Events at Sterling Nature Center

Friends of Sterling Events

2023 events postponed due to construction. 

Programming

2023

Calendar of Events: PLEASE NOTE: Programs are subject to change due to current events.  Email snc@cayugacounty.us to pre-register for programs.  All Programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please remember to dress for the weather by Lake Ontario.

Cayuga Naturally 2023 Photo Contest

Cayuga County is a diverse and wonderful place filled with nature’s best from the shore of Lake Ontario to the heart of the Finger Lakes.  Capture your favorite place for hiking, canoeing, fishing, hunting or other outdoor activity as well as the beauty of the streams, lakes, trees, wildflowers, birds, animals and other aspects of nature.  All photos must be taken within Cayuga County and be of nature related subjects.  For an official entry form and contest rules send a stamped self-addressed envelope to: SNC Photo, PO Box 216 Sterling NY, 13156 or email snc@cayugacounty.us. 

Monarch Migration and Tagging Workshop

Friday August 25 at 11am

Saturday August 26 at 11am 

Sunday September 3 at 11am 

Friday September 8 at 11am

Saturday September 9 at 11am 

The Sterling Nature Center is a roosting and feeding resource for migrating monarch butterflies. Join us for a presentation on the life cycle and migration patterns of monarch butterflies. We will also cover identifying monarch butterflies, differentiating them from viceroy butterflies, how to determine gender, and explain the tagging program and procedure. Data collected will be submitted to Monarch Watch, the organization that oversees the international monarch tagging program. We will then go out into the field for a demonstration of netting and tagging, weather permitting. Participation is limited; please email the center at snc@cayugacounty.us to reserve a spot.

Once in a Blue Moon Walk

Wednesday August 30, 7:15pm

A Calendar Blue Moon is the second full moon during a calendar month, this is not the traditional Seasonal Blue Moon but a more modern version. No matter the type of Blue Moon occurring, the light of a full moon gives us a great opportunity for an evening hike. What interesting wildlife will be active Once in a Blue Moon, maybe some bats, owls, deer, and beavers or just a nice sunset and moon rise to observer and enjoy. The program will start at the Lake View Deck where we will watch the setting sun before heading out to catch the rising blue moon, as an added bonus this full moon is also a supper-moon. The sun will set around 7:45pm and the moon will rise around 7:57pm but usually takes longer to clear the eastern horizon, giving us time to find a nice vantage point.

Wandering Naturalist

Friday September 1, 4pm

Take a meandering walk to observe and connect with the flora and fauna of the Sterling Nature Center in search of the wonders that may be found when we take the time to slow down and observe. Photography, journaling or just being intentionally curious about the natural world around us is encouraged. There may be time we just stop to wait, look, and listen at the wildlife around or observe their patterns of behavior. What we encounter will be according to the season and activity of the flora and fauna of that time.

International Vulture Awareness Day

Saturday September 2 at 1pm

Join Naturalist Jim D’Angelo for an exploration of the turkey vulture in celebration of International Vulture Awareness Day. We will look into their adaptations, natural history and lifestyle to learn why and how they do their vital work of keeping our environment clean and healthy.

Monarch Migration and Tagging Workshop

Sunday September 3 at 11am 

Friday September 8 at 11am

Saturday September 9 at 11am 

The Sterling Nature Center is a roosting and feeding resource for migrating monarch butterflies. Join us for a presentation on the life cycle and migration patterns of monarch butterflies. We will also cover identifying monarch butterflies, differentiating them from viceroy butterflies, how to determine gender, and explain the tagging program and procedure. Data collected will be submitted to Monarch Watch, the organization that oversees the international monarch tagging program. We will then go out into the field for a demonstration of netting and tagging, weather permitting. Participation is limited; please email the center at snc@cayugacounty.us to reserve a spot.

