Adirondack Family Time™

ADK Volunteer Trails Program 2012 Want to help build and maintain Adirondack trails? Since 1986 thousands of volunteers have worked with trained ADK trail crew leaders to complete trail maintenance and reconstruction projects all over the Adirondacks and Catskills.  Volunteers are provided with the unique opportunity to “give something back” to the trails that they use. Trail work is demanding so volunteers should expect to be challenged both physically and mentally.  ADK provides leadership, group camping gear, tools, transportation from base camp, and food for multi-day projects.  ADK’s volunteer base camp serves as the staging area for the four and five day trail projects. It is located at the Adirondak Loj Campground adjacent to Heart Lake. Project information including an equipment list will be sent to all volunteers upon registration.

cornellhawks on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

I just wanted to list some regulations that all parents should be aware of when choosing a summer camp! (taken from the  New York State Health Department Children's Camp in NYS . Here is a link to the complete brochure.  1 ) Check the staff credentials/supervision: What are the qualifications of the camp director? All directors' background are screened by the Office of Children and Family Services Central Register Database. Make sure the camp director has been cleared by the NYS Health Department.  2) In New York State all summer camps must have a state, city or county health department permit to operate legally. 

My daughter and I are bonding over our annual Earth Day celebration by cleaning up the parking lot for Ampersand Mountain. After donning her gardening hat and gloves she announces that she really doesn’t enjoy cleaning up other people’s garbage and would prefer ice cream. I tell her the ice cream will be a good treat to celebrate our job well done. She is not buying any of it. She is rather insistent with her garbage-picking protests. It’s not like I am asking her to wear the stuff like a hair shirt but just hoping to increase her awareness. She is sometimes oblivious of those little scraps of paper that escape from her hand. I finally am able to encourage her to join me, letting her know that even if she can’t go down the hill to get the garbage I need her help with the detection of it. She makes a game of “I-Spying” the trash with me retrieving it. Today she has X-ray vision for spotting cups, wrappers, bottles and bags lost under leaves and thrown over the embankment. The c

By Diane Chase,  (as seen in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise) My family had the pleasure of going through Stan Burdick’s Ticonderoga Cartoon Museum before the collection was moved to Pittsburgh Toon-seum in 2010. We were given a rare treat; the founder and curator, Stan Burdick, was also our personal guide. As other guests came and went, Stan gave everyone the same level of attention. This Saturday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m., Stan will be at Saranac Village at Will Rogers in presenting one of his many road shows based on what he knows best, cartooning.    After talking briefly with Stan he told me this particular show is good for people of all ages. As a storyteller, he will be using large cartoon storyboards or panels to help illustrate familiar and unusual poems. He gives two examples of poetry through the ages with “Casey At the Bat,” and “A Trial In New Amsterdam.”

Watch this beautiful video of two Great blue herons in flight to their nest. I love spring!

By Diane Chase Safety is always a concern when paddling with children so we want to take whatever precautions necessary to assure a fun experience. Adirondacks Lakes and Trails Outfitters   owner Steve Doxzon says, “This time of year it’s the cold water that is the biggest issue. People need to dress for the water temperature not the air temperature. It may be 70 degrees outside but the water is still only 37 degrees.” Doxzon especially urges a person kayaking to dress accordingly as there is a greater chance for capsizing and  hypothermia . He reminds paddlers that sudden changes in conditions, like windy days, are something to be wary of when getting out on Adirondack lakes, rivers and ponds. Read More Here