South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center

Young Birders Club Meeting
2023-09-16 10:00 (America/New_York) | SOFO
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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Nature Hike Along a Section of the Paumanok Path
2023-09-16 08:30 - 10:00 | Bridgehampton
Join us for a moderately-paced 4-mile hike through oak forest with views of glacial erratics and kettle holes. This unique and varied terrain has interesting ponds and streams.
Hike Leader: Dai Dayton, President, Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
This FREE program is for all ages.

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Zenergy, Outdoor Movement Class with Karen Meyer
2023-09-14 16:30 - 17:30, 2023-09-11 16:30 - 17:30, 2023-08-31 16:30 - 17:30, 2023-08-28 16:30 - 17:30, 2023-08-24 16:30 - 17:30, 2023-08-21 16:30 - 17:30, 2023-08-17 16:30 - 17:30, 2023-08-14 16:30 - 17:30 and 2 more dates | 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: Maintenance
2023-09-12, 2023-09-06 | SOFO

Parrish Art Museum 2023 Road Show at SOFO – Opening - Hiroyuki Hamada: Matter on Ground
2023-09-09 15:00 | SOFO
For the 2023 Parrish Road Show, the Parrish Art Museum has invited Hiroyuki Hamada (Japanese, born 1968) to create an outdoor, site-specific exhibition at the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center (SOFO). The Opening Reception will take place on Saturday, September 9 at 3pm, when Hamada will speak about how work exhibited outdoors differs from that created to be seen indoors, the importance of nature in his work, and the thinking and feeling that has enabled him to create this site-specific body of work. Light refreshments will be served.
The exhibition opens on September 9 and will be on view through October 10.
This FREE program is for all ages.

Birding with Frank─Celebrate World Shorebirds Day
2023-09-07 08:00 | Southampton
The Global Shorebird Counts, held every year around World Shorebirds Day (6 September), is one of the key events of World Shorebirds Day. This program demonstrates the importance of fieldwork, supports observers in improving counting skills, contributes to the increase of the number of birdwatchers and scientists monitoring shorebirds worldwide, and pledges new citizen scientists to the world’s largest bird database program.
Why count shorebirds?
Regular counts carried out by thousands of volunteers and professionals worldwide can reveal distribution, population trend, or abundance of any species which is fundamental to the assessment of their status. Bird monitoring is a key tool to determine whether a population of a bird species is declining or increasing and/or needs coordinated conservation efforts or not.
Bring binoculars! It is recommended to bring a field guide to Birds of North America.
Birding Leader: Frank Quevedo, Executive Director, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO)
This FREE program is for adults, teens, and children ages eight and older.

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Sunset Nature Tour of North Sea Harbor by Kayak– Bring Your Own Kayak or Paddle Board or Rent from East End Explorer
2023-09-05 17:30 | Southampton
On this sunset nature tour our paddle begins at the Conscience Point Historic Site in Southampton. We’ll launch vessels from the non-motorized ramp and paddle north around the point toward the Conscience Point Shellfish Hatchery. There we’ll take a moment to paddle near the floating oyster cages and sorting/tumbling barge. We’ll briefly discuss some of the benefits of shellfish farming as well as the basics of the aquaculture process. As we move further along, we’ll enter Conscience Point National Wildlife Preserve. While there we’ll paddle through tidal creeks into Serenity Pond, a beautiful tidal pond surrounded by nature preserve. We’ll then take five to ten minutes to practice a mindful meditation as we float in the pond. Following meditation, we’ll continue back down the tidal creeks en route to one of the harbors accessible shorelines. Along the way we’ll keep an eye out for some of the local fauna that frequent the area; white tail deer, turkeys, red fox, osprey, and an array of other wildlife which are often spotted hunting and foraging in the back tidal creeks. Once we land on a suitable beach, there will be an opportunity to stop for a snack, stretch your legs, or have a swim. From the shore we may pull seine nets, catch crabs, learn to dig for clams, or take an exploratory beach walk, depending on tidal conditions. Following our beachside explorations, we’ll load the boats back into the water and paddle back to where we began, the Conscience Point Historic Site.
Nature Tour leader: Eric Wurzburg, East End Explorer
Please be sure to pack the following: Water, clothes you can get wet, a snack, sunscreen, bug spray, a dry towel to leave in the car, water shoes (optional), dry bag, and a camera.
This program is for adults, teens, and children ages seven and older accompanied by an adult.
Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available from East End Explorer (https://eastendexplorer.com/). The rental fees are: $75 single kayak, $110 double kayak, $90 stand-up paddleboard, or bring your own kayak or paddleboard.
To contact East End Explorer by phone or email, please use the following information: phone 631-353-5552, email paddletour@gmail.com.
This program is FREE for SOFO members, non-member fees are $15 per adult, $10 per child. This doesn’t include the fee for rental of kayak or paddleboard.

