EVENTS
Our 2026 Wild Saturdays program
Wild Saturdays is a series of free programs offered once a month from May to October each year. Hear expert talks, explore the nearby woods with guided walks, learn about Catskills history & wildlife, and so much more.
In this 2026 season we will have authors and historians discussing local history, a tree identification walk, and an evening of star gazing among other events listed below.
The World In A Drop Of Water - with Michelle Rissolo - WILD SATURDAYS
About The Event & Speaker:
Michelle Rissolo imparts what you can learn from a Drop of Water. Where did it come from, what is living in it, how is it recycled by Mother Nature, and why you should care. Michelle is Chair of the Mid-Hudson section of the American Chemical Society. She harnesses information from her four-distinct careers: Environmental & Safety Manager, tenured college professor, Lead Technical Director for an Environmental Laboratory Approval Program facility, and Quality Assurance & Licensing manager for NYC DEP.
Catskill Dark Skies & Star Party - with Michael Goldstein - WILD SATURDAYS
About The Event:
The Catskills provide a remarkable preserve for dark skies, treasured by stargazers, amateur astronomers, and anyone who steps outside on a clear night and looks up. This extraordinary darkness is due in large part to John Burroughs’ campaign for wilderness preservation. Despite our proximity to the NYC megalopolis, the Catskills support darker skies than 11 states east of the Mississippi. This is a two-part event, a talk from 6-7 PM, plus telescope viewing supported by amateur astronomers from the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association from 7:45 to 10 PM.
About The Speaker:
Michael Goldstein is Vice President of MHAA and discovered Woodchuck Lodge when searching for dark sites appropriate for telescope viewing in the Western Catskills.
