Events

@ Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Detailed Times/Hours: 7:30pm - 9:00pm.

Enjoy a night out in the woods with a Park Educator! As daylight fades, a whole new world comes alive. Join us for an evening exploration of nocturnal wildlife and discover the animals that are most active after dark. We'll begin with a brief indoor presentation in the art gallery, where participants will learn about the seasonal birds, mammals, insects, and amphibians that can be found at night at the Preserve. Then, we’ll head outside for a guided night walk to listen, observe, and search for signs of our nocturnal neighbors that live here.

@ Rockefeller State Park Preserve: Rockwood Hall

Detailed Times/Hours: Open daily Sunrise to Sunset

Join Park Educator Joe Zarzhevsky for a guided, 2-mile, round trip hike at our Rockwood Hall section of the Preserve! This program is a potpourri of both site and natural history, where we’ll spend time observing wildlife, trees and plants, and learning about the former estate of William Rockefeller. This site boasts scenic views overlooking the Hudson, lush forests, and remnants of 19th century luxuries.

@ Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Detailed Times/Hours: 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Join professional bird photographer Vinny (M. Ed) and RSPP Educator Martha on a walk to observe and photograph our feathered residents. While Vinny offers camera tips and tricks, Martha will assist with spotting and teaching about the ecology and behavior of our avian life. You will be surprised by what you might capture with your own camera!

@ Sleepy Hollow Cemetery - South Gate

Learn why Washington Irving is called the "Original Knickerbocker" as we walk to the famous author's final resting place. Hear more about the talented Mr. Irving, his influence on popular culture today and reflect on why "The Legend" has never been out of print for more than 200 years! You'll also find out what the Receiving Vault used to receive, see the Revolutionary War monument, and admire this historic cemetery's lovely art and architecture along the way during a one-hour walking tour.

@ Brinton Brook Audubon Sanctuary

Explore the 156-acres of Brinton Brook Audubon Sanctuary overlooking the Hudson River in Croton-on- Hudson with Saw Mill River Audubon. Two-hour leisurely nature walk with optional 1.5 hour extension to the highest point in Croton on the Village’s Highland Trail. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Binoculars are helpful. Rain or shine. Please note: no restrooms on property.

@ Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Detailed Times/Hours: 10:00am - 11:30am.

Worried about coyotes, bobcats, and bears within parks and your neighborhood? Join RSPP Program Coordinator and Leave No Trace Instructor Martha Bierut to learn ecology and best practices for minimizing you and your family’s risk of harmful wildlife encounters. Martha (MSc Conservation Leadership) has worked with and studied human-wildlife conflict mitigation for years. Her Masters research focused on communities around a Ugandan national park in severe conflict with elephants in the form of crop raiding and retaliatory ivory poaching.

@ Croton Yacht Club

Detailed Times/Hours: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The sails aboard Whimbrel, our sloop-rigged Catboat, will depart at 11AM, 12PM, 1PM, 2PM, and 3PM. Each sail will be approximately 45 minutes long. The free sails are on a "first come, first served" basis. No reservations will be accepted prior to the sail day. Guests can sign up at the Ferry Sloops table (under the big white tent) beginning at 10:00am for any of the day’s scheduled sail times. (limit of 4 passengers per sail). The boat's captain reserves the right to cancel any or all of the day's sails, if weather conditions make it unsafe for sailing. Passenger age requirement: must be at least 12 years old, under 18 years old must be accompanied by parent or adult guardian (no exceptions).

