Potorti Gorge Walks: Taughannock Falls State Park

Join us for our annual James Potorti Museum of the Earth/State Parks Gorge Walks on Fridays in August. PRI has been offering this series of free Friday-morning interpretive walks in partnership with the Finger Lakes State Parks for more than 15 years. The walks were......More

Join us for our annual James Potorti Museum of the Earth/State Parks Gorge Walks on Fridays in August. PRI has been offering this series of free Friday-morning interpretive walks in partnership with the Finger Lakes State Parks for more than 15 years. The walks were officially named in 2004 in memory of Ithaca native James E. Potorti, who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The renaming of the walks was a result of an endowment gift to the Museum from his widow, Nikki Stern, Executive Director of Families of September 11. Potorti was a vice president at Marsh & McLennan, a financial services company, and worked on the 94th floor of 1 World Trade Center. His first career, however, was as a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He grew up in Ithaca and attended SUNY Oswego. The Finger Lakes region has an outstanding geological record exposed in the local gorges. These guided walks will introduce major concepts about geology and geologic time, allowing one to interpret the geological history of the region while enjoying the beauty of our local area. All walks are 10 am - 11:30 am. * Please note that while the walks are free, there is a parking charge for the State Parks. This Gorge Walk will be at Taughannock Falls State Park. Meet at the Lower Falls (along Rt 89), in the parking lot near the start of the trails.

Taughannock Falls State Park @ 1740 Taughannock Blvd, Trumansburg, NY, 14886, USA

Fossil ID Days at Museum of the Earth

Did you find a rock in your backyard? Do you think it might be a fossil? Museum of the Earth is here to help! Bring your fossil into the Museum on Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm for help identifying your fossil in our Prep Lab. Dr. Maureen Bickley will be working in th......More

Did you find a rock in your backyard? Do you think it might be a fossil? Museum of the Earth is here to help! Bring your fossil into the Museum on Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm for help identifying your fossil in our Prep Lab. Dr. Maureen Bickley will be working in the Prep Lab on Saturdays and is happy to assist you.  You will not be able to leave your fossil so it should be able to be carried. If it is too large to carry, email bickley@priweb.org to make different arrangements. 

Museum of the Earth @ 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Grey Squirrels & Human Impact

Join SUNY ESF Master's student Jess Proctor and Nature Center educators to learn all about the evolution of grey squirrels! We will hike through the woods to get first hand experience spotting some (taxidermy) squirrels and comparing coat colors! Then, we will gathe......More

Join SUNY ESF Master's student Jess Proctor and Nature Center educators to learn all about the evolution of grey squirrels! We will hike through the woods to get first hand experience spotting some (taxidermy) squirrels and comparing coat colors! Then, we will gather in the lodge to discuss our observations and how different habitats have impacted squirrel coat colors.  Meet in front of the Cayuga Nature Center Lodge.  

Cayuga Nature Center @ 1420 Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Safety First: The Environment & You

Staying safe while enjoying recreational activities in nature is important and this program aims to cover multiple topics under that umbrella. Participants will learn to identify poisonous plants such as poison ivy, pokeweed, and Virginia creeper. Additionally they......More

Staying safe while enjoying recreational activities in nature is important and this program aims to cover multiple topics under that umbrella. Participants will learn to identify poisonous plants such as poison ivy, pokeweed, and Virginia creeper. Additionally they will learn to protect against insects, stay safe, and handle inclement weather. This program is free. Donations are always appreciated: https://www.cayuganaturecenter.org/donate

Cayuga Nature Center @ 1420 Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Tree 'Buds': Weekly Tree Phenology

Be our tree 'buds' and join our weekly citizen science walk to observe and collect data on seasonal changes in trees. Rain or shine, we will monitor when buds break, leaves emerge, flowers bloom, fruits ripen, and when leaves change color and fall. We send the data ......More

Be our tree 'buds' and join our weekly citizen science walk to observe and collect data on seasonal changes in trees. Rain or shine, we will monitor when buds break, leaves emerge, flowers bloom, fruits ripen, and when leaves change color and fall. We send the data to the USA National Phenology Network, which makes it available to researchers who are trying to understand the mechanisms behind seasonal changes and how they are influenced by a changing climate. You’ll learn how to make these types of observations, and how to do this at home or in your neighborhood. This event is free and everyone is welcome to attend. We'll meet in front of the Cayuga Nature Center lodge at the beginning of the program. 

