The Ants of the Northeast – To Know Them is to Love Them
Thursday, June 20th 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Free
Hawthorne Valley Farm, Creekhouse – 1075 Harlemville Road, Ghent
A presentation and book signing by Aaron Ellison, lead author of the newly published Field Guide to the Ants of New England and Senior Research Fellow in Ecology at the Harvard Forest. There is also an opportunity to join the Farmscape Ecology Program for a day in the field with Aaron to look for ants and their habitats.
Additional information on The Ants of the Northeast – To Know Them is to Love Them
Summer Solstice Almost Full Moon Walk
Friday, June 21st 8:00pm
Ooms Conservation Area at Sutherland Pond – Main Parking Area – 480 Rock City Rd, Chatham
All Ages
Free
Join CLC staff for a midsummer night stroll. It’s the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and rumored to have mystical powers. According to Icelandic folklore, cows gain the power of speech for this one night in June. Bring flashlights and sturdy shoes to walk the fields under the moonlit sky.
Who Lives In Our Meadows?
Saturday, June 22nd 10:30am - 12:30pm
Hawthorne Valley – 327 Route 21C, Ghent
All Ages
Free
Join ecologists from the Farmscape Ecology Program for a leisurely walk through some of the meadows at Hawhtorne Valley Farm farm to explore the plants, insects, and birds that live in the pastures and hayfields.
GIS Working Group
Tuesday, June 25th 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Free
Churchtown Firehouse – County Route 27, Churchtown
The GIS Working Group is a forum and support group for municipal volunteers who have participated in CLC-sponsored GIS (Geographic Information System) Map-Reading Trainings held in 2012-13. The trainings provided a package of basic software and interactive computer-based map data for Columbia County that can be used in community planning – for planning and zoning board reviews, comprehensive planning, conservation advisory councils work and similar purposes.
Wednesday Wandering
Wednesday, June 26th 10:00am - 12:00pm
Ooms Conservation Area at Sutherland Pond – Main Parking Area – 480 Rock City Rd, Chatham
All Ages
Free
Join CLC naturalists for a hike through gorgeous open fields and rolling hills. Part of an ongoing series held on the final Wednesday of the month, participants take pleasure in being outside together and learning from one another about the animals and plants they encounter.
Pond Pals
Knee High Naturalist Program
Thursday, June 27th 10:00am - 11:00am
Schor Conservation Area – Pavilion – 58 Shoreview Dr, Canaan
Ages 3 – 6
Free
Explore the pond and the wet and wiggly creatures that call it home. We’ll use nets to get a closer look at noisy bullfrogs, twitchy tadpoles, and crazy crayfish then make a frog mask to take home. It’s this season’s kickoff for the Knee-High Naturalist series – all events include story time, arts and crafts, an educational program, and free play.
Rabbits need habitat for feeding and raising their young. Photo by J. Greene
Young Forest Habitat Conservation
Saturday, June 29th 8:30am
$10 per person and includes educational materials, lunch and refreshments
Stanford Free Library – 14 Creamery Road, Stanfordville, NY
Learn more about managing your property to benefit New England Cottontail and other young forest species. The workshop will cover habitat requirements, ongoing studies, strategies for how you can create or enhance habitat, and funding opportunities. The workshop will conclude with a field visit to an active habitat management project site at the nearby Buttercup Farm Audubon Sanctuary.
Dig Into Reading with Soil and Seeds
Tuesday, July 9th 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Kindergarten – 4th grade
Free
Tuesday, July 9 – 2:00pm-4:00pm Chatham Public Library
Wednesday, July 10 – 6:30pm-7:30pm Valatie Library
Thursday, July 11 – 2pm-4pm New Lebanon Library
Tuesday, July 16 – 10am-11:30am Hudson Area Library
Wednesday, July 24 – 1:30pm-3:00pm Kinderhook Library
This summer’s reading theme is “Dig Into Reading,” and we’re investigating the world beneath our feet. Learn why soil is so important for animals, plants, and people then create a seed paper bookmark to take home and plant next spring.
