Photo Credit: Greg Schechter
Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Board of Directors
Montauk’s vernal ponds are some of the few places in the world where the Blue-spotted Salamander, in its purebred form, can be found. Join Andy on this nighttime expedition as we search for this unique native species. Please bring a flashlight and wear boots, as late winter rains will make the ground soggy. This walk will take place only if there have been heavy rains.
There is a $10 fee for Adults and $7 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.
Winter Beach Walk at Shinnecock Inlet, East
Walk Leader: Melanie Meade, SOFO Education & Outreach Coordinator
Our beaches have different wildlife in winter than what we see at the beach in summer. Harbor seals and Snowy Owls visit from their northern summer rookeries and nesting areas to spend the cold months feeding in our bays and salt marshes, respectively. Brave the cold with SOFO to see what beach wildlife we can spot at this time of year. This walk is for adults, teens, and children age 5 and older.
There is a $10 fee for Adults and $7 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.
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 keep Long Island habitats healthy. That’s why we have decided to continue our “SOFO Cleans the Beach” program throughout the seasons. 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 finding 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 beach, and we can knowledgeably advocate avoiding those materials in the future. We’re excited to continue this program and be one step closer to our goal of keeping our hometown beaches clean.
This is a free program 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.
Photo Credit: Greg Schechter
Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, South Fork Natural History Museum Board of Directors
Here is another opportunity to join SOFO’s “Salamander Commander” Andy Sabin on an additional nighttime expedition as we search for this unique native salamander species, the Blue-spotted Salamander. Montauk’s vernal ponds are some of the few places in the world where the Blue-spotted Salamander, in its purebred form, can be found. Please bring a flashlight and wear boots, as late winter rains will make the ground soggy. This walk will take place only if there have been heavy rains.
There is a $10 fee for Adults and $7 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.
An Exploration of Trout Pond Park
Exploration Leader: Rachel Speckenbach, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Environmental Educator
Trout Pond Park is a beautiful, wooded area and a popular spot for fishermen, swimmers, and hikers alike. The park consists of two main trails, weaving through the highland and the perimeter of the large coastal plain pond off Noyack Road. Join Rachel for a leisurely walk and explore the plant and animal diversity this habitat has to offer. This walk is for adults, teens, and children age 8 and older.
There is a $10 fee for Adults and $7 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.
Photo Credit: Xylia Serafy
Hike Leader: South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Environmental Educator
Shelter Island’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 this hike through the heart of the preserve, and learn what you can find in this “Jewel of the Peconic.”
There is a $10 fee for Adults and $7 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.
Photo Credit: Marlin Harms
Walk Leader: Frank Quevedo, Executive Director, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO)
Southampton’s Dune Road is the perfect place to see a variety of freshwater and saltwater birds that prefer the calmer waters of the South Fork ponds and bays—rather than the ocean’s fury—this time of year. Mergansers, grebes, canvasbacks, and gadwalls will be on our list to see, as well as many other species. Bring binoculars and a field guide to birds of the eastern United States (if you have one). This program is for adults and teens; however, children ages 10 and older may attend.
There is a $10 fee for Adults and $7 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.
Photo Credit: Taylor Ruhle
Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, South Fork Natural History Museum Board of Directors
On this walk to one of our vernal ponds, we’ll be searching for the Spotted Salamander, one of our four native mole salamanders. This salamander is a beauty, with its shiny black body and bright yellow spots. It, like the Eastern Tiger Salamander and the Blue-spotted Salamander, as well as the early-autumn breeding Marbled Salamander, is called a mole salamander because it spends most of its time underground. Please bring a flashlight and wear boots, as late winter rains will make the ground soggy. This walk will take place only if there have been heavy rains.
There is a $10 fee for Adults and $7 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.
SOFO’s Young Birders Club: For ages 8 to 18
Club Leader: Rachel Speckenbach, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Environmental Educator
Birding is a great way to make new friends, learn about the environment, and get outdoors. Join our Young Birders Club! The Club meets at 10:00 am on the third Sunday of every month and is open to anyone ages 8 to 18 who is interested in learning about birds. Since Long Island has many great habitats that are home to a wide variety of species, we concentrate on birding in local areas. The Club’s leader is SOFO Environmental Educator Rachel Speckenbach. The two Club advisors, both avid birders, are Frank Quevedo, the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Executive Director, and Barbara Blaisdell, educator and experienced birder. Please bring binoculars if you have them (we will have a few pairs to lend) and a field guide to birds of the eastern United States. If you don’t have a field guide, we’ll have one here for you to use. This is a free program.
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. The date may change for this program. Please contact SOFO at (631) 537-9735 or info@sofo.org for up-to-the-minute information.
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.