@ Croton Yacht Club

Detailed Times/Hours: 11:00 AM-4:00 PM

The Croton Yacht Club is happy to announce its annual “Hudson River Day” celebration will be held on Saturday, September 12th, from 11 AM - 4 PM at the Croton Yacht Club located at 6 Elliott Way in Croton-on-Hudson. The mission of the event is to promote interest in the history and ecology of the river, to cultivate future local environmental leaders and to promote, enhance and protect river related recreational resources. There will be events and exhibits throughout the day targeting both children and adults, focusing on the history and ecology of the river. Events and exhibits will include: a seining exhibition where local marine life will be captured, displayed and later released; viewing tanks where local marine life can be identified and observed; hands-on exhibits for children such as toy sailboat making, fossil making; sail boat rides, and local artist displays and sales. Free sailboat rides, will be offered by Ferry Sloops aboard their 22’ sloop-rigged Catboat the “Whimbrel” on a first come first served basis. The sails will depart at 11AM, 12PM, 1PM, 2PM and 3PM. Guests can sign up at the Ferry Sloops table in the tent beginning at 10:00AM for any of the day's scheduled sail times. Limit of 4 passengers per sail. Passenger age requirement: must be at least 12 years old, under 18 years old must be accompanied by parent or adult guardian. There will also be a youth fishing clinic and contest sponsored by the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association and the Yacht Club. Volunteers will be present during the hours of 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM and provide the use of fishing equipment and bait, free of charge. Fishing rod and reel combinations will also be awarded as prizes. All youths wishing to fish at the Yacht Club must be accompanied by an adult. The Croton Yacht Club looks forward to coordinating this event because it provides the membership and local exhibitors the opportunity to share their river related knowledge and expertise with the community, especially the children. The organization realizes that only through this transfer of knowledge can it safeguard the future of this great resource, the Hudson River. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Admission is free so please come and join us in a fun filled, educational and family focused event you will surely enjoy. Environmental organizations, local craft vendors and artists are welcome. For additional information please contact Dennis Kooney at dennis@kooney.net or call 914-271-6384.

@ Westmoreland Sanctuary

Detailed Times/Hours: Westmoreland is open, staffed and free 7 days a week, 9-5. We are always happy to welcome visitors to the museum, grounds and hiking trails.

Visit Westmoreland Sanctuary for a 1-hour animal program followed by a 1-hour, 1-mile guided hike. Meet the Westmoreland animal ambassadors and learn about the different animal groups. Learn about and interact with insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The more you learn about these animals, the more you learn about the natural world around us. The group will then take a short hike in the Sanctuary to learn about nature in the summer, forest and pond ecology, Westchester history, and native plants and animals. Other features at Westmoreland Sanctuary include a terrace garden with a small pond and children's playhouse, picnic area, live animals and exhibits within the museum and 8.5 miles of hiking trails. We hope to see you there!

@ Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Detailed Times/Hours: 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Bring your family to the Preserve to learn about our local wildlife through the eyes of legendary children's book author and artist, Eric Carle. Beginning with a Carle story or two, we will explore how Eric Carle creates his signature collage-inspired artwork before creating our very own Rockefeller x Carle critter collages! Recommended ages 8 and up. Registration is per child, parents and guardians free.

@ Lyndhurst

Detailed Times/Hours: Open daily 9:30 - 5 pm

This two-hour, two-mile ramble offers a complete overview of Lyndhurst’s historic landscape. This 67-acre Lower Westchester site reflects 180 years of grand estate living on the Hudson River. Visitors will stroll past specimen trees, including the majestic lindens for which the property was named, then walk through the Lord & Burnham greenhouse frame, rose and fern gardens, and gain exclusive access to the ruined swimming pool building. Walk along restored pathways to historic rockeries with spectacular views of the Hudson River. See the new pollinator garden designed by Hudson Valley landscape artist Paula Hayes, it forms a circular pattern, a mandala of plants, around the newly restored Overlook platform. The tour culminates inside the 1894 bowling pavilion with an exhibit dedicated to two women philanthropists. This rare tour of the Lyndhurst grounds is an excellent way to view this estate and enjoy the beautiful landscape!

@ Westmoreland Sanctuary

Detailed Times/Hours: Westmoreland Sanctuary is open to visitors 7 days a week, 9-5.

Join Westmoreland Sanctuary for a beginner-friendly birding adventure! During this 2-hour guided program, participants will learn the basics of bird identification, how to use binoculars, and tips for spotting birds by sight and sound. Perfect for all ages and experience levels, this relaxing outdoor program is a great way to connect with nature and discover the birds that call our area home.

