Park and Trail Partnership Grant supports enhanced learning opportunities and seasonal programming

DELMAR, N.Y. — Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), the Friends of Five Rivers, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) celebrated improvements to the maple sugaring experience at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 21.

The project was made possible by a $22,975 Park and Trail Partnership Grant awarded to the Friends of Five Rivers in 2024. The funding supported improvements to the center’s sugar shack and maple sugaring programs, including enhanced heating, equipment, supplies, and educational materials to create a more comfortable and effective learning environment for visitors during maple season.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together representatives from Parks & Trails New York, the Friends of Five Rivers, DEC, and the local community to recognize the project and the role of partnerships in expanding access to outdoor education. Following the ceremony, attendees had the opportunity to tour Goose Lodge and learn more about the equipment and improvements supporting the center’s maple sugaring programs.

Photos from the event can be found here.

The project highlights the role that community-based Friends groups play in supporting public lands and environmental education. Through its partnership with Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, the Friends of Five Rivers helps strengthen educational programming and improve the visitor experience for people of all ages.

The improvements are part of a broader commitment to building the capacity of the Friends of Five Rivers to support the center’s educational mission. Since 2018, the organization has received four Park and Trail Partnership Grants totaling $222,113. Previous projects have supported an outreach and development coordinator, membership and marketing initiatives, volunteer engagement, and the hiring of an advancement officer.

Established to strengthen partnerships between New York State Parks, DEC facilities and the nonprofit organizations that support them, the Park and Trail Partnership Grant program helps Friends groups enhance public access, expand programming, and build the organizational capacity needed to sustain these efforts.

PTNY Executive Director Paul Steely White said, “Maple sugaring connects us to the changing seasons and the trees that shape New York’s landscape. With support from the Park and Trail Partnership Grant program, the Friends of Five Rivers are making this experience more comfortable and engaging for visitors. We’re proud to support the Friends of Five Rivers whose dedication helps bring nature-based learning to life in the Capital Region.”

DEC Program Director, Laura DiBetta said, “The improvements to the sugar shack at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center are sure to delight visitors of all ages and will enrich education programs that inspire the next generation of conservationists. DEC is grateful to the Friends of Five Rivers for their steadfast support and partnership as well as the Park and Trail Partnership Grant Program that makes projects like this possible.”

Friends of Five Rivers Executive Director Paulette Doudoukjian said, “We are so very grateful for this Parks and Trails Partnership Grant which has allowed us to preserve this historic CCC building and create a more comfortable and efficient learning environment, particularly for our students. This is especially meaningful during maple season, when Goose Lodge transforms into our ‘sugar shack.’”

Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, located in Delmar, provides opportunities for visitors to explore the natural world and learn about the environment. Its maple sugaring programs offer a seasonal opportunity to discover the tradition and process of maple production. For more information about Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and its programs, visit the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s website.

The Friends of Five Rivers

Incorporated in 1972, Friends of Five Rivers is a non-profit organization that partners with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to inspire lifelong environmental stewardship through hands-on outdoor education and enriched visitor experiences with nature at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. Through volunteers and funding, the organization supports environmental education, center operations, and conservation programs at the 450 acre site just outside of Albany, NY.  

Parks & Trails New York

Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) is New York’s leading statewide advocate for parks, trails, and public lands. Since 1985, PTNY has worked to improve the health and well-being of all New Yorkers through the enjoyment of parks, trails, and public lands. PTNY is the leading voice for the protection and expansion of New York’s state park system and multi-use trail network, including more than 2,000 miles of greenways, bike paths, and river walks. Learn more at www.ptny.org.