The mission of the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) is to stimulate interest in, advance knowledge of, and foster appreciation for the natural world with special emphasis on the unique natural environment of Long Island’s South Fork.
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A full description of each program is listed on the SOFO website at: www.sofo.org/calendar.
For SOFO members: programs are free, unless otherwise stated.
Level of membership indicates the number of people entitled to a free program.
For SOFO non-members: there is a fee.
Please contact us at: info@sofo.org for fee information or refer to the SOFO website at: www.sofo.org.
If you are not already a member, we invite you to join the museum.
Find out about membership levels at www.sofo.org/membership.
For full information on the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO), including entrance fees and hours of operation, please refer to the website: www.sofo.org.
Advanced registration is required for all programs.
March
Saturday
March 1
10:00AM
SOFO
Birding for Beginners.
This free program is for adults, teens, and children 10 and older.
Program Leaders Cindy Lenkiewicz and Dave Polek, SOFO Docents
Explore Birding as a new hobby ─ take a walk with volunteer docents Cindy & Dave in the Vineyard Field behind the Museum and learn how to identify the birds that we might find, including blue jay, black-capped chickadee, starling, northern mockingbird and red-tailed hawk. Listen to the voices and observe the behavior of the birds to help identify them. No prior experience required. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Saturday
March 1
2:00PM-4:00PM
Southampton
Seal Cruise, co-sponsored with CRESLI, cresli.org
Program Leader: CRESLI scientist
This year the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island - CRESLI and the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center - SOFO are co-sponsoring seal cruises.
Join us as a CRESLI scientist leads 2 hour expeditions to view, photograph and gather information about the diversity and distribution of the seals in Shinnecock Bay. You'll learn about the different species of seals in our waters, as well as the characteristics and behaviors that allow these animals to thrive. You'll hear about the history of seal exploitation and recovery and see these animals in their natural habitat.
CRESLI Seal Cruises on the RV Peconic around Shinnecock Bay will meet and board 30 minutes before the listed departure time at the dock area.
Saturday
March 1
7:30PM
Montauk
Annual, Blue-spotted Salamander Search with Andy Sabin. This program is for families with children 6 and over.
Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Board of Directors
Montauk’s vernal ponds are some of the few places in the world where the Blue-spotted Salamander, in its purebred form, can be found. Join “Salamander Commander” Andy Sabin on this nighttime expedition as we search for this unique native species. Please bring a flashlight and wear boots, as late winter rains will make the ground soggy. This walk will take place only if there have been heavy rains.
Sunday
March 2
10:30AM
SOFO
What is a Stick Bug? ─ Learn About These Insects and Create Your Own Stick Bug. This program is for adults, teens, and children 5 and over.
Program Leader: Sydney Mantione, SOFO Environmental Educator
Is it a stick? Is it a bug? Why do these insects look so strange? Learn about these unusual creatures and create your own stick bug with twigs, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes.
Saturday
March 8
10:00AM-12:00PM
Seal Cruise, co-sponsored with CRESLI, cresli.org
Program Leader: CRESLI scientist
This year the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island - CRESLI and the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center - SOFO are co-sponsoring seal cruises.
Join us as a CRESLI scientist leads 2 hour expeditions to view, photograph and gather information about the diversity and distribution of the seals in Shinnecock Bay. You'll learn about the different species of seals in our waters, as well as the characteristics and behaviors that allow these animals to thrive. You'll hear about the history of seal exploitation and recovery and see these animals in their natural habitat.
CRESLI Seal Cruises on the RV Peconic around Shinnecock Bay will meet and board 30 minutes before the listed departure time at the dock area.
Saturday
March 8
10:30AM-12:00PM
SOFO
Worms Eat My Garbage ─ Getting Started with Composting at Home with Rob “Rockfish” Gelling. This program is for adults, teens, and children 9 and over.
Program Leader: Rob “Rockfish” Gelling, SOFO Environmental Educator
Nearly 30% of our garbage or municipal solid waste (MSW) is organic and could be allowed to biodegrade with the help of red worms in a composter on your own property. This would reduce greenhouse gases produced by the transport of our waste from the curb, cut down the volume that is taken to landfills and/or burned in incinerators and in the end, make fertile soil for use in and around the home. So meet Rockfish to learn the best way to make the recycling of our food and yard waste an earth friendly activity that will be easily added to your weekly routine!
Participants will build a mini composting worm bioreactor in a jar!
