Harry Carter perceives his connection with nature as a dreamscape of philosophical muses, vibrations between people, nature and wildlife of silver-toned images viewed more or less in black and white through the lens finder of his box camera photographs made in his transformative years; however he now sees an electric multi-color fluidity to the effect we have on nature and nature upon us. When asked what music he thinks best represents this ecology, Harry, a DJ at WRPI, tells us blues and musical fusion. He speaks poetically of the trees rustling, even dancing in free-form jazz. You can’t help but be transported to the aspen stands on Wheeler-Watson or the beech forest above the falls with a mellow sound track of life thrumming in your head.
Surprisingly, despite growing up near a five-mile track of woods in the New Jersey suburbs, there were times in his journey that Harry wasn’t as connected to nature as he wished he were; so at age of 22, he made a break from urban life to the Helderbergs, specifically Rennselaerville and the Huyck Preserve. While less populated, this area reverberated back to his childhood adventures in Dave's Woods along the Morris Canal. He was drawn to this rural native-farming community, doted with summer folk, the Preserve's forests and the Lake Myosotis Beach Program, where he immersed himself in swimming, sailing and rowing his single shell on lake "forget me not.” He ice fished, cross country skied and took invigorating runs in addition to quickly making friends in the Huyck and Rensselaerville community. Harry’s story is one of connecting to both nature and community through the Huyck Preserve; one that is also reflected by our other members. Remarkably, after 40-plus years as a member, his support never wanes. Harry is often the first member to renew his purchase of a beach pass. He points to the importance of the swimming lessons we offer and his desire to be part of maintaining room at the lake for all to enjoy, even though there are no longer cabins or the boat house, as reasons why he is still committed. These days, though he may not get to the lake or out on the trails as often as he’d like, Harry still enjoys the calming effects of nature, whether it be running, skiing, or enjoying the literal connection to the earth by traveling barefoot through the summer. The Huyck Preserve is grateful to be able to count Harry Carter as one of our members. In appreciation of his long-standing support, we are pleased to honor him as part of our 85th birthday celebration as the epitome of recreation, envisioned by our founder Jesse Huyck. What A guided hike "walk and talk" - a lesson on the trails about the mushrooms of our forest When Saturday August 20th, 10 AM - 1 PM Where Meet at the Eldridge Research Station (284 Pond Hill Rd. Rensselaerville NY 12147) at 10 AM Details:
General hike policies Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the hike to sign in! Hikes begin promptly at the listed start time. A suggested donation of $5/person is greatly appreciated for public programs. All guests must sign a waiver at time of the hike; guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Hikes are rain or shine and weather at the Preserve can be unpredictable – please dress appropriately and wear comfortable, sturdy hiking shoes (please no sandals and flip flops!). Water, sunscreen, and bug repellant are all highly recommended. Large groups (more than 8 people) are welcome but must contact the Preserve in advance by calling 518-797-3440 or emailing info@huyckpreserve.org so that we can work to accommodate them Cancellation Policy Please watch our Facebook page for the most up to date information on guided hike cancellations. The decision to cancel an event due to predicted severe weather is generally made by close of business 2 days before an event, but last minute cancellations can occur and are posted to Facebook as soon as possible. Pan American Aerobiology Conference Open house 3-5pm Saturday Aug 27 at the Eldridge Research Station. Drop by to see how air is sampled and how pollen, molds, and other particles are identified through the microscope. This is a chance to ask the gathered scientists about allergies, moldy basements, and migrating plant diseases.
Mary Banning’s Mushrooms 7PM Saturday August 27 at the Eldridge Research Station. If you missed this performance several years ago, this is your chance to see the reenactment of the scientific and personal exchange between a nineteenth century Albany Botanist and a Victorian Maryland artist with Bill and Nora Logan acting the parts. Click "Read more" for more details on these events! Join us for our annual Science Symposium Saturday August 6th at 1pm1 pm Keynote Speaker Dr. Barbara Han, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies "Identifying Potential Reservoirs and Vectors of Human Disease" The majority of emerging infectious diseases that affect humans originate in mammalian reservoirs and use blood-sucking insects as vectors for transfer from mammals to humans. There are thousands of species of mammals and blood-sucking insects but only some species are good vectors or reservoirs for human disease. Barbara Han has used computer models and global datasets to identify the characteristics of a good vector or reservoir species and identify species that are most likely to transmit undiscovered diseases. In this talk, she will discuss how considering these animal-based diseases from an ecological perspective contributes to a better understanding of the potential risk that infectious diseases may have in particular regions. 2 pm Research Talks Dr. Carmen Greenwood and Dr. Amy Quinn "Can the Federally Endangered American Burying Beetle (ABB) be Reintroduced to New York? Examining Habitat Suitability and Host Availability in the Huyck Biological Preserve" SUNY Cobleskill student researchers are conducting a multi-tiered assessment of site suitability in central New York for a potential reintroduction of the federally endangered American Burying Beetle (ABB). An evaluation of existing burying beetle communities within the Huyck Preserve and availability the of small mammal hosts they require indicate that eastern mixed forests may provide favorable habitat for ABB. 3 pm Wine and Cheese Student Poster Presentations Come support young scientists! The high school students from the Wildlife Ecology Research program and the undergraduate Odum interns will present their research projects in a poster session. They've been working hard for many weeks on their field research, so please come show your support for them! Topics to be presented include:
Help us bring in our 85th Anniversary with a jovial evening celebrating our past accomplishments and future progress! The Annual Benefit is hosted on the shore of Lincoln Pond at the Eldridge Research Station and is a critical event to ensure the success of the Preserve for years to come. As always, the Benefit will include gourmet local fare, music provided by excellent local musicians, and a live and silent auction. To observe this incredible milestone, we are delighted to recognize four honorary guests and long-time supporters who encompass our four-part mission of Conservation, Education, Recreation and Research. Our Honorary Guests include: Shirley Stevens French for her longtime support of the Huyck Preserve's conservation efforts; Agnes Zellin from the Berne-Knox-Westerlo school district who has partnered with the Preserve to increase access to education opportunities for school children; Harry Carter, otherwise known as "DJ Hair Man" from the RPI public radio show and longtime member and supporter of our recreation and Lake Program; and Susan Beatty, Ph.D who has been part of the Preserve team for over 30 years, ranging from researcher to board member and Research Committee member. We look forward to honoring and hosting these four individuals for their commitment to the Huyck Preserve! Also special to this year's anniversary, our auction items will follow the theme of Experience the Preserve and the Hilltowns. Rather than focusing mainly on material items, we are offering our guests the chance to bid on opportunities for learning new skills, enhancing their home environments, and/or gaining more knowledge about their surroundings, just to name a few. We invite you to support the skills and expertise of the many area artisans and professionals by participating in our Live and Silent Auction! We will be updating our list of donations as they arrive so please check back to see what exciting things we have to offer. Each ticket sold includes delicious seasonal fare from the talent of Chef Bill Bensen from Rensselaerville's own Palmer House Cafe, live jazz music by John Savage Quartet and one raffle ticket for our 50/50 "Win-Win" Raffle! Everybody's a winner in this years raffle -- one lucky winner will take half the proceeds and the other half will benefit our Education Fund Campaign to bring more students to the Preserve. Additional raffle tickets are available for purchase of $6 for a single raffle or the triple-deal for $12. (Find the link to purchase below.) Cocktails and Beverage Hour starts at 5:30 pm and Dinner Buffet will start at 6:30 pm. We encourage you, your family and friends to join us for what promises to be a fun and celebratory evening to observe the legacy of the Huyck Preserve and ensure that it continues for another 85 years! |