Nature’s friends need roofs over their heads! Using natural items found on the forest floor, pinecones, twigs, pebbles, acorns, and more, construct a home for your favorite fairy or gnome to live in. For families.
Searching for a fun, family-friendly way to exercise your mind and body? Try Geocaching! Grab your smartphone and join us to learn more about this modern-day treasure hunt. For everyone.
The gates of Wildflower Island are open—come stroll the winding paths and enjoy the beauty of Teatown Lake from a different perspective. Ages 10+, no dogs permitted on the island.
Bats are one of the most maligned creatures in the natural world, often portrayed as evil blood-sucking critters. In reality, these amazing mammals play an important ecological role as pollinators and as nature’s pest control squad. We will discuss their special adaptations, dispel myths, and learn ways to conserve this vital species. For everyone.
The monarch migration is on! Join in as we scout around Teatown’s gardens for monarchs and other butterflies as they say good-bye before cold weather sets in. For families.
Volunteers are an essential part of Teatown. Special events, teen internships, gardeners, guides, and stewards — there is a spot for you at Teatown. Find out what opportunities match your interests at our Volunteer Fair! For everyone.
The Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) program provides constructive actions for each stage of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) invasion, ranging from pre-invasion to when virtually all an area’s ash have been killed by this invasive beetle. In this free workshop, you’ll learn how to recognize EAB’s signs and mitigate damage, how to manage ash, how to participate in MaMA’s citizen-science projects for ash conservation, and how resistance breeding offers hope for ash’s future.
Join professional photographer Todd Shapera for his presentation, Vanishing Landscapes, which will feature endangered, remote regions from the Yangtze to the Yukon. He’ll also share photography close to home and far away - profiling Cuban farmers, conservation in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, and a four-season project in the Rockefeller Preserve. For adults.
In this last installment of the Lake Management Lecture Series, we’ll explore the crucial services provided to lakes and rivers by a healthy riparian zone, the transitional zone between the land and the water. Discover why encouraging diverse plant growth along your lake edge will help curb some of the issues discussed throughout the lecture series, including the proliferation of algal blooms and aquatic vegetation. For adults.
The gates of Wildflower Island are open—come stroll the winding paths and enjoy the beauty of Teatown Lake from a different perspective. Ages 10+, no dogs permitted on the island.
One frog jumped over the pond ker-plop! What are the frogs in Teatown Lake up to? We’ll take some nets and go on a frog hunt searching for the sounds of summer. For families.
Northern Snakehead. Chinese Mystery Snail. Bloody Red Shrimp. What do these three species have in common? These are just a few of the many invasive fish and invertebrates that have invaded the Lower Hudson region or could be on their way here. Come discover how to identify these aquatic invasive animals and learn about their diets, adaptations, and harmful effects on our natural ecosystems. After an indoor presentation we’ll make our way to Teatown Lake to scoop for aquatic animals. For everyone.
We'll start with a story and end with a hike to Swope’s Field to find out what the buzz about bees is all about! For families.
Algae: that thin, slimy layer of green muck whose persistence is enough to make you want to drain the lake altogether. But what is algae anyway? In Part 1 of our Lake Management Lecture Series, we’ll discuss the physiological mechanisms behind algae growth, negative impacts, the potential for harmful algal blooms, and management strategies. For adults.
The gates of Wildflower Island are open—come stroll the winding paths and enjoy the beauty of Teatown Lake from a different perspective. Ages 10+, no dogs permitted on the island.
Join Lindsay Yoder, Teatown’s Aquatic Programs Coordinator and AIS Program Coordinator for the Lower Hudson PRISM, to learn how you can become an AISF Survey Volunteer! Learn identification skills, full survey protocol, and about all of the ways you can help us map aquatic invasive species throughout the Lower Hudson region. Full training at Teatown Lake Reservation, followed by a group survey field trip to Annsville Creek for those with their own kayaks or canoes. Ages 18+ required for on-water activity, 15+ for general training.
Darting, dipping – dragonflies are masters of the hunt! Join in down at Teatown Lake to watch, catch and learn about these amazing insects. The adventure will start with a story and end with an activity, with plenty of time for discovery in between. For families.
An annual rite of summer, the North American Butterfly Count is a way for all butterfly enthusiasts to participate in a citizen scientist monitoring effort. Join Charlie Roberto to locate and count butterflies on the preserve. Participants should be prepared to hike over rough terrain. For everyone ages 6+.
Join Teatown’s Aquatic Programs Coordinator for an introduction to aquatic invasive species: What are they? What impact do they have? What can we do about them? For everyone ages 15+.
Gardening with native plants in our suburban landscape has many environmental benefits. Join landscape designer Amanda Bayley, for a presentation on how to beautify your own yard with native plants. She will present on ecoregions, review the native plant communities that are part of Westchester’s ecoregion, and go over local plants to garden with that are best suited for wet, dry, sunny, and shady areas.
