they hunt, their unique calls, and distinctive characteristics. There will be a short indoor presentation followed by a short hike. Binoculars provided.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

GPS Adventure

Sunday February 5, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:30pm

Search for hidden objects using a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) unit that will help you navigate the trails.  Learn which buttons do what, how to locate your position on Earth, and how to find your way back to places you’ve been!  GPS units are provided

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Pine Bush Pups: Winter Birds

Tuesday February 7, 2012, 10:30am- 11:30am

Wednesday February 8, 2012, 10:30am- 11:30am

Fluff up your feathers and join us for a program on winter birds!  Many birds stay here, just outside our window, all year long.  We’ll explore which birds are year-round residents and learn some of their names and sounds as well as how they survive the winter.  We’ll also make a take-home bird feeder and discuss how we can observe our feathered friends. Pine Bush Pups Programs are for Pre-K audiences. Feel free to arrive early and explore the Discovery Center. Registration is required for participating children only.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: FREE

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Full Moon Hike

Tuesday February 7, 2012, 6:30pm- 8:00pm

Enjoy the Pine Bush at night with an hour long hike under the almost full moon. We will walk approximately 1 mile over rolling topography stopping intermittently for night vision and sound observations. Please remember to dress appropriately for the weather

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

“Anyone Touched by Cancer” Program: Love of Nature Crafts

Saturday February 11, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:00pm

Do you love nature and all its beauty? Have you ever recycled natural items to create other useable products or works of art? Come and join us for an hour of craft making. Be sure to bring your creativity and we will provide the supplies.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Registration required.

Please register for the programs by calling The Hope Club at 782-9833

Fee: FREE

Subnivean: Go below the snow!

Sunday February 12, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:00pm

When the air is cold and there is snow on the ground it may seem like nothing is living.  Yet, the space between the ground and the snow surface can be full of life!  Welcome to the Subnivean Zone! Come learn about this special habitat and the animals that depend on it through a series of activities inside and outside.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Snow Birds

Saturday February 18, 2012, 10:00am- 11:30am

Should I stay or should I go?  Many birds leave the Pine Bush for the cold winter months and fly south.  Others stay year round, through sun and rain, sleet and snow.  In this program, we will hike through the Pine Bush and explore what birds are active here in the winter and what resources they rely on to make it through this challenging time of year.  We’ll conclude with a simple bird feeder craft to take home.  Dress in layers!

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Discover the Pine Bush

Sunday February 19, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:00pm

An extraordinary journey into the Albany Pine Bush, the best remaining example in the world of an inland pine barrens. Our experts will guide you through this one mile hike over rolling sand dunes where you will discover Pine Bush natural history, seasonal surprises and transformations. Please remember to wear sturdy walking shoes, long pants and bring drinking water. Snowshoes will be provided as weather dictates. For all ages.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Build a Bird

Monday February 20, 2012, 11:00am- 12:00pm

Have you ever wondered why some birds have long narrow, beaks and others have short, sharp beaks? Learn about how birds’ bodies are built for the places they live, the things they eat and more! We will use some local Pine Bush birds as examples of how birds are different from each other. Then, use your knowledge and imagination to design your own Pine Bush bird!

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Build a Bird Nest

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 11:00am- 12:00pm

Birds build their nests out of all kinds of materials from sticks, to moss to animal hair! And did you know you can identify the bird that made a nest by those materials it uses? Learn which birds use which materials and how they build their nests.  We’ll go for a short hike and search for last year’s nests.  Then, back at the Discovery Center, you can make a craft to take home that will provide your backyard birds with the makings for their new spring nests!

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Build a Bird Feeder

Wednesday February 22, 2012, 10:30am- 12:00pm

Bird watching is an exciting and popular hobby throughout the world.  Visiting new places and observing birds in their natural habitats can be a rewarding experience.  However, we can also watch and enjoy birds from the comfort of our homes!  In this program we will discuss ways to attract birds to your backyard, explore different types of bird feeders and bird seed, and each build a bird feeder to take home.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Build a Bird House

Thursday February 23, 2012, 11:00am- 12:30pm

Did you ever wonder where birds live? What kind of houses do they have? Different bird species require different size, shape, and habitat for their home. Join us as we learn about a few bird species that live in the Pine Bush, what they may need for their home, and then build your own bird house. Age 7 & Up

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Owl Prowl

Thursday February 23, 2012, 6:30pm- 8:00pm

Love is in the air!  The breeding season for barred owls, great-horned owls and screech owls, residents of the Albany Pine Bush, occurs in mid-winter during some of the coldest months of the year.  During the breeding season you are likely to hear the territorial calls of male owls as they defend their territory.  Come join us for this night hike and learn about the habits of these nocturnal birds and listen for their calls.  Remember to dress warmly!

