It is that time of year - please support our Annual Appeal!
You can mail back the envelope that you may have received in the mail this week, or you can click here: http://www.wiltonpreserve.org/how-you-can-help/make-a-donation to do it right here on our website!
Thank You for Another Successful Wild About Blue!
We had a great event on Sunday, October 16th where we celebrated our 20th Anniversary with a very special Wild About Blue.We honored Joe Bruchac with the 2016 Metamorphosis Award which recognizes individuals who have created transformative change in their communities.We want to thank all of our honorary committee members and donors to the silent auction. Their generosity allowed us to raise significant funds that will be used to support our mission-driven efforts in Conservation, Environmental Education, and Outdoor Recreation.
Honorary Committee
Conservationist
Scotty’s Exit 16 – The Parillos
Jane Adams Wait
Steward
Anchor QEA; Linda Baker; Stewart’s Shops; The D.A. Collins Companies
Lucy R. Waletzky, M.D.; Wilton Rotary
Guardian
Drs. Chris & Leisa Brockett; Linda & Richard Hovious; Anthony & Rachel Krackeler;
Redbud Development, Inc.; Bob and Debbie Rice;
The Nature Conservancy – Eastern New York Chapter
Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop
Protector
Kerstin Beeg, Thomas Beeg; Jennifer Benaman & Andrew Roginski; Bert & Bailey Bloom
Becky Christner & Carter White; Rick Fenton & Hollyday Hammond; Mr. & Mrs. George Frost
Steve & Dorothy Harran; Patty HasBrouck; Larry Gordon & Patricia Watkins
George & Becky Hodgson; The Kilduff & O’Connor Family; Joanne & Tom Klepetar
John & Sue Lant; Joel & Maxine Lindig Lautenberg; Mike and Mary Los
Kim Marsella & Blue Neils; Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Leeds/Saratoga
Peg McCanty & Mike Geppner; Matthew Miczek & Ann Marie Przywara; Munter Enterprises, Inc.
Bill & Eleanor O’Donnell; Kay Olan; Prime at Saratoga National; Mike & Katilyn Prutsman
Ryan & Debra Riper; Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co.; The Solinsky Family
Caroline Stem & Bill Sprengnether
Trustco Bank; Anne & Ethan Winter
Thank You to Our Silent Auction Donors
Please support these local businesses that support local organizations!!
9 Miles East; 50 South; Alpine Ski and Sports; Awasos Entertainment; Bay Optical; Caffe Lena; Capital Roots Brewery; Cantina; Circus Café; D’Andrea’s Pizza; Dion Snowshoes; Druthers; East Side Wine and Spirits; Eastern Mountain Sports; G. Willikers; Gideon Putnam; Gore Mountain; Great Camp Sagamore; Great Tang; Green Conscience; Healthy Living Market and Café; Hewitt’s; High Rock Distillery; Home Made Theater; Jackie Donnelly; Jeff Olson; Jones and Fifty Wine and Liquor; Kayak Shack; Kin Jo Japanese Steak House; Lake George Distillery; Lapland Lake Ski Center; Longfellow’s; Mama Mia’s; Michelle Manley Jewelry; Ndakinna Education Center; Olde Bryan Inn; Parkside Eatery; Peg McCanty; Primo Pizzaria; Purdy’s Discount Wine and Liquor; Saratoga Arms; Saratoga Candy Co.; Saratoga National at Prime; Saratoga Performing Arts Center; Saratoga Photobooth; Saratoga Strike Zone; Saratoga YMCA; Silverado; Silver Bay YMCA and Conference Center; Smiles for Life Dental Care – Dr. Marc Johnson; Spa City Bicycles; Spa City Wine and Spirits; Stella and Dot; Sweet Mimi’s; The Egg; The Grapevine Fine Wines and Liquors; The Wild Center; The Wishing Well; Union Gables Bed and Breakfast; Wild Birds Unlimited
20th Anniversary Wild About Blue - October 16th; There is still time to register!
