There will be activities and crafts for children; food and baked goods
for sale; vegetables and house plants for sale; Open Barn Tours – come
see our new baby calf, lambs and piglets; sheep shearing at 1:00 p.m. by
Steve Fink; guest appearances from Smokey Bear; live music by the
Howland Wolves; gift shop; and informational tables and demonstrations
by the following organizations: Common Ground Farm, Cornell Cooperative
Extension Dutchess County Master Gardeners, Dutchess County
Environmental Management Council, Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, Hudson Valley Wood Carvers, Mid-Hudson Trout Unlimited, Mountain Scout Survival Camp, Sharpe Reservation – Fresh Air Fund, Stony Kill Foundation, Inc. and the Verplanck Garden Club.

For further information, call 845-831-1617 or email us at
foundation@stonykill.org.

On Sunday, April 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Barn Classroom, adults are invited to join us in welcoming spring at our Embroider an Easter Egg Wall Hanging workshop. The workshop includes history of the
needle art, demonstration of the stitches, step by step instruction, tea
and light repast, as well as all supplies. Pre-registration is required
and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis by calling
845-831-1617. The fee for the workshop is $20.00 per person.

Pre-registration is required and will be accepted on a first-come,  first-served basis by calling 845-831-1617.  There is a program  participation fee of $2.50 per child, to cover the cost of the program  supplies.  The fee can be paid upon arrival on the day of the event. All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian (over the age of 21).

For further information, call 831-1617.

Nature Discovery After-School Program
Thursdays, October 7, 14, 21 and 28
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
For school-aged children and their caregivers. The crisp days of autumn
will soon be upon us—a perfect time to bring your children to Stony
Kill to enjoy and explore the outdoors together with a Stony Kill
naturalist. There is plenty to see as plants and animals prepare for the
coming winter: wildflowers going to seed, migrating birds and monarch
butterflies, squirrels gathering up and storing food. We’ll watch for
groundhogs, too, eating as much as they can to increase their body fat
in preparation for the long hibernation ahead.

Saturday Morning Guided Nature Walks
Saturdays, October 9, 16, 23 and 30
10:00 AM
We’ll see glorious colors come and go as the leaves on our trees turn
various hues and then fall to the earth. Each Saturday we will walk a
different area at Stony Kill to see what the different types of trees
and bushes are doing and how animals are preparing for the cold months
ahead.

Open Barn
Saturdays thru October
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Meet the livestock that live at Stony Kill Farm and learn interesting
facts about them and about sustainable farming. Learn where your food
comes from and the importance of open space.

Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 2
Noon to 5:00 PM
A crisp fall day is perfect for celebrating the harvest at Stony Kill.
Live music by local musicians Pete Seeger, Chris Rhue and Jen Clapp.
Join in the celebration, with activities and information for all ages:
DEC’s invasive forest pests, a live raptor presentation with wildlife
educator Bill Robinson, nature and recycled crafts, green gardening and
green living. Light refreshments available for purchase. Rain or shine.

Family Fun: Leaf Art
Saturday, October 9
2:00 PM
We’ll begin outdoors by exploring the wide variety of leaf shapes and
colors at Stony Kill in fall as we talk about the processes trees and
shrubs go through in preparation for winter. We’ll gather up some of
our colorful finds and use them to create fabulous leaf pictures to take
home. Meet at the Learning Center (behind the Visitor Center).

Autumn Ablaze
Saturday, October 16
2:00 PM
Reds, oranges and golds abound! Discover the chemistry behind the
annual fall foliage display. Wear clothing appropriate for a hike and
meet at the Sierra Trail on Red Schoolhouse Road.

Natural Dyes and Inks
Saturday, October 23
2:00 PM
Join a naturalist for a guided walk around Stony Kill and learn about
local plants and how to make dyes and inks from them. Use some
pre-prepared natural inks to paint a picture of Stony Kill.

Night Hike
Saturday, October 30
5:00 PM
On the night before Halloween, come out and explore a side of Stony
Kill you have never seen. Bat observation, night vision experiments and
night sounds will all be explored. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants, and
bring a flashlight. Costumes are strongly encouraged.

Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Dress
for the weather; programs include indoor activities and outdoor
exploring. All programs are approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long,
unless otherwise stated.

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 Stony Kill’s website at
www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html for a listing of more programs and
activities you and your family can take part in. From the website, you
can also join a listserve and be among the first to learn 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. Learn more by visiting “Watchable Wildlife” at
www.dec.ny.gov.