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Scoop on Poop

Friday February 24, 2012, 11:00am- 12:00am

Did you know you can tell what animal has passed your way by examining the evidence they leave behind?  Scat (also known as poop!) tells us a great deal about an animal, including what kind of animal it was that left the scat and what that animal ate.  Join us as we explore the Preserve in search of scat and discover what animals live here in the Pine Bush.  Please bring water and appropriate clothing for hiking in winter.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Snowshoe Adventure

Saturday February 25, 2012, 11:00am- 12:30pm

Have you tried the sport of snowshoeing?  The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to get started with this fun sport.  Join us for about a 1 mile hike on snowshoes.  We’ll explore the frozen landscape of the pine barrens and gain a basic introduction to snowshoeing.  Snowshoes will be provided to program participants.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Pups on Snowshoes

Sunday February 26, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:00pm

Bring your 4-8 year olds for a slow-paced snowshoeing exploration. Snowshoes will be provided for everyone. Be prepared to slow down for the little ones, and bring warm clothing and plenty of drinking water. Registration is required for participating children only.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PINE BUSH:

Located within the Capital District Region, the Albany Pine Bush represents one of the best remaining examples of an inland pine barrens ecosystem left in the world. This gently rolling sand plain is home to a variety of rare plants and animals, including the endangered Karner blue butterfly. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve also creates a special habitat for a number of other rare and unique plants and animals, while providing visitors with an assortment of non-motorized recreational opportunities including hiking, jogging, nature study, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking and hunting. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve contains nearly 20 miles of official marked, multiple-use trails. Most trails are considered easy to moderate and vary from wide open sandy trails to narrow, grassy woodland passages. The topography is generally flat with gradual slopes up and down the natural sand dunes.

The Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center transforms this globally unique destination into an exciting adventure where learning comes naturally through hands-on activities. As the gateway to the Pine Bush, the Discovery Center introduces visitors to everything that makes the Preserve rare and adventurous. With the help of many volunteers, the Discovery Center offers monthly outings and programs about the ecology, natural and cultural history of the pine bush area.  The Pine Bush also provides hundreds of volunteers and partners with a rewarding opportunity for hands-on conservation work. Volunteer researchers help by monitoring rare species and studying habitat quality. Through boundary posting, trail clearing, habitat restoration and interpretive projects, other volunteers are working to make the Preserve safe and enjoyable for all who visit and live here.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission was created by the NYS Legislature in 1988 to protect and manage the unique and endangered natural communities and species of the Albany Pine Bush for ecological, recreational and educational benefits. For more information please visit www.albanypinebush.org

First Friday Hike: Winter Preparations

Friday December 2, 2011, 12:00pm-1:00pm

Should I stay or should I go?  Winter is on its way and animals are getting ready for the cold months ahead.  Learn how they prepare for the coming winter using different strategies including migration, hibernation and staying active.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: Free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Deep Freeze

Saturday December 3, 2011, 11:00am -12:30pm

Frogs are silent during these cold and snowy months, the curved shape of turtles can’t be seen on the logs in the wetland, and no snakes can be heard moving through the brush.  Amphibians and reptiles have unique ways to survive through the winter weather.  Join us for this program and learn why we call it “deep freeze”.  Please be prepared for the weather, as we will be taking a short hike.  In case of snow, we will provide snowshoes.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Feisty Fishers

Sunday December 4, 2011, 1:00pm-3:00pm

Have you heard the haunting cry of a fisher? Or wondered how these mysterious creatures live?   Come find answers to these questions and more at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. We will start inside with a short talk about the history and biology of the fisher then continue outside for a walk in the Preserve as we look for signs of the “fisher cat.” Please remember to dress for the weather.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

That’s a Wrap! Homemade wrapping paper craft

Saturday December 10, 2011, 10:30am-12:00pm

Did you know that during the holiday season, Americans throw out an extra 5 million tons of waste, 4 million of which is wrapping paper and shopping bags (Environpress, 2008)?  There is something we can each do to help reduce the amount of paper entering the waste stream this holiday season and throughout the year – create new wrapping paper out of used paper bags.  Join us for a late morning craft where we’ll use paper bags, potatoes and paint to create beautiful and unique wrapping paper for any occasion!