There is still time to register: Click Here! Wild About Blue Event Supports Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Honors Joseph Bruchac and Partner Organizations.Wild About Blue, a fundraising event for the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be taking place on Sunday, October 16, 2016 beginning at 4:00 pm at the Saratoga National Golf Club with drinks, a bountiful buffet, Saratoga Photobooth, and a unique silent auction. This year’s event will be celebrating the organization’s 20th Anniversary, so the Preserve & Park’s four partners will be recognized for their important contributions to the success of this public/private partnership. Receiving the recognition from the Town of Wilton will be Town Supervisor Art Johnson while Jason Kemper, Director of Planning, will represent Saratoga County. Chris Zimmerman, Conservation Ecologist from The Nature Conservancy and Kathy O’Brien, Biologist from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation will be representing their organizations.At this year’s event, the Preserve & Park will be presenting its Metamorphosis Award which honors individuals who have helped create dramatic changes in their communities, just as the Karner blue butterfly and other species go through remarkable transformations in their life cycles.The recipient of this year’s Metamorphosis Award is Joseph Bruchac III. Joseph Bruchac is a writer and traditional storyteller.. He established the Ndakinna Education Center and worked with Saratoga PLAN to protect a 90 acre nature preserve where the center is located, which was the first conservation easement in Saratoga County. He and his two grown sons, James and Jesse, who are also storytellers and writers, work together in projects involving the preservation of Native culture, Native language renewal, teaching traditional Native skills, and environmental education. Author of over 130 books in several genres for young readers and adults, his Keepers of the Earth series, co-authored with Michael Caduto, uses traditional Native American stories to teach about nature and science, and has over one million copies in print and is used in schools throughout the United States and Canada. He has certainly created the positive, dramatic changes in his community that the Metamorphosis Award was established to recognize. Past Metamorphosis Award winners Larry Gordon, Kathy O’Brien, and Jane Wait will be in attendance.Party-goers at Wild About Blue will be helping to support the many successful undertakings at the Preserve & Park, including the presentation of countless educational programs for all ages and interests, the creation and maintenance of over 20 miles of year-round recreational trails, and the restoration of habitat for the largest population of the endangered Karner blue butterfly in the northeast. The work of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park has created a lasting preserve for nature and a park enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts from our region and beyond. This event is the main fundraiser of the year and is critical for raising the necessary funds to continue the mission-driven work in conservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation.Tickets for Wild About Blue are available for $75 per person and can be purchased by calling 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.Thank You to Our Silent Auction Donors!9 Miles East; 50 South; Alpine Ski and Sports; Awasos Entertainment; Bay Optical; Caffe Lena; Capital Roots Brewery; Cantina; Circus Café; D’Andrea’s Pizza; Dion Snowshoes; Druthers; East Side Wine and Spirits; Eastern Mountain Sports; G. Willikers; Gideon Putnam; Gore Mountain; Great Camp Sagamore; Great Tang; Green Conscience; Healthy Living Market and Café; Hewitt’s; High Rock Distillery; Home Made Theater; Jackie Donnelly; Jeff Olson; Kayak Shack; Kin Jo Japanese Steak House; Lake George Distillery; Lapland Lake Ski Center; Longfellow’s; Mama Mia’s; Michelle Manley Jewelry; Ndakinna Education Center; Olde Bryan Inn; Parkside Eatery; Peg McCanty; Primo Pizzaria; Purdy’s Discount Wine and Liquor; Saratoga Arms; Saratoga Candy Co.; Saratoga National at Prime; Saratoga Performing Arts Center; Saratoga Photobooth; Saratoga Strike Zone; Saratoga YMCA; Silverado; Silver Bay YMCA and Conference Center; Smiles for Life Dental Care – Dr. Marc Johnson; Spa City Bicycles; Spa City Wine and Spirits; Stella and Dot; Sweet Mimi’s; The Egg; The Grapevine fine Wines and Liquors; The Wild Center; The Wishing Well; Union Gables Bed and Breakfast; Wild Birds Unlimited
Please Join us at Wild About Blue on October 16th
Sunday, October 16 from 4:00 to 7:00 pmPlease join us at our 20th Anniversary Celebration and annual fundraiser at the Saratoga National Golf Club. At the event we will be presenting well-known author Joseph Bruchac III with our Metamorphosis Award, an award given to an individual who has helped initiate great change in the community. We will also have a unique silent auction! Cost is $75.00 per person and preregistration is appreciated by Tuesday, October 11th by calling 518-450-0321 or use our donation button on-line! 
