1 hour guided trail rides through the forest, weather permitting.

Join us for an exploration of what the season has to offer

Sept. 13 & 14     History of Beaver Lake
Sept. 20 & 21     Autumn Leaves
Sept 27 & 28      Goose Migration       
Oct. 4 &  5         Fall Foliage
Oct. 11 & 12       Exploring The Autumn Bog
Oct. 18 & 19       Waterfowl Identification
Oct. 25 & 26       Owls, Bats & Witch Hazel
Nov. 1 &  2        Beaver Lake’s Beavers
Nov. 8 &  9        White-tailed Deer
Nov. 15 & 16        Wildlife Preparing For Winter
Nov. 22 &  23     Talking Turkey

December   Winter Wildlife

January    Tracking Wildlife on Snowshoes

February   Tracking Wildlife on Snowshoes

Please note: Pre-registration is required is January and February

On Thursdays, Beaver Lake Nature Center is offering weekly Nature On Wheels tours. Nature On Wheels features the NOWmobile, a  new electric tram that helps connect seniors with mobility limitations to the fascinating natural areas of Beaver Lake. Accompanied by a naturalist, the NOWmobile will travel slowly through the forest, stopping occasionally to take a closer look at interesting features of nature.

Join a Beaver Lake Naturalist to learn more on a Natural History subject. 

September 23    Fruits & Nuts
September 30    Trees With Leaves
October 7          Fall Waterfowl Migration
October 14        Beavers & Their Relatives
October 21        Fungus
October 28        Nests & Their Builders
November 11     Twig Identification
November 18     White-tailed Deer
November 25     Vines & Brambles
December 2       Backyard Feeder Birds

Everyone is invited to the Zoo Sundays from September 28-December 14 for reduced admission: $3 adults; $2 children, students & seniors (Regular admission:$6.50 adults; $4.50 students & seniors; $4 children).

A holiday should be packed with fun! At 12:30 & 3pm, naturalists will host live animal talks and at 1:30pm you can participate in a guided walk on migration and whatever else the season offers. Plan to spend some time on your own walking Beaver Lake's trails while they are decked out in fall colors.

Listening to stories and exploring nature are two activities that most children enjoy. A naturalist will read stories to children ages three to five, and lead them on a walk to experience what the season has to offer.

The great Zoo Boo will take place at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park on October 17, 18, 24 & 25 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

The zoo will be transformed into a bustling Halloween bash with hauntingly hilarious interactive characters and sets for children and families to enjoy. Its “kooky not spooky” theme provides families with Halloween fun without the fear!

Coordinated by Scarlett Rat Entertainment, families will have fantastic fun with interactive characters like Franki and Wolfie. They are also able to explore the Wizard's Walkway and a hay bale maze, visit Zoo Boo’s Creepy Corners Crew and play in Scarecrow Alley!   All of the four Zoo Boo evenings hold tons of fun in store and children receive a goodie as they exit the zoo!

Children and adults can participate in the pumpkin carving fun and enter the Zoo Boo carved pumpkin contest, which will take place on the Saturday evenings of Zoo Boo!

Families bring their already carved pumpkins to the zoo at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, October 18 and 25 and a Zoo Boo character will choose one child and one adult winner with the best carved pumpkin. The winners receive a fun Zoo Boo prize, a special treat and will even lead the Pumpkin Procession at the start of Zoo Boo! All pumpkins entered in the contest remain on display for all to enjoy.

Tickets are available at the Zoo's membership desk and participating P&C locations.  Advance sale member discounts are only available at the Zoo and must be purchased during regular Zoo hours, prior to

the event.

Beaver Lake and the Onondaga Woodcarvers Club bring together this area’s finest wood carving talents for an annual offering of their best works.

If you are in 5th – 7th grade and you enjoy being outside and learning about nature then this club is for you!  The club meets on Saturdays for 4 two-hour meetings and one overnight meeting this fall.  September 20, October 4, 18, November 1 & 15

Good books, good people, and good conversation; what could be a better way to spend an afternoon?  Join us for our monthly book discussion.  The selected books are available at the local library. 

October 21 – Into the Wild by J. Krakauer
November 19 – Reason for Hope by J. Goodall

Experience the enchantment of Beaver Lake and halloween fun like never before! Where over four hundred jack-o-lanterns and luminaria light your way along two trails as you venture through the darkness.  Everything is magical and nothing is scary.  Face painting, fortune telling, and treats will also be part of this special night.Hotdogs, donuts and cider will be available to purchase.

Please call if you are interested in helping to carve pumpkins or if you would like to donate a jack-o-lantern.

Listening to stories and exploring nature are two activities that most children enjoy. A naturalist will read stories to children ages three to five, and lead them on a walk to experience what the season has to offer.

If you are in 5th – 7th grade and you enjoy being outside and learning about nature then this club is for you!  The club meets on Saturdays for 4 two-hour meetings and one overnight meeting this fall.  September 20, October 4, 18, November 1 & 15

A delicious buffet at the picturesque Skyline Lodge. Reservations recommended.

