There is nothing quite like a day out in nature to bring people together, and our recent trip to Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, NY was one for the books!

Supported individuals and dedicated staff members from both our Community Living and College2Life programs gathered from all corners of the Capital Region for a day of adventure. It was a fantastic opportunity to step out into the sunshine, connect with old friends, make new ones, and experience some unforgettable hands-on moments with wildlife.

From the moment they arrived, the excitement was contagious. Everyone spent the day exploring the park, hand-feeding goats, admiring the alpacas, hanging out near the capybaras by the water, and even getting eye-to-eye with the famous giraffes. Watching these gentle giants stretch down to greet visitors up close was an absolute highlight!

After walking the grounds, we loaded up for the Animal Safari drive-thru, and that’s where the real chaos of fun began. Curiosity got the best of the free-roaming animals, who wasted no time walking right up to the vehicles to inspect their visitors. The close encounters brought endless laughs, wide smiles, and plenty of picture-perfect memories.

Beyond the feeding buckets and animal encounters, the best part of the day was seeing everyone build community, share laughs, and enjoy a vibrant day out together. Thank you to all the staff who helped organize and support this adventure, and to everyone who came out to make it such a memorable day!

A photo collage showing a group outing to a zoo or animal park, featuring six panel images: Top Left: A smiling man in sunglasses and a black shirt leans against a wooden railing overlooking a grassy enclosure where a capybara grazes near a pond. Top Right: Two men pose under a shaded pavilion with a giraffe peeking into the frame behind them. Middle Right: A man reaches over a wooden fence to gently pet a donkey on the head. Bottom Left: Three men stand together in front of a wooden fence enclosure. Bottom Middle: A group poses together outside around a large, dark bear statue. Bottom Right: Three men smile for a close-up group photo on a bright, sunny day with a pond in the background.