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Past Events
We provide this page so you can see what we have been up to.
2012 Events
Feb 11, 2012 - Sat, Ties to the Land Workshop
Planning for the Future of Your Woodlands
Veterans Memorial Hall, Petersburgh
Cost: $40 per registrant (includes refreshments, workbook & DVD, $10 each additional family member
Cornell University Cooperative Extension, with the
Agricultural Stewardship Association, Rensselaer Land Trust and Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, will
present a two-part succession planning workshop for forest landowners. Legacy Planning: The human side of
estate planning will be delivered with a mix of DVD presentations, practical exercises, panel discussions
and Q&A sessions with experts (tax attorney, certified public accountant, landowner incentive program manager).
Please email or call Maureen Mullen for registration and details:
mlm394@cornell.edu, 607-254-6556, or
check http://www.successionplanning.ning.com.
Mar 24, 2012 - Sat, The Future of your Woods and Wildlife
More resources and tools for landowners
New Lebanon, NY
Cost: $15
The Columbia Land Conservancy, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program and
the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance bring back for the 3rd year our very popular forestland owners workshop. Don't miss this great event. Sign up while space is still available.
View the Flyer.
2011 Events
Dec 6, 2011 - Tues 7pm - 9pm Help Plan for the Future of the Rensselaer Plateau
Poestenkill Fire Hall (182 Main Street, Poestenkill, NY)
Cost: Free
Please come and join others who live, work or play on the Rensselaer Plateau to give your input.
On Tuesday, December 6th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) will
host a public workshop at the Poestenkill Fire Hall (182 Main Street, Poestenkill, NY). This
will be the first of several public workshops sponsored by the RPA to provide updates and opportunities
for input as it facilitates the development of a Regional Conservation Plan for the Rensselaer Plateau
in the coming months. Attend this meeting to:
- Learn about the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance and the Regional Conservation Plan
- Hear what your friends and neighbors love about the Plateau (results of previous public meetings)
- Discover what we are learning about the Plateau's natural areas as well as the economic importance of the Plateau
- Share your hopes and fears for a regional conservation plan
Anyone who lives, works or plays in the Rensselaer Plateau Towns of Berlin, Brunswick, Grafton, Hoosick,
Nassau, Petersburgh, Pittstown, Poestenkill, Sand Lake and Stephentown, and the Village of East Nassau
is welcome and encouraged to attend.
July 17 - Sunday, 9am - Forest Owners Field Day
The New York Forest Owners Association
Cost: Free
The New York Forest Owners Association [NYFOA] will hold a field-day “Woods Walk” on Sunday, July 17 at the Shari and Dick Gibbs farm starting at 9 AM. The event will be led by Peter Smallidge of the Cornell University Cooperative Extension. Small logging equipment will be demonstrated. Peter will discuss woodlot assessment from a number of perspectives. Everyone is welcome as this event will be tailored to meet the interests and objectives of those who attend. The Gibbs’ Hidley Farm is at 287 Hidley Rd, Wynantskill, NY 12198. Contact Dick or Shari for more info: phone: 283-0155, or
rgibbs@nycap.rr.com
May 17 - Tuesday in Petersburgh 6:00 - 8:30pm
May 25 - Wednesday in Poestenkill 6:00 - 8:30pm
Community roundtable to identify community values on the Rensselaer Plateau.
Cost: Free
Pizza and light refreshments will be served
The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, New York Forest Owners Association (Capital District Chapter), Trout Unlimited (Home Waters) and the Black River Raiders are hosting two meetings about the places that matter most to the people of the Rensselaer Plateau. Participants will be asked to identify activities, values, and areas that are important using maps and small-group conversations. Diverse people such as residents, hunters, trappers, loggers, skiers, hikers, snowmobilers, realtors, second-home owners, developers and others are encouraged to attend. Pizza and light refreshments will be served.
The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance has recently received a grant from NYSDEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program to work with local governments, landowners, and others who care about the Plateau to develop a community-based regional conservation plan. The first step in the plan is gathering information about what the community cares about. Come to one of the meetings to make sure your values guide the plan.
The community values roundtables are just two of many opportunities to share your thoughts during the development of the plan. Community meetings later this year will provide an update on the inventory and an opportunity to hear more and ask questions.
