May 26, 2026
Partnership Between MHLC and CDTA Connects Residents to Nature Across the Capital Region
ALBANY, NY (May 26, 2026) – Saturdays are for nature! The Nature Bus will return for its sixth season on Saturday, May 30, 2026, offering free transportation to some of the Capital Region’s most popular outdoor destinations.
This collaborative initiative between the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC) and the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) has connected thousands of people to natural places in and around Albany. The complimentary service will run for 20 Saturdays this season through Saturday, October 10, 2026. There will once again be a Beaver Line and Warbler Line, alternating locations each weekend.
The 2026 Nature Bus locations include:
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Tivoli Lake Preserve and Farm, Albany
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Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s Six Mile Waterworks Park, Albany
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Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail, Slingerlands
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DEC’s Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar
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Thacher State Park, Voorheesville
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Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s Accessible Fisher Trail in partnership with DEC’s Five Rivers Education Center, Slingerlands
Partners at Nature Bus destinations are providing a schedule of fun, educational programming to engage visitors arriving by the Nature Bus. Activities range from guided hikes and hands-on environmental education to arts and crafts activities and more. A list of programs for each weekend can be found at www.mohawkhudson.org/nature-bus.
Season kick-off programming on Saturday, May 30, includes:
- Learn to Fish Clinic at Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s Six Mile Waterworks,
from 10 AM to 2 PM. - Celebrating Black Birders Week: Birding at Tivoli Lake Preserve & Five Rivers.
Enjoy a short walk to look at birds at Tivoli Lake Preserve in Albany, then travel to Five Rivers for free on the Nature Bus for more birding. (visit the website to register). - Five Rivers will also host a Nature Bus Welcome Table: Turtle Time, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM and Pond Adventure, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM.
Save the Date!
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Get Outside & Get Together Day at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Special thanks to the organizations providing funding to support the 2026 season to ensure this service is free, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Communication, Education and Engagement, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, and the Natural Heritage Trust courtesy of the Saratoga Capital District Regional State Parks Commission’s Access for All Campaign.
To learn more, visit MHLC’s Nature Bus website: https://mohawkhudson.org/nature-bus/ or www.cdta.org/nature-bus
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