South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center

CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER: Jazz Celebration
2023-09-24 | SOFO

Zenergy, Outdoor Movement Class with Karen Meyer
2023-09-25 16:30 - 17:30, 2023-09-28 16:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | SOFO
A delightful combination of Yoga-like stretches, Qi Gong, 5 element dance, and a lot of joy! Life Lovers of all ability levels are encouraged to join. Breath, stretch, move, listen and relate. Be in right relationship to self, to others, and to Nature. Feel alive, relaxed and Zenergized!
These classes will be held outside embraced by the beauty of Nature, on a wooden deck, protected from the sun. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.
The one-hour classes will be held on Mondays and Thursdays at 4:30PM, through the months of July, August, and September.
This program is for adults.
Zenergy Leader: Karen Meyer

Sofo Members: $10 per class, Non-Members: $20 per class.
Limited reservations. Please contact Karen directly if you have any questions, and to make reservations. She can be reached at 917.843.2555 or at moonheartmeyer@gmail.com.

MUSEUM CLOSED: Private Event (1pm - 4pm)
2023-09-26 13:00 - 16:00 | SOFO

Hiroyuki Hamada, Artist Talk, 2023 Parrish Road Show
2023-09-29 18:00 | Parrish Art Museum
For the 2023 Parrish Road Show, Hiroyuki Hamada (Japanese, born 1968) was invited to create a site-specific exhibition at the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center in Bridgehampton, NY. Now in its twelfth year, Parrish Road Show is the Museum’s off-site project designed to encourage engagement and interaction between artists and the communities beyond the Museum’s walls. Each year, selected artists work with the Parrish and partner venues to create new work and to provide unique opportunities for visitors to see and experience art in unexpected places, from public parks and highways to historical sites and community centers. Road Show exhibitions, featuring art, sculpture, and performance, and multi-disciplinary projects, have been on view throughout eastern Long Island, New York, from Bellport to Montauk. This outdoor exhibition of Hiroyuki Hamada: Matter on Ground runs through Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Hiroyuki Hamada’s exhibition highlights include shows at Gana Art Bowang (Seoul, South Korea); The Arts Center at Duck Creek, East Hampton; Guild Hall of East Hampton; Bookstein Projects, New York City; The List Gallery at Swarthmore College; Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Charleston, SC; and OK Harris Works of Art, New York City, where he began his solo exhibition career with wall hanging sculptures. Hamada’s studio practice includes sculpture, painting, and Piezography prints; his visual language and explorations in search of sharing essential qualities of experience have developed moving amongst these mediums. Hamada has been the recipient of a Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant and twice received New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships in sculpture; in 2018, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, and in 2020, he was named recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Mid-Career Residency at the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center. Hamada lives and works on the East End of Long Island with his family.

What's in Our Water?
2023-09-30 10:30 | SOFO
Our development on Long Island has led to the rise in varying environmental disruptions. From outdated septic systems to runoff, high levels of nutrients are supplementing algal growth. In our local waters we can see the content of plankton that alone are unseen to the naked eye. In this presentation we will discuss varying algal species, concerns, and mitigation.
Program Leader: Ian Robinson, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for adults and teens, ages 14 and older
For nonmembers, there is a $15 fee for Adults and a $10 fee for children for this program. This program fee will also provide non-members with free admission to the museum on a day of their choice. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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A Day in the Life of a SOFO Pond - Last of the Season Pop-Up Exhibit
2023-10-01 13:00 - 15:30 | SOFO
When we stand at the edge of a pond, we tend to notice the larger animals like frogs, turtles, and birds. But why do those animals choose to live at or visit the pond? We would need to get in the water to see the multitude of smaller animals that keep a pond healthy, but mud would be easily stirred up by a diver or ROV. Join Crystal after she has collected pond water in a variety of containers, with plenty of time for mud to settle and creatures to start moving and help collect and identify the secret life in the pond with a variety of magnifiers and microscopes. This will be the last exploration of the year since the life in a pond is getting ready for winter. Some plants and animals will stay active through the winter while others will go dormant. Compare what you can find now to what was found in early spring and during the summer.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Educator
This free program is for all ages.

