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Upstate Parks and Recreation

@upstateparksandrec

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Non-profit org and podcast for intro to outdoor recreation and environmentalism in Upstate NY
Podcast Host: @timjohnkennedy
📍: @clarkhousehospitality

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Reminder- Live Music, Food Trucks, Craft vendors, and Farmers Market every Wednesday at Empire State Plaza by @upstateparksandrec

Spotted a beautiful Eastern Painted Turtle laying her eggs right here at Old Mount Ida Cemetery in Troy! 🐢🍂

Did you know June is peak nesting season for these amazing creatures in Upstate NY? Here are a few mind-blowing facts about what she’s doing here:

1️⃣ GPS Instinct: Female painted turtles often return to the exact same neighborhood where they were hatched years ago to lay their own eggs.

2️⃣ Natural Incubator: She uses her webbed hind legs to carefully excavate a flask-shaped nest in the sunny, sandy soil.

3️⃣ Gender Mystery: The temperature of the nest actually determines whether the babies will be boys or girls! Warmer nests produce females, while cooler nests produce males.

4️⃣ The Long Wait: These tiny hatchlings won't emerge until late August or September—and some might even winter over inside the nest until next spring!

Make sure to watch your step if you're exploring Troy’s historic spots this month, and always give these nesting mamas plenty of space to work their magic. ✨

Have you spotted any turtles around town yet? 👇

#TroyNY #MountIda #EnjoyTroy #UpstateNY #PaintedTurtle by @upstateparksandrec

A mini trip to Mount Greylock State Park in Berkshire County Massachusetts! by @upstateparksandrec

Episode Title: "Preserving Nassau: Six New Preserves and the Power of Community"
Podcast audio also available!

Podcast Guest: Dave Fleming, Town Supervisor for Town of Nassau, NY

Description: Celebrate a remarkable conservation milestone: the establishment of over six new nature preserves in the Town of Nassau, New York

This episode reviews the "Nassau Recipe for Success," a model of local conservation for what’s possible when community buy-in meets grassroots action. We explore how these projects transition from visions into reality through the dedicated use of volunteer labor and community input during the planning, building, and maintenance phases. Beyond the trails, we celebrate the rich history and rugged beauty of Rensselaer County. Whether you're interested in land conservation or looking for hiking spot, this episode offers a masterclass in protecting the landscapes. Join us for a dive into the natural treasures of Nassau, NY and the collaborative spirit that keeps Rensselaer County thriving.

Here are the six key nature preserves and protected areas in Nassau, NY, which offer roughly 500 acres of public access:

1. Mud Pond Preserve
Location: 591 Central Nassau Road (CR 16), Nassau, NY
Trail Length: ~1.1 Miles (Loop and Overlook trails)
Highlight: A rare peat bog and bird-watching overlook.

2. Woods at Burden Lake
Location: Burden Lake Road (near 2nd Dyke Rd), Nassau, NY
Trail Length: ~1.5 Miles
Highlight: Watershed protection and community-built trails near the lake.

3. Kinderhook Creek Preserve
Location: Martha Hicks Road (off Tsatsawassa Lake Rd), East Nassau, NY
Trail Length: ~5.0 Miles (Extensive trail network)
Highlight: Half a mile of trout stream frontage and diverse forest types.

4. Stewart Preserve
Location: Stewart Lane, Nassau/Sand Lake Border
Trail Length: ~1.5 Miles
Highlight: Massive ancient oaks and stone walls

5. Pine Swamp Preserve
Location: Smith Pond Road, Nassau, NY
Trail Length: ~0.75 Miles
Highlight: Critical wetland habitat perfect for specialized bird watching.

6. Albert Family Forest Preserve
Location: Cold Water Tavern Road, Nassau, NY
Trail Length: ~1.0 Mile
Highlight: Rugged terrain by @upstateparksandrec

A sincere thank you to the talented Podcast Producer, Fina Charleson, for lending her expertise to the Upstate Parks and Rec podcast!
Fina's amazing post-production work has helped spatk new momentum, and we're happy to confirm we have a solid set of episodes ready to publish this week.

