Posts Tagged ‘Adirondack Interpretive Center’

Monday, July 17, 2023

Adirondack Interpretive Center and its trails, including Goodnow, closed until further notice

Goodnow Mountain

You may be aware that Newcomb and other parts of the Adirondacks experienced severe flooding this past week.

The Adirondack Interpretive Center and trails, Goodnow Mountain Trail, and the Rich Lake boating access are closed until further notice.

The ESF Newcomb Campus has suffered major damages to the roads and trail systems, including the total loss of two bridges on the Sucker Brook trail. These bridges were the start and finish lines for the AIC’s annual Rubber Loon Race. For this reason, the Adirondack Interpretive Center is postponing the 2023 Rubber Loon Race indefinitely. The current priority is the safety of staff and the recovery of trails and property; but the show will go on. Organizers are currently drumming up ideas for a virtual event.

Donations made to the Rubber Loon Race are used to support educational programs at the AIC. Click here: https://www.esf.edu/aic/sponsor-a-loon.php

Stay tuned to the AIC Facebook page for more information on the reopening of the AIC and what’s happening on the campus.

Photo from Goodnow firetower by Melissa Hart


Wednesday, April 26, 2023

SUNY-ESF Adirondack Interpretive Center announces roundup of May/June events

Bird on a branch

The SUNY-ESF Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) has announced a variety of events set for May and June that is sure to appeal to a wide array of nature and outdoor enthusiasts. All of the below programs require pre-registration.

» Continue Reading.


Friday, March 31, 2023

Adirondack Interpretive Center announces roundup of Spring events

AIC spring 2023 events.

Newcomb, NY – The Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) has recently announced a lineup of events to kick off the Spring season including a series of free “mud season movies,” early migrant bird walks, and a one-day introduction to fly fishing workshop. The 2023 mud season movies will be shown every Saturday in April at 1:30 p.m. at the Adirondack Interpretive Center, Newcomb Campus. (More information on the mud season movies in the image above.) The film series is sponsored by the Adirondack Park Institute.

» Continue Reading.


Wednesday, February 22, 2023

The Heart of the Adirondacks

Charlotte Demers demonstrating use of E-Bird and Merlin during a bird walk

Photo: Charlotte Demers demonstrating use of E-Bird and Merlin during our bird walk

Newcomb is in the heart of the Adirondack Park, and Newcomb’s Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) of the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry is the beating heart of Park ecological science. AIC operates one of the longest, if not the longest, uninterrupted study of the interactions of forest and aquatic ecosystems and wildlife in all North America, if not the globe. That forest is the Huntington Wildlife Forest, and the published research findings there span more than 90 years.

Huntington and the AIC are not only important for the Adirondacks but for the nation. It is one of the few data collection centers for the National Atmospheric Deposition program which monitors acid deposition and other atmospheric inputs into these forests, wetlands, streams, and lakes. Given the value of all of that research, Huntington Wildlife forests, lakes and streams on these 20,000-acres rank very highly in the Adirondack Park’s ecosystem, as do its scientists, students, and all who support them, from  Syracuse to Newcomb.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, January 5, 2023

SUNY ESF: Adirondack Interpretive Center announces roundup of winter events

Nature trail in winter

The Adirondack Interpretive Center at SUNY ESF’s Newcomb Campus has recently announced a lineup of winter activities such as guided snowshoeing excursions, bird walks, a winter tracking workshop, a Cross-Country Ski to Forestry Demonstration Cuts activity, and more. Please see below for details on each event. Interested parties may register for an event by clicking on the provided links.

Winter Bird Walk
Saturday January 7th, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Guest birder, Miok Salz, will start the morning identifying the winter finches visiting the AIC feeders. This will be followed by and easy snowshoe on the trails to look for more birds.
Snowshoes provided. Preregistration required – click here to register via email.

» Continue Reading.


Monday, September 5, 2022

Adirondack Interpretive Center September/October Events

Here’s a glimpse of what is planned for SUNY-ESF’s Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) for the remainder of September, heading into October. Programs include a variety of walks, hikes, and a Halloween-themed educational program called Skull Skills. Pre-registration is required for all programs.


Saturday, September 10th – 9:30 to 11:00 am

Black Bear Woods Walk
Come along for an easy guided walk as we learn about black bears in the Adirondacks. We’ll look for signs of bears on our trails, discuss the implications of a changing climate on black bears, and learn about bear safety. Bring your trail shoes and your best bear stories.
click here to register

Friday, June 17, 2022

Adirondack Interpretive Center Woods Walks: Saturdays, June 18 – Aug.13

ESF Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) staff are pleased to announce Woods Walks every Saturday during the summer season from June 18 through August 13.