Register by calling the library hosting the event: Chatham – 518.392.3666, Valatie – 518.758.9321, New Lebanon – 518.794.8844, Hudson – 518.828.1792, or Kinderhook – 518.758.6192.
All About Snapping Turtles
Saturday, July 13th 10:00am - 12:00pm
Ooms Conservation Area at Sutherland Pond – Main Parking Area – 480 Rock City Rd, Chatham
All Ages
Free
Ever wonder what snapping turtles eat or what they do in winter? Join Casey Tompkins, wetland biologist and owner of Tompkins Ecological Group, as we explore Sutherland Pond. We’ll check special turtle traps to get an up-close and personal look at snappers’ behaviors, habitat needs, and diet. Get your picture taken with one of our new friends and then release it back into the pond.
Explore Columbia County Outdoors
Saturday, July 13th 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Ooms Conservation Area at Sutherland Pond – Main Parking Area – 480 Rock City Rd, Chatham
Adults and Older Children
Free
Join CLC naturalists for a paddle on the 35-acre Sutherland Pond. Explore charming coves and a floating island in your own kayak or canoe. The event is part of a series featuring natural areas listed in the excellent guidebook, Columbia County Outdoors.
Scavenger Hunt
Knee High Naturalist Program
Thursday, July 18th 10:00am - 11:00am
Ooms Conservation Area at Sutherland Pond – Main Parking Area – 480 Rock City Rd, Chatham
Ages 3 – 6
Free
Attention scavenger hunters! Come find cool discoveries in nature including animal tracks, pinecones, and bird nests then take home a prize for participating. Part of the Knee-High Naturalist series, this event includes story time, arts & crafts, an educational program, and free play.
Who lives in our streams and ponds?
Saturday, July 20th 10:30am
Hawthorne Valley – 327 Route 21C, Ghent
All Ages
Free
Join ecologists from the Farmscape Ecology Program and get your hands and feet wet. Get to know some of the fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects who live in the waters of the farm.
Explore Columbia County Outdoors Sunset Paddle
Saturday, July 27th 5:30pm - 7:30pm
All Ages
Free
Nutten Hook
Ferry Road Launch, Stuyvesant
Weather permitting, we’ll head north on the Hudson River and will paddle around Stockport Middle Ground Island. Paddling experience is required; bring your own canoe/kayak, equipment, PFD, and water. Space is limited and pre-registration is required so sign up soon! The event is part of a series featuring natural areas listed in the guidebook Columbia County Outdoors.
Wednesday Wandering
Wednesday, July 31st 10:00am - 12:00pm
Harvey Mountain State Forest – East Hill Road, Austerlitz
All Ages
Free
Harvey Mountain State Forest
Join CLC naturalists for a 3.5 mile round trip hike at Harvey Mountain, a beautiful state forest which CLC helped to protect. This is a strenuous hike (the views are worth it!) to the highest point in Columbia County and passes through an impressive wild blueberry patch (snacking encouraged). Part of an ongoing series held on the final Wednesday of the month, participants take pleasure in being outside together and learning from one another about the animals and plants they encounter.
Animal Autographs
Knee High Naturalist Program
Thursday, August 8th 10:00am - 11:00am
Hand Hollow Conservation Area – 4079 County Route 9, New Lebanon
Ages 3 – 6
Free
Look for animals and their “autographs” in different habitats – we might even get to see the tracks of the river otter that likes to play in the stream! Make your own tracking booklet to take home. Part of the Knee-High Naturalist series, this event includes story time, arts and crafts, an educational program, and free play.
Who lives in our wet meadows?
Saturday, August 17th 10:30am
Hawthorne Valley – 327 Route 21C, Ghent
All Ages
Free
Join ecologists from the Farmscape Ecology Program for this activity for the whole family. Put on your rubber boots and explore the plants, insects, and reptiles who like the wet places on the farm. Meet in front of the Farmstore. For more information, call the Farmscape Ecology Program at 518.672.7994.
