Winter Trail Report 12/18/2019
We got about four beautiful fluffy inches with this past storm. The snow from the last storm had pretty much disappeared, but there is a little ice under there, so be cautious!
Our volunteer stewardship agreement with NYS DEC allows us to start grooming after hunting season and once we have eight inches of snow on the trails, so we are looking forward to getting grooming soon! We need another good storm and we should be able to start.
We plan to start our snowshoe and cross country ski rental program after New Years, on Saturday, January 4th. As long as conditions allow, we will be open for rentals on Saturdays and Sundays through mid-March. We will also be renting on Martin Luther King Day and for Presidents' Day and February Vacation Week. Rentals are $5.00 per person, or free for our members.
Earth Day Beaver Education Program hosted by Saratoga PLAN and Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park
To celebrate the 49th Earth Day on Monday, April 22, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park and Saratoga PLAN are teaming up to offer a nature walk that is all about the largest rodent in North America, New York State’s official animal; the Beaver! Environmental Educators from the Preserve & Park will be joining with nationally renowned beaver expert, Skip Lisle to lead this family-oriented walk. The walk will leave from the Meadowbrook Parking area of the Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail and explore the wetland habitats that are created and maintained by this fascinating animal. Participants will learn about the importance of the beaver to the exploration and settlement of our region, about its natural history, about how it is one of the few animals to be able to manipulate the environment to create its own habitat, and about the efforts that Saratoga PLAN has gone through to help keep the beavers as residents of the Bog Meadow wetlands.Space is limited and registration is required by April 18.For more information or to register, please call the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org.Mr. Lisle has created unique and environmentally-friendly solutions to the problems that beavers can cause to the human-built environment. Through his vast knowledge of how beavers build, he is able to work with them to keep their flooding and damming to a minimum, allowing them to do their work creating valuable wetlands without causing conflicts with roads, trails, and other human projects.For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Preserve & Park’s website at www.wiltonpreserve.org or Saratoga PLAN’s at www.saratogaplan.org The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation. The mission of Saratoga PLAN is to preserve the rural character, natural habitats, and scenic beauty of Saratoga County so that these irreplaceable assets are accessible to all and survive for future generations.
Earth Day Essay Contest 2019: We invite students to participate in an essay contest in honor of the 49th annual Earth Day on April 22.
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Earth Day Essay Contest 2019Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park invites students to participate in an essay contest in honor of the 49th annual Earth Day on April 22. The theme for Earth Day 2019 is Protect Our Species. There are three categories: high school, middle school, and elementary school.
- High School entries must be no longer than 650 words.
- Middle School entries must be no longer than 500 words.
- Elementary School entries must be at least 10 sentences. Accompanying illustrations are also encouraged.
The contest winner from each of the categories will receive a $50 cash prize! When the astronauts first saw the Earth from space, it created a new feeling about the fragility and uniqueness of our planet. They were struck by how all life shares this one, small planet that is surrounded by the vastness of space. Earth Day was started in 1970 to help promote the importance of protecting our planet, not just for people but for all of the plants and animals that live here. Some people say that it was the start of the modern environmental movement. Many laws that protect the Earth came out of that first Earth Day; laws like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.For your essay, please write about the theme: How Protecting the Earth is Protecting Ourselves. Many of us have seen images of enormous flocks of birds congregating in marshes, herds of wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson’s gazelle migrating through Africa, along with our most iconic species–tigers, elephants, giraffes, and rhinos. All of these species are imperiled. But it’s not just endangered species we should care about, all of our plants and animals have value in themselves and are part of the web of life. Our lives and theirs are linked together inextricably — without them, our own species might not survive.Some ideas for your essay could include:
- How humans depend on animals and plants
- Why our actions as people can impact the Earth
- Things people do that hurt or help the Earth
- Personal experiences
- Anything else that you can think of that relates to the theme!
Deadline: Monday, April 15, 2019. Winners will be announced in mid-May and prizes awarded at our Annual Wildlife Festival on Sunday, June 2. Submissions should be mailed to Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park at 80 Scout Road, Wilton, NY 12831 or emailed to info@wiltonpreserve.org by the deadline. Entries should include the following information: Name, School Name, Grade, Teacher’s Name, an email, and a phone number for each entry. Thank you and happy writing!
Trail and Grooming Report 3/4/2019
Well, we got a little less snow than was forecast with two new inches. The trails were rolled this morning while the temperatures were still below freezing.This should keep the trails in good shape for the upcoming week and the cold weather that is predicted.Get out and enjoy the snow while we still have it!
Lots of Great Winter Break Activities Scheduled
No reason (or excuses) to suffer from cabin fever!You can get out of the trails with our snow shoe and cross country rentals - we have lots of kids and adults sizes.You can sign up for a nature walk or an owl prowl! There is something for everyone!!