Food Booth at the Fall Jamboree

September 16 & 17, 11am to 5pm

Stop by and say hi while you get your hamburgers & hotdogs in support of the Friends of the Sterling Nature Center. Volunteers are needed to help run the booth, please email Christine if you are interested in helping, sncvolunteers2021@gmail.com

Coastal Clean-up

Saturday September 23, 10am - 12pm

Think globally and act locally in support of your environment!!! Join the Sterling Nature Center in cleaning up the Lake Ontario shore. The Sterling Nature Center's annual fall beach cleanup is your opportunity to THINK about the GLOBLE ENVIRONMENT and ACT LOCALLY to help make a difference. Join other volunteers to help clean up the Lake Ontario shoreline; bags and gloves will be available but you are welcome to bring your own. Remember to dress for the weather and that the lakeshore can be cooler and windier than inland this time of year. Some light snacks will be available after the work is done.

Sunset-Full Moon Walk

Friday September 29, 6:30pm

This September’s full moon is the Harvest Moon.  The Harvest Moon is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox (which was September 23 this year) and can occur in September or October. The light of the Harvest Moon provides extra time to complete the harvest or to go for a night hike. You never know what you might see or hear during a moon walk; owls, fox, deer or other creatures of the night. No matter what we observe it will be an interesting way to observe the wetlands, woodlands and fields by the light of the Moon.  The walk will start at the Lake View Deck with the sun setting around 6:40pm, then we will walk out to catch the Moon Rise over the Beaver Wetland.

A Day with the Eagles

Saturday September 30, 11am – 2pm

During their fall migration bald eagles stop and rest in the nature center’s wetlands or along the lake shore. Naturalist Jim D’Angelo will be stationed at the Beaver Wetland observation deck to answer your questions about the eagles, herons, mergansers, trumpeter swans, otters, beavers and other wildlife utilizing the wetland and sharing his observations and discussing their natural history and habits.

Cayuga Naturally 2023 Photography Contest

Entries due by October 7, 2023

All photos must be taken within Cayuga County and be of a nature related subjects. For an official entry form, send a stamped self-addressed envelope to: SNC Photo, PO Box 216 Sterling NY, 13156 or email snc@cayugacounty.us. All entries are due at the nature center or postmarked by October 7, 2023.

Fall Birding celebrating NYS Pathways through Natural History Fall Weekend

Friday October 6, 9am and 4pm

Saturday October 7, 1pm

Friday October 13, 9am

Saturday October 14, 9am – World Migratory Bird Day, Fall Edition

As the days are getting shorter and the weather slowly shifts toward winter, birds undertake their spectacular fall migration. We normally concentrate on spring migration, but avian migration happens twice a year as birds fly thousands of miles through the night.  Some will stop to rest and refuel along the way at the Sterling Nature Center giving us the opportunity to observe them. Enjoy the fall landscape as we seek out the birdlife of the Sterling Nature Center.

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay’s 4th Annual Local Landscape & Landmark Art Exhibit 

Opening Friday, October 20, 6 pm to 7:30 pm 

At the CNY Community Arts Center, 121 Cayuga St., Fulton

Partnering art associations include: CNY Community Arts, Salmon River Fine Arts Center, Fulton Art Association, Sterling Nature Center, Fair Haven Community Arts Center, Art Association of Oswego, Inc., and Lakeside Artisans

International Observe the Moon Night

Saturday October 21, 6pm

Join us and others around the world for NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night.  We will have some spotting scopes and binoculars available to take a closer look at some of the Moon’s features during this unique program to observe our closest celestial body, the Moon. “International Observe the Moon Night is an annual world-wide public engagement program that encourages observation, appreciation, and understanding of our Moon and its connection to NASA planetary science and exploration. Everyone on Earth is invited to join the celebration by hosting or attending an event. For more information about International Observe the Moon Night and how to get involved, visit moon.nasa.gov/observe.”

Sunset and Full Moon Walk

Saturday October 28, 5:45pm

October is a transition month with enjoyable Lake Ontario sunsets and the rising of the full moon are great ways to experience the changing seasons. This full moon is the Blood Moon, a.k.a. Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Hunter’s Moon, Harvest Moon, and the Sanguine Moon.  The light of the setting sun and rising Moon will provide an interesting setting for a night hike. You never know what we might see or hear, owls, fox, deer or other creatures of an autumn evening. Please remember to dress for the weather by Lake Ontario.