The series of nature walks will kick off this Saturday, June 18 with the first walk dedicated to the memory of ESF Adirondack Interpretive Center friend Elaine Schwartz.

This walk and talk will be focused on award-winning poet Mary Oliver. Oliver’s poetry, inspired by nature, was rooted in her frequent walks in the woods. The Elaine Schwartz Memorial Woods Walk will begin at 10 a.m. Click here to register via email

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, March 17, 2022

Newcomb AIC: Aldo Leopold Day set for March 19

“That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.” – Aldo Leopold 

Guests are invited to kick off the arrival of spring by celebrating Aldo Leopold Day on Saturday, March 19 at the Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) in Newcomb. Leopold was considered by many as the father of wildlife conservation. Participants have the opportunity to attend an individual program or spend the entire day at the AIC to take part in the whole slate of events which includes a seminar, a bench building workshop, and a film. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. Interested parties should register by emailing aic@esf.edu or Click here to register. Location: Adirondack Interpretive Center, 5922 State Route 28N, Newcomb, NY 12852.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, September 9, 2021

Adirondack Park Institute’s Annual Awards Gala raises funds for nature programs

finished canoe

NEWCOMB, NY – The Adirondack Park Institute is pleased to announce that local businesswoman and philanthropist Caroline Draper Lussi will be awarded the 2021 Frank M. Hutchins Environmental Education Leadership Award at its Annual Awards Gala on September 17, 2021, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Adirondack Interpretive Center’s summer events

painting by Christopher RosierA look at some of the events coming up at the Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb. All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Wildlife Wednesdays

July 21st – Owls of the Adirondacks
Did you know that the Adirondack Park is home to seven different species of owl? Explore their natural history and habitats as we walk along the AIC trail system.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Adirondack Interpretive Center Summer 2021 Events

2021 rubber loon race poster

The Adirondack Interpretive Center is happy to be back open for the 2021 season. The AIC building will be open Wednesday though Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Masks will be required in the building but not during any of our outside activities.  We are still developing our summer program as we await guidance from New York State and our University. But we already have some great events lined up. Hope to see you soon!

The AIC’s 9th Annual Rubber Loon Race will be on July 17th at 3:00 PM. Come join the fun as we release our rubber loons to race down the outlet of Rich Lake. You can sponsor a loon for $10 and all proceeds support educational programming at the AIC. You do not have to be present at the race to win! Click to sponsor a Loon.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Newcomb AIC offers distanced programing through video series

Although the Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) in Newcomb (run by SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry) has been closed, the team there has produced a video series called “Newcomb Naturalist Notes.”
They produced five episodes this summer, with more planned in the future. Click the links below to learn
more about:

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, January 19, 2020

Newcomb Trails Expanding, Trail Crew Sought

goodnow mtn trail markerSUNY-ESF is seeking trail crew as they expand their existing trail network at the Newcomb Campus, including plans to add more than two miles of new trails at the Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC), as well as rehabilitating the popular Goodnow Mountain trail.

This expansion is the first since the AIC was opened in 1990. » Continue Reading.


Friday, January 10, 2020

It’s Time for Great Camp Santanoni Winter Weekends

Newcomb’s Camp Santanoni hosts three winter weekends each year, which provide an opportunity for people to have access to the Great Camp buildings that are not open year-round. The first winter weekend is January 18-20, with the next two set for February 15-17, March 14-15.

Don’t forget the Great Camp Santanoni is always open to the public, but these Winter Weekends provide public access to the interior of the remaining historic buildings on the property as well as historical educational information. » Continue Reading.


Friday, July 19, 2019

Eighth Annual Loon Race Coincides with Newcomb SummerFest

The Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) is once again hosting its annual Rubber Loon Race on July 20 at 3 pm. The loon race mimics that long-standing rubber ducky race tradition, but with an Adirondack twist. The unique rubber loons make their trip downstream and three winners have the opportunity to collect a cash prize.

My family has been exploring the trails at the Adirondack Interpretive Center since my children were learning how to walk. We’ve attended special workshops. We’ve paddled, swam, and attended lectures. There is always a welcome staff member to answer our questions. Since most of the events and activities are free, all funds from the Rubber Loon Race are earmarked for special place-based public programming. » Continue Reading.



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