Spread the word! That’s what the Library Lecture Series is all about. This is a series of adult programs, held at local libraries, informing residents on the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, where we are located, and how important this rare ecosystem is to protect and manage. The program takes participants through a visual presentation of the history, topography, the diversity of plants and animals, seasonal surprises, management techniques, and ways you can help the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Throughout the program, we encourage open discussion and hands on exploration. We also have joining us at the end of the program is one of our resident turtles. We encourage you to join us for one of the programs and bring along your questions and curiosity.

We completed our first library lecture series at the East Greenbush Public Library on Saturday, January 28.  Our next program will be at the Albany Public Library-Pine Hills Branch on Wednesday, March 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m. The consecutive library programs are at the Wm. K. Sanford Library, Colonie on Tuesday, April 17th ,  7:00-8:00 p.m. and  the Guilderland Public Library, Tuesday May 8th, 6:30-7:30. If you are interested in having our staff speak at a library near you, please feel free to call the Discovery Center at 456-0655 to schedule a program.

Come into the Discovery center to check out the new Exploration Station…

Exploration stations are temporary exhibits set up in the Karner Classroom. The topics change about every 3 months.  The current topic is The Subnivean Zone – Go Below The Snow which will be installed through March. The subnivean zone is the area between the surface of the snow and the ground. Many animals actually depend on snow for protection and warmth during the winter months. Come tunnel through the indoor subnivean zone, make snowflakes and learn more about animals in winter!

If there is one word to describe this summer’s Jr. Docent Volunteer program it would be “active”. From day one the volunteers were on the move, learning, exploring, teaching, applying and expanding their knowledge and skills. We were happy to include students from many local middle and high schools including Albany High School, Farnsworth Middle School, Guilderland High School, Niskayuna High School, Scotia-Glenville Middle School and Tech Valley High School.

Thanks to the generous support of Mr. Subb and CDTA, these nine area students were able to gain valuable job skills and contribute to their local community through the APBPC Jr. Docent Program.  Jr. Docents spent their summer learning about the preserve, leading interactive Discovery Tables for the public, working on education projects and shadowing science/conservation staff in the field.  In turn the Jr. Docents contributed over 150 hours to educating the approximately 3,100 visitors to the Discovery Center this summer!

If you are interested in becoming a Jr. Docent.  Please contact us at info@albanypinebush.org .

It is November but we are already planning for next year’s Lupine Festival. In preparation for many fun activities and crafts made from recycled materials we are asking YOU to help us collect the following:

• Newspaper (Black and White only)
• Soups Cans
• Paper Bags (Medium and large sizes, no lunch bags please)
• Metal Coffee Cans (The bigger the better)

Bring your cleaned items to the Discovery Center and we will gladly take them off your hands and put them to good use. Thank you for your help and continued support of our programs.

~Sara, Environmental Educator

Discovery Center Docents perform several important roles. Docents are friendly greeters that welcome visitors to the Discovery Center, they are informal educators assisting visitors by answering visitor questions and providing visitor orientation, and they are formal educators leading small group presentations associated with specific Discovery Center exhibits. Docents must possess an interest in the Albany Pine Bush, in education and an enthusiastic and friendly outlook. Experience as an educator or with public speaking is helpful but not required. Training for Discovery Center Docents will be provided. For more information or to sign up for an interview please contact Education Program Assistant, Blake Etchison at (518) 456-0655 ext.1222 or betchison@albanypinebush.org

Welcome to our new web site!