Spencer Crest Nature Center offers numerous community programs for both small and large groups. These events are hosted and presented by Nature Center staff, CCC faculty, and other members of the community with specialties in many different areas.

Each of these programs is offered on demand. If you or your group is interested in a program, even one not listed here, please call the Center so that arrangements can be made. We'd love to host your group through our continuing education and outreach programs. Call 607-962-9012 to request an event.

When?	Event	Description
February	Winter Bird Identification	Enhance your enjoyment of birds by attending our newly expanded bird identification workshop. This year you'll discover which birds call the Twin Tiers "home," what birds eat in the winter, and how to identify them. Learn about backyard bird feeding, providing nest boxes, and other ways to attract birds to your yard. Get involved by making your own feeders or take a guided walk looking for winter birds, and learn how your observations can help science. There will be something for everyone, from beginning to intermediate bird watchers, and for children and adults. Binoculars will be available, but bring your own if you have them.
Winter	Winter Jam with Local Musicians	Come join us for a sing-a-long by the fire! Bring your instruments and your voice; or, if you prefer, just enjoy the music-making festivities while sipping hot cocoa or mulled cider and munching on a variety of snacks. Well play and sing music of all kinds, so there will be something for everybody. Plan on having a fun-filled time throughout the evening and into the night! This program is offered two or three times a year in January, February, and March. It is appropriate for people of all ages.
November	Christmas Wreathmaking Workshop	Using materials you can find in the woods, you will create your own natural wreath. With a little imagination and elbow grease, you will take home a beautiful wreath symbolizing nature or Christmas that will last for weeks. We will supply frames, ribbon, and other decorations, but please bring your own pliers and a hammer. This program is one the Nature Center's Winter “Cabin Fever” events. Other craft workshops will also be held this time of year. This program is offered in November and is appropriate for adults and older children. Registration fee of $10.
June	Creatures of the Night	Have you ever heard a strange sound at night that gave you the goosebumps or made you jump right out of your skin? What was that weird scream or cackle coming from the forest at night? These questions and more will be answered in this program. Bring a flashlight and dress for the outdoors. If the weather permits, we'll take a night hike down to the pond to hear and hopefully see these creatures in the wild. This program is offered in June and is appropriate for nature enthusiasts of all ages.
July	Incredible Edibles	Don't just pull the weeds from your garden - stir fry them! You say you can't make it to the cafeteria for lunch? No problem: Just tear off a strip of white pine bark and fry it up with some bear grease. Learn about all kinds of wild edible plants and the poisonous ones as well. Dress for the outdoors because, if weather permits, we'll go outside to see the plants in their actual habitat. This program is offered in July and is appropriate for middle school children through adults.
September	Mushroom Foray	Take a hike to find fantastic fungi! Learn about these amazing organisms in nature and discover their importance, value, and relationship to other life. You will also learn to tell the difference between edible and deadly fungi. This program is offered in September and is appropriate for adults and older children. Dress for the weather because we'll trek deep into the forest to find even the most hidden mushrooms!
Fall and Spring	Backyard Bird Identification	Have you always wondered what that cute little black and white bird that flits to your bird feeder and "steals" one sunflower seed at a time is? What is making noise outside your bedroom window at 5 am every spring morning? Find out the answers to these questions and more at this exciting and informative program. This program is offered in the fall and spring and is appropriate for amateur and experienced bird enthusiasts of all ages.
Winter	Trees and Weeds in Winter	Jane Carver Roberts once wrote "A Season of Promise." What a healthy way to look at winter. All of the wildflowers and trees we enjoy in spring and summer don't just go away! They are there to enjoy in the winter too. Come learn how to identify hardwoods, herbs, and wildflowers in their season of rest by branching patterns, bark, bud, and other tricks of the trade. Dress warmly and bring binoculars.
May through October	Wildflower Walk	Wildflowers come in all colors and sizes and their beauty can be enjoyed May through October. There are hundreds of species of wildflowers at Spencer Crest, representing many plant families. Those in the woods generally bloom before the canopy of leaves shades them, while those in the meadow bloom successively, beginning with the tiny chickweed and ending with the snowy goldenrods. Please join us!
Spring	Life of a Honeybee	Have you ever wondered where a honeybee goes in the winter? Or what makes the queen so special? Or how many flowers the bees visit? If so, then we have the program for you! We'll introduce you to our live bee apiary that houses nearly 7,000 honeybees every spring. Come and join us all for a buzzing good time!
Spring thru Fall	Pond Study	Creepy, crawly things are one of our favorite subjects at Amelia Pond! Do you have any idea what lives in a bucket of mud? Try this fun activity as we dig from the bottom of the pond and watch for life as the sun warms the mud. Why is such life so important to a pond? Come find out and get your knees dirty!
Anytime	Backyard Forestry and Wildlife Management	If your home or cottage is located on one, five, or even more acres, there are different projects you can complete to improve the forest health and diversity, as well as increase the spectrum of wildlife. This program will present these different techniques through instruction and field observation.
Anytime	Home Brewing Workshop	What do water, barley, and hops have in common? They're all ingredients in beer! Have you ever wondered the ins and outs of brewing your own beer? If so, then this workshop is for you. With a little time and a great passion for beer, you can master brewing and make good bottled beer for as little as 50 cents a bottle. Come learn how!
Spring thru Fall	Pet Rocks	So many different colors, shapes, sizes, textures, and so little time. What happens when lightning hits sand? Why is garnet used to cover driveways in the Adirondacks? What kind of rock are you looking at? Join us for an exciting look at fossils and how they were formed. Find your favorite "geological" friend and give it a face and name!
Anytime	Birding Journal for Juniors	How about a nice hike through woods and meadows? No, we're not looking for grandma's house this time! Ever wonder where birds go on a rainy day? Start your own birding journal while listening and sighting our feathered friends. Learn how to use binoculars and a field guide. Introduce yourself to those happy characters at your bird feeder.