The second brood of Karner blue butterfies were out from July 4th through August 3rd
Karner Blue Butterfly WalksWednesdays at 11am & 4pmJuly 13th, 20th, 27th, and August 3rdSaturday June 18th at 10amThe endangered Karner blue butterfly has two broods every summer. The first brood emerged on May 19th and the 2nd brood emerged over 4th of July weekend. We will be looking for adults that are searching for nectar and mates in the open pine/oak savannah meadows. The walks will depart from Old Gick Farm trailhead on route 50, north of King Road and will be about an hour. Preregistration is strongly encouraged.Please call 450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org
Weekly Summer Art Programs and Pond Programs Begin
Summer Nature Arts Hour at Camp SaratogaWednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 amJuly 6: Nature WeavingJuly 13: Nature Journals and PoetryJuly 20: Natural Fiber WorkJuly 27: Natural DyesAugust 3: Musical InstrumentsAugust 10: Watercolor Painting Get ready to stretch your creative boundaries and see the intersection between nature and the arts! Drop-in anytime between 10:00 and 11:00 am at the pavilion located next to Delegan Pond and create a fun and unique art project. Please use Parking Lot #1 located on Scout Road directly across from Delegan Pond. Preregistration is suggested.Open Pond Hours at Delegan Pond at Camp SaratogaThursdays July 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th August 4th and 11thfrom 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.
5K Fun Run Series at Camp Saratoga
Camp Saratoga 5K Fun RunsJune 27, July 11, July 25, August 8, August 22 at 5:30 pmThe Saratoga Stryders host this series of five fun runs on wooded trails at the beautiful 310 acre parcel. The race series is open to all ages and abilities, run one race or all five. Registration is $5 per race at the door starting at 5:30PM. Races begin at 6:15PM sharp - rain or shine.A raffle is held at the end of each race with many prizes awarded. At the last race of the series the Ironman and Ironwoman award is given. This is a fun but challenging trail course: expect to add 10-20% to your best 5K road course time. There are no water stops on the course. Water is available at the finish.Proceeds benefit the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Jake Fund and other local non-profits.For more information contact Laura Clark at races@saratogastryders.org or 581-1278
Rain or Shine June 5th: Annual Wilton Wildlife Festival
Even with the rainy forecast, the festival will be taking place. Most of the activities will be under cover in the Dining Hall at Camp Saratoga.June 5th Wildlife Festival at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park’s Historic Camp Saratoga
On Sunday, June 5th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be hosting a Wildlife Festival at Historic Camp Saratoga on Scout Road in Gansevoort. The event will feature Karner blue butterfly walks, live animal programs, nature crafts, pond exploration, and hands-on fun. This is the time of year for the hatching of the first brood of the Karner blue butterflies and the blooming of the wild blue lupine so it is a great time to visit the Preserve & Park and see it in its full beauty. Activities will take place throughout the Camp Saratoga to encourage people to get out and explore the wonderful trail system since the Wildlife Festival is a registered National Trails Day event. All activities are offered free to the public.There will be live animal programs presented by Silent Wings taking place at 11:45, 12:45 and 1:45 with live hawks and owls. This program is sponsored by Ballston Spa National Bank. There will be other live animals to see with reptile and amphibian displays and pond exploration programs. At the pond, volunteers will be on hand with dip nets to help people discover the animals that live there. Search and Rescue Dogs from the Lower Adirondack Search and Rescue will be holding demonstrations throughout the festival.At 12:30 there will be an award ceremony for the winners of the Earth Day Essay Contest. Over 300 entries were received from 22 schools in the region and many of the entries will be on display during the festival. At the ceremony, the contest winners from each of the categories will receive their $50 cash prize. The winner in the Elementary School Category was Nora Hughes, a fourth grade student in Ms. DeFilippo’s class at Schuylerville Elementary School. The winner in the Middle School Category was Julia Metivier, a seventh grade student in Ms. Keating’s class at Queensbury Middle School. The High School winner was Evan Sciancalepore, a ninth grade student from Shenendahowa High School.There will a lupine and Karner blue butterfly information pavilion and hourly walks beginning at 11:15 am to explore the Saratoga Sandplains Habitat Restoration area. Volunteers will lead the walks and will explain the efforts that New York State DEC and The Nature Conservancy have made in improving and increasing the habitat for this endangered species. Because of this effort, the Preserve & Park is now home to the largest population of the endangered Karner blue butterflies in the Northeast.Ongoing beginning at 11:00 am there will be numerous craft activities taking place in locations around Camp Saratoga. These will include beaded dragonflies, coffee filter butterflies, watercolor painting, and fish printing. There will be information tables about the Preserve & Park, the trail system, and the Blanding’s Turtle. Other local organizations will also be tabling at the festival and will include the Hudson Crossing Park, Lower Adirondack Search and Rescue, New York State DEC Saratoga Tree Nursery, and the Saratoga Springs Public Library.During the festival the Donald A. Collins Memorial Fire Observer’s Cabin it will be open along with the Cornell Hill Fire Tower. For safety reasons, the Fire Tower is restricted to visitors over the age of five and children who want to climb the tower need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.Festival goers will be able to purchase hamburgers, veggie burgers, all-beef hot dogs, and cold drinks at the BBQ pit. There will also be a bake sale of homemade goods.The Festival will take place Rain or Shine with many of the activities moving under cover of Camp Saratoga’s many Pavilions, the dining hall and the International Paper Winter Lodge.Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation. For more information please call the Preserve & Park office at 450-0321.
