Hudson Taconic Lands

09/04/2026

On Saturday, September 12, Justin and Anna of Wild Hudson Valley will lead an ecology walk at Poestenkill Community Forest, just as Big Beaver Bog begins to change into its fall colors! 🍂

Walking the land with Justin and Anna is a true treat. Justin, an ethnoecologist with decades of learning and research focused on Indigenous history and culture in the Hudson Valley, brings a deep wealth of knowledge to walks on the land. This event is sure to deepen your awareness of our local landscape.

Learn more & register today: https://hudsontaconic.org/2026/07/15/autumn-guided-walk/ 🍁

09/03/2026

What an inspiring morning we shared yesterday with Berlin Central School District administrators and teachers at their new Berlin Learning Landscape. Just minutes from Berlin Middle / High School and Berlin Elementary School, the Learning Landscape will serve as an outdoor classroom for K-12 students. Almost 50 educators showed up at the site as part their Opening Superintendent Conference Day. As they loaded off the busses, their excitement to be outdoors and to visit this new resource was visible on their smiling faces.

Michala Hendrick, HTL’s Youth Programming Director, welcomed the eager group with an overview of what to expect from the space and shared the concept map for site development. She then led everyone out to the field where we plan to build infrastructure that will serve students with places to learn, play, and relax. Teachers explored a Bird Schoolyard Naturalist Teacher Kit, shared their ideas and questions, and some even hiked the trails half-way to the top of the mountain!

Now that they’ve visited the outdoor classroom site, teaches ranging from physical education to art to science and English are already planning how to weave the space into their curriculum. Some asked if they could come out and use the outdoor classroom before it officially opens in 2027, and we enthusiastically said YES!

We’re thrilled to see how Rensselaer County’s first Learning Landscape is taking shape through a partnership between Hudson Taconic Lands and Berlin Central School District. We thank our incredible community of members and supporters for making this heartwarming work possible. 💚

09/02/2026

As so many of us know instinctively, time in nature is good for our mental health. In addition to conserving and opening public lands on the Rensselaer Plateau and across Rensselaer County, Hudson Taconic Lands is working in the City of Troy to make green space accessible to more people and create urban oases, like Poesten Kill Bends Preserve and John B. Staalesen Vanderheyden Preserve. The support of our conservation community makes this vital work possible -- thank you for being part of it!

E360 Digest August 26, 2026 Access to Urban Woodlands Linked With Lower Use of Antidepressants Dunain Community Woodland in Inverness, Scotland. Dunain Community Woodland A study from Scotland found that living near an accessible urban woodland significantly lowered the likelihood of being prescribe...

09/01/2026

Late summer / early fall 🍁 is the perfect time for hiking, with cooler air and changes in the forest! We are thrilled to launch a new program to pair with your fall hiking, as you explore HTL lands: Hudson Taconic Lands Hiking for Patches.

You can now earn a colorful patch after hiking five Hudson Taconic Lands properties and an additional patch for hiking all the properties on our list! It’s a fun way to get out and discover more lands on your own or with friends or family at this beautiful time of year.

Learn more: https://hudsontaconic.org/2026/08/31/discover-hudson-taconic-lands-hiking-for-patches/ 🥾 🍂 🍃

Hudson Taconic Lands thanks the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation for supporting this program.

08/25/2026

Late summer is a beautiful time of year, with changes in the landscape as plants and animals prepare for the fall and winter to come. 🍂 🍃 🐿️

This September, you can choose from several wonderful opportunities to get out on the land, learn more about local ecology, and connect with your conservation community.

Discover Poestenkill Community Forest with Justin and Anna of Wild Hudson Valley, celebrate the Autumn Equinox with Sandy Wilson, explore volunteer opportunities, and reflect on a good book with a thoughtful group of readers.

Learn more and sign up: https://hudsontaconic.org/get-involved/events/ 🍁

08/21/2026

Thank you for being chic with us - for the land and for our shared future! 🌳 💚

08/20/2026

The August forest is full of delights, such as the clusters of brilliant red cardinal flowers at Valentino Family Community Forest, white wood aster, and various fungi that sprouted up after recent rains. 🍄

On a “walk and talk” meeting at Valentino this morning, HTL staffers Annie and Lorelei watched a female Ruby-throated hummingbird dart from one cardinal flower bloom to another along the upper beaver pond.

What are you encountering in the late-summer woods? Share your sightings in the comments below! 👇 🌼

08/19/2026

A huge thank you to the dedicated volunteers who joined us at Albert Family Community Forest last night! Together we made great progress removing invasive False Spirea, a key part of this multi-year restoration effort. In just a few hours, volunteers made a visible difference. Thank you for helping care for this special place! 🙏 🌳

08/17/2026

Thanks to the hard work of volunteers, we’ve made great progress managing invasive plants at Albert Family Community Forest. Last year, volunteers helped clear invasive False Spirea from the property. Though weakened, the False Spirea has re-sprouted, which was expected as part of this long-term effort. We’re now looking for a few helping hands to do another round of removal!

When: Tuesday, August 18, 6 - 8 pm
Where: Albert Family Community Forest 120 Hayes Road, East Nassau, NY 12062
We’ll meet in the parking area at 6 pm, and work until approximately 8 pm.

What to Bring:

Water bottle
Bug spray (recommended)

What to Wear:
Sturdy footwear
Long pants

No prior experience is necessary, and we’ll provide guidance and tools.

✔️ If you’re able to join us, please email [email protected].

Thank you for helping us protect and care for Albert Family Community Forest!🌳

08/11/2026

This past Saturday, Hudson Taconic Lands celebrated the official opening of Bentleys Karst Preserve in Berlin, on the eastern edge of the Rensselaer Plateau. This 91-acre property features unique karst geology, with large karst boulders and outcroppings, springs, hardwood forests, and caves.

Before cutting a beautiful goldenrod “ribbon,” attendees heard remarks from Jim Bonesteel, Hudson Taconic Lands’ Executive Director, Kelly Boling, Scenic Hudson’s Senior Program Officer, and Leslie Hatfield, President of Northeastern Cave Conservancy. Then, some took a hike on the trails while others braved an underground tour of Bentleys Cavern!

Hudson Taconic Lands and Scenic Hudson partnered on the purchase of this land. Funding also came from New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) & New York’s Environmental Protection Fund. The NYSCPP is administered by the Land Trust Alliance, in coordination with the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.

To plan your trip to Bentleys Karst Preserve, visit HudsonTaconic.org/bentleys

Please note that cave exploration is allowed between May 1st and September 30th following Northeastern Cave Conservancy guidelines. (HudsonTaconic.org/bentleys)

Final photo in series by Erik Nieman