News
April 21, 2016School Vacation Week Programs: Pine Bush Explorers
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission will be offering free programs in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve during the upcoming school break, April 25-30. “If you are looking to spend some time outside, join us on one of these exceptional hikes,” said Sara Poggi-Decker Education Program Manager. “The theme for the week is Pine Bush Explorers.”
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is 3,200 acres with 11 different trailheads and over 18 miles of trails. “Each program will take place at a different trailhead in the preserve and includes a unique opportunity to explore the globally rare, nationally significant, and locally distinct Albany Pine Bush,” said Education Program Director Erin Kinal. Program highlights include a hike at Hunger Kill Barrens on Monday April 25, a longer 2.6 mile hike starting at the Discovery Center on Wednesday April 27 and a hike starting from the trailhead at the DiCaprio Park on Thursday April 28.
These programs are free and pre-registration is required for all programs. Each program has a different meeting location specified in the program description. The Discovery Center is located at 195 New Karner Road in Albany. For more information and to sign up for any of these programs, please call 518.456.0655 or visit the Albany Pine Bush events page.
The 3,200 – acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve (APBP), located in New York’s Capital District, protects one of the best remaining inland pitch-pine scrub oak barrens in the world. This extraordinary fire-dependent habitat provides homes for many plants and animals and contains 55 New York State-designated wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly. The Preserve is a National Natural Landmark, a New York State Unique Area, Bird Conservation Area and a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area. Characterized by rolling sand dunes and miles of trails, the Preserve offers visitors many recreational opportunities including hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting, fishing and canoeing. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is a public-private partnership created by the NYS Legislature in 1988 to protect and manage the APBP and provide the public with educational and recreational opportunities.
As the gateway to the Pine Bush, the Discovery Center is a state-of-the-art “green” certified interpretive center where visitors come to understand why the Pine Bush is rare and special. A visit to this unique destination is an exciting exploration where learning comes naturally through interactive exhibits, an outdoor Discovery Trail, and numerous programs on the ecology, natural history, cultural history and management of the Pine Bush. Admission to the Discovery Center is free (there is a small fee for programs). The Center is open daily weekdays 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., weekends and most holidays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, please call 518.456.0655 or visit the Albany Pine Bush website.
