Trail Report 2/8/2015 Winterfest Snowfest!
We got another 4 or 5 inches overnight on Saturday so the trails were rolled on Sunday morning. The conditions are fantastic!!Lots of people were out enjoying snowshoeing and skiing at our Winterfest Day. We had cocoa and a bonfire to go with all that fresh snow.Monday, the plan is to roll the trails first thing in the morning to take care of the overnight snowfall.Happy Winter!!
Trail Report 2/4/2015 More Snow!
Yes, we are in a winter wonderland! The trails are in great shape, they were rolled yesterday morning and then groomed yesterday afternoon.Today's dusting should make for a nice surface over all that groomed snow.Get out and enjoy!
Trail Report 2/2/2015 Snow Wonderful Snow
The groundhog would not have seen his shadow today at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, but we are happy to know that we have lots of winter ahead of us!Almost a foot of snow fell in this storm and the trails are in great shape.The trails were rolled late this afternoon and we will see about rolling and/or grooming again tomorrow.Happy Winter everyone!
Trail Report 1/30/2015 More Fresh Snow!
Another day, another three inches of fresh powdery loveliness!The trails were rolled this afternoon.It is supposed to be bitter-cold tomorrow, so bundle up out there.Guess what - they are forecasting another chance of three inches for Sunday night into Monday. This is what winter is supposed to be like!!
Trail Report 1/28/2015 - Beautiful Conditions
The newly-fallen four inches of snow were rolled this morning and many people were out during the day enjoying the excellent conditions.This afternoon the trails were groomed so the conditions should continue to be great as we finish off the week.With a little more snow forecast for late Thursday into Friday, that will be the icing on the cake!!
Trail Report 1/27/2015 Some Fresh Snow
We are as disappointed as the rest of you that we did not get the accumulation we were hoping for with this storm system.Today the trails received about four inches of light powder that is on top of a firm to icy base.The trails were groomed on Saturday before our Candlelight Ski and Snowshoe and will be groomed again when the snow stops falling with this current storm.
Trail Report 1/20/2015 - Yes, There is Still Snow!
With the ugly rain event on Sunday, some people were worried that our trails would be in terrible shape.We are pleased to report that they have been groomed today and the conditions are quite nice!We will groom again if needed later in the week in preparation for the Candlelight Ski and Snowshoe on Saturday, January 24th.Happy Trails!
January 24th Annual Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe at Camp Saratoga
Annual Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe at Camp SaratogaSaturday, January 24 from 6:00-9:00 pm Luminaries will glow along 2.5 miles of groomed trails. Along the way you will find fields and forests, two warming bonfires, and plenty of hot chocolate. The terrain is suitable for all levels and ages and includes a smaller 1 mile loop. Participants can drop-in anytime during the evening, no registration is needed. Snowshoes will be available on a first-come first-serve basis in the I.P. Winter Lodge off of Parking Lot #2 for $5/person for non-members. This event is weather permitting. Call 450-0321 for more information. We are still looking for volunteers for the event, please call if you are interested in helping out!
Electronic Annual Meeting Due to Storm
We are cancelling our Holiday Reception and Photography Show Opening because of the inclement weather. We will be holding our Annual Meeting electronically. If you would like to join in on the Annual Meeting, please email info@wiltonpreserve.org and you will be given the phone access information.
Wild About Blue Fundraiser: October 26
Please join us at our annual fundraiser at the Saratoga National Golf Club. At the event we will be presenting Wildlife Biologist Kathy O’Brien with our Metamorphosis Award, an award given to an individual who has helped initiate great change in the community. She has been instrumental in the survival of the endangered Karner blue butterflies. We will also have a unique silent auction! Cost is $65.00 and preregistration is required by Friday, October 17, 2014. Please RSVP to Margo at 518-450-0321.
Photography Show: Accepting Submissions
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be hosting a photography exhibition to highlight the beauty and mission of the Preserve & Park. Submissions are due on Monday, November 17th.Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
- Best in Show
- Best Nature in Winter
- Best featuring Conservation
- Best featuring Education
- Best featuring Recreation
- Best Animal Shot
- Best Karner Blue Butterfly Shot
- Best Under 13
The selected photographs will be on display from December 9, 2014 to April 1, 2015 at the office located at 80 Scout Road in Gansevoort.There will be an Opening Reception at the Annual Holiday Gathering which takes place after the annual meeting on Tuesday, December 9 at 5:00 PM.For more information emailinfo@wiltonpreserve.orgor call 450-0321.
