ROCHESTER, NY—The Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC) Cumming Nature Center re-opens for its winter season on Wed., Dec. 27, 2017 with a full calendar of family friendly events that create opportunities to connect with the Finger Lakes’ natural landscape and regional history.
Skiing and Snowshoeing
Enjoy 15 miles of groomed ski trails and a three-mile loop for snowshoeing. For your convenience, Cumming Nature Center offers rental skip equipment and snowshoes at the Visitor Center.
Weekend Wild Walks
Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.
Join naturalist Shariee Edersheim and uncover the hidden gems and oft-overlooked magic of the forest and fields at the Cumming Nature Center. These free guided hikes are great for all ages, and last 90 minutes on easy to moderate terrain.
Camouflage & Habitat permanent exhibit
Opens Wednesday, Dec. 27
Each living thing inhabits a space in the natural world. The living and the non-living things that exist in a single organism’s immediate surroundings make up its “habitat.” Who shares your habitat? Explore the plants and animals in our area in an interactive display and highly detailed mural by regional artist, Mary Mullard.
Snowflakes Up Close exhibit
Wednesday, Dec. 27–Tuesday, April 3
Experience what it takes to photograph an extremely delicate and short-lived subject—a snowflake. Find the stunning photography of Rochester Institute of Technology professor Michael Peres in the Cumming Nature Center Visitor Center. In the exhibit, visitors explore the scientific art of snowflake photography and delight in the beauty of more than 30 snowflake images as they have never been seen before. For a fully immersive experience with these ice crystals, guests walk through Michael’s photographic process and examine a snowflake under a microscope while answering the big question—are any two snowflakes alike?
Forest School Spring Semester
Thursdays Jan. 4–May 24 (Excluding Feb. 22, March 29 and April 5)
Fridays Jan. 5–May 25 (Excluding Feb. 23, March 30 and April 6)
Forest School recognizes the intrinsic relationship between humans and nature. Our mission is to provide children with the space to nurture this relationship through unstructured play, curiosity-driven exploratory learning, hands-on projects, and outdoor skills development, all within a physically safe and emotionally supportive environment. Through forest school, students learn to be resilient, self-reliant and confidently inquisitive. Visit RMSC.org/forestschool for opportunities for children ages 4 to 12.
Heritage Maker Workshop: Fireside Songwriting Series
Sundays, Jan. 7–28, 3–6 p.m.
Heritage Making is about building both community and beautiful things. Explore new skills in these workshops at the Cumming Nature Center. Join Andy Webster, an accomplished songwriter and performer who has recorded seven albums of original music, opened for many legends (including Richie Havens and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, & Mary), and taught music lessons and songwriting to hundreds of students in a wide variety of styles including rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, country, and jazz. Whether you are brand new to your instrument or an experienced songwriter looking for some fresh ideas, this class is designed to help stretch your musical ability and find creative inspiration from nature. Cost: $120 for four-day series); to register call 585.697.1942
Elusives: The Natural World We Seldom See exhibit
Wednesday, Jan. 31–Sunday, April 1
The world around us is teeming with animals and plants and other organisms, but how much of their lives do we really see? This exhibit by the members of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Finger Lakes Chapter will introduce you to seldom seen creatures and the hidden behaviors of species in our area.
NordicFest
Saturday, Feb. 17–Sunday, Feb. 18
An entire weekend that showcases the best of winter! Enjoy a feature presentation by outdoor adventurer Meagan McGrath at 1 p.m. Saturday. Participate in snowshoe races and ski orienteering. Learn about winter wear in presentations by L.L. Bean and The North Face. Dig into locally sourced chili (vegetarian option available) and homemade baked goods for purchase to benefit the Genesee Valley Ski Patrol, the volunteer organization that patrols our ski trails to ensure the safety of our visitors. Crafts, snow fort building and more for the kids! Visit RMSC.org/nordicfest for the full schedule of events.
February Break Forest School Immersion
Monday, Feb. 19–Friday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Whether your child attends school or is homeschooled, everyone can enjoy the Forest School experience over February Break Week. Visit RMSC.org/forestschool to sign up children ages 4 to 12 for a daily immersion.
40th Annual Maple Sugaring & Pancake Breakfast
Saturdays and Sundays, March 17–18 and 24–25
Join us as we celebrate 40 years of serving up steaming-hot stacks of pancakes at the beautiful Cumming Nature Center. Want to volunteer for this event? Please contact Vincent Feucht at vfeucht@rmsc.org.
The Cumming Nature Center is a dynamic, 900-acre environmental education facility that celebrates the unique landscape and culture of the Finger Lakes region through experiential learning opportunities and thoughtful exhibits. Educational programming at the Nature Center explores the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. These programs are designed to inspire innovative thinking among participants and provide them with the tools, knowledge and confidence to take action in the face of local, regional and global challenges. The preserve includes six miles of trails and countless opportunities to connect with the outdoors.
Admission: RMSC members free; general public donation requested ($3 per person; $10 per family). All hikes/programs are free with admission. For group reservations and rates, call 585.374.6160.
Trails are open five days a week: Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday). Trail sweep begins 30 minutes before closing, weather permitting.
The Cumming Nature Center is located at 6472 Gulick Road, Naples, NY 14512.
For high-resolution images and additional information, contact Mare Millow, Marketing Communications Manager, RMSC, 585.697.1944, mmillow@rmsc.org.
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester’s past including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit https://rmsc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
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