Orienteering program for all skills levels and age groups.

Onondaga County Parks and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo are pleased to offer FREE admission to all active military, veterans and their families as part of Onondaga County’s observance of Veterans Day.

Please present military or veteran organization ID cards or military discharge documents or wear your uniform for verification for complimentary Veterans Day access to the Zoo.

Listening to stories and exploring nature are two activities that most children enjoy. A naturalist will read stories to children ages three to five, and lead them on a walk to experience what the season has to offer.

If you are in 5th – 7th grade and you enjoy being outside and learning about nature then this club is for you!  The club meets on Saturdays for 4 two-hour meetings and one overnight meeting this fall.  September 20, October 4, 18, November 1 & 15

Invite holiday guests and Christmas cheer through your front door with your handmade evergreen wreath. Just smelling the fresh boughs will put you in the proper spirit! The price includes boughs, wire and a bow.

November 17, 18, 20 & 25 - 6pm

November 22 - 1pm

November 24-9am

Good books, good people, and good conversation; what could be a better way to spend an afternoon?  Join us for our monthly book discussion.  The selected books are available at the local library.

November 19 – Reason for Hope by Jane Goodall

Orienteering program for all skill levels and age groups. Prizes awarded.

A two mile long drive through light extravaganza featuring life-size displays, themed sections and a memorable grand finale.

Once again the museum will be filled with the magnificent collection of international Santa's while fully decorated trees will add to the holiday atmosphere celebrating the traditions of the season in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Russia and more. The program will feature nightly holiday entertainment and hot beverages available with the mission site open weather permitting.

For busy parents looking for a safe place to bring their children the day after Thanksgiving, Wild Friday is the perfect solution. This new program offers kids an opportunity to get out of the house, tour the zoo, see animals up close, play games and make awesome crafts.

Spend the evening creating this beautiful balsam, kissing ball, accented with red ribbon and bow. A wonderful addition to your holiday decorating.

The old-fashioned Christmas tree is back in style with its wonderfully diverse assortment of handmade and hand-me-down ornaments. Join us to make your own ornaments utilizing natural materials or motifs.

A delicious buffet at the picturesque Skyline Lodge. Reservations recommended.

Listening to stories and exploring nature are two activities that most children enjoy. A naturalist will read stories to children ages three to five, and lead them on a walk to experience what the season has to offer.

Come and enjoy a buffet meal with the jolly ole' elf. Share last minute holiday wishes with Santa and see the Zoo! Children will also be able to decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus.

Breakfast 10-11am

Lunch 12:30-1:30pm

30 minute ride into the woods at Highland Forest. Rides will also be available during the holiday break, December 24 and December 26-January 1, January 19 (Martin Luther King Day) and February 16 (President's Day.)

Listening to stories and exploring nature are two activities that most children enjoy. A naturalist will read stories to children ages three to five, and lead them on a walk to experience what the season has to offer.

Enjoy an hour-long outing through Beaver Lake's winter woods. Benefit from a naturalist's insights. along with the light aerobic exercise. Weather permitting.

This snowshoe clinic will include instructions and a short snowshoe hike. Folks with little or no snowshoe experience will especially enjoy this one-hour introduction. Registration is required beginning at 8am the day of the hike and space is limited. This program will be offered only when conditions are acceptable. Call Nature Center, 638-2519, on that day to register and check conditions.

A delicious buffet at the picturesque Skyline Lodge. Reservations recommended.

Listening to stories and exploring nature are two activities that most children enjoy. A naturalist will read stories to children ages three to five, and lead them on a walk to experience what the season has to offer.

Be spotted at one of the Zoo's premier fundraising events. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception and gourmet dinner. Enjoy live music provided by Dan Elliot and and the Monterays. Participate in a live auction and silent auction. Black and white attire encouraged.Proceeds of the event benefit the programs and services of the Zoo.

Win great prizes and have wintry fun as you become a Central New York wildlife photographer. The Zoo will be accepting photo entries from children ages 5-12, teen ages 13-18 and adult ages19+ amateur photographers taken between January 10 and February 1, 2009. Complete contest rules at the the Zoo's website below. Awards ceremony will be held on Friday, February 13, 2009.

Join the staff Beaver Lake in this group project piling soft snow and then carving out a cave. These simple snow shelters, used by winter campers, are excellent in emergencies and provide great backyard fun. Bring a plastic snow shovel if you want to get in on the action. Weather permitting.

Listening to stories and exploring nature are two activities that most children enjoy. Here's an opportunity for 3-5 year olds accompanied by an adult to do both. A naturalist will read stories to the children and lead them on a walk to experience what the season has to offer.

Celebrate love and loved ones at Valentine’s in the Forest, and support the hard-working volunteers of the Nordic Ski Patrol with a buffet dinner and live entertainment in the Skyline Lodge at Highland Forest County Park.