We will hold the same forum twice to make it easier for people to attend:
WHAT: Community roundtable to identify community values on the Rensselaer Plateau
WHO: Anyone who lives, works or plays in the Rensselaer Plateau Towns of Berlin, Brunswick, Grafton, Hoosick, Nassau, Petersburgh, Pittstown, Poestenkill, Sand Lake and Stephentown, and the Village of East Nassau.
Tuesday May 17 at Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 71 Main Street, Petersburgh, NY, 6 – 8:30pm
Wednesday May 25 at at Poestenkill Fire Hall, 182 Main Street, Poestenkill, NY, NY, 6 – 8:30pm
View or Print our Flyer.
For more information Contact Us.
April 16 Sat 10am - 4pm Earth Day 2011 - Go Green
Zion's United Church of Christ of Taborton
Cost: Free
Join us. We will have a table at the event and will also lead 2 hikes.
1:00pm Hike with the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance at Zion’s United Church of Christ of Taborton
Earth Day on April 16th to learn more about the treasures of the Rensselaer Plateau.
One hike will provide an introductory look at a forest, tree identities, how to improve
forest economic value, improve wildlife habitat, and develop an appreciation of the forest.
The hike a short, easy 1/2 mile for 1 1/2 hours will be lead by master forest owner, Walter Kersch.
A second hike will explore wildlife homes on the plateau, animals and plants that live in special
habitat, threats to these homes and how different environments blend to make the plateau so special.
David Hunt, an ecologist who specializes in this region will lead this 1 ½ mile hike for about 2 hours.
Both hikes will start from the Taborton Church at 1 pm.
Zion's United Church of Christ of Taborton is located at 741 Taborton Road, Sand Lake, NY 12153
April 26 Tues 3pm - 7pm Land Conservation/Forest Legacy Open House
Old Daley Inn on Crooked Lake
(Crooked Lake House) in Sand Lake
Cost: Free
We will have a number of tables with experts who can answer questions about Forest Legacy
funding or the sale of development rights, 480a forest tax incentive program, Master Forest
Owner program, conservation easements and other land conservation tools such as the WHIP and EQIP incentive programs. We will also have an
attorney/land use planner to answer legal questions. There will be representatives from DEC,
RPA, Rensselaer Land Trust, New York Forest Owners Association and the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
This workshop is for
people who: are considering selling or donating development rights on their forestlands in the
newly designated Forest Legacy Area or are interested in the other programs listed above.
For information on resources and tools for land owners visit:
Mar 19 Sat 8:00Am - 2:00pm - Landowner Workshop
The Future of your Woods and Wildlife:
More resources and tools for landowners
Workshop to be held in Sand Lake, NY on Saturday,
March 19. Topics will include forest-wildlife management and ecology, how to sell
sawtimber, wildlife of the plateau, forest stewardship plans, and conservation programs.
The event is co-hosted by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, and Cornell Cooperative
Extension of Greene and Rensselaer Counties.
The workshop will be held at the Zion's United
Christ Church of Taborton, from 8:30am to 2pm, lunch included. Workshop fee of $15. Register at
http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/pwt/bio/
or call Cornell Cooperative Extension
(607) 255-5508.
Jan 27 Thurs 6:00pm - 9:00pm - Ski Fun Night Fundraiser
Come join us for an enchanting evening of night skiing on the beautiful new snow
and hot cocoa around the fire at the lodge and help us celebrate our
recent successes.
Spread the word, invite your friends. All area use donations will go to the Rensselaer
Plateau Alliance.<
Bring your skis, headlamps, lots of energy and enthusiasm! 4 km of trails will be
lighted but those who wish to venture onto unlighted trails should have a headlamp.
Ski rentals are available but normal charges to Pineridge apply.
Thank you to Walter Kersch at Pineridge for opening his facilities to us.
In the event of very bad driving conditions we may cancel or postpone the event.
Please check back here or
PineRidgeXC.com , after 3pm on the day of the event or call Pineridge at
(518) 283-3652.
Fridays starting May 13 at 5:30pm - Friday Field Group Trips
Want to learn more about the Ecology of the Plateau?
Cost: Free
Join Dr. David Hunt and others on Friday evenings throughout the summer to learn more about the ecology of the
Rensselaer Plateau. View the
Trip Details, or call David Hunt at
(518) 279-4124 for more information.
