December 8th: Annual Meeting, Holiday Gathering, and Photo Show
Tuesday December 8th Annual Meeting at 6:00pmHoliday Gathering and Photography Show Opening at 7:00 pmCelebrate the holiday season with Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park! Learn about all of the accomplishments of the past year and what is planned in the coming year. The Annual Meeting will begin at 6:00 pm.Following the Annual Meeting will be our annual Holiday Reception and Photography Show Opening at 7:00 pm. All are welcome for both events but it is not required to sit at the annual meeting in order to attend the photo show.Food and libations will be provided at the Holiday Gathering and all are welcome!
Another beautiful fall weekend: Sept 26 and 27
Go for a walk or visit the fire tower!(1) Saturday at 11:00 at Camp Saratoga we will be having a Monarch Butterfly walk. The walk lasts about an hour over gently rolling terrain. We will be looking for the butterflies that are in the midst of their southern migration. Call 450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org to register.(2) Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm the Historic Cornell Hill Fire Tire will be open. You can climb the tower to get a bird's eye view of the surrounding area and visit the re-created fire ranger's cabin.Come and visit!!
Trail Report 3/14/15 Spring Conditions
The trails were groomed on Friday the 13th. Track was set, but with the freeze/thaw conditions, track did not set in some places.Expect spring conditions with icy spots and slushy spots. There is still full snow coverage on the trails.Our agreement with NYS DEC does not allow us to groom after March 15.
Trail Report 3/6/2015
It looks like we are heading into our last cold weekend. The trails were groomed today and track was set.Heading into next week, the forecast is for temperatures rising above freezing during the day which will impact when we can groom. (It has to be below freezing.) So the conditions are beginning to change!Our contract with NYS DEC has our end date for grooming as March 15.
Trail Report 2/23/2015 Powder Rules!
More new snow over the weekend - another 6" of powder! The trails were rolled this morning and track will be set this afternoon.Looks like there might be some more snow on Wednesday......
Trail Report 2/18/2015 Groomed and Ready
The trails were all groomed late in the day on Tuesday. Track was set.Maybe you are tired of the extended cold snap, but the cold weather has kept the snow in excellent shape.This has been the winter to get out and enjoy the snow!!
Trail Report 2/12/2014 - Tracks Were Set!
The trails were groomed and tracks were set this afternoon. The snow is smooth and deep and lovely!Just a reminder that the 8k snowshoe race will be taking place on the trails on Sunday morning. So for people who might want to try the snowshoe race, you can still participate and try your hand in this great snow. Here is the link for information on the snowshoe race: http://www.saratogastryders.org/local-races/upcoming-races/The rest of you can sleep in and then go for a ski in the afternoon. It will be warmer and you won't have to worry about the snowshoe race!
Trail Report 2/8/2015 Winterfest Snowfest!
We got another 4 or 5 inches overnight on Saturday so the trails were rolled on Sunday morning. The conditions are fantastic!!Lots of people were out enjoying snowshoeing and skiing at our Winterfest Day. We had cocoa and a bonfire to go with all that fresh snow.Monday, the plan is to roll the trails first thing in the morning to take care of the overnight snowfall.Happy Winter!!
Wild About Blue: October 26
Please join us at our annual fundraiser at the Saratoga National Golf Club. At the event we will be presenting Wildlife Biologist Kathy O’Brien with our Metamorphosis Award, an award given to an individual who has helped initiate great change in the community. She has been instrumental in the survival of the endangered Karner blue butterflies. We will also have a unique silent auction! Cost is $65.00 and preregistration is required by Friday, October 17, 2014. Please RSVP to Margo at 518-450-0321.
First Karner blue butterflies of the Year Emerge
On Sunday, May 25, the first Karner blue butterflies of the year were observed at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, just in time for the Wildlife Festival that is scheduled for Sunday, June 1st at Camp Saratoga on Scout Road in Gansevoort. At the festival, there will be hourly butterfly walks starting at 11:15. At the festival there will also be live raptor programs, pond exploration, nature crafts and other hands-on activities. The festival runs from 11:00 – 4:00 and is free of charge.The endangered Karner blue butterflies spend the winter as an egg, hatch into their larval stage to feed on the wild blue lupine, and have just now emerged from their chrysalises. This first brood of adult butterflies will mate and lay eggs on the wild blue lupine. Those eggs will hatch and form the second brood, with those butterflies appearing usually in early July. There are several trails in the Preserve & Park where you can observe these small blue butterflies. The most accessible are at Camp Saratoga where the trail leaves from parking lot #1. 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 be many opportunities for guided nature walks to look for the butterflies. These walks will take place on Thursdays starting on May 29 and continuing through the month of June. 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 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. For more information about the walk and to pre-register, please contact the Park Office at 450-0321 or 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.