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MUSEUM CLOSED: Maintenance
2023-10-04 | SOFO

Zenergy Outdoor Movement Class with Karen Meyers
2023-10-05 16:30 - 17:30, 2023-10-26 16:30 - 17:30 | SOFO
A delightful combination of Yoga-like stretches, Qi Gong, 5 element dance, and a lot of joy! Life Lovers of all ability levels are encouraged to join. Breath, stretch, move, listen and relate. Be in right relationship to self, to others, and to Nature. Feel alive, relaxed and Zenergized! This class will be held outside embraced by the beauty of Nature, on a wooden deck, protected from the sun.
Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.
The one-hour class will be held on Thursdays at 4:30PM, throughout the month of October.
This program is for adults.
Zenergy Leader: Karen Meyer

Sofo Members: $10 per class, Non-Members: $20 per class.
Limited reservations. Please contact Karen directly if you have any questions, and to make reservations. She can be reached at 917.843.2555 or at moonheartmeyer@gmail.com.

Andy's Annual Salamander Log Rolling, with Jake
2023-10-07 10:00 | Montauk
On this annual walk with Andy, aka “Mr. Salamander,” you’ll discover some unusual creatures that live in the leaf litter on the forest floor under the rotting logs. In particular, he’ll introduce you to two of our unusual native salamanders: the Blue-spotted, which can be found in its purebred form on Long Island, only in Montauk; and the other, the Four-toed, whose tail drops off when it is grasped at the tail by a predator. This walk is particularly popular with children.
Program Leader: Jake Kushner, SOFO Environmental Educator, Reptile & Amphibian Specialist
This program is for all ages.
For nonmembers, there is a $15 fee for Adults and a $10 fee for children for this program. This program fee will also provide non-members with free admission to the museum on a day of their choice. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Long Pond Greenbelt 24th Annual Celebration
2023-10-07 10:00 - 13:00 | SOFO
Bring the children for a nature exploration at the Long Pond Greenbelt! Guided trail walks, games, crafts, and a variety of activities provided by local environmental and community organizations. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt (FLPG), the Peconic Land Trust, and the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO).
This is a FREE event for all ages and takes place rain or shine.
For more information and to reserve, please contact Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt at 631.745.0689.

Painting with Nature
2023-10-08 10:30 | SOFO
Harvest materials from the environment to paint your own natural landscape. Join us on a small nature walk around our inner loop collecting materials to create a scene of your choice.
Program Leader: Ian Robinson, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for adults, teens, and children 6+.
For nonmembers, there is a $15 fee for Adults and a $10 fee for children for this program. This program fee will also provide non-members with free admission to the museum on a day of their choice. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Birding with Frank at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Brigantine Division, Galloway, New Jersey
2023-10-12 07:00 - 2023-10-13 18:00 | New Jersey
Grab your binoculars, put on your hiking shoes, and join SOFO’s Executive Director, Frank Quevedo, for two days of spectacular birding at the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, Brigantine Division, in southern New Jersey. You’ll see migrating shorebirds and warblers as well as resident breeding species of the coastal salt marsh, including Osprey, herons, egrets, skimmers, and terns. This incredible National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 47,000 acres of southern New Jersey coastal habitats and wetlands. The refuge extends for 50 miles along the coast from Brick Township to its southern extent, which is five miles north of Atlantic City. At least 322 species of birds have been observed on the refuge. The Forsythe Refuge is nationally recognized as one of the East Coast’s premier birding spots. The fee for this program includes an overnight stay and transportation.
Program Leader: Frank Quevedo, SOFO Executive Director
This program is for adults.
Contact Frank Quevedo by email at: info@sofo.org or by phone, Saturday through Wednesday, at SOFO: 631.537.9735.

Zenergy, Outdoor Movement Class with Karen Meyer
2023-10-12 16:30 - 17:30 | SOFO

Walk to End Alzheimer's in the Hamptons
2023-10-14 09:30 - 12:00 | SOFO
The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting you to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the inaugural Hamptons Walk to End Alzheimer’s® on Saturday, October 14th at the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton. Walks are held each year in communities across the country and are the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Participants honor those affected with Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people’s connection to Alzheimer’s.
This free program is for adults and children.
You can pre-register for the event by clicking here, or you can register at the event beginning at 9:30AM. The opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m., after which we will walk two miles along the mowed Long Pond Greenbelt trail.
For more information please contact Judy Wichter at 631.315.6494 or jwichter@alz.org