Nature Discovery After-School Program

Thursdays, September 23 and 30
October 7, 14, 21 and 28
November 4 and 18
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

For school-aged children and their caregivers. The crisp days of autumn
will soon be upon us—a perfect time to bring your children to Stony
Kill to enjoy and explore the outdoors together with a Stony Kill
naturalist. There is plenty to see as plants and animals prepare for the
coming winter: wildflowers going to seed, migrating birds and monarch
butterflies, squirrels gathering up and storing food. We’ll watch for
groundhogs, too, eating as much as they can to increase their body fat
in preparation for the long hibernation ahead.

Open Barn

Saturdays thru October
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Meet the livestock that live at Stony Kill Farm and learn interesting
facts about them and about sustainable farming. Learn where your food
comes from and the importance of open space.

Watchable Wildlife along the Freedom Trail (Hudson River Ramble Series)

Saturday, September 18 at 10:00 AM
This 2½-mile trail wanders over diverse terrain including rock walls,
hills, wetlands, fields and forest. It is one of our more secluded areas
where deer, woodpeckers, foxes, raccoons and opossums may be found.

Saturday Afternoon Guided Nature Walk

Saturday September 18 and 25 at 2:00 PM
We’ll see glorious colors come and go as the leaves on our trees turn
various hues and then fall to the earth. Each Saturday we’ll explore a
different area at Stony Kill to see what the different trees and bushes
are doing and how animals are preparing for the cold months ahead.

Watchable Wildlife along the Sierra Trail (Hudson River Ramble Series)

Saturday, September 25 at 10:00 AM
This two-mile trail passes through hardwood forest, evergreen woods,
wetland and open meadow habitats, supporting a broad array of plant and
animal life. It also skirts a small pond where a variety of waterfowl,
frogs, turtles and other creatures may be found. Beaver signs abound.

Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Dress
for the weather; programs include indoor activities and outdoor
exploring. All programs are approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long,
unless otherwise stated.

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is operated by the NYS
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 Stony Kill’s website at

www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html

for a listing of more programs and
activities you and your family can take part in. From the website, you
can also join a listserve and be among the first to learn 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. Learn more by visiting “Watchable Wildlife” at
www.dec.ny.gov

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.

Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Dress
for the weather; programs include indoor activities and outdoor
exploring. All programs are approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long,
unless otherwise stated. We recommend bringing water and applying
sunscreen and/or bug repellant at home.

Family Program: Open Barn
Saturdays throughout July from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
We’ll meet the livestock that live at Stony Kill Farm and learn
interesting facts about them. Learn where your food comes from and the
importance of open space. Meet at the barn.

Saturday Afternoon Guided Nature Walks
Saturdays throughout, July at 2:00 PM
Summertime is here! Stony Kill Farm staff will guide individuals on a
nature walk every Saturday at 2:00 PM through August. Venturing outside
brings personal rewards as we discover the sights, sounds and smells of
summer. Chirping birds, scenic landscapes and the comings and goings of
animals that leave their tracks and traces behind all contribute to an
exciting walk in the woods. Bring a container of water and meet us at
the Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center. (Please apply any bug
repellant at home.) A camera or binoculars may prove to be a good
accessory to bring also.

Basic Compass Use/Orienteering
Saturday, July 3 at 10:00 AM
Learn a simple skill that can keep you safe in the woods; the basic
operation of a compass. Navigate through our orienteering course for
novices and those that want to practice their outdoor skills. Attendees
should wear long pants and sneakers, no flip flops or sandals please.

Nature Games for Kids and Their Caregivers
Saturday, July 10 at 10:00 AM
Through games and activities, learn more about the creatures that call
New York State home – their habits, habitats and some of their
challenges to survive. (most suitable for children ages 7 and up).

Summer Fruits
Saturday, July 17 at 10:00 AM
What do mulberry, poison ivy and partridge berry have in common? They
are three kinds of plants that produce berries that are great wildlife
food. On this walk we will fruit producing plants and talk about the
animals that enjoy them.

Plants that Animals Eat and Use
Saturday, July 24 at 10:00 AM
What are some of the plants that our local animals depend on for food
and shelter? Can we find evidence of where animals have found a meal or
created a home?

Discovery Table
Saturday July 31 from 10:00 AM – Noon
Pelts, bones, fossils, skin and antlers are just some of the things we
will have on display for you to touch. Come explore these artifacts of
native New York animals. Rain location: Learning Center.

For more information about Stony Kill Farm please call 845-831-8780,
ext. 300. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is operated by
the NYS 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 Stony Kill’s website at
www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html for a listing of more programs and
activities you and your family can take part in. From the website, you
can also join a listserve and be among the first to learn 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. Learn more by visiting “Watchable Wildlife” at
www.dec.ny.gov.

Don’t know what to get mom for Mother’s Day?  Eager to start your vegetable garden?  Ready to plant your flower beds?  Then, come to the Annual Pre-Mother’s Day Plant Sale sponsored by the Verplanck Garden Club on Saturday, May 8 from 9:00 a.m. until noon at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, New York where a good variety of homegrown perennials, hanging baskets, annuals, bedding plants and vegetables will be available, all at reasonable prices.

