Rye Nature Center: Family Outing

Rye Nature Center protects natural resources and promotes environmental education and stewardship within its urban forest, wildlife sanctuary, and surrounding community. The independent, nonprofit organization offers exciting programs for kids and adults of all ages and abilities.
     

Year-Round Fun at Rye Nature Center

There’s so much to explore at Rye Nature Center. See honeybees in action by viewing the traditional and observational hives.

Nature’s Playground features natural elements, such as tree stumps. And there’s also a new Con Edison STEM Challenge Course.

Nanderwhere Pond, one of the center’s favorite teaching sites, is full of natural beauty year-round. Families can take a hike along the surrounding trail, or any of the 47 acres of forest trails.

Explorers of all ages can go hunting for rocks and minerals at the Old Quarry.

Weekly ecology classes allow elementary school kids to get outdoors and learn. There are also mommy/daddy-and-me classes, along with public programs and festivals.
     

Annual Events at Rye Nature Center

Rye Nature Center’s summer day camp for preschool through 10th-grade students offers a hands-on approach to science and the environment.

Oktoberfest is an annual fundraiser with delicious food and fun activities.

Wilderness Encounters, an immersive outside program, challenges elementary school students to work together to explore the woodlands in the winter, spring, and fall.

The Forest Kindergarten program, also in the winter, spring, and fall, uses Swiss concepts and principles to encourage children to connect to the natural world.

Rye Nature Center offers a Preschool Ecology extended-day program, and its Forest Preschool program will be held five days a week, beginning in September 2017. Fifty percent of class time will be outside.

The annual Old-Fashioned Winter’s Afternoon features a log-sawing contest, nature crafts, hiking, pony rides, candy making, archery, and more.

See a tree being tapped, learn about the production of sap, and visit the Maple Sugar Shed to get a sneak peek at the maple sugaring process, typically held in late February.
     

Visiting Rye Nature Center

Address: Rye Nature Center, 873 Boston Post Road, Rye

Hours: Monday-Saturday, Visitor Center, Museum, and Office: 10am-4pm; Grounds, trails, and playgrounds: open daily from dawn to dusk

Admission: Free (membership required for special programs)

For more information: ryenaturecenter.org, [email protected], or 914-967-5150
     

Main image: As the temperature dips, Nanderwhere Pond is still as serene as ever.
All photos courtesy Rye Nature Center

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