Foster ecological literacy and land stewardship by promoting experiential environmental education, supporting the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center's programs and protecting the natural resources at and around the Center through financial and volunteer support. Rensselaer County and the Friends of Dyken Pond collaborate to interpret the natural communities of plants and animals found at this special place called Dyken Pond.We are located in Grafton, New York in the midst of the Rensselaer Plateau, an area of high elevation and New York's fifth largest unfragmented forest. Thirty-three ecological communities are found on the property, ranging from beech-maple forests to spruce-fir swamps and vernal pools. This variety offers visitors an exciting blend of places to explore and enjoy.We also serve as a low-use recreational area. Open during daylight hours, the park features over 6 miles of trails for hiking, bird watching and nature photography, with a launch for non-motorized boats, and areas on the shoreline for great fishing. Four short trails are self-guiding, allowing you to learn of our plants and animals at your own pace. Dyken Pond is the principal headwaters of the Poesten Kill, and the largest lake on the Rensselaer Plateau.