Enjoy a complimentary coffee and pastry while browsing the many varieties of plants such as geraniums, impatiens, snapdragons, petunias, parsley, peppers, tomatoes and more.

And there is more.  Master gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions.  Take a chance on a garden related raffle gift.  Bring the children so they can participate in the free children’s activities, making a gift and cards for Mother’s Day.

Contact Bonnie Detweiler, Verplanck Garden Club member, at 845-838-3854 for more information about the plant sale.  The Verplanck Garden Club’s mission is to encourage interest in, and education of our community in all phases of home gardening, sound horticultural practices, civic beautification, the conservation of our natural resources, and the enhancement of the grounds of Stony Kill Farm Environmental Center.

Education Consulting
P.O. Box 39
Southfields, NY 10975
(845)351-2967

Organized groups who wish to take part, such as scout groups, are asked to call at least one week in advance to reserve a time slot.

Participants will engage in the entire maple sugaring process from sap to syrup, as they watch the crystal-clear sap drip from the tapped trees, smell the sap boiling in the evaporator, touch the rough bark while they twirl a drill and pound a spile, and of course, taste the final product-maple syrup!

The program encourages an appreciation of forest resources and an understanding of how people depend on, and affect, the natural environment. Participants will appreciate why the sugar maple has been named New York’s official state tree.

This program is free. All ages welcome. Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center. Classes take place completely outdoors. In the event of inclement weather, some of the class may be taught indoors, but participants will still go outdoors to inspect the trees.

For more information about Stony Kill Farm please call 845-831-8780, ext. 300. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is operated by the NYS 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 Stony Kill’s website at www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html for a listing of more programs and activities you and your family can take part in. From the website, you can also join a listserve and be among the first to learn 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. Learn more by visiting “Watchable Wildlife” at www.dec.ny.gov

Stony Kill Farm Offers Free Nature Programs

Unique outdoor opportunities await you this March at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center as we begin to see and explore the early signs of spring. March is the time for gathering sap from the sugar maple tree! Join us at the “Superb Sugars” and the Backyard Maple Sugaring programs for a hands-on, once a year program experience. Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Dress for the weather; programs include indoor activities and outdoor exploring. All programs are approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long, unless otherwise stated and are FREE.

Thursdays in March from 4:00 – 5:00 PM After-School Program – “Superb Sugars” For school-aged children and their caregivers Engage in the entire maple sugaring process from sap to syrup, and taste the sweet result. This program encourages an appreciation of forest resources and an understanding of how people depend on, and affect, the natural environment. Participants will use all five senses during this class as they watch the crystal-clear sap drip from the tapped trees, smell the sap boiling in the evaporator, touch the rough bark while they twirl a drill and pound a spile and, of course, taste the final product-maple syrup!

This class will be repeated each Thursday during March, from 4:00 to 5:00 PM as part of our regularly scheduled after-school program. Individuals and families need not call ahead. Organized groups who wish to take part in “Superb Sugars”, such as scout groups, are asked to call at least one week in advance to schedule a date and time.

Classes take place completely outdoors. In the event of inclement weather, some of the class may be taught indoors, but participants will still go outdoors to inspect the trees.

Saturdays in March at 10:00 AM Guided Nature Walks Nature slowly starts to wake up this month. Join us as we search for some early signs of spring. This program is repeated each Saturday during March at 10:00 AM.

Saturday, March 6, 2:00 PM Muddy March March can be a chilly, sloppy month, but don’t let that stop you from getting outdoors. Apply a waterproof substance to your hiking boots and join us for a walk on the Sierra Trail. Meet at the Sierra Trail parking lot.

Saturday, March 13, 2:00 PM Backyard Maple Sugaring Discover how to participate in one of New York State’s oldest farm and forest traditions. Learn how to recognize and tap sugar maple trees and how to boil their sap down to delicious syrup.

Saturday, March 20, 2:00 PM Green Thumb Blues Defrost those green thumbs with a visit to Stony Kill’s greenhouse. Learn about maintaining a greenhouse and how to prepare for spring planting.

Saturday, March 27, 2:00 PM Walking with Cold Blood Come join the Stony Kill staff as we walk on the cold-blooded side of life along Stony Kill’s trails, searching for and learning about the emerging reptiles and amphibians. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

For more information about Stony Kill Farm please call 845-831-8780, ext. 300. Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is operated by the NYS 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 Stony Kill’s website at www.dec.ny.gov/education/1833.html for a listing of more programs and activities you and your family can take part in. From the website, you can also join a listserve and be among the first to learn 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. Learn more by visiting “Watchable Wildlife” at www.dec.ny.gov.