South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center

International Shorebird Day Bird Walk
2024-09-07 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Southampton
Come celebrate International Shorebird Day by taking a walk along Mecox Inlet to explore the diversity of shorebirds that use Long Island’s coast during their annual southern migration from arctic breeding grounds. You’ll get a chance to observe their natural behavior and learn how to identify a variety of shorebirds, such as the black-bellied plover, semipalmated sandpiper, willet, sanderling, and many more. No experience necessary. Limited spotting scopes will be available, so bring binoculars if you have them.
Walk Leader: Dean Hernandez, Field Naturalist
This FREE program is for adults, teens, and children ages 10+. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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A Book Talk and Signing with Betsy McCully and At the Glacier’s Edge
2024-09-07 18:30 | SOFO
Combining science writing, environmental history, and first-hand accounts from a longtime resident, At the Glacier’s Edge offers a unique narrative natural history of Long Island. Betsy McCully tells the story of how the island was formed at the end of the last ice age, how its habitats evolved, and how humans in the last few hundred years have radically altered and degraded its landscape. Yet as she personally recounts the habitat losses and species declines she has witnessed over the past few decades, she describes the vital efforts that environmental activists are making to restore and reclaim this land—from replanting salt marshes, to preserving remaining grasslands and forests, to cleaning up the waters. At the Glacier’s Edge provides an in depth look at the flora, fauna and geology that make Long Island so special. Meet author Betsy McCully for a book talk and signing at SOFO.
Program Leader: Betsy McCully, Author
This FREE program is for adults, teens, and children ages 10+. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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MUSEUM CLOSED: Outreach Event
2024-09-08, 2024-09-15

MUSEUM CLOSED: School Group
2024-09-09

Easy Does It Yoga with Karen Meyer
2024-09-12 16:15 - 17:30, 2024-09-19 16:15 - 17:30 | SOFO
Easy does it!
Let’s explore finding and maintaining balance,
Listening to inner wisdom,
Following Divine Guidance through breath,
Mindfully moving from inspiration to action,
Connecting with self, with others and with Nature.
Yoga
Please join Karen for an hour of Yoga at
SOFO on Thursday afternoons, starting June 13th @ 4:15 PM
We will practice outside, in the beauty of Nature
(In the back of the building, on a wooden patio, protected from the sun)
Please bring your own props
(yoga mat, 2 blocks, a strap, a towel, and water)
Wear comfortable clothing
Everyone welcome, regardless of experience
RSVP is mandatory
as class size is limited
with respect to individualized needs

Yoga Instructor: Karen Meyer
This program is for adults.
For non-members, there is a $25 fee for this program. For SOFO members, there is a $20 fee for this program. Advanced reservations are required for all events.
Limited enrollment. Register with Karen at 917-843-2555 or MoonheartMeyer@gmail.com.

Full Harvest Super Moon Hike
2024-09-17 19:30 - 20:30 | SOFO
This full moon’s name is attributed to Native Americans because it marked when corn was to be harvested. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this moon.
This FREE program is for all ages. Advanced reservations are required for all events.
Walk Leader: Jean Mc Dermott, 631-599-2391.

Meet at the SOFO Museum parking lot, 377 Bridgehampton Turnpike, 200 yards north of the RR tracks. To register, email: greenbeltnews@aol.com.

MUSEUM CLOSED: School Group (10 am - 12 pm)
2024-09-18 10:00 - 12:00

SOFO’s East End Outdoor Nature Education with Crystal at Old Ponquogue Bridge, Hampton Bays
2024-09-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Hampton Bays
SOFO is offering a monthly program which will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and following Saturday 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 Eastern Long Island.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Specialist. Crystal Possehl-Oakes, the program leader, 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!
This program is for families with children ages 3-7.
There is a $10 per child admission/material fee, which includes a participating adult. 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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Young Birders Club Meeting
2024-09-21 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, Frank Quevedo, SOFO Executive Director
This FREE program is for ages 8-18. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

Sign Up Here!

SOFO’s East End Outdoor Nature Education with Crystal at Old Ponquogue Bridge, Hampton Bays
2024-09-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Hampton Bays
SOFO is offering a monthly program which will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and following Saturday 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 Eastern Long Island.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Specialist. Crystal Possehl-Oakes, the program leader, 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!
This program is for families with children ages 3-7.
There is a $10 per child admission/material fee, which includes a participating adult. 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. Please note: registration for this program closes at 4 pm on Friday, 9/20.

Sign Up Here!

Young Environmentalists Society (YES!) Meeting
2024-09-28 10:30 | SOFO
SOFO’s Young Environmentalists Society (YES!) is led by Mare Dianora, an interdisciplinary artist whose practice involves building community and creating connections to home and place. YES! is open to young environmentalists, aged 10-16 (and Junior members ages 5-9), who want to help prevent climate change as they discuss various challenges and ideas that can impact our precious environment. The program includes guest speakers and field trips and explores topics such as climate change, aquaculture, environmental career goals, water conservation, local ecology, and more.
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 FREE program is for ages 10-16. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Seining for Tropicals
2024-09-28 10:30 | 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: Jake Kushner, SOFO Reptile & Amphibian Specialist
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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Kayak Tour of East Shinnecock Bay
2024-09-28 16:00 - 18:00 | Southampton
Paddling in a kayak is often the perfect way to observe the wildlife that inhabits our coastal bays and estuaries. Osprey, herons, sea robins, blue-claw crabs, even Monarch butterflies can be found in the shallow waters and along the bay shores in late September. So, bring your own kayak or paddleboard and join Melanie for this 2-hour sunset tour of Eastern Shinnecock Bay’s sand flats and salt marshes.
Program Leader: Melanie Meade, SOFO Education Director
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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Story Time: Oak Tree Tales
2024-09-29 10:30 | SOFO
Join us as we read some stories about the important role of trees to our wild neighbors and explore the oaks and maples on the SOFO grounds.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Specialist
This program is for children ages 3-7.
For non-members, there is 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: Maintenance
2024-10-02