Saturday
March 8
7:30PM
Montauk
Another Blue-spotted Salamander Search with Andy Sabin. This program is for families with children 6 and over.
Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) Board of Directors
Here is another opportunity to join SOFO’s “Salamander Commander” Andy Sabin on an additional nighttime expedition as we search for this unique native salamander species, the Blue-spotted Salamander. Montauk’s vernal ponds are some of the few places in the world where the Blue-spotted Salamander, in its purebred form, can be found. Please bring a flashlight and wear boots, as late winter rains will make the ground soggy. This walk will take place only if there have been heavy rains.
Friday
March 14
7:30PM-8:30PM
SOFO
Full Worm Moon Hike. with Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt. Co-Sponsored by Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt and South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO).
Walk Leader: Jean Mc Dermott, Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
The full “Worm Moon” was given its name by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. At the time of this spring moon, the ground begins to soften, and earthworm castings reappear, inviting the return of robins. In some regions, this is also known as the “Sap Moon”, as it marks the time when maple sap begins to flow, and the annual tapping of maple trees begins. Join us on this leisurely paced hike through Vineyard Field’s open field trails, and then enjoy some light refreshments and convivial conversation. Meet at the SOFO Museum parking lot, 377 Bridgehampton Turnpike, 200 yards north of the RR tracks.
To register, email: greenbeltnews@aol.com. On the day of the hike, contact Jean Mc Dermott, 631-599-2391.
Saturday
March 15
2:00PM-4:00PM
Southampton
Seal Cruise, co-sponsored with CRESLI, cresli.org
Program Leader: CRESLI scientist
This year the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island - CRESLI and the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center - SOFO are co-sponsoring seal cruises.
Join us as a CRESLI scientist leads 2 hour expeditions to view, photograph and gather information about the diversity and distribution of the seals in Shinnecock Bay. You'll learn about the different species of seals in our waters, as well as the characteristics and behaviors that allow these animals to thrive. You'll hear about the history of seal exploitation and recovery and see these animals in their natural habitat.
CRESLI Seal Cruises on the RV Peconic around Shinnecock Bay will meet and board 30 minutes before the listed departure time at the dock area.
Saturday
March 15
8:00PM
Bridgehampton
Annual Spotted Salamander Search with Andy Sabin. This program is for families with children 6 and over.
Walk Leader: Andy Sabin, President, South Fork Natural History Museum Board of Directors
On this walk to one of our vernal ponds with the “Salamander Commander” Andy Sabin, we’ll be searching for the Spotted Salamander, one of our four native mole salamanders. This salamander is a beauty, with its shiny black body and bright yellow spots. It, like the Eastern Tiger Salamander and the Blue-spotted Salamander, as well as the early-autumn breeding Marbled Salamander, is called a mole salamander because it spends most of its time underground. Please bring a flashlight and wear boots, as late winter rains will make the ground soggy. This walk will take place only if there have been heavy rains.
Wednesday
March 19
1:00-3:00PM
Westhampton
SOFO’s East End Outdoor Nature Education with Crystal at Cupsogue County Park, Westhampton. This program is for children 3-7.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl, SOFO Outdoor Education Specialist
SOFO is offering a monthly program which will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1 pm for children ages 3 to 7 years and is geared toward homeschooling families. Programs will have a variety of activities to strengthen language development, literacy, math, and science and will take place at various locations on Eastern Long Island.
Crystal Possehl-Oakes, the program leader, has worked as an environmental educator at SOFO since 2005 and part-time since 2019 after her son Wyatt was born. Wyatt and I look forward to meeting you and learning with you!
Saturday
March 22
9:00AM-11:00AM
Seal Cruise, co-sponsored with CRESLI, cresli.org
Program Leader: CRESLI scientist
This year the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island - CRESLI and the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center - SOFO are co-sponsoring seal cruises.
Join us as a CRESLI scientist leads 2 hour expeditions to view, photograph and gather information about the diversity and distribution of the seals in Shinnecock Bay. You'll learn about the different species of seals in our waters, as well as the characteristics and behaviors that allow these animals to thrive. You'll hear about the history of seal exploitation and recovery and see these animals in their natural habitat.
CRESLI Seal Cruises on the RV Peconic around Shinnecock Bay will meet and board 30 minutes before the listed departure time at the dock area.
Sunday
March 23
10-11AM
SOFO
New York Marine Rescue Center Seal Advocacy Program Level I Lecture, FREE: This program is for all ages.
