Thompson’s Lake State Campground Ice Fishing Contest.  Registration hours are 5:30 – 9 a.m. Fishing and fish measurement 6 a.m. – 1 p.m. NYS fishing license is required to participate. 518-872-0800 or 518-872-1237.

Capital Region Vegan Network will hold a January Meet and Greet event on Sunday Jan. 13.  At 1:00 pm Lark Street Yoga (351 Hudson Ave., Albany 12210) will host a donation-based ‘Animal Spirit’ yoga class. At 1:15 pm Healthy on Lark (274 Lark Street, Albany 12201) will hold the first seating for an exclusive Winter Warm-up Tea.
 

Snowshoe Walk at Thacher Park. 10 a.m. Take in the quiet beauty of the park on a one mile walk through mature hardwood forests. The trail is easy to moderate with a few steep sections and beginners are welcome! Snowshoes are available to rent for $5. Call 518-872-0800 to register, reserve snowshoes and for meeting place.

Winter Tracking Hike on Saturday, Jan. 12, from 10 am - 1 pm at the Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station located at 284 Pond Hill Road, Rensselaerville, NY 12147.

Snowshoe Hike for Adults on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 11:00 am. Suitable for adults. Have you tried snowshoeing? The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to get started with this fun sport. Join us for a 0.9-mile hike on snowshoes. We’ll explore the frozen landscape of the pine barrens and learn the basics of snowshoeing. Snowshoes will be provided to program participants. If there is not enough snow on the ground, we will hike without snowshoes. Location: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY. Fee: Free!

Evergreen Walk at Thacher Nature Center We’ll take an easy walk to find several species of conifers and learn how to identify them by their leaves (needles) and cones. Please call 518-872-0800 to register.

Day After Thanksgiving Opt Outside Hike at 1pm.  Walk off some pecan pie and skip the Black Friday hubbub with a walk in the park.  $3/person or $10/family. Grafton Lakes State Park 61 North Long Pond Rd Grafton, NY 12082.

‘Critters of the Night’ Hike at Thacher Nature Center on Friday, Oct. 26, at 6:30 p.m. Under the cover of darkness, the forest comes alive with sounds of animals and insects adapted to night-life! Join us for a sensory hike through the fields and forests surrounding the Nature Center, as we search for elusive critters of the night. Learn to identify some common night sounds and give your best owl call a shot! This program is appropriate for adults and children age 8 and older. Please call 518-872-0800 to register.

Geology of the Blue Trail at Thacher Park at 2:00 p.m. The blue trail in the southern portion of the park is a hidden gem and doesn’t necessarily get explored too often. Along this trail, you’ll pass a series of cliffs and some fields full of grikes. Wear appropriate footwear for walking on and off trail to view the geology. Meet at the Paint Mine parking lot. Pre-register for this program by calling the park office at 518-872-1237. Park entrance fee is $6 per vehicle.

Fall Foliage Hike at Thacher Park on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 10 am. Take in the scenic beauty and seasonal color of the park on this early autumn walk.  We’ll walk the Fred Schroeder Memorial Trail, a three-mile loop trail in the north zone of the park. At the halfway mark, we’ll stop to take in the view from High Point, on the escarpment.  Dress for a cool mountain morning and bring a snack and water. Meet at Carrick Road parking area. Call 518-872-0800 to register.