Karner Blue Butterfly Walks
Karner Blue Butterfly WalksWednesdays: May 25th, June 1st, June 8th, June 15th and June 22nd at 11am & 4pmSaturday June 18th at 10amThe endangered Karner blue butterfly has two broods every summer. The first brood should emerge late in May and the next brood should emerge in early July. We will be looking for adults of the first brood that are searching for nectar and mates in the open pine/oak savannah meadows. The walk will depart from Old Gick Farm on route 50. Preregistration is strongly encouraged.
They're Back! Karner blue butterflies are seen at the Preserve & Park!!
First Karner blue butterflies of the Year Emerge at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & ParkOn Thursday, May 19, the first Karner blue butterflies of the year were observed at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. The wild blue lupine is also in bloom, covering the meadows in a carpet of lavender flowers. There are several trails in the Preserve & Park where you can observe the flowers and the small blue 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.
photo Wayne JonesThere are many opportunities for guided nature walks to look for the butterflies. These walks will take place on Wednesdays starting on May 25 and continuing through June 22nd. The walks will be offered twice a day, at 11:00 am and again at 4:00 pm. There is also a walk scheduled on Saturday, June 18th at 10:00 am. 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.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 will also be Karner blue butterfly walks at the Annual Wildlife Festival that is scheduled for Sunday, June 5th 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 – 3:00 and is free of charge.For more information about the walk and to pre-register, please contact the Park Office at 450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org
Earth Day Essay Contest Winners Announced
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park hosted an essay contest to coordinate with the international theme for Earth Day 2016, Trees for the Earth. There were three entry categories: high school, middle school, and elementary school. Over 300 entries were received from 22 schools in the region. The contest winner from each of the categories will receive a $50 cash prize. Winners were announced on Earth Day, Friday, April 22nd. The winner in the Elementary School Category was Nora Hughes, a fourth grade student in Ms. DeFilippo’s class at Schuylerville Elementary School. In her essay “Trees, Trees, Trees” she wrote, “I enjoy connecting with trees and nature in my own life. The woods behind my house are a treasure trove of experiences.” Special mention prizes went to Rose Janicke, second grade student at Dorothy Nolan and to Rider Lee, third grade student at Saratoga Independent School.The winner in the Middle School Category was Julia Metivier, a seventh grade student in Ms. Keating’s class at Queensbury Middle School. She wrote, “Trees are the portal to another dimension, one where you don’t care if you’re ten or ninety, tall or short. It’s nature and it’s irreplaceable.” Special mention prizes went to two other seventh grade students at Queensbury Middle School, Robbie Scheidegger and Kinsley Holl from Mr. Cowper’s class.The High School winner was Evan Sciancalepore, a ninth grade student from Shenendahowa High School. He wrote, “On a fall hike, beginning in the crisp morning hours, the ground is covered in a pleasant array of red, yellow, and orange. As it becomes warmer, the sun gleams through the autumn branches, dazzling us with fall colors.” A special mention prize was given to another ninth grade student from Shenendahowa, Maxwell Hales.
Students were asked to write an essay describing how trees play a role in their own lives. The theme of Trees for the Earth was selected by the National Earth Day organization to focus on the integral role that trees play in ecosystems around the world and how they are threatened by deforestation, invasive species, climate change, and many other factors. These threats can harm us by lessening the many benefits that trees provide us. The essays were judged by retired teacher, Betty McCanty and the money for the prizes was given by an anonymous donor.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.