Andy Sabin’s Annual Salamander Log Rolling
2024-10-05 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.
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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Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center Animal Presentation: Raptors and More!
2024-10-05 14:00 - 15:00 | SOFO
Meet some of the animal ambassadors for wildlife from the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center. These animals were rehabilitated at the center but are unable to be released back to the wild for various reasons, so they are now acting as animal ambassadors for their species, helping educate about local wildlife.
Program leader: Tammy Flanell, Education Coordinator, Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center
This FREE program is for all ages. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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A Day in the Life of a SOFO Pond Pop-up Exhibit
2024-10-06 13:00 - 15:30 | SOFO
The ponds in Vineyard field are an important habitat for turtles, frogs, birds, and especially the Eastern Tiger Salamander but not without the tiny life found in the water and in the mud. We will have tanks, trays, magnifiers, and microscopes set out on tables on our bottom deck to help us all discover the secret life in our ponds. Join us the first Sunday of the month April through October. This is the last pop-up exhibit of the season.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Educator
This FREE program is for all ages. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Eastern Lead-backed Salamander Search
2024-10-12 09:30 | Bridgehampton
Join Jake for a chance to learn about the secret life of the Eastern Lead-backed Salamander. Although this salamander species is one of the most abundant vertebrates in forest habitats throughout the Northeast, they are rarely spotted on your average walk through the woods. These salamanders are fossorial, spending most of their time underground. As we roll logs and stones searching for these fascinating critters, we’ll learn about their life underground, as well as their importance in forest ecosystems. Please dress for wet/muddy conditions.
Program Leader: Jake Kushner, SOFO Environmental Educator and Reptile & Amphibian Specialist
This program is for adults, teens, 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.

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Long Pond Greenbelt 25th Annual Celebration
2024-10-12 10:00 - 13:00 | SOFO
Hike…Explore…Discover the Long Pond Greenbelt with a day of fun at Vineyard Field behind the South Fork Natural History Museum. Join us for guided trail walks, children’s crafts, and a “Meet the Animals” presentation with Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons.

Birding with Joe Giunta─Fall Migration at Promised Land
2024-10-13 08:00 - 11:00 | East Hampton
Joe Giunta, an 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 non-members, 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.

Sign Up Here!

Autumn Beach Walk
2024-10-13 10:30 | Hampton Bays
Join SOFO for a beach walk at Ponquogue Beach for an autumn walk. Learn about what we find on the beach and look for wildlife!
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!

MUSEUM CLOSED: Birthday Party (2 pm - 4 pm)
2024-10-13 14:00 - 16:00

Owl Prowl with Joe Giunta
2024-10-14 19:00 | SOFO
Listen for the whinnying sound of the Eastern Screech Owl or maybe even the seven-note hoot of the Great Horned Owl on this nighttime owl prowl that marks the beginning of our owls’ courtship season. Joe, an expert birder, will present a brief slide show and then take you into the field to call owls in for actual sightings. Bring binoculars and a flashlight. Limited enrollment.
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 non-members, 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.

Sign Up Here!

SOFO’s East End Outdoor Nature Education with Crystal at Montauk State Park, Montauk Point
2024-10-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Montauk
SOFO is offering a monthly program which will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and the following Saturday 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, October 16, 2024, exploring rocky ocean life, geology, and erosion at Montauk Point with some stories, simple nature journals, 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. She and Wyatt look forward to meeting you and learning with you! There is limited enrollment for this program.
For this program there will be a fee of $5 per child, which includes a participating adult. Advanced registrations are required for all events.

Sign Up Here!

Full Hunter’s Moon Hike with Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
2024-10-17 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 fox 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 the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO).
Co-sponsored by Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt & the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO).
Meet at the SOFO Museum parking lot, 377 Bridgehampton Turnpike, 200 yards north of the RR tracks. To register, email: greenbeltnews@aol.com.
Hike Leader: Jean Mc Dermott, 631-599-2391.

Young Birders Club Meeting
2024-10-19 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 10 AM 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 for you to use.
Club Leader: Frank Quevedo, SOFO Executive Director
This FREE program is for ages 8-18. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

Sign Up Here!

SOFO’s East End Outdoor Nature Education with Crystal at Montauk State Park, Montauk Point
2024-10-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Montauk
SOFO is offering a monthly program which will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and the following Saturday 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 Saturday, October 19, 2024, exploring rocky ocean life, geology, and erosion at Montauk Point with some stories, simple nature journals, 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. She and Wyatt look forward to meeting you and learning with you! There is limited enrollment for this program.
For this program there will be a fee of $5 per child, which includes a participating adult. Advanced registrations are required for all events. Please note: registration for this program closes at 4 pm on Friday, 10/18.

Sign Up Here!