Update for February 9th Winterfest and 8k Snowshoe Race
Trail and Grooming Report 2/7/2019
We have not groomed since the warm-up and rain. Grooming only happens when it is below freezing or it makes the trails worse!The trails are taking a beating as you can seen in the following pictures.
The warm-up and rain will continue through Friday then it is supposed to get cold again. We will see what the conditions are like after the freeze.We may groom over the weekend if the conditions allow.
Trail and Grooming Report: 1/30/2019
What great, fluffy snow! Looks like we got around 10 inches!!During the storm, the trails were rolled on Tuesday, the 29th when about 5 to 6 inches had already fallen.We will be rolling the trails again this morning as additional snow fell since then.Get out and enjoy while the conditions are great!!As always - PLEASE - do not walk in your boots on the trails that we groom. You can go across the road and walk on the trails at Camp Saratoga South or at Edie Road or at Neilmann. Walking in boots ruins the trails for everyone!!
Trail and Grooming Report 1/25/2019
What a bummer for the rain to ruin all of our beautiful snow!We did a reconnaissance of the trails this morning and while the trails in the forested areas are not in terrible shape, the meadow trails took a beating.The water accumulated under the snow and it has not completely frozen yet.
We are waiting to groom until the snow sets up.We want to also remind people to please please please not walk on the trails that we groom. There are so many other trails to walk on! One person walking can do tremendous damage as you can see in the picture below. These frozen foot prints are going to last a very long time!
Trail and Grooming Report 1/22/2019
There were so many people out enjoying the beautiful snow today!In anticipation of the coming freezing rain and rain, the trails were rolled again this afternoon.With the warmer temperatures and rain forecast through Thursday, we will not groom again until Friday at the earliest.
Trail and Grooming Report 1/20/2019
SNOW!!!We have lots of lovely fluffy snow!!The town plowed parking lot #1 earlier and it has more snow on it since the snow is continuing to fall.We are just getting ready to head out and groom, so barring equipment issues, that trails should all get rolled by this afternoon.
Cancelled: Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe
We have made the difficult decision to cancel the Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe for this year.The overflow parking lots (Parking Lot #2 and the Parade Ground) are extremely icy and dangerous.The same goes for the trails.We walked the meadow loop at Camp Saratoga and found that it is completely icy and is not safe. (See the picture below.)The forecast for 1 – 3 inches on Friday is not enough to groom but it is just enough to cover the ice and make it a hidden hazard.If the Saturday/Sunday storm that is being forecast moves in during the afternoon and into the evening, it will create additional safety concerns.While we are extremely disappointed to have to cancel, the conditions and the forecast leave us without much of a choice.We have lots of other great winter activities planned including our Winterfest on February 9th.Let's hope we get some great winter trail conditions soon!
Important Information about the 2019 Annual Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe
Annual Moonlight Ski and SnowshoeSaturday, January 19, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pmAt Camp SaratogaMaybe you heard that last year we issued a limited number of registration tickets to attend our free annual Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe because of the overwhelming interest in the event (over 7,000 indications of interest on Facebook) and the concern that everyone participating have a safe and enjoyable experience. The tickets were quickly snapped up by those who first saw the Facebook posts, and many of our long-time members and attendees were left disappointed. This year, we will send out a link on Monday, January 7th to our paid supporters in advance of the general public. This will give them an early opportunity to register for the event in case it sells out again. If you have not made a donation in the past year, we need two things from you – a paid membership donation before the first week of January and your current email address. If you don’t use email, please contact the office, and we will make separate arrangements for you. Your membership donation means that we can continue providing the year-round programs and activities that you have come to know and love, like the Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe!Donate Today!Join us at the popular and highly anticipated Annual Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe at Camp Saratoga on Scout Road. Luminaries will glow along 2.5 miles of groomed trails. Along the way you will find fields and forests, warming bonfires, and plenty of hot chocolate! There will be a bake sale of homemade goodies in the Winter Lodge, so stop in for some treats and to warm up.The terrain is suitable for all levels and ages and includes a smaller one-mile loop.Snowshoes will be available on a first-come first-served basis in the I.P. Winter Lodge off of Parking Lot #2. The rental fee is $5/person for non-members.Parking will be directed by volunteers who will collect people's registration ticket.This event is weather permitting.Please call or email for more information or if you are interested in volunteering for this event.