Apple Cider Weekend!

Saturday October 28, 11am to 2pm 

Sunday October 29, 11am to 2pm

Join us in creating fresh apple cider the old fashion way with a people powered fruit press. Help, grind, press, pasteurize, and best of all taste fresh apple cider. While going through the process we will discuss the history of apples, apple products, the apple growing industry and the many different varieties of apples. We may even have several different apple varieties grown by local orchards for you to take a taste test. You may discover a new favorite or an old standby as the one you like best. A special THANK YOU to Ontario Orchards for supplying the apples for this program.

Wandering Naturalist

Friday November 3, 10am

Exploration, Discovery, Learning, Inspiration and Tranquility await you in nature, come take a hike to observe, reflect and connect with the flora and fauna of the Sterling Nature Center.  We will meander along the trails in search of the wonders that may be found if we only take the time to slow down and observe. Photography, journaling or just being intentionally curious about the natural world around us will be encouraged. There may be times we just stop to wait, look and listen for the wildlife around or to observe patterns in their behavior.

Photo contest Awards

Saturday November 4 at 1pm

The winning entries of the Cayuga Naturally Photograph contest will be unveiled today with a presentation of awards and prizes taking place.

Owl Prowl 

Friday November 17 at 7pm

Saturday November 18 at 7pm

Discover how owls rule the night while we explore owl adaptations, hunting skills, where they roost and how to identify their calls.  The program will start with a discussion inside, followed by a night hike in search of owls. The program is free and open to the public.

Gift Shop Holiday Open House – Shop Small Weekend

Saturday November 25, 10am - 3pm

Sunday November 26, 10am - 3pm

The Friends of Sterling Nature Center will have special today only offers in conjunction with small business Saturday. There are many holiday gifts for the nature lover and the hard to buy for. Sterling Nature Center sweatshirts, hoodies and ornaments with great blue herons on them as well as books, toys and nick-knacks will be available.  There may even be some hot cider and doughnuts.

Wandering Naturalist

Friday December 1, 10am

Sunday December 3, 10am

Observe and connect with the flora and fauna of the Sterling Nature Center by meandering along the trails in search of the wonders that may be found if we only take the time to slow down and observe. Being intentionally curious about the natural world around us will be encouraged. There may be time we just stop to wait, look and listen for wildlife or to observe patterns in their behavior. What we encounter will be according to the season and activity of the flora and fauna of that time.

Winter Birds & Feeders

Friday December 8 at 1pm

Saturday December 9 at 1pm

One of the most popular winter wildlife activities in the US is watching and feeding birds at a feeding station. This program will help you identify the birds at your feeder and show you ways to create simple feeders. Participants will create a peanut butter and seed feeder to take home. A short winter bird walk will follow the indoor program.

Native Plant Seed Beads – Make and Take!

Friday December 15 at 1pm

Saturday December 16, 1pm

Native plants are essential to native wildlife and seed beads are a fun and simple way to plant them.  Explore the benefits of using native plants in your landscape and how they benefit native wildlife and the ecosystem.  Then make your own seed beads to help you get on your way to planting native wildflowers, they also make nice homemade holiday gifts.  Pre-registration is required and there is a $5 materials fee.

Winter Solstice Sunset Walk

Thursday December 21 at 4:15pm

Celebrate and embrace the first day of winter by taking a guided sunset walk to discover nature’s secret expression of the changing seasons. We will seek out the remnants of autumn and discover the beginning signs of winter. The program is free and open to the public and will start at the Lake View Observation Deck to watch the setting sun. (Thursday, December 21, 10:27 P.M. EST)

Year’s End Hike

Sunday December 31 at 1pm

What better way to end the year than with a hike along the trails of the Sterling Nature Center to see how the wildlife is celebrating the coming of a new year or more likely preparing for the winter weather ahead. Snowshoes will be available if needed.