02/25/2021
The Sterling Nature Center is located in northern Cayuga County on Jensvold Road, one mile north of the Sterling Renaissance Festival. For more information, email snc@cayugacounty.us, or find us on Facebook and at www.cayugacounty.us or call the center at 315-947-6143. The trails and grounds are open sunrise to sunset daily so we can get some fresh air and enjoy open space while maintaining an appropriate social distance.
PLEASE NOTE: We are scheduling in person outdoor programs with limited group size. Preregistration is required and participates must wear a mask. We are also continuing with monthly Facebook Live programs. Programs are subject to change due to current events. Preregister for programs by emailing snc@cayugacounty.us All Programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please remember to dress for the weather by Lake Ontario.
The in person programs will start from the Parking Lot Kiosk so you can wait in your car until the walk begins. All participants must preregister by emailing SNC@CAYUGACOUNTY.US and wear a mask. Please remember to dress for the weather by Lake Ontario.
Cayuga Naturally 2021 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 official entry form email snc@cayugacounty.us or send a stamped self-addressed envelope to: SNC Photo, PO Box 216 Sterling NY, 13156.
Sunset-Moonrise Walk
Saturday February 27 at 5:30pm
February can be a very cold month that makes us want to stay inside but if we do venture out there are many wonderful winter sights to enjoy. The sun setting over Lake Ontario, the tracks of wildlife through the snow covered woodlands, and the rising of the Snow Moon are a few sights we can enjoy on this winter hike. (February’s full moon is traditionally call the Snow or Hunger Moon). The in person programs will start from the Parking Lot Kiosk so you can wait in your car until the walk begins. All participants must preregister by emailing SNC@CAYUGACOUNTY.US and wear a mask. Please remember to dress for the weather by Lake Ontario.
Writing about Nature in Winter
Sunday February 28, 3pm
Join Laura Donnelly for a virtual writing workshop to benefit the Sterling Nature Center! In this online session, we will look at poetry and nonfiction that explores the natural world in winter. Pre-registration is required with a minimum $5 donation. For more information go to: htts://charity.gofundme.com/o/oe/campaign/writing-about-nature-in-winter
Laura is an author, an Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at SUNY Oswego, and a member of the board for the Friends of Sterling Nature Center.
In Search of Owls
Friday March 12, 1pm, Saturday March 13, 1pm
There are at least three species of owls that nest at the Sterling Nature Center. We will take a long hike in search of owls nesting and roosting at the nature center. We will check the Beaver Wetland to see if the great horned owls are nesting there this year and then continue to search for screech, saw whet, long-eared & barred owls along the trails. The in person programs will start from the Parking Lot Kiosk so you can wait in your car until the walk begins. All participants must preregister by emailing SNC@CAYUGACOUNTY.US and wear a mask. Please remember to dress for the weather by Lake Ontario.
Signs of Spring
Friday March 19, 1pm
Saturday March 20
• Facebook Live 10am
• In Person Walk 1pm
Spring will arrive next week but does it feel like spring yet at the Sterling Nature Center? There could be early spring wildlife like nesting great horned owls, courting great blue herons, migrating blackbirds, river otter activity or other surprises to discover. Join us for a walk to seek out signs that spring is upon us. The in person programs will start from the Parking Lot Kiosk so you can wait in your car until the walk begins. All participants must preregister by emailing SNC@CAYUGACOUNTY.US and wear a mask. Please remember to dress for the weather by Lake Ontario.
To learn more the Sterling Nature Center, visit their Facebook page.