@ Shattemuc Yacht Club

Detailed Times/Hours: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The sails aboard Whimbrel, our sloop-rigged Catboat, will depart at 10AM, 11AM, 12PM, 1PM, 2PM, and 3PM. Each sail will be approximately 45 minutes long. The free sails are on a "first come, first served" basis. No reservations will be accepted prior to the sail day. Guests can sign up at the yellow Ferry Sloops tent beginning at 9:30AM for any of the day's scheduled sail times (limit of 4 passengers per sail). The boat's captain reserves the right to cancel any or all of the day's sails, if weather conditions make it unsafe for sailing. There is NO Rain date. Passenger age requirement: must be at least 12 years old, under 18 years old must be accompanied by parent or adult guardian (no exceptions). Free parking is available on the street (Westerly Road). DO NOT park in the Shattemuc Yacht Club parking lot or the Boathouse Restaurant parking lot.

@ Mount Holly Preserve

Detailed Times/Hours: Event will be from 10am - 11am.

Mt. Holly Preserve Hike in Katonah. Discover this small gem of a preserve tucked away from it all in Northern Westchester. This 1 1/2 mile, moderate hike will be led by the preserve steward and Lewisboro Land Trust (LLT) board member, Paul Collura, who has made many improvements to the trails since the preserve was acquired by LLT from The Nature Conservancy in 2020.

@ OCA Keepers’ House

Detailed Times/Hours: Noon-4pm

Our annual celebration of Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park with music and merriment from Noon-4pm along the Aqueduct trail in Dobbs Ferry. This year we celebrate the Irish who built the aqueduct tunnel. Petting farm, Irish music and dance, brick making, wagon rides, water games, doggie parade, art adventures, eco orgs and more. Walk, ramble, cycle. Street parking. Close to Metro North. Bring a blanket or chair. Food & drink for purchase.

@ Sylvan Glen Park Preserve, Eastern Trail Head

The 2.5-mile hike is led by New York New Jersey Trail Conference volunteers and will explore the quarries and surrounding natural areas at Sylvan Glen Park Preserve. The Mohegan Quarry operated from 1890-1941 and supplied honey-colored granite for several buildings in New York City, including the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Some of the abandoned cables, machinery, and building foundations are still visible along the trails. The hike includes a visit to the Quarry Oak, an 18-foot circumference white oak dating from colonial times.

@ Losee Park, Tarrytown, NY

Detailed Times/Hours: Registration opens at 7am, safety meeting at 7:30am, launch st 8am.

Grab your kayak to join us as we paddle 2.7 miles across the Hudson River at the fabled Tappan Zee, then back again. We'll launch from Tarrytown's Losee Park, and head for Nyack's Memorial Park beach, take a 20 minute snack break, then return. Experienced kayakers who own their own boat and have enough endurance to kayak 5 miles with an average speed of 2.5 knots may participate. We will ask kayakers to travel in a tight group. Accompanying safety boats will be provided by the Auxiliary Coast Guard. Free parking will be available for participants at Losee Park. Check in starting at 7:00am, safety meeting at 7:30am, launch at 8:00am.

@ Westmoreland Sanctuary

Detailed Times/Hours: Westmoreland Sanctuary is open and free 7 days a week from 9-5

Celebrate fall at Westmoreland Sanctuary with a hands-on Apple Cider Making Workshop! Participants will grind, press, and taste fresh cider while learning about traditional cider making history, culture and connection to nature. Perfect for families and all ages. Please visit the nature center while you're here to see the turtles, snakes, birds and bunnies. Westmoreland Sanctuary also offers year-round nature programs including hikes, camps, preschool classes, scout programs, birthday parties, workshops, and community events for all ages.

@ Rockwood Hall, Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Detailed Times/Hours: 5:30pm - 7:00pm. Please come at least 10 minutes early to account for the walk from the parking lot to the kiosk at Rockwood Hall. Event is at our Rockwood Hall site, not at the main Preserve entrance. The parking lot is behind the Phelps Hospital parking garage; overflow parking may park at the garage for free.

Take in the sunset at the Rockwood Hall site of Rockefeller State Park Preserve with Park Guardian Melissa. This scenic and beautiful 3-mile hike of the grounds that once were home to William Rockefeller’s country estate offers old-growth trees, abundant birds, and panoramic views of the Hudson River as the sun sets behind the Palisades. The hike is at Rockwood Hall, DO NOT go to the main entrance.

