The mission of Friends of Five Rivers is to support environmental education at
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center as well as to enhance the experience of visitors
to Five Rivers and to promote the interests of the Center.
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Your Program Offerings - Winter 2021 |
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Photograph by Denise Hackert Stoner |
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Find your program fit with Friends of Five Rivers! |
Need a reason to go outside this winter? Friends is here to help!
Engaging scientific programming available to YOU at Five Rivers from January to March 2021
Adults, children, students and family/friend groups can explore, discover and wonder with Friends’ Naturalists, in person.
Come join the fun!
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Friends is committed to providing in person, outdoors environmental education at
Five Rivers. To do so safely, stated group sizes are subject to change based on
federal, state and local guidelines in place at the time of the program.
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Learn how to Maple Sugar at home in time for the sap run. Spend an hour with a Friends Naturalist learning how to identify a maple tree, tap a spile and collect sap. View one method for evaporating sap to syrup at home and ask questions before leaving with a spile and a smile!
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Who? Individuals, Families, Friend Pods – 6 maximum
When? 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. on
February 9, 10, 11 or 12
Where? In person at Five Rivers
Fee? $15 for Friends’ Members; $20 for non-members
(Includes Spile)
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Snow Snake Creation and Racing |
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Thomas J. Dorsey Jr. (Tom Two Arrows) (b. 1920)
“Ga Wa Ta” or Snow Snake (1942) Detail
Courtesy of Albany Institute of History and Art
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Snow Snake is a traditional Haudenosaunee game played during the winter. The object of the game is to throw your Snow Snake (a straight tree branch) the farthest along a smooth trough made in the snow. Snow Snakes come in various lengths.
Five Rivers Snow Snake sessions will demonstrate how to prepare the branch for racing by removing twigs, sanding rough spots, decorating and waxing.
After the instructional session, participants will see the race trough and sign-up for a race heat on Friday. They will head home with a branch, sand paper, and wax to use for the creation of their own unique Snow Snake by race day.
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Who? Everyone; Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
When? Instructional Sessions 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.
on February 16 or 17.
RACE Heats 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. on February 19
Where? In Person at Five Rivers Amphitheater
Fee? $15 Individual Member; $20 Family Member
$20 Individual Non-Member; $25 Family Non-Member
Organized Groups (Scouts, Schools, etc.) email for rates.
All materials included
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Sparks of Creativity
Open Mic without the Mic at the Amphitheater
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Wishing you could perform or attend a performance? Then Sparks of Creativity is for you! Once a week through the month of March, Friends will hold an Open Mic (without a mic) at the Amphitheater. Sitting by a cozy fire, a staff member will begin each session and be followed by you, our talented performers. The audience will be seated on reserved, socially distanced benches in the open area stadium. Pre-registration to reserve a 10’ bench or to preform is required.
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Who? Everyone! Be an audience member, a performer or both!
Performers must submit a description of their family friendly talent
All ages may perform.
When? 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays in March 3, 10, 17, and 24.
Rain date: March 31.
Where? In Person at Five Rivers Amphitheater
Fee?
Members $10 to reserve a 10’ bench for one day’s performance or $30 for all 4 days
Non-Members $12 to reserve a 10’ bench for one day’s performance or $36 for all 4 days
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Talk and Trek I
Exploring Winter Life and Activity
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Winter is a wonderful time to explore the lives of insects, birds, mammals, trees and weeds. With Donald W. Stokes’ A Guide to Nature In Winter as our escort, let’s head outdoors to discover life under, in and above the snow. Each week participants will prepare for our walk by reading a general information section, usually 2 to 3 pages. When we head afield, we will hunt for examples of the subject matter and delve into its unique characteristics, history and identification.
Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy walking shoes/boots, and pack a snack. If needed, snowshoes will be provided. Meet at Five Rivers’ Guided School Program Building.
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Who? Adults
When? 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays
(January 14, 21, 28 and February 4, 11)
Where? In person at Five Rivers
Fee? $35 for Friends’ Members; $55 for non-members
Maximum Participants: 6 Adults
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Talk and Trek II
Winter Tree Buds and Scars
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Winter offers an unobscured view of tree buds and scars, two identifying features of trees.
Each week we will head afield to investigate a tree or two lining our path.
Could they be the same ones lining your street? Join us to find out!
Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy walking shoes/boots and pack a snack. If needed, snowshoes will be provided. Meet at Five Rivers’ Guided School Program Building.
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Who? Adults
When? 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. on Wednesdays
January 13, 20, 27 and February 3, 10)
Where? In person at Five Rivers
Fee? $35 for Friends’ Members; $55 for non-members
Maximum Participants: 6 Adults
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Actively engage your entire class in the discovery process through hands-on experiences and minds-on investigation at Five Rivers.
Our classroom is the great outdoors!
During January and February, learn about animal adaptations and winter survival as we explore animal tracks and scat in a variety of habitats.
In March, join us for a one-hour Marvelous Maples lesson where you will learn the sappy secret of syrup!
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Who? School Groups - Maximum Participants / Day: 30 students with 6 school chaperones. Participants will be divided into groups of 10 students with 2 school chaperones
When?
Animal Adaptations 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Mondays (January 4, 11, 25 February 1, 8)
Marvelous Maples 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in March
Where? In person at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Fee? $50 / group of 10 students with 2 school chaperones
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Enhance your family’s scientific learning this winter by scheduling a Family Field Trip to Five Rivers!
Meet a Naturalist to head afield for one of four offerings: Animal Tracking, Snowman Birdfeeders, Snowshoeing, and Sap to Syrup.
(Sap to Syrup is offered in March only and runs at additional times. See Registration Form for details.)
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Who? Families or Friend Groups*
Maximum Group Size: 8 participants* / Friends Naturalist
* 2 Adults required on every Fieldtrip
What? Nature Field Trip
When? 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Mondays.
Begins January 4th.
Where? In person at Five Rivers
Fee? $10 for Friends Members / $15 for Non-Members
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Map and Compass - 5 Week Series |
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For Children and Adult Partners |
Calling all young adventurers and adult partners! Head afield with a Friends Naturalist week 1 to learn basic map and compass skills needed to find an undisclosed location and hidden object.
Repeat the process weeks 2 and 3 until you feel comfortable with your newfound skills. On weeks 4 and 5, head off on your own to find the final two pieces to the puzzle.
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Who? Elementary aged children and adult partners
When? 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays for five weeks
(January 7, 14, 21, 28 and February 4)
Where? In person at Five Rivers
Fee? $35 for Friends Members / $55 for Non-Members - Material fees included
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For Children and Adult Partners |
Families with young children will accompany Naturalists on interactive, themed discovery walks around Five Rivers. Activity pages will be sent home each week to create an expanding journal.
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Who? Pre-school children and Parents or Adult Caregivers.
Older siblings welcome!
Max Group Size: 2 families / Naturalist
When? 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for four weeks. Begins January 12th for Tuesday participants and January 13th for Wednesday participants.
Where? In person at Five Rivers
Fee? $15 for Friends Members / $20 for Non-Members - Material fees included
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Friends of Five Rivers
518-475-0295
www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org
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Follow us @FriendsofFiveRivers |
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Tag your photos from Five Rivers with #FriendsofFiveRivers
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