Seining for Tropical Fish with SOFO
2023-10-14 13:00 | Southampton
Join SOFO in a search for juvenile tropical fish carried north by the amazing Gulf Stream while the water is still warm. We will be on the lookout for butterflyfish, lookdowns, our native seahorses, and more at this hands-on marine discovery event!
Program Leader: Paul King III, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for all ages.
For nonmembers, there is a $15 fee for Adults and a $10 fee for children for this program. This program fee will also provide non-members with free admission to the museum on a day of their choice. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Feeding Time at the Museum!
2023-10-14 14:00 | SOFO
Join us for a behind-the-scenes feeding tour at SOFO! Erin will give you a chance to see how we prepare the food for our animals to eat. Afterwards, you will get a closer look at our animals as they are fed. During this program, we’ll learn more about food webs and the differences between carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores.
Program Leader: Erin Hwong, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for children ages 3-5.
For nonmembers, there is a $15 fee for Adults and a $10 fee for children for this program. This program fee will also provide non-members with free admission to the museum on a day of their choice. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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YES! Presents - Under the Stars Movie Night
2023-10-14 18:30 - 20:00 | SOFO
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Birding with Joe Giunta─Fall Migration at Promised Land
2023-10-15 08:00 | East Hampton
Joe Giunta, expert birder, and delightful bird-walk leader will take you on this excursion to Promised Land, the perfect location to observe our songbirds during their late fall migration. The combination of ocean beach and field edges increases your opportunity to see late-migrating warblers as they journey south. On previous walks, eight species of sparrows have been seen, as well as a dickcissel and a snow bunting. This location also provides an opportunity to see gannets and ocean ducks.
Walk Leader: Joe Giunta, birding instructor for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; trip leader for New York City Audubon and lecturer for many local chapters; and owner of Happy Warblers LLC, a birding and educational travel company.
This program is for adults.
For nonmembers, there is a $15 fee for Adults for this program. This program fee will also provide non-members with free admission to the museum on a day of their choice. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Greenbelt Ramble through Oak-Hickory Forest and Along Coastal Plain Ponds
2023-10-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Bridgehampton
Join us for a 3-mile walk in the Long Pond Greenbelt through oak-hickory forest and along coastal plain ponds. Suffolk County’s Poxabogue Park, one of the first open space protection acquisitions in the Long Pond Greenbelt (LPG). Poxabogue derives its name from the Native American paugasa-baug meaning “a pond that opens out or widens”. You’ll have a chance to see Poxabogue Pond, Little Poxabogue Pond and Crooked Pond, 3 of the 13 coastal plains ponds of the LPG. Enjoy grasslands, pond shore and oak/hickory/pitch pine forest.
Program Leader: Dai Dayton, President, Friends of Long Pond Greenbelt
This free program is for adults, teens, and children 10+.

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Owl Pellets: Explore, Dissect, and Discover!
2023-10-15 10:30 | SOFO
Embark on a captivating journey into the world of owls! This hands-on adventure will teach young explorers about Long Island’s owls – their sneaky hunting strategies and the surprising range of items they feed on. Through an exciting owl pellet dissection activity, we will uncover the hidden secrets of owl’s diets while gaining a deeper appreciation for the important role they play in our ecosystem.
Program Leader: Nikole Holowat, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for children ages 5-7.
For nonmembers, there is a $15 fee for Adults and a $10 fee for children for this program. There is an additional $6 materials fee for this program. This program fee will also provide non-members with free admission to the museum on a day of their choice. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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SOFO's East End Outdoor Nature Education with Crystal in Montauk
2023-10-18 13:00 | Montauk
SOFO is offering a monthly program that takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1 pm for children ages 3 to 7 years and is geared toward homeschooling families. Programs will have a variety of activities to strengthen language development, literacy, math, and science and will take place at various locations on the twin forks of Eastern Long Island. We will continue our adventures on Wednesday, October 19th in Montauk.
We will be meeting at the East Overlook Parking Lot in Montauk. We will travel on an approximately 1/2 mile forest trail to one of SOFO’s favorite vernal pools to search for young-of-the-year Four-toed Salamanders and Blue-spotted Salamanders including stories and beginner nature journals.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Educator. Crystal has worked as an environmental educator at SOFO since 2005 and part-time since 2019 after her son Wyatt was born. She and Wyatt look forward to meeting you and learning with you!
This program is for children ages 3 to 7.
There will be a vehicle entrance fee of $8 paid at a kiosk. There will not be a SOFO fee. For subsequent programs, there will be a fee of $5 per child which includes a participating adult.
There is limited enrollment for this program.

