The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, NY, is a natural history museum. Or a park. Or a farmers' market or art studio. Or an environmental awareness center. Or a sustainability training ground. Or a concert venue, or an Adirondack appreciation center, or….  Actually, The Wild Center is all of the above, and more, all with one theme binding the various facets together – an "enduring passion for the Adirondacks." What it isn't is a theme park with characters and rides and such. The Wild Center is the real deal – kids and adults exploring and interacting with the natural environment of the Adirondacks.

----------

The Wild Center offers a 54,000-square-foot main building which houses exhibits, a theater, animal encounter areas and a shop, all located on an 81-acre campus just outside of Tupper Lake, NY. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting May 1, and seven days a week from Memorial Day to Columbus Day (hours vary, be sure to check), the Center offers all its attractions, and many special activity series available on certain days of the week.  There's a Thursday Farmers' Market, Monday "Art in the Park," adult beginner art class series, and daily walking along or canoeing on the Raquette River.

A number of one-time activities polka dot the Wild Center calendar, too, such as a concert by the Lake Placid Sinfonetta and other musical specials, and the opening of the park's latest addition, the Wild Walk, described as "the only elevated trail across the treetops in New York," which, the Center says, offers "a chance to walk over the tree tops, and explore life the way it's lived on the wilder side." 

Even during winter months activities are scheduled, such as snowshoeing and the annual Maple activities. In addition to all this, there are original films produced and screened at The Wild Center, most notably a film narrated by Sigourney Weaver about climate change, A Matter of Degrees, which was a finalist at the Banff Mountain Film Festival.  The Wild Center, knowing that the next generation needs to be educated and involved, also sponsors a Youth Climate Change Summit, and, with the support of International Paper, will offer a Junior Naturalist Program.

An emphasis of The Wild Center is the concept of man and his environment "thriving together," centered on a quote by Obie Clifford: "There may be no more important issue facing humankind than discovering better ways to thrive with the rest of the natural world, and there may be no better place to understand that effort than in the Adirondacks."

The Center's mission concept is stated as follows:
We believe that people and the rest of the natural world can thrive together. We think that with the help of science we can move beyond our present challenges where our economy often comes at the expense of the natural world, and find ways to have a vibrant human economy and thriving nature. The Wild Center is committed to helping the Adirondacks become a model for this idea, and one that can lead by example.

The museum has won many awards, including being named a National Medal Finalist by the Museum and Library Service, and the media has heaped praise on the Wild Center, with quotes such as these:
"...paradis pour les environmentalistes.." — Le Journal de Montreal
"...the place to go.." — The Boston Globe
"A very interactive place.." — Montreal Gazette
"Stunning state-of the-art museum..." — Reader's Digest

The fees are reasonable, and if you become a member, even more so.

What are you waiting for?

Visiting The Wild Center
45 Museum Drive,
Tupper Lake, NY 12986
(518) 359-7800
www.wildcenter.org

		American Roads Promote Your Page Too
Tweet		Like us on Facebook	Send us an email to let us know what you like (or don't like)  about American Roads.	Pin us