South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center

MUSEUM CLOSED: Maintenance Day
2025-06-04, 2025-05-07

Root to Rise: Outdoor Gentle Yoga with Karen Meyer
2025-06-03 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | SOFO
Root your feet on the earth.
Lengthen your spine, open your heart, and rise to the heavens.
Allow your breath to guide you through gentle yoga movements as you connect to your body, mind, and spirit.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of yoga experience. Adults only.
$20 per class, $10 for SOFO members.
Reservations are required.
RSVP to Karen: MoonheartMeyer@gmail.com.
Classes take place on the wooden deck, protected from the elements.

MUSEUM CLOSED: School Group (10 am - 1 pm)
2025-06-03 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-21 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-20 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-19 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-14 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-06 10:00 - 13:00

Pop Up Pond Workshop
2025-06-01 13:30 - 16:00 | 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 pop-up exhibit will be held the first Sunday of the month, April through September, so stop by to see how pond life changes through spring and summer!
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Education Specialist
This FREE program is for all ages. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Joint Bird Walk with North Fork Audubon Society
2025-05-30 08:00 - 10:45 | Shelter Island
Frank Quevedo, Executive Director of SOFO, will team up with North Fork Audubon Society (NFAS) to travel to Shelter Island and explore the Mashomack Preserve. Bring a snack and water.
This FREE program is for adults. Advanced reservations are required for all events.
Photo: Great Blue Heron by J. Jensen

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MUSEUM CLOSED: School Group (10 am - 12 pm)
2025-05-29 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-28 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-27 10:00 - 12:00

“Fantastic Flowers” Story Time with Crystal
2025-05-25 13:30
A common saying goes “April showers bring May flowers.” Flowers add lots of color to our spring and summer, and bring many people enjoyment, but what is a flower for and what is it made of? Join us for some fun stories before we see what is flowering in SOFO’s pollinator gardens and learn how the different flower parts help the plant and animals.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Education Specialist
This program is for children ages 3-7.
For non-members, this program is included in the museum admission fee. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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“Fantastic Flowers” Story Time with Crystal
2025-05-25 10:30 | SOFO

Horseshoe Crab Tagging with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)
2025-05-24 20:00 | Westhampton
From mid-May to June, thousands of horseshoe crabs have gathered at Long Island’s bay beaches. It’s an incredible sight to see- made more so in the light of the full moon. The horseshoe crabs are there to bury their eggs in the sand; their eggs provide food for seabirds to fuel themselves on their long spring migration journeys north along the East coast of North America. The use of horseshoe crabs by humans for fishing bait and the harvesting of their blood for use in testing human medicines has an impact on the horseshoe crab population numbers. Data needs to be collected to document and assess the status of horseshoe crabs in our waters. You can help! Join SOFO and Cornell to assist in collecting information for this study while you witness one of nature’s most amazing annual wildlife events.
Program Leader: Survey Site Coordinators for Pike’s Beach, Westhampton and Sydney Mantione, SOFO Environmental Educator
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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East End Environment Series: Tracking Sharks in New York Waters
2025-05-24 16:00 - 17:00 | SOFO
This is the fifth lecture of our East End Environment Series!
Join SOFO for light refreshments and a presentation with NOAA’s Fishery Management Specialist Dr. Tobey Curtis about the sharks of Long Island. Summer is the season for many species of sharks in the ocean near Long Island. Some sharks are just passing through while the water is warm in August, some are here more of the year and shark scientists have been radio tracking sharks for a few years to find out where they go. Knowing who your wildlife neighbors are, what to expect from them and how to respect them is all part of having a great summer at the beach!
Presenter: Dr. Tobey Curtis, Fishery Management Specialist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Photo: Fish Guy Photos
This program is for adults, teens, and children ages 8+.

