Listed below are upcoming Columbia Land Conservancy education and outdoor recreation events, as well as volunteer trail work days.  CLC's education and recreation programs are made possible through the generosity of CLC members and supporters, the help of numerous volunteers, Hudson River Bank and Trust Company Foundation, the Mellam Family Foundation, Bank of Greene County Charitable Foundation and the T. Backer Fund. View photos of recent public events here. Click here for listings of programs offered by other organizations Click here for a printable calendar of  upcoming events. Click here to learn more about weekly trail runs at CLC properties and other public lands in Columbia County.
“Spur-of-the-Moment” Snowshoe Treks Winter 2009-2010 Ages:  All     It’s becoming harder and harder to predict when the frozen white stuff will be in great supply.   To take advantage of the sporadic snowfall in Columbia County, CLC has created snowshoe hikes that are arranged for when we have adequate snow and good weather conditions.   We’ve set up an email alert system to schedule these snowshoe treks. You check your email and there is a message from CLC:  “Come join us for snowshoeing”.   Simply reply to the email and meet us at the designated site.  CLC has a limited number of snowshoes to lend and beginners are welcome.  For more information and to register for the email list, please contact Jenny Brinker at 518.392.5252, ext. 210 or by email at jenny@clctrust.org Wednesday Wanderings CLC Public Conservation Areas Final Wednesday of the Month 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Ages: All   Looking for an opportunity to explore CLC’s Public Conservation Areas, but don’t want to go on your own?  Join us at a different site each month and we will provide a guided tour of these amazing properties.  You will learn about the history of each site, look for wildlife, and have a chance to familiarize yourself with the trails. During the winter months, CLC will provide snowshoes if needed.  February 24th, Greenport Conservation Area; March 31st, Siegel-Kline Kill; April 28th, Round Ball Mountain.  To register, please contact Joyce Carroll at 518.392.5252, ext. 206 or by email at joyce@clctrust.org. Owl Prowl Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Sanctuary and Center Friday, February 12th 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.    PROGRAM FULL   Winter is an excellent time to call to the owls and listen for their reply.  In partnership with CLC, Audubon New York and Rheinstrom Hill educator, Larry Federman, will guide you through a captivating night exploring the mystery of owls.  We will discuss owl behavior and the places these fascinating birds are most likely to be sighted. After the discussion, we will walk in the woods to look and listen for these wonders of the night. Please dress warmly, and bring along a flashlight.  Space is limited so please register early. Program is full.   Animal Tracks – Clues That Tell a Tale New Lebanon Library Wednesday, February 17th 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Ages:  School Age Children   Tracks and traces can provide a glimpse into the lives of animals whose actions are otherwise hidden from us.  We will start off the program by making plaster casts of local animals for the children to take home.  Students will learn about track patterns and how they can help us identify the animals that made them.  They will also practice interpreting tracks to discover the tale they tell using a “story sheet”.  To register, please contact Jeanie Bagino at 518.794.8844 by February 16th. “Critter Cam” Snowshoe Program Place:  Ooms Conservation Area Friday, February 19th 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Ages:  All   School winter vacation week is here!  Time to get the kids up and moving at our family snowshoe program.  Spend a great winter afternoon romping through the snow with your children.  We’ll look for animal signs and tracks as we explore the hedgerows and forest areas around Sutherland Pond.  You’ll help our educator decide where to set-up our “Critter Cam” to take photographs of the local wildlife.  These photographs will later be posted to CLC’s Flickr account for you to view.  A limited number of snowshoes are available for children and adults, with pre-registration, while supplies last. To register, please contact Jenny Brinker at 518.392.5252 or by email at jenny@clctrust.org by February 18th. Build a Blue Bird Box Schor Conservation Area, Canaan Saturday, April 17th 1:00 – 2:30 pm or 3:00 – 4:30 pm Ages:  All   Back by popular demand!  Celebrate the arrival of spring and build a nesting box for the Eastern bluebird.  Using pre-cut lumber with ALL materials and tools provided, everyone gets to make and take home a bluebird nest box.  In the springtime in Columbia County, some birds (like robins) build an open nest, but others prefer nesting in cavities in decayed trees or stumps.  Cavity-dwelling birds, like bluebirds, will substitute a nest box for a tree cavity.  Natural nest sites have disappeared as weakened or dying trees are removed from our landscape.   This program is very popular and space is limited, so please register early.  To register, please contact Jenny Brinker at (518) 392-5252 x210 or by email at jenny@clctrust.org by noon April 16th.   Earth Day Celebration New York State Museum, Albany Saturday, April 24th 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Ages:  Children   CLC and Mud Creek Environmental Learning Center will be at the New York State Museum as we celebrate Earth Day with hands-on activities and display designed to raise your curiosity about conserving the wild critters and land in Columbia County.   We will be joined by twenty additional scientists, environmentalist, and nature lovers who will add to the festive atmosphere and teach you the steps you can take to protect the earth!  No registration required.