Tuesday April 16, 2024 
Registration for the Averill Park Road Runners 2020 Track & Field Season Now Open
AVERILL PARK – The club is for anyone ages 7-14 who enjoys running, jumping, throwing and having FUN! Events include sprints, distance running, long jump, high jump, shot put, turbo javelin and discus. AP School District residency is NOT required. Practices at AP High School Monday and Thursday evenings and some optional Saturday mornings. Several meets throughout the season, from April 6th through the USATF Junior Olympics and Regionals in June and July.
Registration and more information at www.aproadrunners.com. Registration fee includes a uniform ($75 before 3/22, $85 3/23-4/19 and $100 after 4/20, $10 sibling discount). Membership in the U.S. Track and Field Association ($20) is required and provides insurance coverage. Contact tfcoaches@nullaproadrunners.com for help with registration or questions.
We’re a parent-run organization, and parental involvement is required. All abilities and skill levels are welcome. See you at the track!
Classie Lassies Girls Softball Spring Registration
AVERILL PARK – Registration is open for the Spring 2020 Classie Lassies Girls Softball season. Girls ages 5 through 14 (must turn 5 in 2020) are eligible to join. You can register on-line at www.classielassies.net. Contact classielassiesprez19@nullgmail.com for additional information.
March Programs at Grafton Lakes State Park- Spring is on its Way!
GRAFTON – Full Moon Hikes: Fri. March 6 & Sat. March 7: Enjoy a 2 mile night hike. $3/ person. Ages 10 & up. Preregistration required: 518-279-1155, ext. 2.
Saturday, March 7– Birds & Bagels at 10am. Enjoy a bagel & observe our winter birds! $3/ person. Ages 8 & up. Preregister & let us know what kind of bagel you’d like; 518-279-1155, ext. 2.
Saturday, March 14– Yoga Class: The Fire Within at 10am. Fight the winter blues & prepare for spring. $5/ person. Ages 10 & up. BYO water & a yoga mat. Preregistration is required; 518-279-1155, ext. 2.
Saturday, March 14—Family Snowshoe/ Hike at 1pm. Beginners Welcome! Kids & adults snowshoes available. $3/ person, $10 for families of 4+. Preregistration required; 518-279-1155 ext. 2.
Saturday, March 21—Only YOU Can Protect the Forest: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Info Session at 10am. Come learn about one of the most harmful invasive insects of the Eastern US. Learn how to ID, its forest impacts, and how to help! Indoor info session & outdoor walk. Free hot chocolate! Ages 14-adult. Preregister: 518-279-1155 ext. 2.
Saturday, March 21— Backyard Maple Sugaring at 1pm. Learn how maple sap turns to syrup. Tasty samples for all! Come dressed for the outdoors. $2/person, $5/family. Preregister: 518-279-1155 ext. 2.
Sunday, March 22—Kid’s Story Time at 10am. Join us in the Welcome Center’s for Dr. Seuss’s, “The Lorax” and create a craft. Ages 4 – 9 years old.
Saturday, March 28– Yoga Class: Spring Awakening at 10am. Join us for gentle & energizing yoga. $5/person. Ages 10 & up. BYO water & yoga mat. Preregistration required: 518-279-1155, ext. 2.
Saturday, March 28—Bluebird Boxes at 1pm. Learn about bluebirds, its & how you can help! Include excursions to local nest boxes. Ages 8+.
Sunday, March 29—Signs of Spring Hike at 10am. Stretch your legs and shrug off winter. Come prepared for muddy trails; wear waterproof boots or shoes. All are welcome.
Discover the Pine Bush
ALBANY – Saturday March 7, 2020, 10:30am–12:00pm. Suitable for all ages. An extraordinary journey into the Albany Pine Bush – a globally rare, nationally significant and locally distinct inland pine barrens. Our experts will guide you along this 0.9-mile hike over rolling sand dunes where you will discover Pine Bush natural history and seasonal surprises and transformations. Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY. Fee: Free! Reservations required for all attendees (regardless of age). Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Make reservations by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events
Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament
WEST SAND LAKE – West Sand Lake Fire Dept. will host a benefit Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament at the Fire Hall on Sat. March 7th at 1 pm. Doors open an noon and all walk-ins welcome. Free refreshments and lunch will be served. For more information call Dennis at 518-283-2252.
Winter Snowshoe Outing and Tree Identification in Rensselaer County
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Snowshoe the Taconic Crest Trail-Saturday, March 7 at 8:30 a.m. Michael Jensen will lead a snowshoe or hike for 7 miles up and down the two hollows and along the Taconic Crest Trail. This is a moderately strenuous hike, so please be prepared.
Winter Tree Walk at Kinderhook Creek Preserve, Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m. Tom Phillips will guide guests on several trails at Rensselaer Land Trust’s scenic Kinderhook Creek Preserve. Trees will be identified in their winter form by examining twigs, bark, and old leaves or fruit. The walk will be about 2 miles depending on group interest. The trails have moderate climbs and snowshoes or microspikes may be needed depending on trail conditions.
Learn more at www.renstrust.org. Events co-sponsored by Rensselaer Land Trust and Rensselaer Plateau Alliance
Nature Art Show Opening at Thacher Nature Center
VOORHEESVILLE – Saturday, March 7, 1:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. Come and be inspired by the works of talented local artists. The exhibit will feature nature-inspired artwork in a variety of media including watercolors, oils, photography, clay, fiber, and wood. Meet the artists and enjoy complimentary refreshments. The Nature Art Exhibit will be on display at the Nature Center until March 28, Tuesday through Sunday, 9am – 5pm, we are closed on Mondays. Call 518-872-0800 for more information.
