Wednesday April 24, 2024 
Employment Applications Available for The Town of Schodack Summer Recreation Program 2021
SCHODACK – Applications for employment with the Town of Schodack Day Camp are now available for download at www.schodack.org under Youth Recreation. All applicants must be 16 years of age by the start of camp on July 12, 2021, and have a current working card, if applicable. Applicants must be available to work the duration of the camp which runs from July 12, 2021 through August 6, 2021. Completed applications must be returned to the Schodack Town Clerk’s Office no later than April 30, 2021. Please direct further questions to the Recreation Director Sheila Golden at youthdirector@nullschodack.org.
Golf Partners Wanted
EAST GREENBUSH/RENSSELAER – East Greenbush/Rensselaer Two senior leagues are getting organized for the 2021 golf season. If you are 60 years old, a duffer, haven’t golfed in a while and do not want to keep score and have fun then this is the league for you. Starting the first week in May the newly revitalized Pheasant Hollow Golf Course has reserved Monday’s and Friday’s at 8:00 AM for these two leagues. We will have two nine week sessions. We will adhere to the latest guidelines for golf courses because of Covid-19. For more information call Mary (518) 949-5740 or (518) 423-5010.
Glass Lake Men’s Golf League at Burden Lake Country Club
AVERILL PARK – Attention all golfers. The Glass Lake Men’s League at Burden Lake Country Club still has openings for new members! The league is open to the public and members of Burden Lake Country Club. The league plays Tuesday nights from April 13th to September 14th, with tee times from 3:00-4:30pm. The league will also have two tournaments. The first being July 3rd at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course and the second at Burden Lake Country Club on September 18th. All skill levels are welcome. For more information on dues and how to become a member, contact Kean Toomey at kean.toomey@nullgmail.com.
Intercounty Women’s Golf Association
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Join the Intercounty Women’s Golf Association – or, play as a guest at any of the events. Fun competition for all levels. Choose the courses you want to play – or play them all! All handicaps welcome. For approximately $45-50 per tournament: greens fees & cart, continental breakfast & lunch, prizes. 2021 schedule: Burden Lake, Copake, Blackhead, Sunnyhill, Wiltwyck, Catskill, Red Hook, Rip Van Winkle, Windham, Rainbow, Thunderhart, Colonial. $20 annual league fee. E-mail Val Chakedis: vchakedis@nullicloud.com for more information.
April Programs at Dyken Pond EEC
Grafton –Happy Spring! Check out our line-up of programing for April. Preregistration is required for all programs at (518) 658-2055 or dykenpond@nullgmail.com. Your registration is not complete until you receive confirmation from the Center. All programs are limited to 10 individuals including instructors. Masks are required when 6 foot social distancing cannot be maintained. Programs are free with donations welcome!
Staying on Track: Navigation Skills Class: Saturday, April 17: 10am-11:30am
This beginner navigation class will build your skills using a compass and trail map and cover methods of finding your way when you are without traditional tools. Feel more comfortable hiking in the woods and exploring new areas. Know what you would do if you ever find yourself confused in the forest. For families and youth aged 10 and up. Free. Preregistration required.
Mindful Nature Walk: April 17: 1pm – 3pm Join Sandy Wilson from Spirit of Dragonflies, LLC to celebrate the wonders of the outdoors! This type of slow walking ‘sauntering’, deep breathing, present-centered awareness, and observation in nature is shown to reduce stress, boost our moods, and strengthen our immune systems. Free, but donations accepted if you are able.
Volunteer for Earth Day: April 24: 9am – 12pm. Give back to the Earth by taking care of a place we all love and enjoy. Volunteer to clear trails, plant gardens, pull invasive plants and get the Center ready for Spring. Snack provided. Preregistration required.
The Friday Family Forest Foray: Every Friday in April: 10am -11:30am
It’s finally Spring! For the month of April we will be on the lookout for migrating birds. See all of the Center’s trails in their seasonal splendor. Every Friday in April from 10am -11:30am we will be exploring a different area of the park attempting to cover every inch of the park’s many trails. These programs end at lunch time so feel free to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy following the program! Preregistration required for each weekly session. All ages welcome but must be able to hike 2 miles. Free. Donations welcome.
Tuesday Treks: Every Tuesday 12:30 – 2:30pm
Join Leonard Tremblay on a 2-3 mile hike at a moderate pace exploring the wilds of Dyken Pond Center. Each week we’ll discover new ground and nature. Hikes may be cancelled in bad weather. Preregistration required. Free.
Please visit our website www.dykenpond.org to learn more about our procedures as a result of COVID-19, for more information about the Center and a complete schedule of our spring events. During the pandemic, we are waiving most program fees, but donations of any amount are always welcome if you are able. We encourage you to follow our Facebook page and/or website where we will post new events when the conditions are just right for getting outdoors. Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for hiking, fishing, birding, canoeing and kayaking.
April Events with the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Pre-registration is required for all events; space is limited for in-person events and masks are required. Learn more, get directions, and register at www.rensselaerplateau.org.
