South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center

East End Outdoor Nature Education at Vineyard Field, Bridgehampton
2026-01-21 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Bridgehampton
SOFO is offering a monthly program which will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1 pm for children ages 3 to 7 years and is geared towards 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 Eastern Long Island.
We will continue our adventures on Wednesday, January 21 at Vineyard Field in Bridgehampton searching for signs of winter animal activity and insect signs including galls and egg cases. We will enjoy some fun stories, simple nature journals, beginner graphing, and worksheets to take home.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes has worked as an environmental educator at SOFO since 2005 and part-time since 2019 after her son Wyatt was born. Wyatt and I look forward to meeting you and learning with you!
There is a $10/child fee (participating adult included) 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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Who’s Hungry?! with SOFO
2026-01-22 11:00, 2026-01-29 11:00, 2026-02-05 11:00, 2026-02-12 11:00 | SOFO
Introducing “Who’s Hungry?!” with SOFO! Join us for this FREE hands-on experience and help the staff feed our resident animals! This will be a weekly activity every Thursday at 11 AM. We’ll feed different animals each week, so be sure to join us regularly.
This experience is appropriate for all ages. It is free for SOFO members and included with museum admission for non-members. Registrations are not necessary.

Make Your Own Recycled Paper!
2026-01-24 12:00 - 14:00 | SOFO
Not sure what to do with all your old newspapers, holiday cards, last year’s homework, or other paper around your house? Learn to recycle those papers and make your very own customized sheets! Use food dye, wildflower seeds, and other natural materials to decorate your very own recycled paper and head into the next year with a fresh start!
Program Leader: Moe Kennedy, SOFO Environmental Educator
This program is for adults and children ages 5+.
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!

MUSEUM CLOSED: Inclement Weather
2026-01-25

Seal Cruise, co-sponsored with CRESLI
2026-01-25 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-31 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-15 12:00 - 14:00 | Southampton
For the third year in a row, the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI) and the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center (SOFO) are co-sponsoring seal cruises. Join us as a CRESLI scientist leads 2-hour expeditions to view, photograph, and gather information about the diversity and distribution of the seals in Shinnecock Bay. You’ll learn about the different species of seals in our waters, as well as the characteristics and behaviors that allow these animals to thrive. You’ll hear about the history of seal exploitation and recovery and see these animals in their natural habitat.
CRESLI Seal Cruises on the RV Peconic around Shinnecock Bay will meet and board 30 minutes before the listed departure time at the dock area (address: Stony Brook Marine Station, 8 Little Neck Road, Southampton, NY 11968).
This program is for adults, teens, and children ages 8+. The cost for the cruise is $40 per person.
Spaces are limited and registration is required. Registrations can be made by visiting cresli.org.

MUSEUM CLOSED: Maintenance
2026-01-26, 2026-02-04, 2026-02-09

Love-Bug Valentine Craft
2026-01-31 11:00 - 12:00 | SOFO
Come celebrate the season of love by using recycled art materials to make your own valentines. Following last month’s recycled paper-making program, attendees can use their new sheets to design and decorate valentines to share with loved ones. Attendance for the January program is not mandatory for this program; recycled paper and other recycled craft materials will be provided to all participants.
Program Leader: Moe Kennedy, 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!

Winter Specialties of Shinnecock─A Search for Avian Visitors of the North with Aidan Perkins
2026-02-01 09:00 | Southampton
The barrier beach area at Shinnecock is one of the few remaining undeveloped dune/salt marsh habitats on the eastern end of Long Island, an area that frequently has wintering snowy owls and short-eared owls. Shinnecock Inlet can host thousands of scoters, eiders, and other sea ducks. Join Aidan on one of SOFO’s most popular birding walks. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope and a bird field guide (if you have one).
Walk Leader: Aidan Perkins, Wildlife Biologist
This program is for adults.
For non-members, there is a $5 fee per person for this program. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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MUSEUM CLOSED: Private Event (1 pm - 3 pm)
2026-02-05 13:00 - 15:00

YES! Animal Mask Workshop
2026-02-08 14:00 | SOFO
This workshop is free (for ages 5-10), but registration is required at sofoyes@gmail.com. This is a drop-off program but parents are welcome to explore the museum.

SOFO’s Bug Club: Bugwatching Buddies
2026-02-14 11:00 | SOFO
This Week: Bug Themed Valentines with Candy Treats.
We Love Bugs! Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making a bug-themed valentine for your friends and family. Crafting materials and Valentine’s candy will be provided.
Club Leader: Moe Kennedy, SOFO Environmental Educator
This FREE program is for ages 5-16. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Feeding Winter Birds: Make a Natural Bird Feeder
2026-02-15 11:00 | SOFO
In winter, birds sometimes need a little help getting enough food to make it through very cold, snowy weather. You can help the birds by making bird feeding stations from natural materials and adding high-energy bird foods like peanut butter and winter bird seed. All materials will be provided.
Program 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!

Winter School Break Walks: Animal Tracks─Who was Here?
2026-02-16 11:00 | SOFO
Join SOFO’s Environmental Educators for our Winter School Break Nature Education Programs!
These programs are for children of all ages.
This FREE program is for all ages. There is a separate admission fee to explore the museum ($10/adult and $7/child age 3 and up). Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Winter School Break Walks: How Plants Survive Winter
2026-02-17 11:00 | SOFO

Winter School Break Walks: Searching for Winter Wildlife
2026-02-18 11:00 | SOFO

CANCELED: East End Outdoor Nature Education at Wildwood State Park, Wading River
2026-02-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Wading River
This program has been cancelled due to weather forecast and trail conditions. Please join us next month!

SOFO is offering a monthly program which will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1 pm for children ages 3 to 7 years and is geared towards 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 Eastern Long Island.
We will continue our adventures on Wednesday, February 18 at Wildwood State Park in Wading River searching for signs of winter animal activity and insect signs including galls and egg cases. We will enjoy some fun stories, simple nature journals, beginner graphing, and worksheets to take home.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes has worked as an environmental educator at SOFO since 2005 and part-time since 2019 after her son Wyatt was born. Wyatt and I look forward to meeting you and learning with you!
There is a $10/child fee (participating adult included) 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.

Winter School Break Walks: Scavenger Hunt
2026-02-19 11:00 | SOFO

Winter School Break Walks: Where Do Bugs Go in Winter?
2026-02-20 11:00 | SOFO

Young Birders Club Walk with Aidan Perkins
2026-02-21 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.
Club Leader: Aidan Perkins, Wildlife Biologist
This FREE program is for ages 8-18. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Birding for Beginners
2026-02-21 10:30 | Southampton
Explore Birding as a new hobby: Take a walk with volunteer docents Cindy & Dave 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.
Walk Leaders: Cindy Lenkiewicz and Dave Polek, SOFO Docents
This FREE program is for all ages. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Food Chain Stories and Feed the Animals
2026-02-22 10:30, 2026-02-22 13:30 | SOFO
Join us for some fun stories explaining the food chain, watch some of SOFO’s resident animals enjoy their favorite foods, and create your own food chain craft.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Outdoor Education Specialist
This program is for families.
For non-members, this program is included in the museum admission fee. Members are free. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

Sign Up Here!

MUSEUM CLOSED: Birthday Party (2 pm - 4 pm)
2026-02-22 14:00 - 16:00