@ Ossining, NY

Detailed Times/Hours: Open Saturdays, May-December, from 8:30am-1pm in the parking lot near the corner of Spring and Main Streets

Local farms and food makers gather in the heart of Ossining Village on Saturdays from 8:30am to 1pm. Stop by for lunch or a snack while you browse the village, on your way to the Hudson River waterfront, or before you hit the Croton Aqueduct trail.

@ Westchester Wilderness Walk/ Zofnass Family Preserve

Detailed Times/Hours: The event will take place from 10am-1pm

Take a walk back in time with Westchester Land Trust’s resident geologist and Program Manager, Kim Fendrich, as we explore the Hudson Valley’s rich and complex geologic history. The cliffs, rolling hills, and rivers that we call home were sculpted by a billion years’ worth of landscape evolution, evidenced in rock formations at Westchester Wilderness Walk/Zofnass Family Preserve. It’s a great tale of transformation: land battered in tectonic plate collisions, submerged under the sea, later buried under a sheet of ice 2,000 feet thick. This three-hour hike will be around three miles round trip with plenty of stops for discussion and observation. Leashed dogs are welcome. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please bring a water bottle and wear sun protection, long pants, and closed-toed shoes. Pants tucked into your socks are recommended to avoid exposure to ticks and poison ivy. We won't be stopping for lunch, but you may wish to bring a light snack.

@ Rockwood Hall, Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Detailed Times/Hours: 10:00am - 12:00pm.

Join our Historian, David Teich, on an adventure into the past as we explore the remains of Rockwood Hall and its rich history through stories of the land and the people who called it home. Former estate of William Rockefeller, this site boasts scenic views overlooking the Hudson, lush forests, and remnants of 19th century luxuries. The Rockwood Hall parking lot is on Kendal Way at the west end of route 117, just after the intersection of Phelps and Regeneron. If the lot is full, you may park in the Phelps garage (free). Gather at the kiosk at the top of the hill.

@ Chappaqua, NY

Detailed Times/Hours: New Castle Historical Society is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 11am - 3pm

This September, take a stroll through history with the New Castle Historical Society's Greeley Farm Walking Tour. Much of the land that is now the center of Chappaqua sits on what was once Horace Greeley's 78-acre farm, where he and his family spent their summers from the 1850s to the 1870s. The tour starts on the front porch of the Greeley House, home of the New Castle Historical Society, and travels to ten stops to explore how they've changed from the mid-19th century to today. Along the way, discover the ecological features that drew the Greeleys to Northern Westchester, learn how the landscape impacted how they lived, and witness how their legacy shaped the community we see today. The Greeley House is a five-minute walk from the Chappaqua Train Station and just a short distance from the Saw Mill River Parkway. There is plenty of street parking nearby on King Street and Senter Street, as well as municipal lots off North and South Greeley Streets.

@ Harts Brook Park and Preserve

Guided tour of the Hart's Brook Preserve's barn, greenhouse and master gardens. Learn the interesting history of the Hart's Brook Park and Preserve's property. Explore one of the wooded trails with a member of the Greenburgh Parks & Recreation park staff who will identify trees & wildlife in the area. Families welcome! Wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes and bring a water bottle.

@ St. Paul's Church National Historic Site

Detailed Times/Hours: Our site is open that day for regular tours from 10 AM to 5 PM, and the feature talk about the Westchester campaign of '76 will be at 1 PM.

. “The Revolution Hung in the Balance? From Throg’s Neck to White Plains,” author and historian Stephen DeVillo explores the crucial series of Revolutionary War battles in Westchester County in October 1776.

@ Rockefeller State Park Preserve

Detailed Times/Hours: 6:45pm - 8:45pm. Hike departs promptly at 6:45pm.

Experience the Preserve after dark! Join Shayla, Hailey, and Dave for a 4-mile hike on carriage roads lit by moonlight. We walk at a brisk pace and there will be hills; some hiking experience is recommended. Leashed dogs are welcome. Please bring water and wear comfortable closed-toed shoes. IMPORTANT: As most private transportation providers, such as Uber and Lyft, will not service the Preserve location in the evening hours, please secure your transportation arrangements accordingly. We leave promptly at scheduled times. This hike takes place after the park has closed; latecomers will not be able to join after the group has departed. In the event of inclement weather, the hike will be canceled; you will be notified at least 2 hours in advance.