Saturday, August 14 will be an exciting day as Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center celebrates their annual Butterfly Festival from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Butterflies, caterpillars and chrysalises will be the focal point at this free public event, during which a screen tent will temporarily house live butterflies for the day. Families can take turns entering the tent to get close to monarchs, eastern tiger swallowtails, spicebush swallowtails and great spangled fritillaries. Maybe a butterfly will walk on your finger! The butterflies will be released during a ceremony at the closing of the event.
Other activities throughout the day include butterfly crafts, nature games and learning about insects, thanks to AmeriCorps members of the Student Conservation Association. Visitors are invited to explore the paths of Stony Kill’s perennial garden to view more butterflies. Volunteers who maintain the gardens will be on hand to share information about gardening for butterflies and other wildlife. Volunteers from the Stony Kill Foundation and the Verplanck Garden Club will have refreshments for sale.
For more information, please call 845-831-8780, ext 300.
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and is located on Route 9D in Wappingers Falls, about 2 miles north of the Beacon-Newburgh bridge (I-84). Visit www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html for a listing of scheduled programs and activities at Stony Kill. From the website, you can also join a listserve and be among the first to know about special programs and events at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center.
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is a designated New York State Watchable Wildlife site, where wildlife viewing opportunities abound. Visit www.dec.ny.gov to learn more about Watchable Wildlife.
