Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Rye NY

We are merely stewards of the land. HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Come check out our newly dedicated boardwalk (landscaping is coming!)! We are honored to recognize Ralph and Paddy VELLONE for their many years at the sanctuary - serving on the board, volunteering, recruiting new support, and offering a cheery smile and a story for anyone around! Thank You Vellones!

We LOVE our BEES! Like the rest of us, the queen bee spent her winter at the sanctuary this year. Our beekeeper recently made the bees happy by cleaning out the wax build up inside their hive. The appreciative bees have been quite active, collecting pollen and egg laying. Thank you, Giovanni! And, thank you @Kathy_Lebron_Photography for the up close photo of the bees entering the hive!

What price for beauty? Safety. Photo by Brian Jackson. Thanks, Brian!

Thanks to those volunteers who participated and to those visitors who simply pick up litter whenever they see it, just because. We are indebted to you all! Another clean up is happening THIS WEDNESDAY 3-6PM! Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/invasive-plant-removal-at-edit

ONE WEEK LEFT TO ENTER! Show us your favorite outdoor sanctuary in Rye and enter our Seek Sanctuary Art Contest. Is it Edith Read? Is it the Rye Nature Center? Your backyard? Wherever you find respite, we want to see it in sculpture, drawing, painting, video...whatever suits your style! Cash prizes. Deadline to enter is 10/30. Details on our website. We can't wait to see your creations!

Pitch in for Parks! Help us clean up the Sanctuary by volunteering to Pitch in for Parks. October 17, starting at 10AM. Please register. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/westchester-parks-foundation-7

Two upcoming VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES at Edith Read! Help clean up and remove invasive plants on Oct. 17 and/or Oct. 28. Be sure to register!

A few spots available for our program series: Mindfulness and Meditation in Nature. Saturdays, 10AM to noon. Remaining dates are Oct. 17, 24, 31 and Nov. 7. REGISTER TODAY by calling (914) 967-8720. Program fee is pro-rated. ($80 for all 4 Saturdays.) (Leave your name, phone number and email address and someone will call you to register.)... In this 5-part program series, you will learn techniques to release stress through a variety of exercises and activities using nature as a peaceful backdrop. We will be using an approach that includes nature observation, tracking and awareness exercises, sketching, simple breathing and movement exercises, journaling and short meditations. (Photo by Mary Oliansky)

Mindfulness and Meditations in Nature Starting this Saturday, 10AM-Noon -- Join our curator for this 5-Saturday series. Pre-registration required. $100 total for all 5-sessions. Limited to the first 10 people who sign up, so REGISTER NOW! https://sales.westchestergov.com//webtrac.w/wbsearch.html The soothing and healing qualities of nature are well known, and will help us immensely as we practice acknowledging and releasing stress from our body, mind, spirit and emoti...ons. We will do this through a variety of exercises and activities that open our awareness of nature and ourselves. These will include nature observation, tracking and awareness exercises, sketching, simple breathing and movement exercises, journaling, and short meditations while we explore the nature of the sanctuary in autumn. This means that we will be touching nature, sitting on the ground at times, and using our senses to embrace the beauty and energies of nature. Join us! *Please note: the registration page is set up for a children’s "Nature Camp", but do not let that confuse you. Simply click the shopping cart, then "Enroll Now", and register yourself as Guardian. We will be sure to send confirmation to all registrants.

We invite you to join our Seek Sanctuary Art Contest! In recent months, we have all discovered a new (or renewed) appreciation for nature and community. Artists of all ages are invited to share their artistic view of an outdoor sanctuary within the City of Rye inspired by nature. Photos, paintings and videos must be within the boundaries of the City of Rye, including but not limited to the outdoor green spaces of our sponsors and partners, listed below. Deadline to submit is ...Friday, Oct. 30 Winners will be announced on Saturday, Nov. 14 Prizes will be awarded in each category: $200 First Place $100 Runner Up Visit our website to submit your art and learn details. Sponsors: Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary, The Rye Arts Center, and Westchester Children’s Museum Partners: Big Picture Foundation, Bird Homestead & Meeting House, Disbrow Park, Marshlands Conservancy, Playland Park and Beach, Rye Free Reading Room, Rye Historical Society, Rye Nature Center, Rye Town Park, and the Village Green

New bike rack! Now bikers entering the sanctuary via the Manursing Way entrance have a place to park their bicycles. A new sign on the tree reminds visitors that there is no bike riding on the trails. Paid for by the Friends of Read. Your membership dollars at work!

HAPPY LABOR DAY! As we pay tribute nationally to the contributions made by American workers, the Friends of Read Sanctuary would like to acknowledge our tireless curator, the companies who help us (like the men rebuilding our boardwalk), and our countless volunteers. Thank you, Michael and everyone. Your labor is appreciated by us all!

Friends of Read Members - Don't be confused by this new parking attendant building. Our membership card scanner is still on the white post just shy of it. Members can still use this left lane to enter the sanctuary!

Westchester Parks Foundation volunteers at the sanctuary yesterday. We were removing invasive plants from the upper salt marsh along the lake. 32 bags worth of plants removed. A lot more work is needed, but a really good effort put in by volunteers. Thank you!