For the past 40 years, the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in Delmar has been working to teach Capital District residents about the importance of wildlife and environment conservation through its “outdoor classroom.”
To celebrate the site’s landmark anniversary, the state Department of Environmental Conservation is throwing a birthday party.
“We’re promoting it as a good old-fashioned lawn party,” said Five Rivers Executive Director Craig Thompson. “There’ll be family activities, games and a birthday cake.”
Originally, Five Rivers was known as the Delmar Experimental Game Farm. It was one of six operated in the state by what was once the Conservation Department to repopulate and study game birds. In 1941, the Wildlife Resource Laboratory began work on the grounds, and several years later “a game farm employee began to assemble a small menagerie of animals in outdoor cages.” The site soon became known to locals as the Delmar Zoo, and for about 20 years, schools and families visited the animals.
“It was like a drive-through nature center so city people could see nature, but now the goal is to get people out to see nature and get immersed in it and educated,” said Thompson.
After a time, the facility fell into disrepair. Thompson said the state was thinking of turning the site into a world-class zoo, but there was no money at the time so the research taking place on the grounds was curtailed.
In 1970, a not-for-profit corporation called Five Rivers Limited was formed to save the site. It is now known as the Friends of Five Rivers. The group worked to obtain federal grant money to turn the site into an education center.
“For four decades, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center has provided a special place for children, parents and students to connect with nature and learn the importance of stewardship of our natural resources,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens in a statement. “Through the enduring partnership between DEC and the Friends of Five Rivers, hundreds of volunteers have enabled Five Rivers to offer high-quality educational programs for the community. We look forward to continuing to work with the Friends of Five River so future students have the same opportunities.”
Since its establishment in 1972, 3.3 million people have benefited from the center’s programs, and its protected area has doubled in size. The center includes 10 nature trails and a variety of natural wildlife habitats. Programs are offered at the center throughout the year, and Five Rivers staff also put on programs at area schools.
“Our hallmark is the shared ownership we have developed,” said Thompson. “There were no places like this in the Capital Region or really state for an outdoor guided experience. We started it and now there are several similar places throughout New York.”
The center is also continuing an expansion project. Later this year, a new building will be completed on the site to house the DEC’s new Guided School Program. It is partially funded through the Friends of Five Rivers and the family of Wendy Repass Suozzo. The building is meant as a memorial to Suozzo, who founded the Guided School Program while working as an environmental educator with the DEC.
“In a time of fiscal austerity where we have seen other similar facilities close, this is a great triumph for us,” said Thompson, adding how the anniversary is even more meaningful since in 1980 staff was the told the state planned to close the center. “But the citizens and mayor stepped in and found the money to keep us open. (The community) didn’t realize how important they were to our operation until they rallied together.”
The Five Rivers anniversary celebration will be held on Saturday, June 16, from 1-3:30 p.m. There will be food, games and live music. Admission is free.