Each evening begins with a complimentary Saranac Beer, a cheese & vegetable platter and live entertainment followed by a candle-lit dinner which features carved roast prime rib of beef, oven roasted chicken, and riggies with vodka sauce.  After dinner horse drawn sleigh rides will be offered to the Pioneer Museum for tours, photographs and a bon fire, or folks may opt to remain at the lodge and dance the night away to live music.

A delicious buffet at the picturesque Skyline Lodge. Reservations recommended.

Join us as we hand out awards for our third annual Winter at the third annual Winter at the Zoo photo contest. See this year's winning entries up close and personal!

Did you ever wonder how people kept their food cold before there were refrigerators? What was an ice harvest? How did they get the ice from the lake and how was it stored so it wouldn't melt? These and other questions will be explored while you have a chance to cut chunks of lake-ice with an old-fashioned ice saw.

Get the kids out of the house and come to the Zoo! Carts with various animal artifacts will allow visitors to feel the fur of a tiger or see how big an elephant's tusk really is. Puppet shows are sure to keep the kids entertained, while keeper talks will provide insight as to what happens behind the scenes. These hands-on experiences are fantastic learning tools and fun for the whole family. For those who prefer to stay out of the cold, 60 percent of the Zoo's exhibits are indoors.

Did you know that some animals have a sweet tooth? This Valentine's Day weekend the staff at the Zoo will be showing the love to the Zoo's residents by providing them with animal-friendly sweet treats and other valentine-inspired items.

Winter is a great time to visit the zoo! Full and half day camp sessions will offer up close encounters with some of the animals, tours, crafts, games and more! Each day the camp topic will be different; kids can come for the day or the entire week.

During school vacation there will be guided walks and critter talks daily for families and individuals. You'll walk down one of the Nature Center's trails tracking winter wildlife and also meet a beaver, turtle, or red-tailed hawk face to face in the Visitor Center.

10:00 am    Ice Harvest        Tuesday & Thursday   
10:00 am    Build a Snow Cave    Wednesday & Friday
1:30 pm    Creature Feature    Monday - Friday
2:00 pm    Snowshoeing    Monday - Friday - Snowshoe Rental $3

Some of the above activities are weather dependent,

please call the Nature Center for daily updates.

The Friends of Beaver Lake are sponsoring an amateur photo contest to capture the beauty and diversity of Beaver Lake. Entries will be judged in the following age groups: 11 & under 12-17 years old 18 & over. Winning entries will be displayed at Beaver Lake from September 8-30.

This celebration of the maple syrup season marks the coming of spring. A visit to the demonstration sugarbush will introduce you to the heritage of sugaring and the production of maple syrup. Tours of the sugarbush are free with admission. 

10am-2pm, Saturdays; 1-4pm, Sundays 

Each Saturday enjoy a delicious Pancake Breakfast, from 9-12noon, complete with pancakes, sausage, and fresh brewed coffee or juice. Depending on your appetite, breakfast will range from $2 to $4. Groups of 10 or more please call the Nature Center for reservations.

Enjoy a delicious dinner at the picturesque Skyline Lodge. Reservations recommended.

Enjoy pancakes, sausage, and fresh brewed coffee or juice. Depending on your appetite, breakfast will range from $2 to $4. Groups of 10 or more please call the Nature Center for reservations. 

Hop on over to the zoo and enjoy a buffet meal with spring's most popular animal - the bunny! Join us for an hour full of food and fun. Each child receives a treat from the bunny. Breakfast is from 10-11am; Lunch is from 12:30-1:30pm.

Children (up to age 15) get in free from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. to participate in the Y94 FM Easter Egg hunt.  After the hunt, animals throughout the zoo will receive egg and egg-shaped items to enjoy.

Come celebrate Earth Day and see how easy it really is to be green! Event festivities will include environmentally friendly activities for the kids.

Enjoy a buffet lunch with Mom at beautiful Skyline Lodge. Menu includes prime rib, oven roasted chicken and baked ham with cranberry glaze.

Fiesta de las Aves is a celebration of migratory birds and Latin American cultures.  Join us for animal demonstrations, bird shows, migration activity stations, puppet shows and more, all presented in English and Spanish. 

The Toyota US Open of Watercross is expected to draw one of the largest gatherings of competitors in the country; participants are expected to travel from all over the country in pursuit of the champion title and cash purse of over $10,000. The Toyota US Open is probably personal watercraft racing's most prestigious event and winning here means earning a place in watercross history. The Toyota US Open of Watercross has been identified as a National Watercross Event by the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) and acknowledged by the American Power Boat Association (APBA). This nationally recognized event will be one of the highest paid events in the country.

In addition to the $10,000 in prize money being offered there will also be the standard 50% of the line contingency money. Competitors will be vying for the prestigious title of the Toyota US Open of Watercross Champion. Two classes, Pro-Am Ski GP and Pro-Am Runabout Open have been designated as premier classes. They will have the highest payout and will be the highlight of the event.

All activity will take place at the Willow Bay area of Onondaga Lake Park from 9am-5pm.

This year's event will feature fun for the whole family with activities and displays to interest kids and grown-ups alike. Sponsored by Onondaga Lake Partnership.