OSWEGO -- Nature hikes, following frogs, creativity
activities and a bird-watching tour are among the summer activities
scheduled at SUNY Oswego's Rice Creek Field Station.
From 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 5, "Frolicking
with Frogs" will introduce children and adults to the abundance of
amphibians at Rice Creek Field Station. A walk led by Pat Carney will
explore the habitats and habits of local frogs in the woods and on the
water. Participants in this indoor and outdoor program should wear old
clothes, sneakers or water boots and insect repellant. There is a $5
program fee, and reservations are required before May 26.
A series of naturalist-led Rice Creek Rambles --
hikes alongside the birds, buds and creatures of the station -- will
start at 11 a.m. on five Saturdays: June 12 and 26, July 17 and 31 and
Aug. 7. Participants should call the morning of the hike to check trail
conditions. An adult must accompany children for these admission-free
hikes.
Area artist Mary Pierce will lead a printmaking
program at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 16. This program, geared toward
adults, will show participants how to create one-of-a-kind prints
without a press. Materials will be provided, although those who own a
rolling pin may want to bring it. Participation fee is $10, with
registration required before June 1.
"Project Wild: Science and Civics," from 10 a.m. to
2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 24, will familiarize teachers and youth
leaders with activities and lessons that can get students involved in
environmental action projects. Designed especially for teams of
secondary science and social studies teachers, this session takes an
interdisciplinary approach the environment, research and community
interaction. A curriculum guide and other educational materials from
the state's Department of Environmental Conservation will be provided.
There is no fee for the program, but pre-registration is required
before July 9.
Feathered friends of the field will be the focus of
"Late Summer Birds at Rice Creek" at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15.
Ornithologist Gerry Smith will lead a tour showcasing late-summer
residents and early-autumn migratory birds. Smith also will discuss the
importance of wild areas in helping summer birds prepare for migration
and the change of season. An adult must accompany any children under
age 12. Pre-registration is required before Aug. 1, and there is a $5
program fee.
For additional information on any of these programs
or to make reservations, call 312-7961. Program sizes are limited, so
early registration is strongly encouraged for the special sessions.
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, with exhibits and an indoor viewing
gallery, is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. Trails are open every day for hiking and biking 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, a quarter-mile south of State Route 104, just west of
the main SUNY Oswego entrance.