Event list
Homeschool Days: Cozy Critters
December 5
Join a Beaver Lake educator once a month for a program designed to supplement science and natural history homeschool education through fun and interactive outdoor experiences. Geared towards children aged 7-12.Every animal has to find a way to cope with the cold weather during the winter. Join a naturalist to learn how different critters sta ...
Working Women's Walking Group
December 7
thru December 28
Enjoy a walk with friends, new and old! This meet-up group is designed for working women who are unable to take part in weekday programs at Beaver Lake Nature Center. The walking group will meet each Saturday morning, rain or shine, throughout the year. Meet in front of the Visitor Center at 8am.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle).
Trail Tales
December 12
Join a naturalist for a nature story and song before heading out on a special hike. This program is for children ages 3 , accompanied by an adult.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required.
Meet at the Visitor Center
All about Seeds: Collecting, Storing, and Cultivating
December 13
Thinking about starting your own native seed collection? Learn how to collect and store native plant seeds and learn how to successfully germinate them into healthy plants!Registration: $2/Member; $3/Nonmember; park admission fee ($5/vehicle) applies.
REGISTRATION OPENS ON DECEMBER 3
Working Women's Walking Group
December 14
thru December 28
Enjoy a walk with friends, new and old! This meet-up group is designed for working women who are unable to take part in weekday programs at Beaver Lake Nature Center. The walking group will meet each Saturday morning, rain or shine, throughout the year. Meet in front of the Visitor Center at 8am.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle).
Working Women's Walking Group
December 21
thru December 28
Enjoy a walk with friends, new and old! This meet-up group is designed for working women who are unable to take part in weekday programs at Beaver Lake Nature Center. The walking group will meet each Saturday morning, rain or shine, throughout the year. Meet in front of the Visitor Center at 8am.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle).
Working Women's Walking Group
December 28
Enjoy a walk with friends, new and old! This meet-up group is designed for working women who are unable to take part in weekday programs at Beaver Lake Nature Center. The walking group will meet each Saturday morning, rain or shine, throughout the year. Meet in front of the Visitor Center at 8am.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle).
First Day Hike
January 1
Set your intention to get outdoors more in 2025 by joining us for a First Day Hike guided by a naturalist! Meet at the Visitor Center. All ages welcome!
Free with park admission ($5/vehicle)
Friday Fire Talks
January 3
thru January 31
Stop by the outdoor fire pit to learn something new from a naturalist! Information on tracks we can see in winter, interesting animal pelts, snowflake formation, and more will be covered. Come with questions and spend some time warming up by the fire.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Sharing Nature with Your Child: Magnificent Moths
January 8
Discover Beaver Lake through the eyes of your preschooler! Each session brings a new opportunity for discovery through nature hikes, games, and crafts. Children ages 3-5 years old, accompanied by an adult. In this session we'll learn all about magnificent moths! We’ll discover what these special insects are doing in the wintertime and when ...
Homeschool Days: Tracks & Signs - Critters, Oh My!
January 9
Join a Beaver Lake educator once a month for a program designed to supplement science and natural history homeschool education through fun and interactive outdoor experiences. Geared towards children aged 7-12.Join a naturalist to discover the secrets that freshly fallen snow reveals! First, learn about the various woodland creatures and mat ...
Designing Your Own Native Garden
January 10
This 4-part series will be held on Fridays, January 10 & 24, February 7 & 21, from 12 PM to 1 PM.Learn to design landscapes with native and naturalized plants during this 4-part series. The first three classes will focus on principles of native plant design, landscape design basics, and plant selection. During the final workshop, you’ll st ...
Guided Moonlight Hike
January 10
A winter Moon lights the way as you explore the Nature Center’s woodlands and meadows on snowshoes with a naturalist. We will still hike if there is not enough snow for snowshoes. Snowshoes rental available for $5. Please arrive 10 minutes early if you need to rent snowshoes.Registration: $6/Member; $7/Nonmember ; park admission included i ...
Friday Fire Talks
January 10
thru January 31
Stop by the outdoor fire pit to learn something new from a naturalist! Information on tracks we can see in winter, interesting animal pelts, snowflake formation, and more will be covered. Come with questions and spend some time warming up by the fire.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Nature Sketching
January 12
Join a naturalist for thoughtful sketching and nature art on the Lakeview trail (0.3 miles). Learn to draw trees, leaves, snow, and animals! Some supplies (sketchbook, pencils, and pens) provided, but feel free to bring your own!Registration: $2/Member; $3/Nonmember, park admission ($5/vehicle) still applies
REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER ...
Songs of Fire and Ice
January 15
Join CNY folk singers and Beaver Lake naturalists for a winter hike and sing-along in the snow followed by a cozy evening in front of the fireplace. Learn to sing traditional songs of the season for both wandering the woods and enjoying the fireside, plus discover all the magic of Beaver Lake in winter by lantern light! After a chilly outdoor adven ...
Friday Fire Talks
January 17
thru January 31
Stop by the outdoor fire pit to learn something new from a naturalist! Information on tracks we can see in winter, interesting animal pelts, snowflake formation, and more will be covered. Come with questions and spend some time warming up by the fire.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Friday Fire Talks
January 24
thru January 31
Stop by the outdoor fire pit to learn something new from a naturalist! Information on tracks we can see in winter, interesting animal pelts, snowflake formation, and more will be covered. Come with questions and spend some time warming up by the fire.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Writing the Winter World
January 26
What do you see, hear, and imagine as you walk the trails at Beaver Lake? Practice putting your wonder at the natural world into words on the page. Bring pen, paper, and memories of your time on the trails and learn to write about them.Registration: $2/Member; $3/Nonmember; park admission fee ($5/vehicle) applies.
REGISTRATION OPENS ON ...
