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Randy Coburn worked for over 30 years in NYS government, beginning in the State Legislature as an analyst in the areas of environmental and solid waste management policy and later managing programs with the Department of Economic Development. Randy enjoys outdoors activities including hiking, biking, kayaking and sailing. Years ago, Randy’s niece and nephew, Erin and Brendan, were visiting from Connecticut and he took them for a hike along the many trails at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. The two young millennials were more accustomed to malls, sporting events, and the entertainment culture. The wilderness scenery and quietude of Five Rivers was a new experience for them, especially since they missed a trail marker and had to find their way back to the Center – there were no cellular phones at the time.

“Teaching kids to enjoy the outdoors and learn about the natural environment in a very hands-on and engaging manner is an especially important goal of education. Environmental education offers a way for today’s youth to be tomorrow’s leaders with a greater appreciation of the importance for protecting the environment.”

 

After working for 23 years in Information Technology indoors with adults, Andrea retired and decided to find a volunteer role working outdoors with children.  Andrea became a Naturalist Assistant for DEC in 2012, which lead to her joining the family of Guided School Program Instructors in 2013.  Andrea’s enthusiasm for Five Rivers grew.  She enjoys seeing children and families learn about nature. Thereafter, Andrea also became a Friends Greeter.   When word went out that the Friends were looking for new board members, it seemed a natural step for Andrea to be a part of the leadership for the organization.

“Environmental education is critical if we are going to continue to have clean air, water and places to enjoy nature.  Future generations must learn to love the outdoors as children, so that they need to protect our environment when they become working, voting adults.”

 

“I learned of the existence of Five Rivers in 1978 from neighbor Gardiner Bump, who had been one of the founders of what now is Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.  Through the years it has served my family as a destination for walking, hiking and skiing. It was a place for peace and contemplation and a paradise for us beginning birders. After years of valuing the land, I learned of the work of the Friends. The thought of children being introduced to the wonders of nature and the paths that an early encounter would open up for them, compelled me to support Friends first with membership and now with a role on the board.  What is experienced early in life leads to values that will be critical for the individual’s care and concern for the natural world. I want to be part of that process.”

Paula has served as trustee for the Bethlehem Public Library; her life’s work has been with international students in area colleges and with immigrants at Catholic Charities of Albany.

 

Dan Berry, a Board member since 2011, has been coming to Five Rivers with his wife, two sons, and grandchildren since moving to Delmar in 1978. As a Board member, he has worked to maintain financial support for the Friends’ environmental education programs and to preserve and protect Five Rivers from the impact of development of neighboring properties. Dan retired from state service in 2012 having worked in several state agencies during his career in government finance and operations. Since 2012, he has worked as a consultant to private and governmental organizations on a variety of initiatives.

“One of the best things about the Friends is a commitment to providing opportunities for children and adults to engage in meaningful contact with the natural world, which is unfortunately too often lacking in today’s digital society. Our instructors and programs are consistently recognized and respected for their success in fostering in children a deeper appreciation and wonder at nature that hopefully stays with them throughout their lives.”

 

Barbara Coon, a retired registered nurse educator has supported Five Rivers since moving to area in 1968. Barbara feels very strongly that environmental education is important to her community.

“It is imperative that we teach children to value nature if we are to leave our planet sustainable for future generations.”

 

As a child Miles spent ample time outdoors hiking, biking and backpacking. He believes this led to majoring in Biology at SUNY Oswego. Then thereafter he worked in a laboratory while attending SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, earning a Masters degree in Environmental Education. Miles taught Biology and History in Niskayuna where his students studied botany, plant succession, bird and mammals, microbiology, human biology and entomology. Miles has served on the board of Friends of Fiver Rivers for nine years and volunteered to work with school children and adults. Miles is also a volunteer with the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy and Friends of the Rail Trail.  Miles has been walking and skiing the trails at Five Rivers since 1975.  His fondest memories are taking his young daughters on hikes and discovering surprises along the trails and working with school children at the ponds and along the Vlomankill stream.

“With so many threats to so many different natural areas it is essential for us to do more than educate people about the world that supports them.   People must experience nature every day and work to conserve their corner of the planet.”

