South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center

Hard-shelled Clam Dissection: Biology, Anatomy & Physiology of Mercenaria mercenaria - with Rob “Rockfish” Gelling
2024-01-13 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | SOFO
Join Rockfish for a hands-on experience exploring the ins and outs of this fascinating Mollusk. Does a clam have a heart like we do? Does it have a foot? What do clams eat? Learn not only how the hard-shelled clam performs all the life functions we as humans do but leave understanding how important the popular seafood is to our Long Island economy, how significant the harvest of hard clams has been throughout Long Island history, and lastly how it fits in the current Long Island aquaculture arena. Materials fee: $5.
Program Leader: Rob Gelling, SOFO Environmental Educator and Aquarist
This program is for adults, teens, and children ages 8+.
For non-members, 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 for Beginners Walk in Vineyard Field
2024-01-13 10:00 | SOFO
Explore Birding as a new hobby: Take a walk with volunteer docents Cindy & Dave in the Vineyard Field behind the Museum and learn how to identify the birds that we might find, including blue jays, black-capped chickadees, starlings, northern mockingbirds, and red-tailed hawks. Listen to the voices and observe the behavior of the birds to help identify them. No prior experience is required. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Program Leaders: Cindy Lenkiewicz and Dave Polek, SOFO Docents
This FREE program is for adults, teens, and children ages 6+. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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NYSOA Annual Winter Waterfowl Count
2024-01-13 | Montauk to Shinnecock
At one time, a great variety of waterfowl wintered on Long Island; now, due to habitat loss, food scarcity, and the introduction of nonnative species of water birds, our wintering population of waterfowl is slowly diminishing. To assess this situation and record the number of overwintering waterfowl, the New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA) sponsors an annual waterfowl count throughout the State. If you are an experienced or intermediate birder, we would be delighted to have you join us.
Count Leader: Frank Quevedo, Executive Director, South Fork Natural History Museum
This FREE program is for adults and teens.
To join, call count leader Frank Quevedo at 631.537.9735 for detailed information.

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Seal Walk at Cupsogue Beach County Park
2024-01-09 10:30 | Westhampton
Several species of seals come to visit Long Island during the colder winter months in search of food. The three most common species that visit Long Island at this time of year are harbor seals, gray seals, and harp seals. Join us for a guided walk during low tide and learn more about these mammalian winter visitors and how to safely view them.
Program Leader: Erin Hwong, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for adults.
For non-members, 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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Owl Prowl with Frank
2024-01-07 19:00 | SOFO
Listen for the whinnying sound of the Eastern Screech Owl or maybe the seven-note hoot of the Great Horned Owl on this nighttime owl prowl that marks the beginning of our owls’ courtship season. Frank will present a slide show of our native owls and then lead a walk into the field to search for these nocturnal raptors. Bring binoculars and a flashlight.
Program Leader: Frank Quevedo, Executive Director, South Fork Natural History Museum
This program is for adults, teens, and children ages 10+.
For non-members, 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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Bird Nest Search and Nest-Making Craft
2024-01-07 10:30 | SOFO
Join SOFO for a winter bird nest hunt. Long abandoned nests sit in the trees, waiting to be revealed by the falling leaves of winter. In this program, we will walk through Vineyard Field in search of nests. Afterward, we will create our own nests from natural materials to understand the feat of nest building.
Program Leader: Ian Robinson, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for adults and children ages 5-8.
For non-members, 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 the Fish Guy: A Multimedia Presentation
2024-01-06 10:30 | SOFO
Take a look at the sea’s feathered friends with Chris Paparo in this multimedia presentation. Find out what Long Island birds can be observed close to the shore. Learn details about wading birds, waterfowl, and raptors, as well as where one can go to observe each of them.
Program Leader: Christopher Paparo, Fish Guy Photos
This program is for all ages.
For non-members, 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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MUSEUM CLOSED: Outreach Event (1 pm - 4 pm)
2024-01-04 13:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-20 13:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-14 13:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-13 13:00 - 16:00

MUSEUM CLOSED: Maintenance
2024-01-03, 2023-12-06

MUSEUM CLOSED: New Year's Day
2024-01-01

MUSEUM CLOSED: New Year's Eve (1 pm - 4 pm)
2023-12-31 13:00 - 16:00

SOFO Young Environmentalists Society (YES!) Meeting
2023-12-30 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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Winter School Break Walks - Animal Signs and Phenomena
2023-12-29 10:00 - 11:00 | SOFO
One Hour Outdoor Nature Adventures for Children of all Ages In Vineyard Field, the field behind the museum, with the SOFO Environmental Educators.