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Discover the Pine Bush

Sunday December 11, 2011, 1:00pm-2:00pm

An extraordinary journey into the Albany Pine Bush, the best remaining example in the world of an inland pine barrens. Our experts will guide you through this one mile hike over rolling sand dunes where you will discover Pine Bush natural history, seasonal surprises and transformations. Please remember to wear sturdy walking shoes, long pants and bring drinking water. Snowshoes will be provided as weather dictates. For all ages.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Winter Solstice

Wednesday December 21, 2011, 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Daylight has waned to a minimum on the shortest days of the year.  What better time for a night hike through the Albany Pine Bush Preserve?  Walk with us along the trails without light and test your senses at night.  We will also explore how nocturnal animals utilize the nighttime for their survival.  Our hike will conclude with hot cocoa.  Please dress for the weather.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

GPS Adventure

Tuesday December 27, 2011, 10:30am-12:00pm

Search for hidden objects using a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) unit that will help you navigate the trails.  Learn which buttons do what, how to locate your position on Earth, and how to find your way back to places you’ve been!  GPS units are provided. This program is best for students over grade 3, but all are welcome!

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

GPS Adventure

Tuesday December 27, 2011, 1:00am-2:30pm

Search for hidden objects using a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) unit that will help you navigate the trails.  Learn which buttons do what, how to locate your position on Earth, and how to find your way back to places you’ve been!  GPS units are provided. This program is best for students over grade 3, but all are welcome!

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

CSI (Critter Scene Investigation) Pine Bush

Wednesday December 28, 2011, 10:30am-12:00pm

How are your detective skills? Do you have what it takes to be on a team of nature investigators, solving Pine Bush mysteries, by examining evidence?  Join us for a 30 minute indoor introduction followed by a 60 minute outdoor trek to look for clues and evidence of what lives in the Pine Bush. Our trek will be on snowshoes if enough snow is available. Dress for outdoors.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

CSI (Critter Scene Investigation) Pine Bush

Wednesday December 28, 2011, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

How are your detective skills? Do you have what it takes to be on a team of nature investigators, solving Pine Bush mysteries, by examining evidence?  Join us for a 30 minute indoor introduction followed by a 60 minute outdoor trek to look for clues and evidence of what lives in the Pine Bush. Our trek will be on snowshoes if enough snow is available. Dress for outdoors.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Winter’s Tale: A Musical Puppet Show

Thursday December 29, 2011, 10:30am-11:30am

The snow-covered dunes of the Pine Bush set the scene for this winter’s tale.  Join us in the Discovery Center for a musical puppet adventure for the whole family.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Snowshoe Adventure

Thursday December 29, 2011, 1:00pm-2:30pm

Have you tried the sport of snowshoeing?  The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to get started with this fun sport.  Join us for a 1.5 mile hike on snowshoes.  We’ll explore the frozen landscape of the pine barrens and gain a basic introduction to snowshoeing.  Snowshoes will be provided to program participants.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Snowshoe Adventure

Friday December 30, 2011, 1:00pm-2:30pm

Have you tried the sport of snowshoeing?  The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to get started with this fun sport.  Join us for a 1.5 mile hike on snowshoes.  We’ll explore the frozen landscape of the pine barrens and gain a basic introduction to snowshoeing.  Snowshoes will be provided to program participants.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration is required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

First Friday Hike; Frozen Flora

Friday January 6, 2012, 12:00pm- 1:00pm

Winter is not over yet, and the plants of the northeast remain dormant until longer and warmer days.  Explore with us the dormant state of familiar Pine Bush plants and take a last glimpse of their winter appearance before spring arrives.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Kids New Year Bird Count

Saturday January 7, 2012 10:00am- 12:00pm

Start a new family tradition this winter.  Join us for our second annual KIDS Holiday Bird Count at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center.   Learn how to use binoculars and what birds are living in the preserve in winter.  The program will start inside with a brief introduction to birds, bird counts and binoculars.  We’ll move outside in small family groups to tally the birds around the Discovery Center and finish up with a hot cup of cocoa and the final tally for the day!  A fun morning for beginning birders!  Please dress warmly.  Binoculars provided.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Discover the Pine Bush

Sunday January 8, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:00pm

An extraordinary journey into the Albany Pine Bush, the best remaining example in the world of an inland pine barrens. Our experts will guide you through this one mile hike over rolling sand dunes where you will discover Pine Bush natural history, seasonal surprises and transformations. Please remember to wear sturdy walking shoes, long pants and bring drinking water. Snowshoes will be available as weather dictates.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Full Moon Hike (Almost)

Tuesday January 10, 2012, 6:30pm- 8:00pm

Enjoy the Pine Bush at night with an hour long hike under the almost full moon. We will walk approximately 1 mile over rolling topography stopping intermittently for night vision and sound observations. Please remember to dress appropriately for the weather.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Snowshoe Adventure

Sunday January 15, Year, 1:00pm- 2:00pm

Have you tried the sport of snowshoeing?  The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to get started with this fun sport.  Join us for about a 1 mile hike on snowshoes.  We’ll explore the frozen landscape of the pine barrens and gain a basic introduction to snowshoeing.  Snowshoes will be provided to program participants.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Monday January 16, 2012, 1:00pm- 3:00pm

