On Friday May 19th eight scouts and three adults from Guilderland Troop 50 paddled against the wind and waves to Scout Island located near McMurray’s Boat Livery in Broadalbin NY.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County will be offering a 4-H shooting sports program at its building in Voorheesville in July for children aged 11 to 18, where they can learn about archery or air rifle shooting.

KNOX — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will be hosting a public meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Years ago, John Boyd Thacher State Park had been rumored of closing. A new visitors’ center is equipped with exhibits and activities for children in a modern building at the edge of the Helderberg escarpment.

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy invites the public to explore Strawberry Fields Nature Preserve in Montgomery County at a grand opening event on May 20.

A Bethlehem native who grew up “right around the corner” from some of the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s preserves has now been hired there. The position is funded by a $66,000 state grant.

The hope is that the future vegetables and flowers will teach students about nutrition and agriculture, as well as provide for school lunches and other school programs.

CLARKSVILLE — Thom Engle of the Northeastern Cave Conservancy will present a program on Hailes Cave for the Clarksville Historical society. He’ll speak on Wednesday April 5, at 7 p.m. at the Clarksville Community Church.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued guidance on how to prevent bad encounters with black bears and conflicts with coyotes as warmer spring temperatures approach.

Alvin Breisch in his book released this month, “The Snake and the Salamander: Reptiles and Amphibians from Maine to Virginia,” uses a lifetime of knowledge to make creatures many consider “second-class citizens” vivid and vital — an essential part of the natural world that often go unrecognized.