Sept 10 & 11 - Sat & Sun, 2nd Annual Plateau Traverse Hike
Hike the Vision
Cost: Free - Preregistration is Required
Cosponsored by the Friends of Dyken Pond, the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, the Rensselaer Land Trust and
Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area
Become a Plateau End to Ender or join us for just one day. As part of the Hudson River Valley Ramble we will meet at
Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area and take shuttles
to the Pittstown State Forest and will hike south back to Pineridge. Participants can then set up a tent
to camp for the night and enjoy an evening cooking, eating and sitting around the campfire. In the morning on Sunday we
will continue our journey south to Garfield Road in Stephentown. There will be an optional short hikes to the summits of Seventh Hill Firetower and
Turner Mountain. At the end of the day we will be met by shuttles that will bring us back to Pineridge to pick up
our cars.
Preregistration is required. Please e-mail info@rensselaerplateau.org or call Jim at
(518) 794-9160.
This will be a very strenuous hike with some off trail bushwhacking and significant elevation change. We will be
traveling approximately 15 miles each day.
Participants must be in excellent physical condition.
Participants are welcome to camp with a camper or tent on Friday and Saturday night at Pineridge. We will have a campfire each night, will be cooking dinner on Saturday
evening and breakfast on Sunday morning.
Families, enroll your kids in the Ramble Camp while you hike the Plateau. Then camp for the night as a family.
Sept 10 & 11 - Sat & Sun, Ramble Camp
Children's Camp at Pineridge
8:30am - 5:30pm
Cost $40/day
The famous Dyken Pond Center children's camp goes on the road to Pineridge.
Bring your kids for a special weekend at Pineridge. There will be many nature activities and some small hikes for the
Hudson River Valley Ramble. If you are participating the Plateau Traverse Hike you can drop the kids off at camp and
meet them for a sleep over Saturday night. Note: only children accompanied by a responsible adult may participate in the
sleep over. Children may also participate in the other events at Pineridge on these days. (See below)
Sept 10 - Sat, Paintball Biathlon
for Children and Adults
Registration 10am
Cost $10
• 3 Km or 5 Km Walk or Run - shoot paintball markers after each Km
• Establish your own P.R.
• Children and Adults welcome
• Registration 10 am
• Practice with paintball markers at 10:30 am
• Groups will be divided by age
• Biathlon will begin at 11 am
• Cost- $10 per person, cash or check only.
• Location - Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area, 1463 Plank Road (E. Poestenkill), Petersburgh, NY 12138
• Preregister at www.prineridgexc.com
• Questions email : information@pineridgexc.com or call 518.283.3652
• Bring a lunch and hike ski trails after the biathlon
Sept 11 - Sun, Free Woods Walk
for Children and Adults
Registration 10am
Cost Free
Free Woods Walk for children and adults - We will view different types of forests, visit a charcoal pit, walk the old Albany to Bath Road (1775), visit an old farm and stone foundations.
• 2 hour walk of moderate difficulty, about 2 miles with a climb of 350 feet
• Walk will be led by Walter Kersch, Master Forest Owner
• 10 am registration at Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area, 1463 Plank Road (E. Poestenkill), Petersburgh, NY 12138
• Walk begins at 10:30 sharp
• No charge
• Directions at www.pineridgexc.com
• Questions email : information@pineridgexc.com or call 518.283.3652
• Bring a lunch to enjoy under a tree or along the Poestenkill stream
2010 Events
Nov 11 Thurs 6:30pm - Join us for our Annual Meeting
You are invited to the
Annual Meeting of the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Inc.
Thursday, November 11th at 6:30pm
At the home of Yvonne and Mark Keefe on Crystal Lake
in the Town of Sand Lake, NY.
See the Details.
Friday Field Group
Friday's throughout the summer season
Join the Friday Field Group a mix of amateur and professional plant lovers devoted to the natural history
and identification of plants. We use Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide and other keys to identify plants at
various sites around the Capital District. We also include a few trips that delve into other aspects of natural
history. The trips do not have an official leader or sign-up but if you have questions call the contact listed
for that trip. All trips begin at 5:30 PM and end at dusk. If severe weather is threatening, use your judgment
or call the contact person. All trips are at your own risk.
View the list of programs.
July 31 Sat 10am - 4pm - RLT Hoosic River Community Boating and Fishing Day
View RLT's Flyer.