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Winter School Break Walks - Pirate Treasure Hunt
2023-12-28 10:00 - 11:00 | SOFO

Winter School Break Walks - Nature Scavenger Hunt
2023-12-27 10:00 - 11:00 | SOFO

Full “Cold Moon” Hike with Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
2023-12-26 17:00 | SOFO
During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. Sometimes this moon is also called the Long Night Moon as the winter nights lengthen and the moon spends more time above the horizon opposite a low sun. 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 program is for all ages.
To register email: greenbeltnews@aol.com.

Winter School Break Walks - Exploring with Our Five Senses
2023-12-26 10:00 - 11:00 | SOFO

MUSEUM CLOSED: Christmas Day!
2023-12-25

"Whale Watching" with Fish Guy Photos
2023-12-23 10:30 | SOFO
Through his many pictures and videos, ‘go’ whale watching with the Fish Guy. Learn about the many species of whales and dolphins that can be found in the waters of Long Island. This is a family friendly lecture, good for children and adults alike.
Program Leader: Christopher Paparo, Fish Guy Photos
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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Visit the Heart of the Amazing Long Pond Greenbelt
2023-12-23 09:00 - 11:00 | Bridgehampton
Meet at the Long Pond Greenbelt Nature Center, 1061 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike for a 3.5 mile walk along the tree ID trail through oak-hickory forest and identify some of our native species. See and learn about the old railroad spur as well as Crooked Pond, Long Pond, Little Long Pond, and Deer Drink, four of the 13 coastal plains ponds of the LPG.
Hike Leader: Dai Dayton, President, Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
This free program is for adults, teens, and children 10+.

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SOFO's East End Outdoor Nature Education with Crystal in Sagaponack
2023-12-20 13:00 | Sagaponack
SOFO is offering a monthly program which 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 have a variety of activities to strengthen language development, literacy, math, and science and take place at various locations on the twin forks of Eastern Long Island. We will continue our adventures on Wednesday, December 20 in Sagaponack.
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 adults and children ages 3-7.
For this program 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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Pinecone Creatures
2023-12-17 10:30 | SOFO
Create your own animal using local pinecones. Join us on a small nature walk around our inner loop collecting materials to create your own animals.
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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Feeding Time at the Museum!
2023-12-16 10:30 | 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 adults, teens, and children ages 10+.
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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Make a Holiday Beach Craft! With Rob “Rockfish” Gelling
2023-12-09 14:00 | SOFO
First learn the natural histories of the animals that produced the shells that we will use to design and build a beach craft. Then check out the live critters that inhabit the shells in our Touch Tank and other museum exhibits. Finally create your beachy craft! Do a beach walk and collect shells, stones, and driftwood to bring to the class if you would like. Beach craft ideas include: a whelk planter, a rock-a-saurus, a beach pebble mosaic, clam shell jewelry dish, a gull feather pen, seaweed mountings, and a starfish Santa.
Program Leader: Rob “Rockfish” Gelling, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for adults 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. There is an additional materials fee of $5. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Seal Walk at Cupsogue Beach County Park, Westhampton
2023-12-09 10:30 | Westhampton
With the cold of winter, many northern animal visitors come to the South Shore of Long Island to find food—among them Pinnipeds, or seals. The three most common species of seals that visit Long Island at this time of year are harbor seals, grey seals, and harp seals. Join us on a walk toward the ocean at Cupsogue Beach County Park, where at low tide you can expect to see some of these seals sunning themselves on the distant sandbar. It may be cold and windy, so please bundle up.
Walk Leader: Melanie Meade, SOFO Education Director
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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Turkeys in the Snow ─ Storytime & Craft
2023-12-03 11:00 | SOFO
Wild Turkeys had disappeared from Long Island for many years, but reintroduction efforts have been successful and now many families on the East End can see them in their backyards. Join Crystal for a fun story time about our large, feathered neighbors and make your own paper bag turkey puppet to take home.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Educator
This program is for adults and children ages 3-6.
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. There is an additional $5 materials fee for this program. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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