Pre-K Discovery Days at Camp Saratoga
Starting on September 15Mark your Calendars: the Third Monday of Every Month at 10:30 am.This monthly program is for our youngest explorers (ages 3-6 years old) where we use children’s love of nature to teach simple concepts. Adults are expected to attend. This is an outdoor program so please come dressed for the weather. Preregistration is required so register today!!Dates: September 15, October 20, November 17, and December 15
Star Party on September 19th
Star Party at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park!What: Join the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park and our friends from Albany Area Amateur Astronomers, Inc. as we study the night sky in all of its beauty. We will have telescopes available for gazing and will also be learning some of the constellations in our night sky. Registration is limited, so please call today!When: Friday, September 19, 2014 at 8PMRain Date: Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 8PMWhere: Camp Saratoga on Scout RoadRSVP by: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 to
| Dress warmly & bring a blanket for this family event!Be ready to enjoy a great view of the heavens above us.Hot cocoa & other refreshments will be provided. |
info@wiltonpreserve.org or 518-450-0321
Wild About Blue: October 26
Please join us at our annual fundraiser at the Saratoga National Golf Club. At the event we will be presenting Wildlife Biologist Kathy O’Brien with our Metamorphosis Award, an award given to an individual who has helped initiate great change in the community. She has been instrumental in the survival of the endangered Karner blue butterflies. We will also have a unique silent auction! Cost is $65.00 and preregistration is required by Friday, October 17, 2014. Please RSVP to Margo at 518-450-0321.
Karner Blue Butterflies: 2nd Brood is Here!
The second brood of the endangered Karner blue butterflies have begun to be seen. These adults will lay the eggs that will overwinter until next spring.There are several trails in the Preserve & Park where you can observe these small blue butterflies. The most accessible are at Camp Saratoga where the trail leaves from parking lot #1. The other trails are Old Gick Farm and Fox which are accessed from parking areas off of Route 50, just north of King Road. The Preserve & Park is home to the largest population of these endangered butterflies in the Northeast.There are several opportunities to take a guided nature walk to look for the butterflies. These walks will take place on Thursdays starting on July 10 and continuing through the month of July. The walks will be offered twice a day, at 11:00 am and again at 4:00 pm. The walks leave from the parking area for the Old Gick Farm on Route 50 which is just under 4 miles past Wilton Mall. The walks should last about an hour and cover a mile of gently rolling terrain.The next few weeks will be ideal for seeing many of the newly emerged butterflies as they search for nectar and mates in the open pine/oak savannah that is their habitat in the Saratoga Sandplains. The walks will not take place if there is rain. Please dress appropriately for weather and insects.For more information about the walk and to pre-register, please contact the Park Office at 450-0321 or visit the website at www.wiltonpreserve.org. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.
First Karner blue butterflies of the Year Emerge
On Sunday, May 25, the first Karner blue butterflies of the year were observed at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, just in time for the Wildlife Festival that is scheduled for Sunday, June 1st at Camp Saratoga on Scout Road in Gansevoort. At the festival, there will be hourly butterfly walks starting at 11:15. At the festival there will also be live raptor programs, pond exploration, nature crafts and other hands-on activities. The festival runs from 11:00 – 4:00 and is free of charge.The endangered Karner blue butterflies spend the winter as an egg, hatch into their larval stage to feed on the wild blue lupine, and have just now emerged from their chrysalises. This first brood of adult butterflies will mate and lay eggs on the wild blue lupine. Those eggs will hatch and form the second brood, with those butterflies appearing usually in early July. There are several trails in the Preserve & Park where you can observe these small blue butterflies. The most accessible are at Camp Saratoga where the trail leaves from parking lot #1. The other trails are Old Gick Farm and Fox which are accessed from parking areas off of Route 50, just north of King Road.
There be many opportunities for guided nature walks to look for the butterflies. These walks will take place on Thursdays starting on May 29 and continuing through the month of June. The walks will be offered twice a day, at 11:00 am and again at 4:00 pm. The walks leave from the parking area for the Old Gick Farm on Route 50 which is just under 4 miles past Wilton Mall. The walks should last about an hour and cover a mile of gently rolling terrain. The next few weeks will be ideal for seeing many of the newly emerged butterflies as they search for nectar and mates in the open pine/oak savannah that is their habitat in the Saratoga Sandplains. The walks will not take place if there is rain. Please dress appropriately for weather and insects. For more information about the walk and to pre-register, please contact the Park Office at 450-0321 or visit the website at www.wiltonpreserve.org. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.
Fire Tower Open this Weekend: May 10th and 11th
10:00 am-3:00 pm at Camp Saratoga (Parking Lot 3)Climb an authentic fire tower without having to climb a mountain! Get a treetop view of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. The schedule is subject to weather conditions and availability of Volunteer Fire Tower Interpreters. To confirm that it is open, contact Larry Gordon (Town of Wilton Fire Tower Coordinator) at (518) 469-0918.