Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Become a steward of your area by learning how to identify and report invasive species using the iMapInvasives database! Your input helps give natural resource professionals a comprehensive view of the state of invasive species in New York. We will reinforce what we've learned by reporting invasive species we identify on the Wallkill Rail Trail.

Meet at Gardiner Library

***Pre-register so your iMapInvasives Account can be set up and ready to use!! Email attendees' name to Sarantia.Mitsinikos@parks.ny.gov

Curious about Snakes? Come join us at Minnewaska for a brief lesson about the snakes found in the Park Preserve. This will be followed by a Snake Scents Game, where you are the snake and must determine what is inside a container by scent alone. Snake stories will also be shared by leaders and participants and the group will be led on a hike along the scenic, three-mile-long Beacon Hill Loop. This program is recommended for seven to twelve-year-old children, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18. Well behaved younger siblings are always welcome. Meet at the Minnewaska Nature Center. Pre-registration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752.

Join park educators on an exciting and fun outdoor survival challenge. Participants will learn how to read a map and use a compass, pack a backpack for a hike, and understand the principles of Leave No Trace. Then, everyone will practice their skills on a hike around Lake Minnewaska, stopping at various points along the way to orient themselves using the map and compass. This program is recommended for eight to twelve-year-old children, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18. Meet at the Minnewaska Nature Center. Pre-registration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752.

Join park educators to learn about butterflies and what makes them so unique. We'll search for evidence of their activity, including eggs, caterpillars, leaf chewing and actual butterflies, as we walk the trails in the Peter's Kill Area. We'll also play a fun butterfly game called Flutter-by Butterfly. This program is recommended for six to ten year old children, accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Siblings of any age are welcome; however, younger siblings may need parental assistance. Meet at the Peter's Kill Park Office. Pre-registration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752.

Join park educators to learn all about the animals and insects that live in ponds, and then we'll pick delicious blueberries! We'll take an approximately two-mile-long hike to visit two remote ponds where children will use nets to search for animals. When we've had enough fun with the pond, we'll pick wild blueberries until our hands are purple! This program is recommended for six to ten-year-old children, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18. Well behaved younger siblings are always welcome. Meet at the Minnewaska Nature Center. Pre-registration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752.

Join park educators for a round of birding. Bring your children to learn all about birds by listening to bird calls, touching bird feathers and feet, measuring their wing span and looking at mounted birds. An interactive game will teach them the concepts of gathering food for their young as they pretend to be parent birds and they'll make their own bird mask. Then, we'll take a walk on the picturesque trails in the Peter's Kill Area to look for birds. A few pairs of binoculars will be available to borrow for the walk. This program is recommended for seven to twelve-year-old children, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18. Well behaved younger siblings are always welcome. Meet at the Peter's Kill Parking Area. Pre-registration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752.

Join park educators for a fun morning learning about the water cycle. We'll take a hike to visit the Peter's Kill stream and we'll play the Incredible Journey Game, where each child pretends to be a drop of water. Lastly, everyone will make their very own rain stick to take home. This program is recommended for eight to twelve-year-old children, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18. Well behaved younger siblings are always welcome. Meet at the Peter's Kill Park Office. Pre-registration is required by calling Minnewaska at 845-255-0752.