Sue Van Hook, Mycologist, will lead us into the woods at one of our Preserves or Forests on the Rensselaer Plateau. Participants will have a chance to develop their field skills in mushroom identification. Bring a basket or bag with stiff sides, a field knife or trowel, and a hand lens if you have one.  Registration fee $10/person, kids are free.  

REGISTER ONLINE HERE. 

Group size for the walk is limited to 25 so it is first paid, first on the list. Directions will be mailed to participants registered 2 weeks before the walk.

Questions? Contact Marcy Steinbergatmarcygs@aol.com.

Resources:

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms by Gary Lincoff.

 Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada’s by Timothy Baroni. 

Mushrooms on Northeast North America by a George Barron

Outing can be used as credit toward Rensselaer Naturalist Patch.

Walk off that Thanksgiving turkey, and see a hidden urban scenic area and some Troy history.We’ll walk two miles or so along Burden Pond and the Wynants Kill gorge, with a waterfall and remnants of dams and pipes. Hear about the Burden Iron works and water power infrastructure.

Meet at the parking area of Burden Pond Park (next to the laundromat) at Campbell Avenue and Mill Road (Route 4).

Registration is not required but appreciated for planning.

Register online here.

Join us for a series of four wildlife tracking workshops, each led by a local expert with experience in reading the winter outdoors. Workshops are suitable if you’re a  beginner or if you want to enhance your skills. All are welcome to attend one or more workshops. These workshops are jointly sponsored by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Rensselaer Land Trust, and Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center.

Cost is $20 for each workshop, $15 for members of RPA, RLT, and Friends of Dyken Pond. Space is limited, and you must register in advance online, or contact 518-659-5263. Contact the trip leader with any questions. Dress appropriately for the cold, keeping in mind there will be periods of inactivity while looking at a track. Depending on snow/ice conditions, snowshoes/microspikes/proper footwear is needed. Bring extra layers for warmth, and hot drinks and hand/feet warmers.

REGISTER HERE

January 18, 9 am - 1 pm, at Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Grafton – Tracking with Dan Yacobellis. Learn basic identification of animal track and sign. Even if you are experienced in tracking, there will be plenty of opportunity to put your knowledge to the test and even pick up some new insights. We will spend some time around each track or sign we see learning details to help identify the species and possibly the individual who made it. We may even choose to follow them for a while to get to know their habits, areas of interest, and range, and maybe even their personality. Questions: contact Dan at miye_yelo@yahoo.com.

Dan Yacobellis runs Tamakoce Wilderness Programs in Grafton, immersing children and adults in wilderness living experiences. He is a long-time Plateau resident and teacher, and has led many tracking outings on the Rensselaer Plateau.

Join us for a series of four wildlife tracking workshops, each led by a local expert with experience in reading the winter outdoors. Workshops are suitable if you’re a  beginner or if you want to enhance your skills. All are welcome to attend one or more workshops. These workshops are jointly sponsored by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Rensselaer Land Trust, and Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center.

Cost is $20 for each workshop, $15 for members of RPA, RLT, and Friends of Dyken Pond. Space is limited, and you must register in advance online, or contact 518-659-5263. Contact the trip leader with any questions. Dress appropriately for the cold, keeping in mind there will be periods of inactivity while looking at a track. Depending on snow/ice conditions, snowshoes/microspikes/proper footwear is needed. Bring extra layers for warmth, and hot drinks and hand/feet warmers.

REGISTER HERE

February 29, 9 am - noon, at Albert Family Community Forest, East Nassau – Tracking with Patricia Liddle. We will explore the Albert Family Forest for animal tracks and sign that reveal the stories happening all around us. We will not be sticking to a foot trail, but going where the wildlife leads us. She hopes to open eyes/minds to. Questions: Contact Pat at plcanaan@fairpoint.net.

Patricia Liddle is a student and lover of nature from when she was a child on her hands and knees in a pond looking for tadpoles to recently following fisher tracks on Harvey Mtn. She has studied tracking with Sue Morse, George Leoniak, Josh Woods, and, of course, the animals.