Adirondack Interpretive Center looks to year ahead

NEWCOMB | The Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) is finishing off 2025 on a high note and already planning for its 2026 season. With a few changes, some long-awaited projects in line to begin, and a blank slate for new programming to be crafted, there is much to look forward to at the beloved mecca for those passionate about the natural world. Owned and managed by SUNY's College of Environmental Science and Forestry's (ESF) Newcomb Campus, the center is located on 15,000 acres (500 acres larger than Manhattan) of earth in the heart of the Adirondacks, the center is a free, year-round public education facility focused on natural history. To finish out the year, AIC will be hosting a book launch, signing, and panel on Thursday, Dec. 18 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The AIC's newly released "Journey to the Hudson" comic book by Artist-in-Residence Anicka Chaffey merges science with storytelling and aims to make complex ecological research accessible and engaging for all. Created in collaboration with ESF researchers and educators, the comic explores how water travels from the Adirondack Mountains to the Hudson River, highlighting the interconnected nature of forest, stream, and watershed ecology. "This was an idea that was hatched at a conference in South Carolina," explained AIC's Associate Director Paul Hai. Hai found himself drawn to a bird illustration Chaffey had created, and upon discussing with her further, discovered the bird was part of a science comic Chaffey had created for a field station in Florida. "I loved the style of her drawing," Hai said, which prompted Hai to offer Chaffey the opportunity to travel to the ESF field station across the country and create another comic book. "She was willing to come up here," Hai said. "She had never been to the Adirondacks before, we didn't have a concept but I knew having seen her work that we had a wealth of potential stories we could tell. I was really excited about her skills, abilities, and interests, and about creating a space in which she would have access to the incredible landscape and legacy of almost 100 years of research." Hai said the resulting book is visually engaging, narratively fun, and informative. In addition to the panel with scientific researchers and Chaffey herself, the event will give attendees the opportunity to purchase signed copies of the book while indulging in hot chocolate and chili crafted by Chef Gary from the Lodge Restaurant in Newcomb. The launch will be held at the Newcomb Community Center at 005 State Route 28N. There is no charge to attend. After two years with the AIC, Manager Stephanie Hample has departed the center, creating an opening for the AIC to hire someone new, and Hai said the process of replacing Hample has been initiated. "Steph was an absolutely outstanding manager for two years," Hai praised. "She has a deep natural history knowledge and has a long and strong background in science education in non-formal settings. She brought a natural excitement and enthusiasm and core curiosity that we like to spark in people. I was really appreciative of the time she spent with us." According to Hai, the hope is to go public with the search as early as the first week of January, with the goal of having someone in place as early as April 1 and no later than May 1. "We are looking for someone with passion of place, passion of content and the world outdoors, and a passion for communicating science to society," Hai revealed. "Each manager that has come to the AIC has brought their own passions about the natural world and they have created programs for the public focused on natural history, focused on the Adirondacks and cultural history, and have brought their own perspective and enthusiasm to how they build a program at the Interpretive Center. Having a new manager, there is an opportunity for a new vision on an existing commitment to teaching the natural and cultural history of the Adirondacks." 2026 is slated to be the year that New York State is going to rebuild all of the boardwalks and bridges at the AIC, reestablishing connection to the three miles of trails that have been inaccessible since the first week of July in 2023, when everything was annihilated by a flood. "It's been like having a room of your house closed off, and it has been a really big deal for us," Hai admitted. "We have maintained our programs, Steph did an outstanding job for us the two years she was here. She only had a portion of the trails but she kept all of our programming alive. We are really excited to get that back." Hai said engineer drawings are completed, with great excitement at the level of intention the State and engineers have put into trying to replace the beautiful handmade railing that spanned all across that property. "The State is in the final stages of preparing to seek contracting firms for the project," Hai added. Once the season is underway, the AIC will welcome another Artist-in-Residence, as well as a new interpretive naturalist, and programming will continue to be strong and engaging. Last year, AIC completed a long-gestating project of transforming its Main Hall, that culmination of energy delivering a brand new exhibit documenting and story of ESF. 700 square feet of new space with text and images convey its history, as well as its role in the world of today. "The intention of this new exhibit is to more explicitly share what it is we do and how what we do infuses into the public sphere and what pathways are open to people who want to be engaged in this kind of work," Hai said. Traditionally, the AIC is closes for November and December and reopens weekends January through April, but because of the staff transition, the center will remain closed on weekends unless there are special events or a new manager is found. However, that change will not impact one of AIC's most utilized and loved features. "Our trials are always open dawn till dusk every day, so the access is still there as it always has been," Hai assured. "Just as of now, the building won't be open on weekends throughout the winter." Once the season is in full swing come late spring, ESF will be collaborating with the Department of Environmental Conservation in hosting the 25th Ranger Academy Basic School. "We are very excited to be the home again of the NYS Ranger Academy Basic Training School, which is going to begin in the middle of March at the AIC," Hai noted. "It will be based in Newcomb until the middle of May, and will return at the end of August." The Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Institute will also be returning in 2026, offering high school sophomores and juniors from systemically marginalized communities an interdisciplinary summer program. Each intensive two-week session focuses on environmental and social justice issues considered through the lens of climate science. The Adirondack Interpretive Center is located at 5922 State Route 28 N, Newcomb, NY 12852. Please call 518-582-2000 or email aic@esf.edu with questions or for more information.

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Adirondack Interpretive Center looks to year ahead

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