Community News

The Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center has several events coming up in April to celebrate Mother Nature in Spring. 

First, beginning April 13th, will be a Sparks – Butterfly & Pollinator Gardens 4-H Club. A ‘Sparks Club’ is a short, 2-4 session club that will introduce youth aged 5-18 to the 4-H program and the curriculum developed by 4-H educators. Sparks – Butterfly & Pollinator Gardens is a 3-session, science club for Oswego County youth interested in learning about creating beautiful gardens that are also safe places for local pollinators. Running on Saturdays, April 13th, 20th & 27th, this club will introduce youth to native flower species, gardening ideas to bring home to create their own pollinator garden, and the different pollinators that will utilize their gardens, such as mason bees, bats, or moths and butterflies. All youth attending will be given seeds that they can start growing in a small pot or plant in the ground whenever they choose. There is no program fee for enrolled Oswego County 4-H Members. Youth not enrolled in Oswego County 4-H will pay a $15 fee which includes enrollment into the Oswego County 4-H Program.

Then, during Spring Break, there will be two programs highlighting the environmental holidays that take place that week: Earth Day and Arbor Day. On Monday, April 22nd at 10:00 a.m., celebrate Earth Day learning about ways people come together to celebrate and honor the planet. The Earth Day program will highlight some of the different ways people can make a positive impact not only for our planet, but for each other. This program will feature a make-and-take craft and a sweet treat.

On Arbor Day, Friday, April 26th, at 10:00 a.m., the environmental educator will present a Walk & Talk: Trees, an Arbor Day program. Participants will be led on a guided walk through the trails and learn about different tree species and their unique characteristics. The group will also learn tips and tricks to identify some of the most common tree species throughout the state.

The fee for these two programs is only $4 per person, or $12 for a family. Children under the age of three are free! Preregistration is requested. The recommended age for these programs is 5+.

Finally, also during Spring Break week, the Paul and Theresa Schoeck Education Building at the Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center will be open for limited hours. On Tuesday, April 23rd and Thursday, April 25th, visitors can stop in any time from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to walk through the various exhibits and displays featuring New York State mammals, birds, insects, and more. There will be a story time, followed by a guided hike on both days at 11:30 a.m. There is no fee to attend the open hours or guided programs on Tuesday and Thursday. Many people drive by the facility every day, now’s the time to stop in and explore! There is no preregistration for these events. All youth must be accompanied by an adult.

More information on these programs and others can be found at http://thatscooperativeextension.org/events. Even if you are unable to attend the programs, trails at the Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center are open from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. There is no parking fee, and there is a map of the trails when you arrive.

The Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center is located at 748 State Route 183 in eastern Oswego County, between Routes 13 and 69 near Williamstown. More information about the Amboy 4-H Environmental Educational Center and its programming, can be found at http://thatscooperativeextension.org/amboy-4-h-environmental-education-center, or by calling the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County 4-H Office at (315) 963-7286.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities, and provides equal program and employment opportunities. Please contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County office if you have any special needs. -30-