 

​Bob believes that attention to our environment is a responsibility for each of us. In his retirement, he has had the opportunity to be an instructor with the Guided School Program. It is his hope that during the twenty years as an instructor that the next generation of leaders will be inspired to share in the same responsibility. As a board member Bob continues to help foster the mission of the organization.

 

​Dr. Stephanie Maes is an Assistant in Higher Education at the New York State Education Department. Prior to joining the Department she was an Assistant Professor of Geology at the College of Saint Rose. For 10 years she taught course in Geology, Environmental Science, Physics, as well as Science for Elementary Education majors. The Vloman Kill at Five Rivers played an integral role in many of her courses; helping the students better understand the geology, ecology, and invertebrate biology they learned about in the classroom by presenting them with hands-on experiences. Dr. Maes continues to share her love of Five Rivers and environmental education with her family. She and her husband, Anthony, and sons, Jacob and Lucas, are frequent visitors to Five Rivers.

 

Laurence “Larry” Naviasky resides in Delmar and is a local attorney. His concern for the environment and environmental education dates back to his days at Union College where he chaired the Student Environmental Alliance. As a political science major, he focused on environmental policy-making, writing his senior thesis on the 1970 Clean Air Act. His first “real” job and before entering law school, was as a research assistant with Inform. This not-for-profit environmental research group is where Larry studied and wrote about business practices and their impact on the environment and workers’ health and safety.

His love for Five Rivers grew from numerous visits to the Center with his three, now grown boys, Jake, Gabe and Ethan. Larry believes the mission of Friends of Five Rivers is imperative.

“Environmental education of our children is essential to their understanding of how mankind’s conduct impacts our water, air and earth.”

 

Reid Prinzo is a Delmar native who returned home after spending 15 years in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in Glenmont and attended Bethlehem Central High School, graduating in 2003. Afterwards, he attended Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Reid then spent 12 years working in the Financial Services Industry in Boston, most notably spending 10 years at America’s Oldest Mutual Fund Company, MFS Investment Management. He is now a Financial Advisor at Bryant Asset Management in Slingerlands. Reid is passionate about his family, travel, golf, music, and his Wheaten Terrier puppy named Birdie. He is also an outdoors lover and appreciates the beauty of the four seasons of Upstate New York.

Reid was drawn to Five Rivers from his fond memories of the facilities as a child. Along with his younger brother Ryan, Reid spent many happy summer days at Five Rivers in his youth and he loved attending the “Bat Barn” tours in the fall. He is excited to be on the Board in order to help shape the direction of Five Rivers for future generations. Reid understands that our planet is currently facing an environmental crisis and the education that Friends of Five Rivers provides is essential to fixing this problem. In his professional life, Reid helps his clients align their moral values with their investment goals, by helping them access Socially Responsible Investment strategies that focus on companies that have a positive environmental impact.

 

William (Chip) Reynolds has more than forty years of experience managing non-profit and political organizations, which developed public relations and educational campaigns primarily focused on science and environmental issues.  He and his family live in Selkirk, and his (now adult) children cut their outdoor teeth with many visits to Five Rivers twenty years ago.

“Any walk in the wilds can be special.  But a walk with a naturalist/educator, who can illustrate the complex patterns and interactions of plants and animals in nature, heightens our appreciation of the world, and the importance of wilderness in maintaining a healthy society. And the younger one is when first getting this exposure, the better.” 

 

Mary Louise Stanford was born and raised in the Beverwyck neighborhood of Albany, and has lived in Old Delmar for more than 30 years. She earned a degree in Chemistry, aiming for a career in the environmental area but instead became a bench chemist at the Rohm and Haas research and development center near Philadelphia. After returning to the Capital region, she attended Albany Law School and then became a patent attorney at a local law firm. She is currently in-house counsel at GE Research in Niskayuna, still practicing patent law. She is the mother of two adult sons who spent many happy hours at Five Rivers in all seasons, hiking in spring, summer and fall, and skiing in winter.

“I would like to be a Friends of Five Rivers Board member because I want to give back to Five Rivers in gratitude for all that it’s given to me, to protect and preserve it and to share it with others who haven’t experienced it yet. Environmental education is important because everyone should have the opportunity to experience nature firsthand, but many do not. Educational programs at Five Rivers are a way to connect children and adults with nature.”