Sept 25 & 26 - Sat & Sun, Plateau Traverse Hike
Hike the Vision
Cosponsored by the Friends of Dyken Pond, the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center and the Rensslear Land Trust
Tentative Plans:
As part of the Hudson River Valley Ramble we will meet at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center and take shuttles
to the Pittstown or Tibbits State Forest and will hike south to the Dyken Pond Center. Participants can then set up a tent
to camp for the night and enjoy an evening cooking, eating and sitting around the campfire. In the morning on Sunday we
will continue our journey south to Stephentown, perhaps as far as Turner Mountain. We will be met by shuttles that will
bring us back to the Dyken Pond Center.
This will be a very strenuous hike with a large portion as off trail bushwacking with significant elevtion change.
Participants must be in excellent physical condition.
Save the date, more details to come.
Sept 25 & 26 - Sat & Sun, Ramble Camp
Childrens Camp at the Dyken Pond Center
Tentative Plans: Bring your kids for a special weekend at Dyken Pond. There will be many nature activities and some small hikes for the
Hudson River Valley Ramble. If you are participating the Plateau Traverse Hike you can drop the kids off at camp and
meet them for a sleep over Saturday night. Note: only children accompanied by a responsible adult may participate in the
sleep over. There will be a fee for this camp.
Save the date, more details to come.
Mar 20 - Saturday, Your Woods and Wildlife Workshop
The Future of your Woods and Wildlife:
Resources and Tools for Landowners
Sponsored by the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University
Endorsed by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene County, and Audubon NY.
Do you own wooded land in the Rensselaer Plateau Region?
Would you like to get more from your land, or learn how to care for your land for future generations?
Whether you own land for recreation or a place to "get away from it all," to produce timber, or because you enjoy wildlife, this workshop will provide the information and tools needed to understand and deal with some of the issues facing woodland owners today. Woodland owners in the Rensselaer Plateau region in Rensselaer County are encouraged to attend.
Saturday, March 20
Burden Lake Country Club, Averill Park, NY
$10 registration
See this
Flyer and Registration Form
for details and registration information, and please share with your colleagues and neighbors.
April 12 & 13 - 6PM - 9PM Community Forum
The Future of the Rensselaer Plateau
See the Flyer
WOODS WALKS ~ Follow-up to Woods and Wildlife Program
Increase your understanding of wood lot management
and enjoyment provided by our forests.
Saturday, April 24, 8:30 am at Dyken Pond Environmental Center
Preregister Online, by e-mail
info@rensselaerplateau.org
or call (518) 794-9160.
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8:30 - 9:00 Registration, coffee and conversation
9:00 - 9:30 Rensselaer Plateau Presentation
9:30 - 12:30 Selected walks
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1 Vernal Ponds - Lisa Hoyt, Director, Dyken Pond Environmental Center
2. Evaluate Your Woodlot - Carl Wiedemann, Forester
3. Children's Woods Walk - Rachel Riemann, US Forest Service
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Saturday, May 8, 12:30 pm at Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area, Inc.
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12:30 - 1:00 Registration, coffee and conversation
1:00 - 1:30 Rensselaer Plateau Presentation
1:30 - 4:30 Selected walks
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1. Wetlands Ecology - David Hunt, PhD Ecologist
2. Forest Observation - Historic Perspective - Walter Kersch,
Master Forest Owner
3. Woods' Wildflowers, and Plants - Bill Hoffman, DEC Wildlife Tech
4. Children's Woods Walk Exploration- RPA member
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Sunday, June 6, 12:30 pm at Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area, Inc.
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12:30 - 1:00 Registration, coffee and conversation
1:00 - 1:30 Rensselaer Plateau Presentation
1:30 - 4:30 Selected walks
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1.Wood Lot Improvement Visit - Mike Greason, Forester (Travel to Blue Factory Road)
2. A Look Inside The Capital District Wildlife Management Area - Unique natural features, historic sites, etc. - Lloyd Barnhart, MS, Retired College Professor and Outdoor Educator)
3. Streams Ecology - David Hunt, PhD Ecologist (Poestenkill Creek)
4. Children's Woods Walk -Rachel Riemann, US Forest Service
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Recommended tax deductable donation per walk = $15 per person, $10 for RPA members, $20 per couple, to be
designated for GIS mapping and educational activities of the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance You may
pre-register at www.rensselaerplateau.org, click on Events.
Walks are arranged by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance
Co-Sponsored by: Capital District Chapter of NY Forest Owners Association
NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center
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