Wild Center Moose
Wild Center exhibits Adirondack animals
We are not a family that does just one sport so if we aren't downhill skiing, we are snowshoeing, ice skating or cross-country skiing. Just as much as we relish our outside snow sports, we like to have inside winter options as well. The Wild Center in Tupper Lake is a next mixture of both. 

Each weekend through March 25, the Wild Center will host free workshops and family art and nature days (with price of admission). The Saturday seminars' goal (1:00 p.m.) is to nurture skills like reducing our carbon footprint or improve wildlife identification. The Sunday programs (noon – 2:00 p.m.) bring families together for a naturalist-led walk, an animal encounter and art project that ties all those elements together.

Wild Center Golden Otter
Look for the Golden Otter at the Wild Center

The Wild Center, usually open on weekends only during the winter, will be open every day from February 18-26. Each day at the Wild Center will focus on a different winter theme. Families can learn how to read animal signs, construct a "quinzee" traditional snow fort and to make a snow globe. Other weekends will focus on owls, animal tracking, winter birding and so much more. No reservations are required.

Everyday your child can complete a series of activities to earn a Naturalist Patch ($1). This activity allows children to explore parts of the Wild Center that they may usually miss as well as creating a sense of independence. (I learn something new each time myself.) When you are there don't forget to look for the golden otter. Each week a tiny gold otter "statue" is hidden on the exhibit floor. Not only does this help all of us to be more observant you can also enter the raffle to win a basket of Wild Center goodies. 

Wild Center lean to
Snowshoe or Ski the Wild Center Trails
The Wild Center is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults (15-64), $9 for youth (4-14), $13 for seniors (65+) and free for children (3 and under) as well as current members. Please call 359-7800 for more information for a complete schedule. Don't forget to ask to borrow snowshoes for use on their trails. 

Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Activities guidebook series. The first book, Adirondack Family Time Tri-Lakes and High Peaks: Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities (with GPS coordinates) is in stores now.  Her second book will cover the Champlain Valley from Plattsburgh to Ticonderoga.