RYO Announcement | rensselaerplateau

Hello! This is Michala Hendrick, director of Rensselaer Youth Outdoors (RYO). Some of you may know me from attending one of my programs, seeing our programming on social media, or maybe you’re a former, long-time, or new supporter of RYO. No matter how you’ve been involved, thank you for supporting and participating in Rensselaer Youth Outdoors programming throughout the years.

RYO was founded in 2015 as a partnership between Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Grafton Lakes State Park, and Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (now Hudson Taconic Lands). RYO was created with a mission to support the programming of individual partners and create new youth-centered educational programs in our county.

Over the years, it has become clear that the household name recognition of RYO is not as strong as Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Grafton Lakes State Park and Hudson Taconic Lands. Maintaining a separate RYO website and organizational structure became an unsustainable duplication of efforts.

We realized that we could accomplish more for young people without maintaining the RYO brand. This important acknowledgement has led us to re-evaluate our collective approach to youth programming in Rensselaer County.

Starting in 2025, Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Grafton Lakes State Park, and Hudson Taconic Lands will continue collaborating on programming without the title of ‘Rensselaer Youth Outdoors’. Together, we will carry the vision of RYO into the future and develop meaningful new program areas, as individual organizations and as partners.

Important RYO programs like our Schoolyard Naturalist Teacher Kits, the Dyken Pond-led 3rd grade program, and our Forest Conservation Corps Program for teens will continue, getting youth and classrooms in Rensselaer County outdoors and engaged in nature.

As we step away from the brand of ‘Rensselaer Youth Outdoors,’ we will phase out communications on the RYO website, Facebook, and Instagram. You can still find information on programming, including the Forest Conservation Corps program, by following our partner organizations online using the directory enclosed.

As my role shifts from Director of Rensselaer Youth Outdoors to Hudson Taconic Lands Director of Youth Programming, you can follow my work developing youth programming at HTL across social media platforms at ‘Hudson Taconic Lands’ or by visiting hudsontaconic.org. I encourage you to follow Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center and Grafton Lakes State Park on social media, attend programing, and support them.

I look forward to continued collaboration with our partners at Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center and Grafton Lakes State Park, and I hope you’ll join us on this exciting journey. These changes will both simplify and strengthen local youth programming offerings, better serving the youth of Rensselaer County. As a former Rensselaer County youth myself, I am grateful for the unique opportunity to grow youth programming at Hudson Taconic Lands and collaborate with Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center and Grafton Lake State Park. If you have questions about this transition, please reach out to Michala at michala@rensselaerplateau.org or by calling (518)707-0772.

With gratitude and shared purpose,

Michala Hendrick

Hudson Taconic Lands Director of Youth Programming

Signed in support:

Josh Pulito

Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center Director

Savannah Wilson

Environmental Educator 1- Grafton Lakes State Park

New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation

ORGANIZATION DIRECTORY

Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center

475 Dyken Pond Rd Cropseyville, NY 12052