Photo by: Tracy Brock
Program Presenter: Mike Bottini, wildlife biologist with Seatuck Environmental Association
Join us for this presentation on the natural history and ecology of the Eastern Coyote, including the fascinating story of how this wild canid got here on Long Island. We will also discuss the current research and findings of the Long Island Coyote Study Group.
There is a $15 fee for Adults and $10 fee for children for this program. Members are free.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. For more information, reservations, and directions to meeting places, please call: (631) 537-9735 or email info@sofo.org.
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. The date may change for this program. Please contact SOFO at (631) 537-9735 or info@sofo.org for up-to-the-minute information.
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.
Photo by: Judy Gallagher
Program Leader: Paul King III, SOFO Environmental Educator
While spiders are often used as Halloween decorations they aren’t always scary. Join Paul for a spider search to find some of our local beneficial spiders in Vineyard field. We will also get to meet our native Black Widow spider and investigate some common misconceptions that cause most people to fear them.
There is a $15 fee for Adults and $10 fee for children for this program. Members are free.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. For more information, reservations, and directions to meeting places, please call: (631) 537-9735 or email info@sofo.org.
Zoom Presentation: For Families & Friends! Foster Your Child’s Native Curiosity & Wonder About Nature for the Future of Our Planet ─ Storytelling, Art, and Nature Conservation: This program is for adults.
Program Presenters: Ingrid Simunic, PhD. and Andrea Vrabelova, ArtD.
Ingrid is a best-selling, Sag Harbor-based children’s book author. Andrea is a visual artist. These sisters credit their parents and experiences growing up for their love of stories, art, and nature. But are imagination and creative capacity infinite when cultivated from an early age? Can you build compassion, empathy, and a variety of practical skills by observing nature? The sisters’ mission aligns with that of SOFO – to stimulate interest in, advance knowledge of, and foster appreciation for the natural environment in people of all ages. Join Ingrid and Andrea in a stimulating discussion about encouraging a child’s innate curiosity and her or his creative capacity.
This is a free program.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. To register for this program, please register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvd-6oqDksGNMUD5-PTU_wkObY8YYdk0uc
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Photo by: Xylia Serafy
Walk Leader: Melanie Meade, SOFO Education & Outreach Coordinator
Experience nature’s palette of fall colors and wildlife at Mashomack Preserve. The Nature Conservancy’s Mashomack Preserve is one of the biggest and most spectacular nature preserves on Long Island. Its 2,039 acres protect a huge variety of habitats and countless species of native plants and animals. Join SOFO on a hike through the heart of the preserve and observe seasonal changes at this “Jewel of the Peconic.”
This is a free program.
Advanced reservations are required for all events. For more information, reservations, and directions to meeting places, please call: (631) 537-9735 or email info@sofo.org.
Program Leader: Naturalist from the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS)
Let’s venture by boat into the remote areas of Shinnecock Bay onboard Stony Brook University/Southampton’s 45-ft. research vessel, Peconic, and marvel at the wealth of migratory birds, waterfowl, and seals that inhabit the region at this time of year. We’ll cruise along areas of the salt marsh and sand flats that are not visible by land and hopefully witness the activities of a variety of wildlife. Bring binoculars and a light snack.
There is a fee of $35 for members and $40 for nonmembers for this program. The program is for adults, but children ages 10 and older may attend.
Advance 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 Cleans the Beach—Help Needed!
Cleanup Crew: South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Environmental Educators
If you have ever been to the museum and spoken to any of our educators, you know how much we care about preserving the natural environment of the South Fork. The mission of the museum itself is to stimulate interest in, advance knowledge of, and foster appreciation for the natural environment. Our staff has decided that—in order to uphold the mission of the museum—we need to take direct action to help protect our Long Island habitats. That’s why we have decided to continue our “SoFo Cleans the Beach” program throughout the winter. We hope you will join us on our mission to pick up as much trash as possible. Our plan is to go to a different beach each month and clean for one hour. During our cleaning session, we will tally up what type of trash we are find and, when we are finished, weigh it out. Over time we will be able to get an idea of the kind of trash that is washing up on our beaches─and we can knowledgeably advocate avoiding those materials in the future. We’re excited to continue this program and hope you will join us in reaching our goal of keeping our hometown beaches pollution free. This is a free program for all ages.
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.