Poestenkill Community Forest, Averill Park —
Amphibian Walk, with Jeff Briggs and Fran Egbert. Saturday, April 10, 10 am – noon. Join us for a walk in the woods to observe the spring activities at our vernal pools! The frogs and salamanders are awakening from their winter hibernation to meet for their annual mating rituals. Ecologist Jeff Briggs will show and tell all about these mysterious critters we share our forests with. Space is limited, so please register early via our website!
Chestnut Hill Preserve, Stephentown–
April Mindful Walk, with Molly Freiberg and Sandy Wilson. Saturday, April 10, 10 am – 12:30 pm. Chestnut Hill Preserve. Nature has the ability to calm, inspire, and restore us in all seasons — so let’s take some much-needed time to receive what is offered. Join Sandy and Molly on a slow and gentle celebration of spring, opening our senses to all that we discover. Space is limited, so please register early via our website!
Clean Energy & Climate Solutions, with Ethan Winter. Thursday, April 15, 7 pm via Zoom. Ethan Winter, Senior Community Engagement Manager at Cypress Creek Renewables, will discuss climate change, New York’s ambitious clean energy mandate, and community solar. He will also will discuss the latest science and trends in climate change, review the state’s clean energy and climate change policies, and explore the role of solar as well as land conservation as climate solutions.
Grafton Lakes State Park to hold Earth Day Trails Event
Cropseyville – Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host an Earth Day trails event on Saturday, April 17th. The winter has ended, and the park could use your help! Join us to restore and maintain the trail system. Pre-registration is required. Spots are limited. The event is free of charge and will take place from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
Has the outdoors been a haven for you during the pandemic? Have you had the privilege of enjoying Grafton Lakes State Park’s 25 miles of hiking and biking trails? The park invites patrons to help clean up and improve trails on Saturday morning and indulge in the trail activities they enjoy most in the afternoon. There will be a range of projects good for all abilities. This event is geared specifically towards adults, minimum age of 15. Families interested in volunteering with the park can sign up for our annual, I Love My Park Day event, on May 1st.
Please call Grafton Lakes State Park to register: 518-279-1155. Please take note of the following COVID-19 safety protocols and precautions. Trails projects will be kept small to limit exposure. Masks will be required for all participants for the duration of the event. Meeting location for the event will be shared upon registration. Registrants will agree to not attend if they are experiencing any symptoms, have been in contact with someone who recently tested positive or is suspected to have COVID-19. Clean up and trail improvement will take place between 8:30am and 12:30pm. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own lunch to enjoy afterwards.
To make this possible, Grafton Lakes State Park is proud to partner with Taconic Hiking Club, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Saratoga Mountain Biking Association. At the event you can purchase any of our 50th anniversary merchandise! We have t-shirts, face masks, water bottles, stickers, and carabiners!
May & June Lacrosse Programs For Boys
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Capitalland lacrosse will be running a boy’s MAY & JUNE lacrosse programs. Players can chose to play on Tuesdays night, Sunday afternoons or BOTH. Programs will start on May 11 and end on June 27. Each group will play for an hour and a half each day/night. Levels include: a co-ed K – 5th learn to play program; boys instructional programs for beginner & novice players grades 2nd – 5th & 6th- 10th; an advanced instruction program for players in graders 3 – 6 & 7 – 9 who want to refine their game while being introduced to more advanced techniques. All age level will be separated and a scrimmage will be held each night. For more information on all of these programs go to www.capitallandlacrosse.com or e-mail us at chad@nullcapitallandlacrosse.com.
May & June Lacrosse Programs For Girls
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Capitalland lacrosse will be running a girls MAY & JUNE lacrosse program. Players can chose to play on Tuesdays night, Sunday afternoons or BOTH. All programs will start on May 11 and end on June 27. Each group will play for an hour and a half each day/night. Levels include: a co-ed K – 5th learn to play program; girls instructional programs for beginner & novice players grades 3rd – 10th, an advanced program for players in graders 6th –8th and one for 9 – 10 who want to refine their game while being introduced to more advanced techniques. All age level will be separated and a scrimmage will be held each night. For more information go to www.capitallandlacrosse.com or e-mail us at chad@nullcapitallandlacrosse.com.
May & June Field Hockey
CAPITAL DISTRICT – Capitalland Field Hockey will be running a MAY & JUNE field hockey program for players in graders K – 12 grades. Players can chose to play on Tuesdays night, Sunday afternoons or BOTH. All programs will start on May 11 and end on June 27. Each group will play for an hour and a half each day/night. Levels include: a K-3 learn to play program; girls instructional programs for beginner & novice players grades 3 – 10, an advanced program for players in graders 6 –9 and one for 10 – 12 who want to refine their game while being introduced to more advanced techniques. All age level will be separated and a scrimmage will be held each night. For more information go to www.capitallandlacrosse.com or e-mail us at chad@nullcapitallandlacrosse.com.