Cayuga Nature Center @ 1420 Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Teaching Climate Change: Summer Workshop

The workshop will address how teaching climate change satisfies NGSS/NYSSLS expectations in a range of ways, and is not limited to the Earth and space sciences. The agenda will draw from our Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change......More

The workshop will address how teaching climate change satisfies NGSS/NYSSLS expectations in a range of ways, and is not limited to the Earth and space sciences. The agenda will draw from our Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change, and the workshop is led by the four authors of the guide (Ingrid Zabel, Don Haas, Rob Ross, and Alexandra Moore).   In this update to our summer 2019 workshop, we will share a wide range of resources and strategies, largely developed with funding from the National Science Foundation. New resources include an extensive collection of short videos with associated activities, the Changing Climate: Our Future, Our Choice museum exhibit and its virtual counterpart, resources related to Cornell University’s Deep Geothermal Heat Research project that is a central part of the University’s decarbonization efforts, and more.    The registration fee for TST Region districts (Candor, Dryden, George Jr. Republic, Groton, Ithaca, Lansing, Newfield, Trumansburg, and South Seneca) is $225.   The registration fee for all other participants is $247.50.   The deadline for registering for this event is August 10. All self-pay participants must be paid in full by this date. All district-pay participants must be fully approved by their district administrators by this date. No refunds will be issued for registrations dropped after August 10.   Register here: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?I=4105602&D=10453 Tickets: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?I=4105602&D=10453.

Potorti Gorge Walks: Robert H. Treman State Park

Join us for our annual James Potorti Museum of the Earth/State Parks Gorge Walks on Fridays in August. PRI has been offering this series of free Friday-morning interpretive walks in partnership with the Finger Lakes State Parks for more than 15 years. The walks were......More

Join us for our annual James Potorti Museum of the Earth/State Parks Gorge Walks on Fridays in August. PRI has been offering this series of free Friday-morning interpretive walks in partnership with the Finger Lakes State Parks for more than 15 years. The walks were officially named in 2004 in memory of Ithaca native James E. Potorti, who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The renaming of the walks was a result of an endowment gift to the Museum from his widow, Nikki Stern, Executive Director of Families of September 11. Potorti was a vice president at Marsh & McLennan, a financial services company, and worked on the 94th floor of 1 World Trade Center. His first career, however, was as a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He grew up in Ithaca and attended SUNY Oswego. The Finger Lakes region has an outstanding geological record exposed in the local gorges. These guided walks will introduce major concepts about geology and geologic time, allowing one to interpret the geological history of the region while enjoying the beauty of our local area. All walks are 10 am - 11:30 am. * Please note that while the walks are free, there is a parking charge for the State Parks. This Gorge Walk will be at Robert H. Treman State Park. Meet at Upper Treman Park, at the end of the parking lot of near the start of the trails.

Robert H. Treman State Park @ 105 Enfield Falls Road, Ithaca, New York, 14850, United States

Fossil ID Days at Museum of the Earth

Did you find a rock in your backyard? Do you think it might be a fossil? Museum of the Earth is here to help! Bring your fossil into the Museum on Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm for help identifying your fossil in our Prep Lab. Dr. Maureen Bickley will be working in th......More

Did you find a rock in your backyard? Do you think it might be a fossil? Museum of the Earth is here to help! Bring your fossil into the Museum on Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm for help identifying your fossil in our Prep Lab. Dr. Maureen Bickley will be working in the Prep Lab on Saturdays and is happy to assist you.  You will not be able to leave your fossil so it should be able to be carried. If it is too large to carry, email bickley@priweb.org to make different arrangements. 

Museum of the Earth @ 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Volunteer Orientation

Looking to volunteer? This is an opportunity for the public to come learn about Museum of the Earth and find out about our volunteer opportunities. Meet us in the Ray Van Houtte Classroom at the Museum. We look forward to meeting you!

Museum of the Earth @ 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Do You Really Need Another Rock? —Examining Responsible Collecting

Nature is full of interesting specimens that can be tempting to collect, but not everything that can be collected should. In this program, visitors will learn the basics of collecting nature’s treasures and how removing items from their natural ecosystems affects s......More

Nature is full of interesting specimens that can be tempting to collect, but not everything that can be collected should. In this program, visitors will learn the basics of collecting nature’s treasures and how removing items from their natural ecosystems affects species diversity and the environment. This program is free. Donations are always appreciated: https://www.cayuganaturecenter.org/donate

Cayuga Nature Center @ 1420 Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Potorti Gorge Walks: Buttermilk Falls State Park

Join us for our annual James Potorti Museum of the Earth/State Parks Gorge Walks on Fridays in August. PRI has been offering this series of free Friday-morning interpretive walks in partnership with the Finger Lakes State Parks for more than 15 years. The walks were......More

