ROCHESTER, NY—The Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC) Cumming Nature Center, has re-opened for its winter season 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. Ski rentals are $15 and Snow shoe rentals are $5 each. Private and group ski lessons are available by reservation. For rental information click here.
Winter Solstice Open House
Saturday, Dec. 21
10-3pm
Celebrate the winter solstice with us! Visitors can create pine cone gnomes, snowy owls, and bird feed ornaments to hang outside. They will also be able to take part in a meditation labyrinth, help decorate a tree for the wildlife, and take a winter walk (or XC ski if snow is available!). Light snacks such as Wassail (mulled cider), hot cocoa, and popcorn will be available. Our movie theater will be playing winter classics! Finish the afternoon by sharing in a reading of The Night Tree by Eve Bunting. Activities are free with CNC admission.
NordicFest
Saturday, Feb. 15
Winter is a wonderful time to be active! Join us as we celebrate Nordic sports and raise funds as a form of gratitude for the Genesee Valley Nordic Ski Patrol, who tirelessly patrol our trails all year round. L.L. Bean, REI, and the Scandinavian Heritage Society will be on hand as we provide family activities, crafts, hikes, “SnOlympics”, hot food, raffle, and more! Embrace the best of winter at Cumming Nature Center with a full weekend of food and activities: Visit RMSC.org/nordicfest for the full schedule of events.
Annual Maple Sugaring & Pancake Breakfast
Saturdays & Sundays, March 21–22 and 28–29
Join us as we celebrate 42 years of serving up steaming-hot stacks of pancakes at the beautiful Cumming Nature Center. Want to volunteer for this event? Please contact Nathan Hayes at nhayes@rmsc.org. All details here.
Weekend Wild Walks
Saturdays, 11am & Sundays, 1pm
Join naturalist Shariee Edersheim and uncover the hidden gems and oft-overlooked magic of the forest and fields at the Cumming Nature Center. These guided hikes are great for all ages, and last 90 minutes on easy to moderate terrain. Check out our monthly special edition wild walks, including Introduction to Snowshoeing and Animal Tracks & Signs. More details here.
Life in the Waters of the Finger Lakes temporary exhibit
Opens Thursday, Dec. 19
Just about everyone has gazed out over our local Finger Lake’s waters to admire the birds and sunsets, but what is life like under the surface? This exhibition of science illustrations will illuminate some of the mysteries beneath the Finger Lakes’ surface, shining a light upon a selection of the 50 species of fish, thousands of invertebrates, and numerous plants that inhabit them — as well as interactions between the flora and fauna above and below the surface. With maximum depths that range from 40 to 618 feet, the Finger Lakes may have had common geological origins, yet today each has unique ecological attributes and life. Let’s learn about the secrets of the great murky depths!
Wildlife Island permanent exhibit
Now open!
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.
Admission: RMSC members free; general public: $3 per person ($5 when ski trails are open); $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.
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.
For high-resolution images and additional information, contact Carolyn Stiles, Marketing Communications Manager, RMSC, 585.697.1944, cstiles@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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