Home Waters Chapter 586 of Trout Unlimited Monthly Meeting
GRAFTON – Home Waters Chapter of Trout Unlimited is holding their monthly meeting on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 6:00 PM at the Grafton Lakes State Park Welcome Center, which is located at the end of the main parking lot. If main gates are closed, please enter via the Winter Entrance at the four corners in Grafton. This month we will be hosting Tracy Brown, the Northeast Restoration Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. All are encouraged and welcome to attend. Light Fare and Refreshments will be available. Contact us at homewaterstu@nullgmail.com or 518-326-6201 for more information.
Paint a Serene River Scene at Thacher Nature Center
VOORHEESVILLE – Saturday, March 14, 10a.m. – 3:30p.m. Create an oil painting of a serene river scene with local accomplished artist and teacher Karen Woodin. Participants of all skill levels will receive instructions on various oil painting techniques and complete their own 18 x 18 oil painting to take home. Course fee of $75 includes all materials. Registration and prepayment are required. Bring a bag lunch, light refreshments will be provided. Space is limited, call 518-872-0800 to register.
March Mindful Nature Walk
AVERILL PARK – Sunday, March 15, 10 am – 12:30 pm: Mindful Nature Walk Chestnut Hill Preserve, 187 Brainard Rd, Averill Park. Slow down and tune in to nature with Kripalu-certified Mindful Outdoor Guides Molly Freiberg and Moriah Cutro-Kelly for RPA’s monthly Mindful Nature Walk. Bundle up in your warm winter layers…then add another or 2 more! We will be walking slowly, sometimes sitting, to take in the forest atmosphere, so we will not be building much heat. Contact molly@nullrensselaerplateau.org or 978-239-8105 with questions or to register (drop-ins welcome). Ages 12 and up. $5 – $10 suggested donation supports conservation on the Rensselaer Plateau.
10th Annual Freihofer’s Training Challenge Begins Regionally March 16
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Women who are interested in completing their first 5K, becoming more competitive runners, or setting a new PR or “personal record,” are invited to join the 10th annual Freihofer’s Training Challenge, which kicks off Monday, March 16 at sites throughout the Capital Region.
Participants can sign up for the 11-week couch to 5K program when they register online for the Freihofer’s Run for Women. Online registration through the 5K registration (freihofersrun.com) is the only method of registering for this program.
“Whether it’s your first or 30th time running/walking the 5K, our program can help you. We offer a beginner program for those who are new to running and an intermediate program for those who completed last year’s challenge or want more interval workouts,” said Kristen Hislop, co-director, Freihofer’s Run for Women. “Our advanced program is tailored to those who want to run longer and are ready for focused speed and distance workouts. Our mentors encourage participants to move groups based on how they feel and how they are running.”
The Training Challenge costs $55 and includes a Training Challenge tech shirt; seminars and clinics relating to strength training, nutrition, injury prevention, running form and core strength; and, offers from program partners, including a free 10-week Capital District YMCA membership.
For additional information, visit freihofersrun.com/training-challenge/
Science Lecture Series: Fifty Years of Memories – The Sand Plains of Glacial Lake Albany
ALBANY – Thursday March 19, 2020. Gather and refreshments at 6:30pm. Lecture 7:00- 8:30pm. Suitable for adults. Alvin Breisch first explored the Albany Pine Bush as a graduate student studying plant ecology at SUNY Albany in 1967. Over the past 50 plus years, he has gotten to know many of the people trying to protect this unique ecosystem and those conducting detailed studies on the flora, fauna, and natural communities of the Albany Pine Bush. Join us this evening as Mr. Breisch shares his reflections of the Pine Bush and his work in the field of herpetology. Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY Fee: Free! Reservations required for all attendees (regardless of age). Make reservations by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events
AP Fire Department Texas Hold’Em
AVERILL PARK – Texas Hold’em No Limit Poker Tournament. Saturday, March 21, 2020 at The Averill Park Fire House. 35 Eastern Union Turnpike, Averill Park, NY 12018. Doors Open at 12:00 pm. Tournament Starts at 1:00 pm. Lunch will be served at 2:00 pm. $125 buy-in ($25 donation, $100 prize pool).
Equinox Hike
ALBANY – Saturday March 21, 2020, 1:00pm–2:30pm. Suitable for ages 6-10, tweens, tweens and adults. March 20th is the Vernal Equinox! What better way to welcome spring than to get outside for a hike in the Pine Bush! We’ll hike 0.9 miles, stopping to look for signs of the season. Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY. Fee: Free! Reservations required for all attendees (regardless of age). Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Make reservations by calling 518-456-0655 or visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events
Capital District Senior Softball League Looking for Players
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Capital District Senior Softball League (CDSSL.COM) is recruiting players for their 55+ mens league. Call Wayne at 518-852-4308 for info.
Averill Park Youth Soccer League
AVERILL PARK – 2020 Spring Rec Registration Now Open! This is an all-play non-competitive league that focuses on learning the skills and fundamentals of soccer and most of all, having fun! Season runs April 20th -June 7th. Practice and games will be held on the same night. **Pre K**– Monday; Kindergarten/Grade 1 – Tuesday; Grade 2nd/3rd – Wednesday; Grade 4th/5th/6th –Thursday. Register now through March 25th: $65. Late registration March 26th through March 31st: $80. Register online: www.averillparkyouthsoccer.com. (Scholarships are available to those qualifying for the school lunch program, must register by
March 17th).