Join us for our annual James Potorti Museum of the Earth/State Parks Gorge Walks on Fridays in August. PRI has been offering this series of free Friday-morning interpretive walks in partnership with the Finger Lakes State Parks for more than 15 years. The walks were officially named in 2004 in memory of Ithaca native James E. Potorti, who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The renaming of the walks was a result of an endowment gift to the Museum from his widow, Nikki Stern, Executive Director of Families of September 11. Potorti was a vice president at Marsh & McLennan, a financial services company, and worked on the 94th floor of 1 World Trade Center. His first career, however, was as a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He grew up in Ithaca and attended SUNY Oswego. The Finger Lakes region has an outstanding geological record exposed in the local gorges. These guided walks will introduce major concepts about geology and geologic time, allowing one to interpret the geological history of the region while enjoying the beauty of our local area. All walks are 10 am - 11:30 am. * Please note that while the walks are free, there is a parking charge for the State Parks. This Gorge Walk will be at Buttermilk Falls State Park. Meet at the main entrance (Rt 13), next to the swimming area at the bottom of Buttermilk Falls.

Buttermilk Falls State Park @ 106 E Buttermilk Falls Rd, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA

Fossil ID Days at Museum of the Earth

Did you find a rock in your backyard? Do you think it might be a fossil? Museum of the Earth is here to help! Bring your fossil into the Museum on Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm for help identifying your fossil in our Prep Lab. Dr. Maureen Bickley will be working in th......More

Did you find a rock in your backyard? Do you think it might be a fossil? Museum of the Earth is here to help! Bring your fossil into the Museum on Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm for help identifying your fossil in our Prep Lab. Dr. Maureen Bickley will be working in the Prep Lab on Saturdays and is happy to assist you.  You will not be able to leave your fossil so it should be able to be carried. If it is too large to carry, email bickley@priweb.org to make different arrangements. 

Museum of the Earth @ 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Shark Fest: Family Day

Join us for Shark Fest at the Museum of the Earth! Learn about sharks with a tooth ID game, activites, scavenger hunts, a raffle, and more on Saturday, August 27 from 10am-1pm. At 4pm, join us for a shark movie at Cinemapolis! It's going to be jaw-some!  

Museum of the Earth @ 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Shark Fest: Movie at Cinemapolis

More details coming soon!

Cinemapolis @ 120 E. Green St,, Ithaca, NY, 14850

Other Fantasies for Extinction, A Listening Party

***THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED*** Please join us under the night sky for Other Fantasies for Extinction, A Listening Party, at the Cayuga Nature Center. The Other Fantasies for Extinction Listening Party is a collaboration between the artist and writer Rachel Gar......More

***THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED*** Please join us under the night sky for Other Fantasies for Extinction, A Listening Party, at the Cayuga Nature Center. The Other Fantasies for Extinction Listening Party is a collaboration between the artist and writer Rachel Garber Cole and the composer Michael Simonelli. The piece, recorded by the duo, is a dreamy meditation on Deep Time, past mass extinctions, climate change, and the spreading of modern Homo sapiens across the globe. A 25 minute sound piece will be followed by an audience discussion. This is an outdoor event on a grassy lawn, so please bring blankets to lie on or chairs to sit in, and something comfortable to wear. In case of rain, the event will take place under the Pavillion at Cayuga Nature Center.  Learn more about Other Fantasies for Extinction: https://www.otherfantasiesforextinction.com/ This program is free. Donations are always appreciated: https://www.cayuganaturecenter.org/donate

Cayuga Nature Center @ 1420 Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Nature’s Defensive Adaptations

Wildlife and plants in NYS and beyond have developed many different defensive mechanisms to protect themselves from predators. In this program, visitors will learn about these adaptations and how to keep ourselves, and wildlife, safe when recreating in nature. This......More

Wildlife and plants in NYS and beyond have developed many different defensive mechanisms to protect themselves from predators. In this program, visitors will learn about these adaptations and how to keep ourselves, and wildlife, safe when recreating in nature. This program is free. Donations are always appreciated: https://www.cayuganaturecenter.org/donate

Cayuga Nature Center @ 1420 Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca, New York, 14850

Tree 'Buds': Weekly Tree Phenology

Be our tree 'buds' and join our weekly citizen science walk to observe and collect data on seasonal changes in trees. Rain or shine, we will monitor when buds break, leaves emerge, flowers bloom, fruits ripen, and when leaves change color and fall. We send the data ......More

Be our tree 'buds' and join our weekly citizen science walk to observe and collect data on seasonal changes in trees. Rain or shine, we will monitor when buds break, leaves emerge, flowers bloom, fruits ripen, and when leaves change color and fall. We send the data to the USA National Phenology Network, which makes it available to researchers who are trying to understand the mechanisms behind seasonal changes and how they are influenced by a changing climate. You’ll learn how to make these types of observations, and how to do this at home or in your neighborhood. This event is free and everyone is welcome to attend. We'll meet in front of the Cayuga Nature Center lodge at the beginning of the program. 

Cayuga Nature Center @ 1420 Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca, New York, 14850