Program Leader: New York Maring Rescue Center staff
Come join SOFO and the New York Marine Rescue Center for a Seal Advocacy Lecture and training workshop to learn about the seals of New York- including what is normal behavior, challenges they face, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and how you can help educate others!
Level 1 Lecture discusses the types of seals found in New York and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Sunday
March 23
12-1:30PM
Sagaponack
New York Marine Rescue Center Seal Advocacy Program Level II In-Field Training, FREE: This program is for ages 18 or older, unless accompanied by an adult.
Program Leader: New York Maring Rescue Center staff
Level I lecture plus In-field Training further prepares attendees in assessing a seal’s behavior to provide New York Marine Rescue Center staff with better information and informs on how to educate the public at crowded beaches where a healthy seal may be resting!
Saturday
March 29
9:00AM
Sag Harbor
Observing Glacial Erratics Along the Ronkonkoma Moraine. This program is for adults and teens.
Walk Leader: Frank Quevedo, SOFO Executive Director
The geologic event that most greatly affected the land surface of Long Island was the advance of a massive continental glacier into this region during the Wisconsin stage of the Pleistocene Epoch. The southernmost Ronkonkoma moraine and the later-formed Harbor Hill moraine to the north are two sub-stages, or positions, of the ice sheet which occurred on Long Island.
(https://www.garviespointmuseum.com/)
This walk with Frank will give you an up-close view of glacial erratics – often the size of boulders – deposited as the glacier melted and retreated.
Saturday
March 29
10:00AM
SOFO
Young Environmentalists Society (YES!) Meeting: This free program is for children ages 10-16 and Junior Members ages 5-9.
Club Leader: Mare Dianora, an educator and the mother of two young sons, is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice involves building community and exploring connections to home and place.
SOFO’s Young Environmentalists Society (YES!) is led by Mare Dianora, an interdisciplinary artist whose practice involves building community and creating connections to home and place. YES! is open to young environmentalists, aged 10 – 16 (and Junior members ages 5-9), who want to help prevent climate change as they discuss various challenges and ideas that can impact our precious environment. The program includes guest speakers and field trips and explores topics such as climate change, aquaculture, environmental career goals, water conservation, local ecology and more.
This is a free program, thanks to the generosity of a foundation that prefers to remain anonymous. The date may change for this program. Please contact SOFO at (631) 537-9735 or info@sofo.org for up-to-the-minute information.
Saturday
March 29
10:30AM
SOFO
Celebrate National Plant a Flower Day: Planting Native Flowers. This program is for adults, teens, and children 5 and over.
Walk Leader: Erin Hwong, SOFO Environmental Educator
Prepare for spring bloom by planting native flowers in pots! Each participant will be able to take home their own pot of native flower seed to nurture at home until it’s time to plant them outside in the spring.
Saturday
March 29
6:30PM
Bridgehampton
Searching for Woodcocks. This program is for adults, teens, and children 10 and over.
Walk Leader: Melanie Meade, SOFO Education Director
The American Woodcock is well camouflaged with brown dappled leaf tones, and its foraging behavior keeps the bird’s movements close to the ground making it hard to spot during the daytime. But at dawn and again at dusk during late winter and early spring these birds really put on a show. Join SOFO for a short walk through the field and forest of Poxabogue County Park at dusk. As darkness falls, we will listen for the American Woodcock male’s “peent” call and watch for his aerial acrobatics as he tries to woo a female. This program has limited enrollment.
Sunday
March 30
10:30AM
SOFO
Water Cycle Stories & Experiments. This program is for children 3-7.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl, SOFO Outdoor Education Specialist
The first rains in March are a welcome sign that spring is starting and the natural world is waking from winter. But why does it rain? Join us for some fun stories and simple experiments to explore the water cycle that we all depend on.
Sunday
March 30
1:30PM
Water Cycle Stories & Experiments. This program is for children 3-7.
Program Leader: Crystal Possehl, SOFO Outdoor Education Specialist
The first rains in March are a welcome sign that spring is starting and the natural world is waking from winter. But why does it rain? Join us for some fun stories and simple experiments to explore the water cycle that we all depend on.
Sunday
March 30
2:00PM
Westhampton
Searching for Seals with SOFO. This program is for adults, teens, and children 8 and over.
Walk Leader: Sydney Mantione, SOFO Environmental Educator
Several species of seals come to visit Long Island during the colder winter months in search of food. The three most common species that visit Long Island at this time of year are harbor seals, gray seals, and harp seals. Join us for a guided walk during low tide and learn more about these mammalian winter visitors and how to safely view them.