Winter Garden Tour
January 27
Tour the visitor center gardens with us this winter! Discover what (or who) is hiding away under the snow, how wildlife uses the gardens in the winter, and how to enjoy your garden even when it is frosty and cold outside.Registration: $2/Member; $3/Nonmember; park admission ($5/vehicle) still applies
Winter Tree ID
January 27
The leaves on the trees may be gone, but did you know that you can still identify a tree by examining bare branches? We’ll start indoors looking at twig samples and a short lesson on winter twig ID, then embark on a short hike to examine a few trees outdoors.Registration: $2/Member; $3/Nonmember, park admission ($5/vehicle) still applies
Friday Fire Talks
January 31
Stop by the outdoor fire pit to learn something new from a naturalist! Information on tracks we can see in winter, interesting animal pelts, snowflake formation, and more will be covered. Come with questions and spend some time warming up by the fire.Free with park admission ($5/vehicle). No registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Sharing Nature with Your Child: Winter Critters
February 5
Discover Beaver Lake through the eyes of your preschooler! Each session brings a new opportunity for discovery through nature hikes, games, and crafts. Children ages 3-5 years old, accompanied by an adult. Let’s learn about animals in the winter! We’ll discover which animals are active all winter and which ones are not (and how they surv ...
Homeschool Days: Trotting through the Trees
February 6
Join a Beaver Lake educator once a month for a program designed to supplement science and natural history homeschool education through fun and interactive outdoor experiences. Geared towards children aged 7-12.Join a naturalist for a hike under the tall canopies around Beaver Lake! Come and learn about the important role that trees play in t ...
Owl Night Long
February 7
Snowshoe or hike into Beaver Lake’s forest at dusk in search of the elusive owl. On our way we’ll learn about the different types of owls in our area and what makes them such fascinating raptors. Registration: $2/Member; $3/Nonmember, park admission ($5/vehicle) still applies
REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 3
Tea Time!
February 7
It’s a chilly winter, so warm up at Beaver Lake! Learn about edible plants along the Hemlock Hollow and Bog Trails (1.0 miles), then enjoy a nice cup of tea!Free with park admission ($5/vehicle).
Meet at the Visitor Center
REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 3
Winter Nature Camp
February 17
thru February 21
Join us for a week of fun in the snow with Beaver Lake’s naturalists! Your 1st through 4th grader will learn how to snowshoe, create incredible snow sculptures, and more during this Winter Nature Camp. Don’t worry, even if there isn’t much snow, we have lots of back up plans for exploring nature!Registration: $30/Day-Member; $35/Day-No ...
Winter Nature Camp
February 18
thru February 21
Join us for a week of fun in the snow with Beaver Lake’s naturalists! Your 1st through 4th grader will learn how to snowshoe, create incredible snow sculptures, and more during this Winter Nature Camp. Don’t worry, even if there isn’t much snow, we have lots of back up plans for exploring nature!Registration: $30/Day-Member; $35/Day-No ...
Winter Nature Camp
February 19
thru February 21
Join us for a week of fun in the snow with Beaver Lake’s naturalists! Your 1st through 4th grader will learn how to snowshoe, create incredible snow sculptures, and more during this Winter Nature Camp. Don’t worry, even if there isn’t much snow, we have lots of back up plans for exploring nature!Registration: $30/Day-Member; $35/Day-No ...
Winter Nature Camp
February 20
thru February 21
Join us for a week of fun in the snow with Beaver Lake’s naturalists! Your 1st through 4th grader will learn how to snowshoe, create incredible snow sculptures, and more during this Winter Nature Camp. Don’t worry, even if there isn’t much snow, we have lots of back up plans for exploring nature!Registration: $30/Day-Member; $35/Day-No ...
Winter Nature Camp
February 21
Join us for a week of fun in the snow with Beaver Lake’s naturalists! Your 1st through 4th grader will learn how to snowshoe, create incredible snow sculptures, and more during this Winter Nature Camp. Don’t worry, even if there isn’t much snow, we have lots of back up plans for exploring nature!Registration: $30/Day-Member; $35/Day-No ...
Writing the Winter World
February 23
What do you see, hear, and imagine as you walk the trails at Beaver Lake? Practice putting your wonder at the natural world into words on the page. Bring pen, paper, and memories of your time on the trails and learn to write about them.Registration: $2/Member; $3/Nonmember; park admission fee ($5/vehicle) applies.
REGISTRATION OPENS ON ...
Skull ID
February 24
Winter is a great time to find bones and skulls from animals. Take a quick identification course on some commonly found skulls at Beaver Lake. We’ll start indoors with a look at the Nature Center’s skull collection before heading out on the trails in search of animal signs. Registration: $2/Member; $3/Nonmember, park admission ($5/vehicl ...
Sharing Nature with Your Child: Winter Bird Watching
February 26
Discover Beaver Lake through the eyes of your preschooler! Each session brings a new opportunity for discovery through nature hikes, games, and crafts. Children ages 3-5 years old, accompanied by an adult. Let’s go winter birdwatching! We will discover which birds we can see at Beaver Lake and do a fun craft before heading out on a hike to ...
Winter Stargazing, Stories, and Song
February 26
Enjoy a guided tour of the night sky while learning the basics of stargazing, including how to find and identify various stars, planets, and constellations. The stargazing will be paired with stories and songs of the night sky. Registration: $6/Member; $7/Nonmember, park admission included
REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 3
Zoo Run Run
April 6
Get out and get moving on behalf of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo with our annual Zoo Run Run! Walk or run – all levels are welcome. Build your team and support the zoo’s mission.Here’s a chance for everyone to join in and be part of the action virtually through the winter and spring -- and in-person at the zoo on April 6. Participants w ...