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Beginner’s Nature Photography Workshop with Fish Guy Photos Chris Paparo
2025-05-24 10:00 - 13:00 | SOFO
Join us for a 3-hour nature photography workshop designed specifically for beginner and novice photographers looking to improve their skills in capturing the beauty of the natural world. Whether you’re using a smartphone, point-and-shoot, or a DSLR camera, this workshop will provide practical guidance and hands-on experience to help you take better photos.
No prior experience? No problem! In this introductory session, we’ll cover fundamental photography concepts, including depth of field, the rule of thirds, lighting techniques, and composition—all explained in an easy-to-understand way. This class will give you the essential knowledge to start taking more visually compelling photos.
Then, it’s time to put theory into practice! We’ll take a guided photo walk through SOFO’s scenic Vineyard Field, where you’ll apply what you’ve learned while capturing landscapes, wildlife, and nature’s small details. The instructor will be on hand to offer real-time tips and feedback as you experiment with different photography techniques.
Finally, we’ll review and discuss photos taken during the Vineyard Field walk. You’ll receive constructive feedback in a supportive environment, helping you refine your skills and develop your own photographic style. This workshop is all about learning, sharing, and growing as a photographer!
What You’ll Need: A camera of any kind—whether it’s a smartphone, compact camera, or DSLR—is required for participation. Come explore, create, and connect with nature through photography! Enrollment is limited.
Workshop Leader: Chris Paparo, Fish Guy Photos. Born and raised on Long Island, Chris has been exploring the wilds of the Island for over 30 years. As a wildlife photographer, writer, and lecturer, he enjoys bringing public awareness to the diverse wildlife that calls the Island home.
This workshop is for adults.
There is a $75 fee for the workshop. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Salamander Seining and Some Frogs too, With Andy Sabin
2025-05-24 10:00 | SOFO
Many salamanders breed in water, and here’s your chance to see the larval aquatic stage of the endangered Eastern Tiger Salamander before it comes on land to live. You’ll also see some of our local frog tadpoles as Andy Sabin—“Mr. Salamander”—wades into a freshwater pond and, using a seining net (a large two-person fishing net with weights at the lower edge and floats at the top), brings to the surface the pond-stages of these young animals.
Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, SOFO Board of Directors
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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Black Racer Snake Search with Andy Sabin
2025-05-24 09:30 | SOFO
Andy Sabin, known to us as the “Salamander Commander,” is equally as interested in snakes as he is in salamanders. In fact, Andy is fascinated by all kinds of reptiles and amphibians, so he is just the right person to lead us on a search for the Northern black racer snake (Coluber constrictor). What’s more, we’re in luck— the field behind SOFO, known as Vineyard Field, is the perfect habitat for this very active, diurnal (it comes out during the day) reptile. To ensure we can find them, we’ve put boards out in the field which these snakes like to hide under. So, we’re very likely to see some snakes on our search with Andy.
Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, SOFO Board of Directors
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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Spring Migration - Birding at Hither Hills with Wayne Whitmore
2025-05-24 08:00 | Montauk
Montauk is a migration trap for migratory birds. Join Wayne, SOFO Board Trustee, on this leisurely-paced bird walk in search of spring migrants and breeding warblers. Wayne will lead you on the access roads and nature trails in Hither Hills searching for the many birds that utilize this habitat. Some species likely to be observed are blue-winged warbler, American redstart, prairie warbler, yellow warbler, ovenbird, and many others. Please bring binoculars. Limited enrollment.
Program Leader: Wayne Whitmore, SOFO Board Trustee
This program is for adults and teens ages 16+.
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: School Group
2025-05-22

MUSEUM CLOSED: Birthday Party (2 pm- 4 pm)
2025-05-18 14:00 - 16:00

MUSEUM CLOSED: School Group (1 pm - 4 pm)
2025-05-17 13:00 - 16:00

Young Birders Club Meeting
2025-05-17 10:00
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 10AM on the third Saturday 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.
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.

Young Birders Club Leader: Aidan Perkins
This FREE program is for ages 8-18. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Spring Beach Walk
2025-05-11 11:00 | Hampton Bays
Join SOFO on a beachside walk in the spring! Learn about the things we find regularly on our shores and are a mystery to you. Spring brings many migratory birds and other animals to our beaches, let’s see what we can find.
Walk Leader: Rebecca Rogers, SOFO Environmental Educator
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.

Sign Up Here!

East End Environment Series: Eastern Tiger Salamander Tracking Research Update
2025-05-10 16:00 - 17:00 | SOFO
This is the fourth lecture of our East End Environment Series!
Join SOFO for light refreshments and a presentation with SOFO’s Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Jake Kushner about SOFO’s Eastern tiger salamander tracking study. Over the past spring/summer, Jake has been tracking Eastern tiger salamanders in the Long Pond Greenbelt using radio telemetry. This presentation will include a quick introduction to and demonstration of this important tracking technique, followed by an update about the data collected thus far.
Presenter: Jake Kushner, SOFO Reptile & Amphibian Specialist
This program is for adults, teens, and children ages 10+.

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Birding for Beginners
2025-05-10 10:30 | 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 jay, black-capped chickadee, starling, northern mockingbird and red-tailed hawk. Listen to the voices and observe the behavior of the birds to help identify them. No prior experience required. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Program Leader: Cindy Lenkiewicz and Dave Polek, SOFO Docents
This FREE program is for adults, teens, and children ages 10+. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Memorial Nature Walk for Naturalist and SOFO Founder Larry Penny
2025-05-10 09:00 | SOFO
Larry Penny spent many years guiding children and adults in exploring and understanding our natural world. He was one of the original founders of the South Fork Natural History Society in 1989 and a noted East End naturalist and educator; his weekly column “Nature Notes” was featured in the East Hampton Star for many years. He served as East Hampton Town Natural Resources Director for 28 years.
Join us, and experience nature for yourself, in his memory. Light refreshments will be available.
“He was a very good naturalist; I really admired him for his work, his writing, and his dedication to stopping development” ─ Andy Sabin, SOFO Board of Directors President
Walk Leader: Frank Quevedo, SOFO Executive Director
This FREE program is for adults, teens, and children ages 8+. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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