Need a podcast specialist? Check out Fina's professional background: finacharleson.com

#PodcastProduction #podcaster #podcastproducer #environmentalism #outdoorrecreation #UpstateParksAndRec #upstateNY by @upstateparksandrec

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood #SaveThePollinators #savethebees by @upstateparksandrec

Another beautiful day on the Great Sacandaga Lake! Soaking up every minute of it! #upstateNY by @upstateparksandrec

🌸 Pollinator Seed Giveaway! 🌸
Help us save the bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators of Upstate New York! We're giving away FIVE bundles of pollinator-friendly, non-GMO seeds, each worth $25! 🦋🐝

The massive loss of pollinator populations and biodiversity across Upstate NY is a serious threat to our ecosystem. By planting these seeds, you'll be creating vital habitats and food sources to help them thrive.

A huge thank you to the superheroes at our local seed producer, Bentley Seeds,
(@bentleyseeds) based in Cambridge, NY, for providing these amazing assorted wildflower and milkweed seed packets!

Here's how to enter:
1️⃣ LIKE this post.
2️⃣ COMMENT with your favorite pollinator!
3️⃣ SHARE this post with your friends and family!

Winners will be announced on Friday and can pick up or ship seeds over the weekend. Good luck! 🍀

You can also order your own seed packets from Bentley Seeds via Amazon and bentleyseeds.com!

#SaveThePollinators #Giveaway #UpstateNY #PollinatorGarden #Wildflowers #BentleySeeds #NonProfit #Milkweed #savethebees #savethemonarchs #savethebats #savethemoths #savethebugs by @upstateparksandrec

Big thanks to the friends and family that stopped by the Pizza for Polllinators fundraiser to support the new Pollinator Learning Garden Initiative. And bigger shout out to @bentleyseeds for supplying pollinator seeds for folks and @cloverlawnbutterflies for sending painted lady butterflies to release!
The @xodonnas pizza was delicious and the music by DJ TDM was jazzy. by @upstateparksandrec

Alright Upstaters, we're looking for Pollinator protectors, enthusiasts, and wannabees like myself to gather for an evening next Tuesday to share PIZZA FOR POLLINATORS! (BECAUSE THEY'RE FACING LOCAL EXTINCTION)

To celebrate our first community event, we'll have a live butterfly release of two dozen painted lady butterflies at 6:30 PM, July 22, in the garden patio at Lucas Confectionary Wine Bar with music and food to component to occasion. We're showcasing our new concept, the Pollinator Learning Garden initiative, which will implement these fun interactive tools at public places, schools, community centers, etc. to remind folks of pollinator's importance to our survival and the many threats and risks facing many pollinators such as local extinction in #upstateNY.

If you're in the Capital Regjon and want to connect with other environmentalist and outdoorsy type folks, we're at @lucasconfectionery wine bar eating pizza from @xodonnas and wine from @troywineco in @downtowntroy this Tuesday night 6 pm onward.

Please like, share, comment to help spread the word and to help save the bees, butterflies and birds plus more!

All attendees also get free wild flower seed packets to help feed our favorite pollinators, thanks to @bentleyseeds in Cambridge, NY.
Cheers! by @upstateparksandrec

Butterflies, blackberries, dragonflies, streams, and Carolina roses make for the perfect Saturday stroll. It's a beautiful world out there! by @upstateparksandrec

The pollinators are facing extinction. We're taking action and looking for your support!
We intend to implement the Pollinator Learning Gardens with free seed libraries and informational placards attached at schools, libraries, community centers, and public parks and trails. We hope you'll be a part of this mission.

Pollinator populations, particularly bees and butterflies, are experiencing significant declines worldwide, with concerning impacts on ecosystems and food production. Estimates suggest that over 40% of insect pollinators are facing elevated extinction risk. Losses of wild and managed pollinator populations are linked to factors like habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and disease. by @upstateparksandrec