To the Editor:

Recognition and thanks go to Farnsworth Middle School and Dr. Alan Fiero’s seventh-grade students for raising funds for the “Ticket to Ride” (bus grant) fund of the Friends of the Pine Bush Community. The Friends’ fund makes grants available to Capital Region school districts for transportation costs of field trips to the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center.

Budget constraints exclude many schools from affording field trips to nature learning centers including the Discovery Center in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Bus grants for Pine Bush trips are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying schools that apply. Since 2009, nearly 3,000 students have experienced learning in the Pine Bush through the assistance of the bus grant program.

Students at Guilderland schools are fortunate to have close proximity to the Pine Bush and district support for field trips. The Farnsworth students’ fundraiser was an incredible expression of holiday giving for helping to share learning experiences in the Pine Bush with students in other districts.  

The Friends is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) membership educational organization that works with the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission to support activities that further conservation and education purposes in the preserve.  Visit www.PineBushFriends.org for more information about programs and how to make contributions.

Darwin Roosa,

president, Friends of the Pine Bush Community Inc.