Initiated by Congress in 1994, King Day of Service is a nationwide effort to transform the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. into a day of community service. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is all about promoting Dr. King’s vision of building broad and diverse coalitions, breaking down barriers, and making our communities the best they can be. It is much more than just a day.  Wear warm clothing, gloves, hats and good footwear. Be prepared to work outside. Pre-registration is required.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Owl Prowl

Thursday January 19, 2012, 6:30pm- 8:00pm

Love is in the air!  No, it’s not Valentine’s Day yet.  The breeding season for barred owls, great-horned owls and screech owls, residents of the Albany Pine Bush, occurs in mid-winter during some of the coldest months of the year.  During the breeding season you are likely to hear the territorial calls of male owls as they defend their territory.  Come join us for this night hike and learn about the habits of these nocturnal birds and listen for their calls.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Owl Prowl

Friday January 20, 2012, 6:30pm- 8:00pm

Love is in the air!  No, it’s not Valentine’s Day yet.  The breeding season for barred owls, great-horned owls and screech owls, residents of the Albany Pine Bush, occurs in mid-winter during some of the coldest months of the year.  During the breeding season you are likely to hear the territorial calls of male owls as they defend their territory.  Come join us for this night hike and learn about the habits of these nocturnal birds and listen for their calls.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Nuts for Squirrels –Squirrel Appreciation Day

Saturday January 21, 2012, 10:30am- 12:00pm

Did you know that January 21^st is National Squirrel Appreciation Day? Come join us for a brief inside presentation on the 3 squirrel species in the Pine Bush followed by a 1 mile hike to explore squirrel habitat and investigate the many signs they leave behind.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Winter Sleeperzzzzzz!

Sunday January 22, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:30pm

Ever wish you could sleep through winter and wake up in spring? Many animals in the Pine Bush do just that but in different ways, some hibernate and some sleep, and yes, there is a difference.  Learn why bears don’t hibernate, how mice can go months without eating and what keeps the bumblebees from freezing in this enlightening winter program.  After an indoor presentation, take a short hike and learn how animals survive the cold winter months in the pitch pine-scrub oak barrens of Albany Pine Bush Preserve.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

CSI: Critter Scene Investigation

Saturday January 28, 2012, 11:00am- 12:30pm

How are your detective skills? Do you have what it takes to be on a team of nature investigators, solving Pine Bush mysteries, by examining evidence?  Join us for a 30 minute indoor introduction followed by a 60 minute outdoor trek to look for clues and evidence of what lives in the Pine Bush. Our trek will be on snowshoes if enough snow is available. Dress for outdoors.

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

Groggy Groundhogs

Sunday January 29, 2012, 1:00pm- 2:30pm

Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow when he wakes up on February 2nd? Whether you call them groundhogs or woodchucks join us for a short presentation and walk to learn more about these common mammals. We will also discuss the origins of Groundhog Day and make our own predictions about how long winter will last!

Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY

Fee: $3 per person/$5 per family/Children under 5 yrs free. Registration required.

Please sign up by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.albanypinebush.org and click on “Events Calendar”.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PINE BUSH:

Located within the Capital District Region, the Albany Pine Bush represents one of the best remaining examples of an inland pine barrens ecosystem left in the world. This gently rolling sand plain is home to a variety of rare plants and animals, including the endangered Karner blue butterfly. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve also creates a special habitat for a number of other rare and unique plants and animals, while providing visitors with an assortment of non-motorized recreational opportunities including hiking, jogging, nature study, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking and hunting. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve contains nearly 20 miles of official marked, multiple-use trails. Most trails are considered easy to moderate and vary from wide open sandy trails to narrow, grassy woodland passages. The topography is generally flat with gradual slopes up and down the natural sand dunes.

The Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center transforms this globally unique destination into an exciting adventure where learning comes naturally through hands-on activities. As the gateway to the Pine Bush, the Discovery Center introduces visitors to everything that makes the Preserve rare and adventurous. With the help of many volunteers, the Discovery Center offers monthly outings and programs about the ecology, natural and cultural history of the pine bush area.  The Pine Bush also provides hundreds of volunteers and partners with a rewarding opportunity for hands-on conservation work. Volunteer researchers help by monitoring rare species and studying habitat quality. Through boundary posting, trail clearing, habitat restoration and interpretive projects, other volunteers are working to make the Preserve safe and enjoyable for all who visit and live here.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission was created by the NYS Legislature in 1988 to protect and manage the unique and endangered natural communities and species of the Albany Pine Bush for ecological, recreational and educational benefits. For more information please visit www.albanypinebush.org