Rockefeller State Park Preserve

July 25 | 1:00 pm 2:00 pm | Horses in the Preserve Rockefeller is famous for its carriage roads and horses. This is a unique opportunity to meet one of our mounted guardians, Anne Sumers, and her mare, Shining Star. Learn all about horses and how to interact with them. You’ll also have the chance to pet and brush Shining Star, if you’d like. The Preserve is a paradise for horses and the people who ride them! Find out why. This program is suitable for all ages. Meet in the Visitor’s Center courtyard; we will walk down to the lake promptly at 1:00 pm to meet Anne and Shining Star. Cost: $3 Maximum: 25 Participants. SUBJECT TO NY STATE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS Please register for this event at https://rockefellerstateparkpreserve.eventbrite.com

July 22 | 9:00 am 10:30 am | JOIN OUR "TURTLES, SNAKES AND REPTILES IN THE PRESERVE" HIKE! Herpetofauna, more commonly known as reptiles and amphibians, are among the diverse wildlife that can be found in the Preserve by Swan Lake. Join our Naturalist, Joshua DiPaola, to learn more about the unique evolution of reptiles and amphibians, get a close-up look at some taxidermy, and then observe their habitats and try to spot some live animals during a field session around Swan... Lake. It is highly recommended you bring binoculars to spot animals from a distance. It is also worth noting that since we are looking for wildlife within their natural environments, there is always a chance that we may not be able to see them on a given day. This program is suitable for all ages; however, content will be geared towards educating those at an elementary and high school level. Individuals under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guardian 18 years or older (who must also register as a separate individual). Cost: $3 Maximum: 15 Participants. SUBJECT TO NY STATE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS. Face masks are required for the educational portion of the program while the group is in close proximity to each other. During the field session masks are encouraged but not required. Please register for this event at https://rockefellerstateparkpreserve.eventbrite.com See more

"Meet the Rockefeller Preserve Residents" series

July 10 | 9 am 10:30 am | Wildflowers in the Preserve Join our wildflower expert, Patty Butter, for a walk around Swan Lake and learn about the identification of early summer wildflowers and how you can contribute as a citizen scientist to increase our knowledge of the ecology of the Preserve. Dress for a moderate hike with sun protection and bring plenty of water. Bring a camera or cell phone to take pictures and add the iNaturalist app to your phone. Recommended text: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb. Cost: $3 Maximum: 12 Participants. SUBJECT TO NY STATE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS Please register for this event at https://rockefellerstateparkpreserve.eventbrite.com

From Park Manager Peter! Many of the carriage roads are icy and require spikes or grips on your shows to manage the carriage road conditions. In the next few day the snow and ice will be melting and the conditions are going to become very muddy. Please dress for the conditions.

STEWARDSHIP TEAM: Tuesday 9:00 - 11:30am meets every Tuesday. EVERYONE WELCOME! Some new projects we will be starting: 1) "Fisher Cam" Project to determine if this member of the weasel family is resident in the Preserve 2) Cavity Bird Boxes Project: We will be identifying dead standing trees 10-15 feet of trail for placement of for cavity bird boxes to provide housing to our feathered residents. Did you know that Rockefeller is an Audubon important bird location?... W are continuing work on the Deer enclosures and, as always, as weather permits, invasive control. PLEASE NOTE: Which projects we work on week to week is determined by weather conditions and other factors. EVERYONE WELCOME. JOIN US! Please register each week so we know how many to expect. (link below) The Rockefeller Stewardship Team meets every Tuesday. We come together to work on all kinds of projects at the Preserve, including habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring and trail clean up! There is always something different to work on whether it be removing invasive plant species to make room for natives to grow, maintaining existing native habitat, new plantings, or clearing debris from trails. Whatever the case may be, it is always better (and much more fun) to work in a group! Please Join us every Tuesday from 9:00am to 11:30am to help us with our land stewardship efforts! Please register: Max 5 people EVERYONE IS WELCOME!! Please be sure to wear suitable clothing (long pants are a must) for working outdoors. COVID RULES ARE STRICTLY FOLLOWED. PLEASE BRING FACE COVER Please sign up at: https://rockefellerstateparkpres

Visitors report seeing dead fish in Rockwood! What could it mean? Answer: most likely, some unlucky Osprey lost its dinner.... Photo: Guardian Melissa

March 6, 1:00 PM 3:00 PM | Coexisting with Coyotes WEBINAR Please join us for guest speaker Dana Goin’s discussion about coyotes, their history and ecology, and what we can do to best coexist with them. Highly adaptable, eastern coyotes have become exceptionally adept at living adjacent to humans, even going so far as to thrive in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and NYC. Join us to better understand the behaviors and benefits of the eastern coyote and how to empower o...ur community with the tools, information, and resources we require to coexist with this misunderstood predator. Dana Goin is the Wildlife Outreach Specialist at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY. She holds a degree in Wildlife Conservation, and has worked in various areas around the country studying large and mid-sized carnivores including mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, and raccoons. ------------------------------ Register at: https://bit.ly/3amW4ne Cost: FREE