Follensby Pilgrimage 2026

The Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, has created the Follensby Pilgrimage, a unique opportunity to visit and to reflect at the actual spot where Emerson camped, and to discover the profound natural beauty of this incredible place. Follensby Pond is a wilderness preserve that has been closed to the public for over 100 years, allowed to thrive as a natural ecosystem.

Facilitated by Rev. Wendy Bartel and Rev. Lynn Gardner, Co-ministers of UU Schenectady, the Pilgrimage will be a spiritual experience as part of being in a beautiful natural place. You will learn the history of this place, hear stories from Indigenous voices, and travel easily across these waters in a pontoon boat, viewing shores rarely seen by other humans.

Please fill out this form and hit submit and someone from the planning sub-team will contact you.
We are so glad you are interested in the Follensby Pilgrimage for August 2026!

Please fill out the following fields as best you can. Someone from the planning sub-team will contact you with any questions or concerns and/or to confirm receipt of your registration form. A deposit of 30% will then be required in order to truly reserve your spot. Room availability is on a first come first serve basis both with this request application and the deposit. 

There are two options for this year’s schedule. Please choose which one you are registering for and whether or not you are available for the other one if someone else has registered before you. Please indicate room preferences/needs in the same way. We are so looking forward to sharing this experience!

Primary applicant
 
 
 
 
 
 
Second applicant (If you are applying for Room 2 as single occupancy, please enter your name/info again)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emergency contact of someone not attending
 
 
Tell Us a Bit About You
 
 
Selections
Which Pilgrimage are you registering for? There are two different groups. Please mark first choice, second choice, and/or unavailable as appropriate to your schedule.
Please select one option.
Please select one option.

There are different types of rooms available in the Lodge where participants will be staying, sharing the house together, with a few folks from the UU Schenectady congregation present to prepare meals and/or lead programs and spiritual/connective programming. Rooms 1 & 2 are on the main floor of the Lodge at street level. Rooms 3 & 4 require going down stairs.


Room Descriptions &  Price per person, double occupancy*
Room 1: Street level, king bed with private bathroom = $ 1,595
Room 2: Street level, king bed, with semi-private bathroom = $1,545
Room 3: Lower level, king bed, plus twin bunk beds, bathroom shared with room 4 = $1,425 plus $1,120 per additional person in bunk beds*
Room 4: Lower level, queen bed, plus twin bunk beds, bathroom shared with room 3 = $1,425 plus $1,120 per additional person in bunk beds*

There are four different room options as noted above. Please mark first choice, second choice, third choice, fourth choice, and/or unavailable as appropriate to your family configuration and preferences.
Please select one option.
Please select one option.
Please select one option.
Please select one option.
Please select one option.
 
 
Please select one option.
After you have applied
A member of our planning sub-team will reach out to you with any questions or concerns and clarify which pilgrimage and which room(s) you will be assigned. Once the registration application has been approved, a 30% down payment will be expected within a week of confirmation. You are not officially registered until we approve your registration and receive your down payment so please don’t delay! We want you to get to do this lovely adventure.
As a covenantal faith, we start by taking responsibility for ourselves and caring for others. In the event that something unforeseen happens, let us agree to work together to do what we can to figure out a way forward. If something goes wrong, let us all agree to work to make it right. By submitting this registration form, you are agreeing to abide by the values of our UU faith and the covenant we will affirm onsite.

Description

The Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, has created the Follensby Pilgrimage, a unique opportunity to visit and to reflect at the actual spot where Emerson camped, and to discover the profound natural beauty of this incredible place. Follensby Pond is a wilderness preserve that has been closed to the public for over 100 years, allowed to thrive as a natural ecosystem.

Facilitated by Rev. Wendy Bartel and Rev. Lynn Gardner, Co-ministers of UU Schenectady, the Pilgrimage will be a spiritual experience as part of being in a beautiful natural place. You will learn the history of this place, hear stories from Indigenous voices, and travel easily across these waters in a pontoon boat, viewing shores rarely seen by other humans.

Please fill out this form and hit submit and someone from the planning sub-team will contact you.