Albany Pine Bush Preserve

10/15/2026

🌿 Become a familiar face at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve!

Want to get more involved in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve community? Do you enjoy connecting with people, teaching, or sharing your passion for nature? Consider joining our volunteer team as a Discovery Center Docent!

As a docent, you’ll be one of the first friendly faces visitors meet at the Discovery Center. You’ll help guests learn about our exhibits, trails, programs, and the unique natural world of the Pine Bush.

No previous experience required! We provide training and support.

Volunteer requirements:
• Be 18 or older
• Volunteer a minimum of 4 hours per month
• Successfully complete our Volunteer Docent training program
• Commit to at least one year of service

📅 First training session: Tuesday, November 17, 11:00 AM–1:30 PM
A second training session will be scheduled by appointment.

Ready to learn more? Email [email protected] to schedule an interview with us and learn about the program.

Come help us welcome visitors, share the story of the Pine Bush, and connect people with this incredible preserve!

10/14/2026

The annual changing color of leaves in preparation for winter is a beautiful sight, and the Pine Bush foliage is now peaking! 🍂🍂

Join us Friday, October 16th at 11am to learn about why leaves change color and practice tips for photographing nature along a 1.4 mile hike over rolling sand dunes.

We'll talk about colors, lighting, composition, and story telling. No special equipment required.

Attendance is free, registration required.

Photo by Elena Keesee

10/08/2026

If you take a walk on a bright day through the Albany Pine Bush, you might spot a barrens buckmoth... or a dozen if you're lucky!

A special moth that feeds on scrub oak, they fly during the day in early fall. You'll spot them bouncing along above the landscape. If you can get close enough, you can even tell the males and females apart by looking at their abdomens. The males have more orange and big, feathery antennae.

Just one of the many cool pine barrens species that call the Albany Pine Bush home 🤗.

10/07/2026

The leaves are changing and there's a chill in the air... peak foliage is almost near!

You don't have to go far to enjoy the colors of the season when the Albany Pine Bush has 12 trailheads and 20 miles of trails right in your backyard.

Explore the trails on your own, or join one of our upcoming guided programs:

10/ 2 🍁 Fall Foliage Color Walk - For ages under 6 with caregiver
10/12 🦇 Batty for Bats - All ages
10/16 📷 Photos and Foliage - Tweens, teens, and adults
10/17 🍂 Discover the Pine Bush - All ages
10/23 🦉 Owl Prowl - Ages 6 and up
10/25 🐦 Accessible Bird Watching - Tweens, teens, and adults
10/30 🕷️ Save a Spider - For ages under 10 with caregiver
10/31 🎃 Halloween in the Pine Bush! From Cobwebs to Coyotes - All ages, drop-in

Attendance is free, registration required.

Photos by 1) Sean Sullivan and 2) Mark Juliano

10/06/2026

We will be conducting a prescribed fire on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. We will start at noon and will be finished by dark. We will be located near the intersection of Madison Avenue Extension and Point of Woods Drive in the City of Albany. Trailhead #7 will be closed until 10/8/2026

Sign up for our Prescribed Fire Alerts if you would like to be notified by email when we conduct prescribed fires.

We cannot provide a specific schedule for prescribed fires in a given area due to the unpredictability of weather and fuel conditions. If you would like to be notified the morning of a prescribed fire, please subscribe below. We will be happy to add you to our email notifications list. You can un...

10/05/2026

Drop-in bird banding demo... one more chance!
Wednesday, October 7th from 7am-11am

Fall migration is still underway, and our scientists are monitoring the birds passing through. Stop by to see bird banding in action and learn about why we do what we do.

No registration required, just head to the white tent on the Discovery Trail behind the Discovery Center.

See you there!

09/30/2026

Last call for submitting your photos to Pine Bush Perspectives!

Entries close at midnight, October 1st.

Visitors of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to share your perspective of the Pine Bush. We're seeking pictures that tell stories of all kinds, whether that's the little details of nature, a daily walk with your dog, or your family exploring the exhibits. Pine Bush Perspectives is a celebration of all the ways to experience the preserve.

The exhibit will open on December 4, 2026, with an awards presentation and small reception in the Discovery Center.

We can't wait to see everyone's photos celebrating this special place 😊

Photo by Don Allard from a previous Pine Bush Perspectives

09/29/2026

A prescribed fire, also known as a controlled burn, is the planned and controlled application of fire to land to achieve specific land management goals. They are done under certain conditions by trained professionals to reduce wildfire risk and restore health to fire-dependent ecosystems, like the Albany Pine Bush. These fires create conditions where sunlight can reach the ground and the ash provides nutrients for plants such as wild blue lupine can grow.

09/25/2026

Meet Smokey Bear! 🐻

Saturday, October 3rd join the Albany Pine Bush and Smokey Bear at the Discovery Center to learn about prescribed fire and wildfire prevention. 🔥

There will be games, interactive exhibits, fire trucks and equipment, a food truck, and Smokey goody bags for visitors to take home.

10am-2pm, no registration required.