Fire Tower Open this Weekend: May 10th and 11th
10:00 am-3:00 pm at Camp Saratoga (Parking Lot 3)Climb an authentic fire tower without having to climb a mountain! Get a treetop view of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. The schedule is subject to weather conditions and availability of Volunteer Fire Tower Interpreters. To confirm that it is open, contact Larry Gordon (Town of Wilton Fire Tower Coordinator) at (518) 469-0918.
Trails Report 3/3/14
The icy trails were groomed over the weekend. It took quite a bit to break through the frozen surface, but they have been groomed!The conditions are improved, but still a little rough.
Conservation Conversation – Blue Birds
Postponed!! No Ski Demo Day on 2/17/14
The planned Cross Country Ski Demo Day scheduled for Monday, February 17th has been postponed.Sorry for the late notice. We will let you know as soon as we have a new date.
Trails Update 2/14/14 - We Love Snow on Valentines Day!!
We got well over a foot of snow and all the trails at Camp Saratoga were rolled today. We are prepping for tomorrow night's Full Moon Ski and Snowshoe, so you might see luminary's placed by the sides of the trails on Saturday afternoon. We will be lighting the luminaries starting around 3:30 tomorrow and the event will officially begin at 6:00.
Trails Update 2/6/14 - Snow Glorious Snow!
We are back in a winter wonderland with close to a foot of light, fluffy powder. Today, the trails were rolled.We are preparing for the 8k snowshoe race that is taking place Saturday the 8th.Be advised that the trails at Camp Saratoga North will be used by the racers on Saturday morning between 10:30 am and noontime.
February Vacation Events and Programs
Looking for something to do during Winter Vacation? Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park offers “naturally” fun programs!Full Moon Ski & SnowshoeSaturday, February 15 from 6:00-9:30 pm at Camp SaratogaThe popular Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe event at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be taking place on Saturday evening, February 15th. The free event will begin at 6:00 pm from the Scout Road entrance to Camp Saratoga and run until 9:30 pm. People can drop in anytime during the event and participate free of charge, but donations will be graciously accepted at the information table in the Winter Lodge. There will be two miles of groomed trails lit by luminaries, and there will be bonfires and free hot chocolate. Snowshoes will be available for rent on a first come/first served basis beginning at 5:30 in the International Paper Winter Lodge that will be set up as a warming hut and information center. Rentals are $5.00/pair or free for members of the Preserve & Park. There will also be hot chocolate, hot tea, and an information table in the Winter Lodge. The Winter Lodge is located between Parking lots #1 and #2 on Scout Road. Cross Country Ski Demo DayMonday, February 17 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pmAt the I.P. Winter Lodge at Camp Saratoga (between Parking Lots #1 and #2)Join us in welcoming the Alpine Sport Shop for an opportunity to demo some great cross country skis on the groomed trails at Camp Saratoga. There will be a number of different skis to try and some kids’ skis and boots as well. If you have been wanting to try out cross country skiing, this may be what you were looking for! Snowshoe rentals will also be available during the demo hours. Animal Tracking Snowshoe Hike Monday, February 17 at 11 am at Congress ParkWe will be partnering with Saratoga Springs Public Library for their Animal Tracking Snowshoe Hike. Preregistration is required for this event. To register, please call the Children’s Room at (518) 584-7860 option 3.Winter Animal Olympics Tuesday, February 18 from 1:00-2:00 pm at Camp SaratogaIf you’re in the Olympic spirit this is the program for you. Come learn about the different “Olympic events” animals compete in throughout the winter. Then compete in some yourself! We will be outside for the program so please come dressed for the weather. Preregistration is required by calling 450-0321.Owl Prowl with Jacqueline CitrinitiWednesday, February 19 from 6:00-8:30 pm at 80 Scout Road and then Camp SaratogaIn collaboration with the Saratoga Springs Public Library, we will be going out on an early evening “hunt” for local owls. First, we will learn about what owls are found in our area with an indoor presentation by Jacqueline Citriniti of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Then we will head outdoors to listen and look for wild owls! Group size is limited and is for ages 5 and up. Pre-registration is required by February 18 by calling the Library at (518) 584-7860 option 3. This program will be offered again on March 14th and 21st. Winter Experiments Thursday, February 20 from 1:00-2:00 pm at Camp SaratogaJoin us for some thought-challenging winter fun. We will be learning about some of the different properties of snow and doing some snow related experiments. We will be outside for the program so please come dressed for the weather. Preregistration is required by calling 450-0321.Preregistration is suggested for all programs at least one business day in advance of the actual event. Preregistration in not required for drop-in events like the Full Moon Ski or Demo Day. For more information, please call the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org. 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.
Trails Update: 1/31/14
We made it through the week with the trails in OK condition. While the coverage is thin, there are no bare spots. With the forecast for warmer temperatures and maybe some rain or snow over the weekend, this may change. We will update over the weekend once we have a better idea of what falls from the sky and how much!