Second Brood of Karner Blue Butterflies Emerge/Wednesday Butterfly Walks
On Tuesday, July 3rd, Karner blue butterflies of the second brood were observed at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. There are several trails in the Preserve & Park where you can observe these small blue, endangered butterflies. The most accessible are at Camp Saratoga where the trail leaves from parking lot #1 on Scout Road. The other trails are Old Gick Farm and Fox which are accessed from parking areas off of Route 50, just north of King Road.There are many opportunities for guided nature walks to look for the butterflies. These walks will take place on Wednesdays starting on July 11th and continuing through August 1st. The walks will be offered twice a day, at 11:00 am and again at 4:00 pm. The walks leave from the parking area for the Saratoga Sandplains Wildlife Management Area Old Gick Farm on Route 50 which is just under 4 miles past Wilton Mall. The walks should last about an hour and cover a mile of gently rolling terrain.The next few weeks will be ideal for seeing many of the newly emerged butterflies as they search for nectar and mates in the open pine/oak savannah that is their habitat in the Saratoga Sandplains. The walks will not take place if there is rain. Please dress appropriately for weather and insects.The endangered Karner blue butterflies spend the winter as an egg, hatch into their larval stage to feed on wild blue lupine, and emerge as the first brood starting in late May. They then mate and lay eggs that become the butterflies of the second brood that are now emerging. They will lay eggs that will overwinter and become next year’s butterflies.For more information about the walk and to register, please contact the Park Office at 518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org. For up to date program trail and program information, visit the website at www.wiltonpreserve.org. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.
Thursday Mornings are for Pond Exploration at Delegan Pond
Thursdays July 5 through August 16From 10:00-12:00 pmDrop in anytime between 10:00 and noon to discover the aquatic wildlife found at Delegan Pond! Use our dip nets to search for critters including frogs, salamanders, tadpoles, crayfish, and insects. Please park in Parking Lot # 1 located on Scout Road, directly across from the pond.
Friday, June 8: Two Events with Author Katy Farber of Salamander Sky
Storytime: 10:30 am at Northshire BookstorePond Program: 1:00 pm at Camp SaratogaEvery spring in the eastern United States, warm nights with steady rain bring the migration of salamanders to ponds and pools, often across busy roads. Salamander Sky features a mother and daughter who go out to help the salamanders cross the road safely. Amphibians worldwide desperately need protection. This book is a valuable tool for getting children engaged in conservation. There is a special story time with author Katy Farber & educators from the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park at Northshire and an afternoon Pond Program at the Preserve & Park.Registration is required for the afternoon program by calling 518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org
Plein Air Painting Workshops on June 4th and 9th
Plein Air Painting at Camp Saratoga
Monday, June 4 from 9:00 am to noon
with Catherine Wagner Minnery
(rain date June 8th)
Saturday, June 9 from 9:00 am to noon
with Page Darrow
(rain date June 10th)
Made famous by the French impressionists, the idea of painting outdoors and capturing the landscape is growing in popularity. If you want to get outside, get some pointers from an artist, and combine your love of art and nature, this is the workshop for you! This program is appropriate for participants older than 13. Workshop size is limited to 12 participants so please register by calling 518-450-0321 or emailing info@wiltonpreserve.org. All supplies will be provided but if you prefer to use your own supplies, you can bring them.
Registration is required by June 1st.
We will be holding an exhibition of the work created during the workshops during our Blues for the Karner Blues event on Sunday, June 10th at Camp Saratoga.
Saratoga Arts made this program possible with a Community Arts Grant funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Blues for the Karner Blues, a Free Concert on Sunday, June 10
There will be guided Karner blue butterfly and wildlflower walks on Sunday at 11:00 am and at 2:00 pm.
Frog Watch Training on Monday, March 13th
FrogWatch USA Volunteer Training Session to be held at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & ParkOn Monday March 13th Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be holding a training session for people who are interested in becoming FrogWatch USA™ Volunteers. FrogWatch USA™ is a frog and toad volunteer monitoring program with over ten years of data collection on record. It is a great opportunity for volunteers get involved in their community to collect and report information about wetlands and frog and toad populations in the United States and to be a part of a nationwide program where participants learn and practice science and develop a closer relationship with the natural environment. Frogs and toads are important - and are in trouble!Frogs and toads are both predators in prey in aquatic and terrestrial food webs. They directly benefit humans by eating insects that can be pests and transmit diseases and are sensitive to changes in their environment and are indicators of problems that can affect human health.Many previously abundant populations have experienced dramatic population declines - inthe United States and around the world. It is essential that we understand the scope, scale,and cause of these declines. Anyone can volunteer and you do not have to be a frog or toad expert to make an important contribution. All you need an interest in learning about frogs and toads, the commitment to learn and identify their distinct calls, and the ability to make several evening visits to a local wetland.The training session will take place starting at 6:00 pm and run until 8:00 pm at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Office at 80 Scout Road in Gansevoort. Registration is required so that there are materials for the registrants. For more information or to register for the program, please call the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org. If you are unable to attend the training but would still like to participate please call or email for information on doing a self-training program. For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Preserve & Park’s website at www.wiltonpreserve.org The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.