Day After Thanksgiving “Walk it Off Walk”– Cosponsored by Southampton Trails Preservation Society & Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
Walk Leader: Dai Dayton, President, Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt; Secretary, Southampton Trails Preservation Society
Want to get out for a moderately fast-paced hike to shed that Thanksgiving stuffing? Here’s an opportunity to incorporate amazing views of Round Pond, Long Pond, and Little Long Pond ─ a few of the treasures of the Long Pond Greenbelt ─ as you exercise to lose those extra pounds.
This program is for all ages.
Please note that, as mandated by the latest State Executive Order regarding COVID-19 safety precautions, our outdoor nature walks and programs will at all times follow stringent six-feet distancing separation protocols required by the Department of Health for the safety of our participants and environmental educators. We will provide masks and gloves for all attendees.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, which has limited enrollment please contact Dai Dayton 631-745-0689. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
SOFO’s Annual Thanksgiving Celebration – Outdoor Nature Walks with SOFO Environmental Educators
We’ll stay close to home and enjoy the blessings of nature in our own backyard, Vineyard Field. For us at SOFO Thanksgiving takes place every day as we give thanks for, and celebrate, the wonders of the natural world. Our mission – to stimulate interest in, advance knowledge of, and foster appreciation for the natural world – is a way of life for all of us here at SOFO. We hope that by continuing or mission now, and in the future we can inspire all those we meet to value the wonders of nature that surround us and of which we are a part.
These nature walks are for all ages.
Please note that, as mandated by the latest State Executive Order regarding COVID-19 safety precautions, our outdoor nature walks and programs will at all times follow stringent six-feet distancing separation protocols required by the Department of Health for the safety of our participants and environmental educators. We will provide masks and gloves for all attendees.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, which has limited enrollment please contact us at info@sofo.org or call 631-537-9735. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
SOFO’s Young Environmentalist Society (YES!): Ages 10-16
Club Leader: Mare Dianora, an educator and the mother of two young sons, is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice involves building community and exploring connections to home and place.
The mission of SOFO’s new Young Environmentalists Society, known as YES!, for ages 10 to 16, is to engage young minds in developing a fuller awareness and understanding of the current state of our environment. The group works together and, through experience-based learning, place-based learning, critical thinking processes, and local activism, develops strategies for individuals and the community that are designed to shape how we live on this planet now and in the future.
The Club meets the last Saturday of each month, from 10am to 11:30am. This is a free program, thanks to the generosity of a foundation which prefers to remain anonymous. There is bilingual support for Spanish speaking participants.
Please note that, as mandated by the latest State Executive Order regarding COVID-19 safety precautions, our outdoor nature walks and programs are limited to a maximum of 25 people which includes our staff. SOFO will at all times follow stringent six-feet distancing separation protocols required by the Department of Health for the safety of our participants and environmental educators. We will provide masks and gloves for all attendees.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, which is limited to 25 people please contact us at info@sofo.org. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and we will confirm your reservation by email.
Owls by the Light of the Moon ─ Annual Foray with Joe Giunta
Walk Leader: Frank Quevedo, SOFO Executive Director
(Joe Guinta was originally scheduled to lead this program but cannot. Joe Giunta, birding instructor for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; trip leader for New York City Audubon; lecturer for many local chapters; and owner of Happy Warblers LLC, a birding and educational travel company)
Listen for the whinnying sound of the Eastern Screech Owl or maybe even the seven-note hoot of the Great Horned Owl on this nighttime owl prowl that marks the beginning of our owls’ courtship season. Frank, an expert birder, will present a brief slide show and then take you into the field to call owls in for actual sightings. Bring binoculars and a flashlight. Limited enrollment. This program is for adults.
There is a $5 fee for Adults and $3 fee for children for this program. Members are free.
Please note that, as mandated by the latest State Executive Order regarding COVID-19 safety precautions, our outdoor nature walks and programs will at all times follow stringent six-feet distancing separation protocols required by the Department of Health for the safety of our participants and environmental educators. We will provide masks and gloves for all attendees.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, which has limited enrollment please contact us at info@sofo.org or call 631-537-9735. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Full Frost Moon Hike Cosponsored with Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
Hike Leader: SOFO Environmental Educator
The Frost Moon is also known as the Full Beaver Moon. For Native Americans, this was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Join us for this leisurely paced, one-hour hike in Vineyard Field, the field behind SOFO, and afterward for some convivial conversation and refreshments in the moonshine.
This program is for all ages.