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Young Birders Club Meeting
2023-10-21 10:00
Birding is a wonderful way to make new friends, learn about the environment, and get outdoors. Join our Young Birders Club! The Club meets at 10AM on the third Saturday or Sunday of every month and is open to anyone ages eight 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.
Club Leader: Frank Quevedo, SOFO Executive Director
This FREE program is for ages 8-18.
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 for you to use.

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Befriending Bugs for Halloween with Entomologist Jeffry Petracca
2023-10-21 10:30 | SOFO
Join Entomologist Jeffry Petracca from the Long Island Aquarium for a discussion of insects and spiders. Learn some basic bug facts and meet some of the stick bugs, beetles, spiders and so much more from the Aquarium’s living insect zoo. A meet and greet with these animals up close and personal will show just how beautiful and friendly bugs can truly be!
Program Leader: Jeffry Petracca, Entomologist and High School Educator
This free program is for adults, teens, and children 4+.

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Why & How the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Became a "Hope Spot" with Dr. Judith S. Weis - Zoom & In-Person Talk
2023-10-22 10:30 | Zoom / SOFO
Fifty years ago, the waterways of NYC and Northern NJ (the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary) were full of industrial waste, raw sewage, and garbage. The waterfront was mostly industrial facilities and garbage dumps; there was little public access, but most people wouldn’t have wanted to be close to smelly polluted waters. Starting with the Clean Water Act in the early ’70s, there has been a remarkable improvement in water quality; biodiversity increased from a few pollution-tolerant species to a rich diversity of marine/estuarine life, bird life, and even whales. The waterfront is now lined with walkways, parks and recreational activities, and even restaurants. This amazing recovery was due to the hard work of government agencies and dozens of environmental organizations; this recovery was the basis of the estuary being designated a “Hope Spot” by Mission Blue, Sylvia Earle’s organization (Dr. Earle was the guest of honor at the 2022 SOFO gala.) This illustrated talk is being presented by the person who put together the nomination last year, and who has been designated the “Champion” of the estuary.
Program Presenter: Dr. Judith S. Weis, Professor Emerita of Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, Newark.
This free program is for adults and teens.

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MUSEUM CLOSED: School Group
2023-10-25

SOFO Young Environmentalists Society (YES!) Meeting
2023-10-28 10:30
The mission of SOFO’s 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 on the last Saturday of each month, from 10AM to 11:30AM. There is bilingual support for Spanish-speaking participants.
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.
This is a free program, thanks to the generosity of a foundation that prefers to remain anonymous, for ages 10-16.
The date may change for this program. Please contact SOFO at (631) 537-9735 or info@sofo.org for up-to-the-minute information.

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Full “Hunter’s Moon” Hike with Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
2023-10-28 18:30 | SOFO
Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons. The leaves are falling from trees, the deer are fattened, and it’s time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead. Because the fields were traditionally harvested in late September or early October, hunters could easily see foxes and other animals that come out to eat the fallen grains. Join us for this leisurely paced one-hour hike in Vineyard Field, the field behind SOFO.
Hike Leader: Dai Dayton, President, Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt.
This free hike is for all ages.
Hike reservations are limited, to register by email go to: greenbeltnews@aol.com. To contact the hike leader, Dai Dayton, on the day of the hike call 631-745-0689.

White Pine & Oak Forest Hike at Wilson’s Grove Preserve
2023-10-29 10:30 | East Hampton
The beautiful and majestic white pine and oak forest of Wilson’s Grove Preserve, donated to the Peconic Land Trust by Marillyn Wilson in 2008, is a wonderful gift to the community and a vital link in the Paumanok Preserve system of trails. The site contains a locally rare woodland, comprised of majestic towering white pine and oak. Join Paul for a hike through this incredibly unique location.
Program Leader: Paul King III, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for adults, teens and children 8+.
For nonmembers, there is a $15 fee for Adults and a $10 fee for children for this program. This program fee will also provide non-members with free admission to the museum on a day of their choice. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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