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Receives NYS Grant
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced in a ceremony on Thursday, April 19 that $1.8 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants had been awarded to 55 nonprofit land trusts across the State. Representatives of the DEC and the Land Trust Alliance unveiled the grantees at an event in Skaneateles, in Onondaga County, in recognition of Earth Week, a weeklong celebration of New York's commitment and accomplishments to protecting our environment, conserving open space and increasing access to the state's vast and magnificent natural resources. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, who is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, received a $20,000 Capacity Building Grant. The grant will be used to enhance its efforts in environmental education both through its public and group programs.“We are thrilled to be with such a distinguished group of organizations who have been selected to receive funding,” stated Margo Olson, Executive Director of the Preserve & Park. “This is a huge boost to our organization and it is an affirmation that our work is recognized state-wide as being a valuable asset to our community, our region, and beyond.”The grants, funded through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), will leverage an additional $2.25 million in private and local funding to support projects that will protect farmland, wildlife habitat and water quality, enhance public access for outdoor recreational opportunities, and conserve priority open space areas important for community health, tourism and regional economic development. “Land trusts continue to make a difference in local communities, maximizing public and private dollars to protect and preserve our state’s natural resources for generations to come,” said Acting DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Through partnerships like these, the Environmental Protection Fund provides critical support for many environmental and open space programs, generating revenue, creating jobs, and ensuring a cleaner and healthier New York.” The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with NYS DEC.In the Capital Region, 13 organizations received grant awards including Saratoga PLAN and the American Farmland Trust who are also based in Saratoga County.Recent research underscores how New York’s investment in land conservation and open space boosts property values, supports local businesses, saves taxpayer dollars and protects public health. A 2011 study by the Trust for Public Land found that every dollar of investment from New York’s Environmental Protection Fund generates $7 in total economic benefits from tourism, reduced government costs, and public health.
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.#
Earth Week and Vacation Programs
April Earth Week and Vacation Programs at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Looking for something to do during Spring Vacation or to celebrate Earth Week? Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park offers “naturally” fun programs with a full week of outdoor programs scheduled.Earth Day Volunteer Opportunities: Friday, April 22nd at 1:00pm Help Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park improve and maintain our habitats. In honor of Earth Day, we’ll be working on a couple of conservation and trail projects. You do not have to sign up for both days! Preregistration is required by April 21st. Frog Watch with Wilton Preserve and the Saratoga Springs Library: Monday April 25th, 7:00 pmWe’re teaming up with the Saratoga Springs Library to listen for local amphibians! Meet at the 80 Scout Road office to learn about the frogs of the sandplains. From there, we’ll head to a wetland to listen for some frog calls! Pre-registration is required by calling the Library at (518) 584-7860 option 3. Children must be accompanied by a parent or a caregiver. Outdoor Games: Tuesday April 26th, 1:00-2:00 pmBring your child to the Preserve & Park for an afternoon of outdoor nature-themed games!Pre- registration required by April 25th. Spa State Park Fish Stocking: Wednesday April 27th 11:00am-2:00pmWe will be joining in on the fun of the annual fish stocking at the Spa State Park. Visit our table at the Geyser Picnic Area to participate in children’s nature crafts and to learn about other local environmental organizations. Don’t forget to bring a bucket with you to get a fish to release! No registration required.Campfire Songs and Stories: Wednesday April 27th 7:30 pmJoin us for an evening of campfire songs and stories. Space is limited so pre-registration is required by April 25th. Spring Scavenger Hunt: Thursday April 28th 1:00-2:00 pmBring your child out to Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park for an afternoon of outdoor exploration. Children will learn to use their senses to explore the outdoors during the spring by working to complete a nature scavenger hunt. Pre- registration required by April 27th. Reconnecting with Nature in Congress Park: Friday April 29th at 11:00 amStroll through Congress Park and learn to identify various trees using bark and branches. After the walk we will return to the library to create twig vases! Please contact the Saratoga Springs Public Library at (518) 584-7860 option 3 to register.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.
Fire Tower Opens for the Season
April 9th & 10th, 10:00am-3:00pmClimb an authentic fire tower without having to climb a mountain! Get a treetop view of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. Also visit the re-created Fire Ranger’s Cabin and learn about the life of a fire tower monitor. Access is from Parking Lot #3 on Scout Road. Open the second weekend of every month April-October.
