Arboretum, NYPA Partner to Offer Incentives for Free, Family Summer Fun

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Found Turtle at Landis, photo by Bill Combs, Jr.

ESPERANCE, NY (07/28/2007)(readMedia)-- To help individuals and families offset the continued rise in travel costs, the Landis Arboretum (Esperance) and the New York Power Authority (North Blenheim) have joined forces in a tantalizing promotion that they hope visitors simply will not refuse.

Through September, visitors to the New York Power Authority will receive a coupon redeemable at Landis for a chance to win a beautiful gift basket of gardening and nature-focused items. The wining ticket will be picked at the Arboretum’s signature Fall Plant/Used Book/and Bake Sale on September 15 – 16. Visitors need not be present to win.

Visitors to the Arboretum will receive a coupon redeemable at NYPA that can be exchanged for an energy-efficient, 20-watt, mini-spiral light bulb designed to reduce energy consumption.

There are no admission fees to the NYPA grounds or Visitors Center or to the Landis Arboretum (although a free-will donation of $5/person, $15/family is encouraged at the Arboretum to offset upkeep of the grounds). Parking is free at both destinations.

NYPA Delights Visitors

“We’re delighted to be partnering with the Landis Arboretum, teaming our resources so visitor’s can gain a great understanding of how our attractions work in harmony with the environment,” said Stephen Ramsey, Community Relations Manager at NYPA’s Blenheim-Gilboa Project.

“The NYPA Visitors Center is housed in a restored 19th century dairy barn that overlooks the Schoharie Creek. The center contains many hands-on exhibits and interactive displays for the entire family to enjoy. We also have miles of nature trails as well as an interpretative wetland. And, best of all, admission to the site is free,” says an enthusiastic Mr. Ramsey.

Next to NYPA Visitors Center, guests can find the beautiful Lansing Manor, an early American country estate, built in 1819 by John Lansing, who represented New York as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the state's Ratification Convention in 1788. Restored by the Power Authority in 1977, the Manor is filled with authentic furnishings from the first half of the 19th century. The house, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is operated by the Power Authority in cooperation with the Schoharie County Historical Society.

The NYPA 2.5 mile Bluebird Trail traverses a rolling hillside between our Visitors Center and nearby Mine Kill State Park, built by the Power Authority and operated by the Saratoga-Capital District Region of the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Its 650 acres include three swimming pools and facilities for softball, basketball, volleyball and horseshoes. Picnic grounds and hiking trails let you commune with nature. The fishing season here runs from April through September.

About Landis, the Capital Region’s Arboretum

The 548-acres of the Landis Arboretum comprise a national treasure which includes 40 acres of cultivated and native plants on the site of a 19th century farm, the home of Fred Lape, the Arboretum's founder. Central to New York State Wine and Spa Trails and in close proximity to historic Sharon Springs, the Arboretum in historic Esperance is a natural stop for those traveling to the high-volume tourist attractions between the Albany, Cooperstown, and Finger Lakes Regions.

The Arboretum offers much that would appeal to a family: eight miles of hiking and walking trails overlooking Schoharie Valley near Esperance; and acres of plantings, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from around the world. The Landis Arboretum includes a nationally recognized collection of oaks and is registered with the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC).

The Arboretum also is included in the New York State Route 20 Bluebird Trail, bringing even more birdwatchers to the site. The Arboretum’s vast dark sky and wide horizons attract area astronomers to its meeting house and parking field for sky-watching events. The remainder of the property consists of woodlands, and open fields, and natural areas including bogs.

Keeping Track of Fun and Birds

Visitors to both venues soon discover that bird watching is easy -- and fun and offers an instant way for a family to share in a day’s free outing anyplace. Seasoned birders like to record what they’ve seen and where.

Long-time bird lovers Barbara and Stephen Brabetz have created an up-to-date list of birds that one can expect to find over 125 species keyed to the season. The colorful checklist fits easily into a hip or back pocket for bird-spotting ventures. “It’s been a labor of love,” says Ms. Brabetz who is President of the Arboretum and chair of the Natural Sciences Department at SUNY Cobleskill.

The Brabetz’ Bird Checklist, published this month by the Landis Arboretum, is available at the Arboretum Acorn Gift Shop or via mail. Cost: $2+ postage. Families are encouraged to stop by the Arboretum and sign out our family friendly daypacks, complete with kid-sized binoculars, the bird list, and more to make your trip a nature-loving adventure.

Not to be Missed

Aug. 4, 2–3:30 pm. LA. Pond Ecology. Mayflies, dragonflies, damselflies, and freshwater shrimp among the many small invertebrates you’ll observe. George Steele, Science Educator. Free-will donation.

August 19. LA: Lape Day Celebration. Free, open mic for all musicians and creatives in celebration of birthday of Arboretum founder. 3 p.m. - ???

September 22, NYPA: Annual Wildlife Festival/Energy Expo at NYPA Blenheim-Gilboa Project Visitors Center. Watch area newspapers and NYPA website for details.

September 1, The First Annual Arboretum 5K Cross- County Forest Run. Run /Compete for Family Fun. AND enjoy the spectacular views of the Schoharie countryside at Landis. More? 518-231-2290 or www.LandisArboretum.org.

Contacts:

New York Power Authority: Stephen M. Ramsey,,1378 State Route 30 P.O. Box 898,North Blenheim, NY 12131,(518)287-6380,(518) 287-6381/fax;steve.ramsey@nypa.gov

Landis Arboretum: Thom O’Connor, PO Box 186, 174 Lape Road, Esperance, NY 12066, (518) 875-6935, (518) 875-6394/Fax; info@landisarboretum.org

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