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Nature hikes, programs for bird-lovers and an environmental teacher training session are among the autumnal events slated at SUNY Oswego’s Rice Creek Field Station.
A series of naturalist-led Rice Creek Rambles — walks introducing participants to the fall sights and sounds of the station — will start at 1 p.m. on eight Saturdays: Sept. 6, 20 and 27; Oct. 4 and 18; Nov. 1 and 15; and Dec. 6. Attendees are asked to call on the morning of the hike to check trail conditions. An adult must accompany children for this admission-free program.
“Below Zero” will show educators how to present hands-on winter activities introducing children to the environment. Rice Creek’s Dr. Diann Jackson will lead this workshop for K-12 teachers, home-school educators and youth leaders from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Attendees will receive an educational activity book and other environmental education materials from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Teachers can check with their districts about receiving in-service credit for the “Below Zero” workshop. The program is free, but pre-registration is required before Sept. 5.
The Onondaga Audubon Society will join with the Rice Creek Field Station for a special public program on “Spruce Grouse in the Adirondacks” at the station at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. Wildlife biologist Angie Ross will discuss population trends of this endangered species in a free program.
“FeederWatch,” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, invites interested citizen scientists to learn more about identifying birds and participating in a winter bird-surveying project. Jackson and Onondaga Audubon Society President Gerry Smith will discuss identification techniques and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s annual survey of birds visiting feeders during the winter. There is no fee for this all-ages presentation, though pre-registration is required before Oct. 16.
Program size is limited for most events. For additional information on any program or to make reservations, call 312-7961.
Rice Creek Field Station includes the 26-acre Rice Pond surrounded by 400 acres of land ranging from open fields to forests. The research building is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Trails are open every day from dawn to dusk.
The field station accommodates the general public and serves as a center for college courses and research. It is located on Thompson Road in the town of Oswego, a quarter-mile south of Route 104 and the main SUNY Oswego campus. For information, visit www.oswego.edu/ricecreek.
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