Please join the Friends of Dyken Pond Outdoor Explorers at meetup.com to get notifications for last minute program additions

2026 Summer Programs

You must preregister 24 hours in advance for every program by contacting us at dykenpond@gmail.com or (518) 658-2055. All programs are held entirely outdoors on our 600 acre property.

August

Tuesday Treks: Tuesday, August 4: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Let's get together to enjoy nature and the outdoors, learn a little bit about this beautiful planet we call home, develop or practice outdoor skills and become healthy through exercise and being outside! Join us on a moderately paced 3 mile hike every Tuesday in August to explore the wilds of the Dyken Pond Center. Learn the trail system one at a time with a knowledgeable guide. Each week we'll discover new ground and nature. Hikes will be cancelled in bad weather. Preregistration required at meetup.com by searching for "Friends of Dyken Pond Center". Free. This program is for adults and older teens. Also meeting 8/11, 8/18 and 8/25.

September

Tuesday Treks: Tuesday, September 1: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Let's get together to enjoy nature and the outdoors, learn a little bit about this beautiful planet we call home, develop or practice outdoor skills and become healthy through exercise and being outside! Join us on a moderately paced 3 mile hike every Tuesday in September to explore the wilds of the Dyken Pond Center. Learn the trail system one at a time with a knowledgeable guide. Each week we'll discover new ground and nature. Hikes will be cancelled in bad weather. Preregistration required at meetup.com by searching for "Friends of Dyken Pond Center". Free. This program is for adults and older teens. Also meeting 9/8, 9/15, 9/22 and 9/29.

October

Fall Foliage Hike: Saturday, October 3: 10am - 11:30am
Take a short hike exploring the forest of the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center to get to know the trees and leaves of the Rensselaer Plateau. Learn about how and why different tree leaves change colors for the fall months. Peak color changes are expected around this time. Preregistration required. All ages. Free.

Owl Pellet Dissection and Halloween Dress up: Saturday, October 24: 1pm - 2pm
Learn about these fascinating night hunters and dissect a real owl pellet to find out what they eat. Come dressed up in your favorite Halloween costume to add to the spookiness. Costumes are not required (but they are lots of fun!). Owl pellets provided by The Friends of Dyken Pond Center. Preregistration is required. All ages. Free.

Annual Meeting and Dinner: Thursday, October 15: 6pm
Save the date for our upcoming annual meeting. Speaker details and menu to be announced soon.