Spring Astronomy Party
Friday April 15th, 7:30pmJoin the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park and our friends from Adirondack Skywatchers and the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers, Inc. as we study the night sky in all of its beauty. We will be focusing on the Moon and Jupiter! There will be telescopes available for gazing and will also be learning some of the constellations in our night sky. Pre-registration is required by April 14th.
Student Earth Day Essay Contest
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park invites students to participate in an essay contest in honor of the 46th annual Earth Day on April 22nd, 2016. The theme for Earth Day 2016 is Trees for the Earth. 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 include a minimum of 10 sentences and accompanying illustrations are also encouraged. The contest winner from each of the categories will receive a $50 cash prize. Winners will be announced on Earth Day, Friday, April 22nd.Students should write an essay describing how trees play a role in their own lives. The essay can also describe a time when they felt connected to nature through trees. Other suggestions are to reflect on what the world would be like without trees, how trees and nature affect people’s daily lives, a personal experience with trees or nature, and anything else that relates to the theme!The deadline for entries is Monday, April 18th, 2016. Submissions may be mailed to Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park at 80 Scout Road Gansevoort, NY 12831 or emailed to info@wiltonpreserve.org by the deadline. Please include the student’s name, grade level and school that they attend, address, email, and phone contact information with the submission.The theme of Trees for the Earth was selected by the National Earth Day organization to focus on the integral role that trees play in ecosystems around the world and how they are threatened by deforestation, invasive species, climate change, and many other factors. These threats can harm us by lessening the the many benefits that trees provide us. Trees help combat climate change by absorbing excess and harmful CO2 from our atmosphere. In fact, in a single year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced by driving the average car 26,000 miles. Trees help us breathe clean air by absorbing odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filtering particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. Trees help communities by achieving long-term economic and environmental sustainability and providing food, energy, and income.For more information, please call the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org.
FrogWatch USA Volunteer Training Sessions
On Wednesdays March 9th and 16th Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be holding training sessions 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 - in the 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 sessions will take place starting at 6:00 pm and run until 9:00 pm at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Office at 80 Scout Road in Gansevoort. Registration is required so that there as 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.
February Vacation Programs: Sign Up Now!
Looking for something to do during Winter Vacation? Check out our “naturally” fun programs!Animal TrackingMonday February 15th 11-12:30 pmBring your child outside for an afternoon of outdoor exploration! Participants will meet in the Crawshaw Story Room to receive animal footprint identification cards and snowshoes, courtesy of Wilton Wildlife. We will walk to Congress Park, put on our snowshoes, and look for animal tracks. This program is limited to 20 families, or when the snowshoes run out, so register early! Pre-registration is required. Call the Library at (518) 584-7860 option 3. Children must be accompanied by a parent or a caregiver.Natural Picture FramesTuesday February 16th, 1-2:00 pmJoin us at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park for a great nature craft that will be cherished for years. We will use twigs, pine cones and other materials found in nature to create our picture frames. This program is for children ages 5 and up. Pre- registration required by February 15th. Skull ScienceWednesday February 17th 1-2:00 pmUsing real animal skulls, participants will discover how different animals have adapted to survive in their habitats. We will be examining animal artifacts, including skulls and furs during this interactive lesson. Best for children ages 8 and up. Pre- registration required by February 16th.Owl ProwlWednesday February 17th at 6:00 pmIn 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. 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 16th by calling the Library at (518) 584-7860 option 3. This program will be offered again on February 23 and March 4.Winter Scavenger HuntThursday February 18th 1-2:00 pmBring your child out to Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park for an afternoon of outdoor exploration. Children will learn to use their senses to explore the outdoors during winter by working to complete a nature scavenger hunt. The program is designed for children 5 and older. Snowshoes will be available for rental 30 minutes before the program: free for members, $3 for nonmembers. If there is no snow, the program will take place without snowshoes. Pre- registration required by February 17th.
Weekend Events Cancelled - No Winterfest
More cancellations:There will be no Winterfest on Sunday and we will not be renting snowshoes and cross country skis on Saturday and Sunday either.We will be tabling at Chowderfest on Saturday so come and visit us at Ben and Jerry's downtown!!Let's hope for some winter weather soon!!!