Kelly Adirondack Center

08/06/2026

07/27/2026

Why I Wake Early
by Mary Oliver

Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety–

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light–
good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.

05/06/2026

Join us in Old Chapel on the Union College campus Thursday 5/7 at 5:30 p.m. for Tiny Aquatic Creatures and Their Role in a Lake’s Ecosystem with Prof. Emeritus Peter Tobiessen.

As you paddle over your favorite lake, below you is an amazing array of tiny creatures that are essential to making the lake’s ecosystem function. Prof. Tobiessen will describe many of these critters and examine their complex interactions. Microscopes will be provided so you can get to know them better.

The program is cosponsored by UCALL, ECOS: The Environmental ClearinghouseOS, and the Union College Biology Club

03/17/2026

A stunning piece from today's KAC sketching event by Ottavia Huang of Watercolor & Urban Sketchers .otter

03/17/2026

A stunning piece from today's KAC sketching event by Ottavia Huang of Watercolor & Urban Sketchers Ms. Otter Studio!

03/05/2026

Temperatures are forecasted to be in the 50s throughout next week! Here are some things to keep in mind as we transition to spring:

❄️ Hikers should be prepared for a variety of trail conditions, including ice, mud, and deep snow. While there may be less than 8 inches of snow at lower elevations, there will still be several feet of snow at higher elevations. Pack both snowshoes and crampons, switching from gear to gear as necessary for safety and to comply with state regulations.

🌊 When planning your hike, look for trails with fewer water crossings and take high-water bridges where possible. If you encounter deep or swift moving water, do not attempt to cross it. Rainfall during mud season can create flash floods due to higher and faster water crossings.

🥾Walk directly through mud, ice, and snow when hiking trails at lower elevations. Hiking off-trail to avoid mud erodes soil, damages vegetation, and widens both trails and mud puddles.

For the latest backcountry conditions and trip planning advice, contact our High Peaks Information Center by emailing [email protected] or calling 518-523-3441 ext. 121.

02/22/2026

The Kelly Adirondack Center is thrilled to take part in X- Snow research this beautiful, snow-filled winter! ❄️

Special thanks to for this opportunity!

X-Snow , led by NASA and the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, brings together researchers, students, and local partners to better understand winter conditions and strengthen our connection to the landscapes we live and work in. The KAC is proud to be part of this collaborative initiative designed to expand the number of snow measurements collected across the Catskills and Adirondacks!

02/18/2026

William K. Verner, a longtime Schenectady resident and advocate for conservation in the Adirondacks, held a wealth of knowledge about the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. He served as a consulting director of the Olympic Sports Museum, a member of the National Fine Arts Committee of the 1980 Olympic Games, and a Chairman of the Adirondack Citizens’ Task Force. Interested in learning more about Upstate New York’s connection to the Winter Olympics? Come check out the Kelly Adirondack Center!

02/10/2026

With the Winter Olympics underway, let's take a look back at some photos from the 1931 and 1980 games in Lake Placid. Photos courtesy of New York Heritage Digital Collections- a great resource!

12/16/2025

Winter morning light between the stacks of stories this morning in the Adirondack Research Library