Rice Creek Field Station invites the public and members of the campus community to a host of free environmental education programs this winter. Highlighting the winter events calendar is the sixth-annual Celebrate Snow winter festival on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with a severe weather date of Feb. 15).

This year's festival includes indoor and outdoor activities related to snow and winter, with options for both kids and adults. 

Outdoor activities will include snowshoeing (youth and adult sizes available), tapping maple trees and enjoying a winter-themed Story Time by the campfire with Oswego Public Library Children’s Librarian Cathryn McVearry. Visitors can also warm up with hot cocoa and s’mores by the campfire, join a guided walk to learn more about Rice Creek Field Station and observe snowflakes while learning about the science of snow. Some outdoor activities will be weather-dependent.

Indoors, a plethora of activities await, including facepainting and creating pod critters or birdseed ornaments. Visitors can explore wellness with SUNY Oswego’s Counseling Center, and have fun with Oswego County Soil and Water. There will be a variety of activities suitable for various age levels. Adults can enjoy learning more about Oswego’s weather with SUNY Oswego’s Meteorology Club and professor Katelyn Barber, animal adaptations to winter with SUNY Oswego’s Zoology Club and learning how to identify winter backyard birds.

Additional event details are available at oswego.edu/celebrate-snow. For questions about the event or how to be involved as a participating organization or volunteer, please email rcfs@oswego.edu or call 315.312.6677.

Additional information for all events and programs, as well as a link to sign up for Rice Creek’s monthly email, are available at linktr.ee/ricecreek.

Located on nearly 400 acres of mixed terrain accessible from Thompson Road, Rice Creek Field Station has served as a living and working laboratory and educational facility for more than 50 years. In 2013, the facility opened a 7,700-square-foot, state-of-the-art visitor center.

Rice Creek’s five miles of hiking trails are open daily from dawn until dusk. Building hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

-- Submitted by Rice Creek Field Station