The Wild Center

05/28/2026

As part of Adirondack Black Birders Week events on Saturday, May 30, the Adirondack Diversity Initiative and John Brown Lives! will host a special speaking event featuring renowned ornithologist, naturalist, and author Dr. J. Drew Lanham at The Wild Center.

What: Adirondack Black Birders Celebration: A Conversation with Dr. J. Drew Lanham
When: Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Wild Center, Tupper Lake, New York
Cost: $10 suggested donation

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The lecture and conversation will take place from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a reception and book sale from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Dr. Lanham’s books available for purchase include The Home Place, Sparrow Envy, and Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves.

Learn more and register for this and other local Black Birders Week happenings at www.adirondack.org/events/black-birders-week-2026/

05/28/2026

The most observant troll of all — meet Sofus Lotus. 🍃

Sofus is an introverted type who pays great attention to the little things. He uses his ears to hear every little crackle, thud, and buzz. Time only exists as a source of light during the day, which changes the shadows of his surroundings. He was the first one to notice that something was wrong with the world, and that nature was changing its rhythm and ways for the worse. But he doesn’t make a fuss. He just listens, feels and is mindful of nature and all its beings.

Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans · Open June 1 – Oct 31. wildcenter.org/trolls

TROLLS: Save the Humans is produced by The Imagine Team.

05/27/2026

It’s one of our most favorite days of the year here at The Wild Center! 🦦

The Wild Center and the Adirondacks are home to 1 of 13 incredible otter species: The North American River Otter! As apex predators that play a crucial role in the food chain, these semi-aquatic mammals are known for their amazing swimming and hunting abilities. They can slow their heart rate to conserve oxygen underwater and can even swim up to 9 miles per hour!

Despite typically being solitary creatures in the wild, you’ll often find our otters here at The Wild Center swimming and playing with one another.

Pictured in order: Gary, Rohsno:re, Tawi:ne, and Scarlett

05/26/2026

Want more time with the trolls?
A membership to The Wild Center unlocks special opportunities to experience Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans exhibit beyond regular hours this summer.

✨ Troll Stroll Member Mornings
Select Saturdays in July & August | 8–10 am
Presented by Merrill L. Thomas Inc.

Enjoy quieter trails, extra time to explore, and special access.
Become a member and make this your wildest summer yet! wildcenter.org/membership

05/23/2026

Happy ! Turtles are critical members of our ecosystems, acting as insect population maintainers, seed dispersers, nutrient cyclers, and indicators of environmental health. This time of year, be on the lookout for turtles crossing the road. Many are looking to lay their eggs and may have to cross the same roads we drive on to get to a safe place to do so.

Come check out Greenleaf Pond and our exhibit hall to meet the turtles that call our campus home. We are officially open 7 days a week from 10am-5pm, so you’ll have many opportunities to visit! 🐢

05/23/2026

Thomas Dambo — the artist turning the world’s waste into wonder — is profiled in The New York Times today. His first New York installation opens June 1 at The Wild Center.

Six massive troll sculptures, hidden across our forest trails, each with their own name, personality, and story — all made from reclaimed wood and found materials. Come find them. WildCenter.org/trolls

Thomas Dambo built a global following by turning Denmark’s scrap into giant, hidden forest creatures. Now, the art world is finally letting him inside.

05/22/2026

Summer is here at The Wild Center! As we celebrate 20 years, we’re officially open daily from 10 am to 5 pm through October 31, with extended hours until 7 pm in July and August.

There’s no better time to explore — wander the trails, meet the animals, experience hands-on exhibits, visit the trolls (starting June 1), and enjoy an exciting lineup of summer events.

Plan your next adventure and spend your summer exploring with us at wildcenter.org

05/21/2026

The smallest troll with the mightiest voice — meet Ronja Redeye.

Ronja Redeye speaks from her heart and is really good with words. Although she is the smallest of the group that wants to save the humans, she has a mighty voice and is a natural leader. Carrying the gift of communication with her, she even knows how to speak words that humans understand, and she has translated the troll alphabet into the human ABC! When she thinks of a word to say, Ronja immediately senses echoes of rhymes and her mouth picks them like flowers from a field and shapes them into a poem, a song, a tale or a cheerful roaring through the forest. Although her words are always honest and straightforward, she speaks to them with compassion, because she knows that words have the power to make you smile, but they can also create great sadness. And, if there is one thing that can make Ronja’s eyes turn red it is the use of hurtful words getting in the way of friendship.

Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans · Open June 1 – Oct 31. wildcenter.org/trolls

TROLLS: Save the Humans is produced by The Imagine Team.

05/19/2026

The summer season is almost here at The Wild Center!

Starting this Friday, May 22, we’ll be open every day for the summer — with trail adventures, animal encounters, hands-on exhibits, and a full lineup of events all season long. Don’t miss Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans exhibit from June 1 to October 31.

Get ready for a summer of exploration. Learn more at wildcenter.org.

05/15/2026

Introducing the next troll, Kamma Can, who wants to teach us to look twice before we toss.

Kamma Can is a creator. Where humans see trash, she sees potential. Over the last years of human existence, the amount of colorful eternity material has increased rapidly. Kamma finds this new material rather beautiful, and she simply doesn’t understand why the humans just throw it away and leave it in the weirdest places. Kamma wants to teach the humans not to throw things away so fast. Being a creative spirit, she can think of a million ways to make nice things with all those beautiful colors. To see for yourself, just take a look at the amazing necklaces she created for herself and for her best friend, Ronja Redeye.

Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans · Open June 1 – Oct 31. wildcenter.org/trolls

TROLLS: Save the Humans is produced by The Imagine Team.