Andy Flynn (right), Senior Public Information Specialist for the VIC and Rob Grant Pres. of Adirondacks.com

The New York State Adirondack Park Agency operates the Visitor Interpretive Centers in Paul Smiths and Newcomb.Open year-round, the facilities serve the 6 million-acre Park as environmental education and traveler orientation centers.

EVENTS

Visitors Interpretive Centers


Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Centers
Paul Smith's
Newcomb

Newcomb Visitor Interpretive Center

Paul Smiths VIC
 

The Paul Smiths and Newcomb centers were opened in 1989 and 1990,
respectively, and have served more than a million people.

Newcomb VIC
 

Interpretive Trails

Both facilities offer miles of scenic, surfaced trails that feature signage explaining the local ecology. Winter in Paul Smiths sees the system adapted for cross-country skiing, while the Newcomb Center loans snowshoes to winter visitors who wish to explore trails there.

Forest Ecosystem Trail, Paul Smiths VIC
 

Exhibits

Indoor exhibits on natural history are complemented by regular showings of
multi-image presentations on the park. Youngsters will find "touch tables,"
games and puzzles to spark their interest in the regions's animals, insects and plants.

Touch Table, Paul Smiths VIC
 

Butterfly House

The country's first Native Species Butterfly House reopens every June at the
VIC at Paul Smiths. Observe butterflies in all stages of development as well as
their larval food and nectar plants from 10 am to 4 pm through Labor Day.

Butterfly House, Paul Smiths VIC
 

Public Programs

From lectures on bear behavior, orienteering classes, maple sugaring outings,
and packbasket weaving workshops, the Interpretive Centers offer more than
150 public programs annually, many of them free. Summers at the Centers
feature regularly scheduled interpretive trail walks, the Junior Naturalists series,
astronomy classes, evening explorations at Newcomb and live birds of prey
sessions at Paul Smiths and Newcomb.

VIC Naturalist Rynda McCray with an owl, Newcomb VIC
 

Environmental Education

Environmental education is a priority at the Interpretive Centers.
With the support of a private, non-profit organization called the
Adirondack Park Institute Inc., the two facilities sponsor the
Hudson Headwaters River Watch, a wide variety of on-site and
off-site school programs and Stalking Science Teacher Training Workshops.
Classes from throughout the northeast have participated in the residential
education program titled "Life in the Woods," co-sponsored by the
Newcomb Center, the State College of Environmental Science and
Forestry and the Adirondack Museum.

Life in the Woods with Ellen Rathbone, Newcomb VIC

Visitor Information

Friendly staff and volunteers knowledgeable about the Adirondack Park
are eager to help visitors find places to stay, eat and enjoy all the Park
has to offer ó recreational activities such as skiing, canoeing and hiking,
museums and other attractions, concerts and plays and annual events
such as the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.

Volunteer Harriet McClure helps a visitor find Elk Lake.

Both centers are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm year round,
except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is free.
The center in Paul Smiths is on Route 30, 12 miles north
of Saranac Lake, phone: 518-327-3000; the center in
Newcomb is located on Route 28N, 14 miles east
of Long Lake, phone: 518-582-2000.

To visit the Paul Smiths and Newcomb Visitor Interpretive Center's website: click here

Questions?

For more information, e-mail the Adirondack Park
Visitor Interpretive Centers at adkvicpr@yahoo.com.