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MUSEUM CLOSED: Private Event
2023-09-04 13:30 - 16:00 | SOFO

A Day in the Life of a SOFO Pond─A Pop-up Exhibit
2023-09-03 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 have to get into 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, leaving plenty of time for the mud to settle and creatures to start moving, and help collect and identify the secret life in the pond using 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 has changed from a spring pond to a summer pond!
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor 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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Snapping Turtles─Andy Sabin's Annual Prehistoric Monster Hunt
2023-09-02 10:00 | SOFO
Of ancient lineage, the Snapping Turtle—which can grow to a length of three feet from head to tail and weigh as much as 70 pounds—will be the main subject of this annual adventure with Andy. You’ll also get to know the Eastern Painted Turtle and perhaps meet up with the aptly named Stinkpot Turtle. Children love this annual walk!
Hunt Leader: Andy Sabin, President, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Board of Directors
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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Full Blue Super Moon Hike with Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
2023-08-30 20:30 | SOFO
Join Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt and South Fork Natural History Society on a leisurely-paced hike through open-field trails. Whenever two full Moons appear in a single month, the second is christened a “Blue Moon.” Due to our calendar days, the appearance of a Blue Moon is actually a relatively rare occurrence as one rises on average only once every 2 1/2 to 3 years.
This FREE program is for all ages.

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Make Your Own Fish Print T-Shirt & Learn About Local Fishes with Al and Sue Daniels
2023-08-26 10:00 | SOFO
In this popular, delightful—and what has become an annual—hands-on workshop, children and their adult companions will learn about the variety of fishes in our waters while making their own colorful fish-print T-shirts to take home and wear with pride.
This program is for adults, teens, and children ages 5 and older with an adult companion.
Program presenters: Al and Sue Daniels
Please bring a smock or cover-up. Limited enrollment, please reserve now.
There is a materials fee of $12 per person for T-shirts and supplies. 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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Summer Star Party (A Free, In-Person Event)
2023-08-23 20:00 - 22:00 | SOFO
Hamptons Observatory and SOFO are pleased to present a 30-minute in-person talk by NASA Solar System Ambassador, William Francis Taylor, who’ll discuss the constellations and planets that are now visible. Afterwards, we’ll all head outside for a star party and enjoy a guided tour of the night sky through telescopes.
Program leader: Hamptons Observatory’s Senior Educator, William Francis Taylor. William has been a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador since 2014, helping others learn about and appreciate the universe in which we live.
This program is for adults, teens, and children interested in astronomy.
This event will only take place if the skies are clear. Feel free to BYOT—Bring Your Own Telescope. Tickets are limited.
Make your reservations at: https://SummerStarParty.eventbrite.com

About the Hamptons Observatory
Hamptons Observatory (HO), a 501(c)(3) NYS nonprofit that relies on public support, has served the community since 2005. Its mission: to foster interest in science, particularly astronomy, through educational programs. Lectures, star parties, portable planetarium shows, and other events are held, often in collaboration with other nonprofit organizations. Hamptons Observatory offers all of its programs free-of-charge (although donations are much appreciated) so that everyone can learn about and enjoy the universe around them. To join our email list for event notices, email: HamptonsObservatory@gmail.com.

Seining with SOFO
2023-08-19 10:30 | Sag Harbor
Join us for an exciting adventure at the Sag Harbor shoreline where we will together pull a seine net to collect marine animals that inhabit the waters of the near-shore, scalloped-out, portion of the Shelter Island Sound. Will you get up close to crustaceans or finfish or both? Only one way to find out! Get in your bathing suit, put on your water shoes, and meet up at the water’s edge! But … don’t forget to contact SOFO to make a reservation!
Program leader: 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.

Sign Up Here!

Young Birders Club Meeting
2023-08-19 10:00 | SOFO
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 10 AM on the third Saturday or Sunday 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!

2023 Annual Panel Discussion with the SOFO Shark Research and Education Team and Q&A
2023-08-16 14:00 | SOFO
Join us for an update on the successes of this year’s field season, ask the Team your shark questions, and find out how they go about their shark studies.
In addition, you’ll find out about the second year of the Team’s affiliation with the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) project to evaluate the potential impacts on various shark species from undersea power transmission cables which are planned by the Sunrise Wind Project.
Program Presenters: SOFO Shark Research and Education Team
This FREE program is for all ages. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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SOFO’s East End Outdoor Nature Education Program with Crystal at Inlet Pond County Park, Greenport
2023-08-16 13:00 | Greenport
This program is a part of the SOFO series of outdoor education programs held monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. It is geared toward homeschooling families, but all families are welcome to take part. Crystal has designed these programs to include a variety of activities to strengthen language development, literacy, math, and science. Programs will take place at various locations on the Twin Forks of Eastern Long Island. This, the second of the series, is at Inlet Pond County Park in Greenport.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl-Oakes, SOFO Environmental Outdoor Education Specialist
This program is for children ages 3-7
For the program there is a charge of $5 per child. The fee includes the participating adult. Enrollment is limited for each program.

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Befriending Bugs with Jeffry Petracca
2023-08-12 18:00 - 19:30 | 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 ages 4 and older. Advanced reservations are required for all events.

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Birding with Frank─Shorebirds at Shinnecock
2023-08-12 11:00 | Shinnecock
Summer is the best time to view some of the fifty or more species of shorebirds that comb the beaches, sand flats, and marshes of Long Island. On this walk, we will visit Shinnecock Bay in Southampton and focus on plovers, yellowlegs, oystercatchers, and sandpipers as they feed by wading in shallow waters.
Walk Leader: Frank Quevedo, SOFO Executive Director
This program is for adults, teens, and children ages 8 and older.
For nonmembers, there is a $15 fee for Adults and $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: Outreach Event
2023-08-06 13:00 - 16:00 | SOFO