Full "Sturgeon" Moon Walk
Tuesday, August 20th 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Greenport Conservation Area – 54 Daisy Hill Rd, Greenport
All Ages
Free
View the Hudson River and beyond by the light of the Full Sturgeon Moon. We’ll talk about the conservation efforts for Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River and other creatures along the way.
Wednesday Wandering
Wednesday, August 28th 10:00am - 12:00pm
Beebe Hill State Forest – County Route 5, Austerlitz, NY
All Ages
Free
Join CLC naturalists for a hike to the fire tower at this spectacular 2,500 acre state forest. Part of an ongoing series held on the final Wednesday of the month, participants to take pleasure in being outside together and learning from one another about the animals and plants they encounter.
Where Butterflies Grow
Knee High Naturalist Program
Thursday, August 29th 10:00am - 11:00am
Harrier Hill Park – Rod and Gun Rd, Stockport, NY
Ages 3 – 6
Free
Magnificent monarch butterflies are “growing” in the fields at Harrier Hill Park – come see them! Make and decorate your own butterfly wings, look for butterflies and become a citizen scientist. Part of the Knee-High Naturalist series, this event includes story time, an educational program, and free play.
Explore Columbia County Outdoors
Saturday, September 7th 10:00am - 12:00pm
All Ages
Free
Wilson M. Powell Wildlife Sanctuary
Hunt Club Road, Old Chatham
Explore this beautiful 145-acre sanctuary with panoramic views of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains. We’ll hike to Dorson’s Rock to check for early migrating hawks. The event is part of a series featuring natural areas listed in the guidebook Columbia County Outdoors.
Magnificent Monarchs
Saturday, September 7th 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Greenport Conservation Area – 54 Daisy Hill Rd, Greenport
All Ages
Free
Every fall, Columbia County monarchs fly south to spend the winter at roosting sites in Mexico. Monarchs are the only butterflies to make such a long migration, flying up to 2,000 miles in the fall to reach their winter destination. Following a talk about monarchs, we will capture, tag, and release them during the peak of their migration at this designated Monarch Waystation. Tagging individual butterflies helps scientists study and monitor monarch populations and fall migration. Plus it’s just plain fun to chase butterflies!
Fall Flowers in Field and Forest
Saturday, September 14th 10:30am
Hawthorne Valley – 327 Route 21C, Ghent
All Ages
Free
Join ecologists from the Farmscape Ecology Program for a leisurely walk through the forest and meadows to appreciate the diversity of fall-blooming wildflowers on our farm.
North Bay Paddle
Saturday, September 14th 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Free
Hudson Boat Launch
As part of the Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble, come journey with us to the North Bay and see the Greenport Conservation Area (an ecologically diverse preserve with approximately 625 acres including wetlands and tidal mudflats) from the Hudson River. The intertidal wetlands are home to two rare plant species and numerous types of waterfowl, and we may even spot a Bald Eagle.
Farmland Leasing 101
Down To Earth Workshop Series
Thursday, September 19th 7:00pm
Farm Credit East – 190 Route 9H, Claverack
Free
This workshop will provide an overview of farmland leasing and alternative lease models, land assessments, agricultural assessments, and a panel discussion with farmers and landowners who have had successful lease arrangements.
Farm Financing
Down To Earth Workshop Series
Thursday, October 17th 7:00pm
Farm Credit East – 190 Route 9H, Claverack
Free
This workshop provides an introduction to business planning, farm loans, FSA assistance and USDA grant programs available for existing and start-up farm businesses. We’ll also include a discussion of various farm business relationships such as partnerships, LLCs, and other arrangements.
Conserve a Farm
Down To Earth Workshop Series
Saturday, November 16th 10:00am - 12:00pm
Farm Credit East – 190 Route 9H, Claverack
Free
Introduction to CLC’s brand new Conserve a Farm Program, and a review of selected available farm properties. Includes a discussion of land access challenges, as well as a presentation about working with realtors. Also includes a description CLC’s conservation easement program, and a chance to talk with CLC’s Conservation Easement Stewardship Manager about owning protected land.