Please note that, as mandated by the latest State Executive Order regarding COVID-19 safety precautions, our outdoor nature walks and programs will at all times follow stringent six-feet distancing separation protocols required by the Department of Health for the safety of our participants and environmental educators. We will provide masks and gloves for all attendees.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, which has limited enrollment please contact greenbeltnews@aol.com. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Hamptons Observatory: The Great Conjunction & Other Celestial Events
Program Leaders: Hamptons Observatory Astronomers
Every twenty years, the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn meet each other in the night sky as they both cycle their way slowly through the zodiac. This year, however, the pair will meet in the closest conjunction in approximately 400 years, merging almost into a single point in the evening sky of the winter solstice. You won’t want to miss this sight, nor the other splendid opportunities for winter stargazing, from Orion’s brilliant nebula to the Geminid meteor shower. Hamptons Observatory will guide you through the celestial calendar and help you choose the best nights to step outdoors in your warmest winter outfit. Learn more about upcoming events at www.HamptonsObservatory.org
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, please register here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEvceqvrzgjGddUicZ_ktZHurf6RmRLZiHQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Birding with Frank: Winter Birding by Car ─ Using the SOFO Map and Guide
Walk Leader: Walk Leader: Frank Quevedo, SOFO Executive Director
On this adventure with Frank using SOFO’s Winter Birding by Car publication you’ll combine comfort along with birding. This map and guide (its entire length includes the area from the Shinnecock Canal to Montauk) is designed to steer you to some of the more productive and accessible birding locations available by vehicle. At each of the stops on the map there is a list of highlighted bird species, including those that have occurred previously in the area and which you have a good chance of seeing. On this trip Frank you will cover the area around Shinnecock Bay. The map and guide is to be used in conjunction with SOFO’s Birds of the South Fork checklist, which contains information about the relative abundance of Long Island’s bird species throughout the year. The map, guide, and checklist are free to SOFO members. There is a charge of $5 for non-members. This program is for adults, teens, and children age 8 and older.
Please note that, as mandated by the latest State Executive Order regarding COVID-19 safety precautions, our outdoor nature walks and programs will at all times follow stringent six-feet distancing separation protocols required by the Department of Health for the safety of our participants and environmental educators. We will provide masks and gloves for all attendees.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, which has limited enrollment please contact us at info@sofo.org or call 631-537-9735. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Exploring Sharks Through Their Form and Function, with Greg Metzger
Presenter: Greg Metzger, Field Coordinator, SOFO Shark Research and Education Program
This presentation will teach participants about the similarities and difference among a wide range of sharks found in the North Atlantic. You’ll have an opportunity to see, up-close, various jaws, skin samples, and shark fins. This program is ideal for shark enthusiasts as well as anyone else interested in marine animals or the sea.
This program is for all ages.
There is a $5 fee for Adults and $3 fee for children for this program. Members are free.
Please note that, as mandated by the latest State Executive Order regarding COVID-19 safety precautions, our outdoor nature walks and programs will at all times follow stringent six-feet distancing separation protocols required by the Department of Health for the safety of our participants and environmental educators. We will provide masks and gloves for all attendees.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, which has limited enrollment please contact us at info@sofo.org or call 631-537-9735. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hiking Hither Hills State Park
Hike Leader: Paul King III, SOFO Environmental Educator
Located just west of Montauk, Hither Woods Preserve is one of Long Island’s hidden gems. Its acres and acres of forest, lined with pristine beaches, make it a fantastic refuge for all sorts of plants and animals. It is also home to fascinating historic sites that give great insight into the history of the South Fork. Come hiking with us through this fantastic Long Island preserve.
This program is for adults, teens, and children age 12.
There is a $5 fee for Adults and $3 fee for children for this program. Members are free.
Please note that, as mandated by the latest State Executive Order regarding COVID-19 safety precautions, our outdoor nature walks and programs will at all times follow stringent six-feet distancing separation protocols required by the Department of Health for the safety of our participants and environmental educators. We will provide masks and gloves for all attendees.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, which has limited enrollment please contact us at info@sofo.org or call 631-537-9735. Spots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
HORSESHOE CRAB CONNECTIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MEDICAL USE OF HORSESHOE CRAB BLOOD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC VACINES
Program Leaders: Dr. John T. Tanacredi, Center for Environmental Research and Coastal Oceans Monitoring (CERCOM), Molloy College
The Horseshoe Crab’s blue blood provides the only known natural source of an endotoxin detecting chemical called Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) that has long been used in every laboratory around the world to test for bacterial contamination in human medicines. LAL is now even more important as an aid to combating the Covid-19 pandemic with the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Tanacredi will discuss the importance of LAL in the medical field as well as the significant need for conservation of horseshoe crabs ecologically because of their connection to migrating birds. Their protein rich eggs support millions of migrating shorebirds as they journey from as far away as South America to their arctic breeding sites, each year. There are only four species of horseshoe Crabs on earth and they are all significantly endangered. As a group, Limulus has been Red listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as threatened. In addition, their current popularity as an exotic food may finally push these animals over the brink to extinction. Join Dr. John Tanacredi in this SOFO Zoom presentation to hear more about the links between this ancient animal and humans.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, please register here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAlceyvrD0qE9QbSJW5oT_NTknPUFSMwbqs
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.