All events are free, for all ages, and at the District office - unless otherwise noted. 
Registration is appreciated; please call 518-828-4386 x 3 or email Chelsea Bensonat least 24 hours before the program. 

May Program
Wildflower Walk
Saturday, May 19 2:00-3:00pm  
 Join us as we search the fields, forest, and even the wetlands for spring’s wildflower blooms. Learn flower identification tricks, floral natural history, and historical uses for these beautiful plants. Please wear shoes that can get wet.

June Program
Wetland Creatures
Saturday, June 16 2:00-3:00pm 
Otters, muskrats, beavers, frogs, and waterfowl are all thriving in Mud Creek’s wetland. We will learn the natural history of these wetland creatures and search the wetlands for beaver chew, muskrat push-ups, and otter slides. Learn frog and birds calls that we may hear along the hike. 

July Programs
Twilight Firefly Hike @ Roe Jan Park
9140 Route 33 Hillsdale, NY 12528
Saturday, July 14 8:30-9:30pm 
Warm summer evenings are a wonderful time to see the flashing of fireflies. Join us at Roe Jan Park where we will learn about these illuminant insects. Walk the trails searching for fireflies and other nocturnal critters! Bring a net and a ventilated container and create temporary "lanterns" for our hike. A limited number of nets and containers will be provided. To learn more about Roe Jan Park visit their website: www.roejanpark.org.

Day at the Dairy @ Dutch Hollow Farm  
101 Running Brook Lane, Schodack Landing 12156
Sunday, July 29 11:00am-4:00pm
Dutch Hollow Farm will host tours, activities for kids, food vendors, and a farmers market. Columbia County Soil & Water Conservation District will have a craft for kids and information about conservation practices as they relate to the agricultural industry.  To learn more about Dutch Hollow visit their  website: www.facebook.com/DutchHollowFarm.

August Programs
Incredible Insects @ Roe Jan Park  
9140 Route 22 Hillsdale, NY 12528
Saturday, August 11 10:30am-12:00pm
Learn about insect characteristics and life cycles by observing insects in their natural habitat. Using real scientific methods we will check pitfall traps, use field sweep nets, and learn how to do a beat sample. A limited number of nets and containers will be provided – bring your own if you can! To learn more about Roe Jan Park visit their website: www.roejanpark.org. 

Sunset Hike
Friday, August 24 7:30-8:30pm
As the sun sets, some of Mud Creek’s animals are at their most active. We will walk the trails bathed in the last light of the day and use our senses to help us detect crepuscular critters such as beavers, deer, and foxes.  

Columbia County Fair @ Chatham Fairgrounds
August 29 - September 3
Visit our booth at the Columbia County Fair in Chatham. We have interactive displays and goodies to give away. Hope to see you there!

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CCSWCD
1024 Route 66
Ghent, NY 12075
Phone: (518) 828-4386 x 3
Fax: (518) 822-0219

Open Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

Mount Academy Wins 2012 HV Regional Envirothon 
Congratulations to The Mount Academy (Orange Co.) on their win at the 2012 Hudson Valley Regional Envirothon at Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill, NY on Friday, April 27. The Mount Academy, previously known as Fox Hill Academy, won the 2011 HV Regional Envirothon.  In 2011 they went on to win the New York State Envirothon and placed 18th in a field of 54 teams at the North American Canon Envirothon. They promise to be strong competitors at the 2012 New York State Envirothon which will be held on May 23-24 at Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.

The Mount Academy's second team of students also had a great showing at the 2012 HV Regional Envirothon and placed 2nd overall. New Paltz High School had a strong 3rd place finish. New Paltz will represent Ulster County at the New York State Envirothon in May. Congratulations to The Mount Academy and New Paltz High School on their stellar performances!   

Columbia County finished well at the Hudson Valley Regional Envirothon. Ichabod Crane High School placed 5th overall. Hudson placed 9th, Chatham 10th, New Lebanon 14th and Germantown 20th in the competition which featured 30 teams. Due to Ichabod's team constraints, Hudson will be representing Columbia County at the State Envirothon.   

Successful Bare Root Tree & Shrub Sale
Thank you to all those who supported the District through the purchase of conservation plants! We had almost 200 orders and a number of walk up sales.  Happy planting!  

Grant Highlights Green Infrastructure at Roe Jan Library
The District, in partnership with the Lower Hudson Coalition of Conservation Districts, was able to secure a grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. The grant was utilized to make a video highlighting green infrastructure at the Roe Jan Library in Hillsdale. The Roe Jan Library installed a porous parking area that allows rainwater to permeate through the concrete thereby reducing flooding. Additionally, the library installed a rain garden and bioswale that filter rainwater from roof runoff and the parking area. The gardens and porous concrete help to slow down, soak up, and filter rainwater that drains into the adjacent Roe Jan Kill. The porous concrete is the first of its kind in our region. To view the green infrastructure project, please watch the video:

Local Farms Receive Recovery Funding
With the help of the District, thirteen Columbia County farms that sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Irene received relief through the NYS Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund. Approximately $135,000 was awarded to the District to help these farms mitigate flood related impacts including: clean up of debris from crop fields, restoring stream crossings, replacing and repairing pasture fencing and repairing crop field laneways.  

Funding Opportunities
The District has funding available to cover engineering costs associated with water quality improvement projects on farms in Columbia County. Please contact Laura Sager for more information: (518) 828-4386 x 3, laura.sager@ccswcd.org.