Rogers Center programs run all year long.

Every year, Friends of Rogers staff and board provide programming for free or reduced cost to the public. Supported by a number of Central New York’s local foundations, these programs run on a monthly basis, bringing in expert speakers and leading guided excursions, all with an educational agenda.

Friends of Rogers also host four seasonal events for the community: Winter Living Celebration; Earth Day; Get Outdoors, Get Together Day, and Animals of Halloween.

Monday Morning Ramble - Sugar Bush
Nov
18

Monday Morning Ramble - Sugar Bush

This week our Ramble takes a stroll through the Rogers Center sugar bush. Located just down the road from our main parking lot, we will meet at the parking lot at 10:00 AM and carpool over (parking is limited). It’s uphill going in, downhill coming out. We’ll talk about sugar bushes in general, and the sugaring operation, but also look at whatever else Mother Nature offers us. Call or email to register.

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Tracking Club
Dec
1

Tracking Club

Tracking and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to join us on the first Sunday of each month at 10:00 AM for discussion and exploration to sharpen and share tracking skills. Call or email to register.

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Monday Morning Ramble - Nelson Swamp
Dec
2

Monday Morning Ramble - Nelson Swamp

Every Monday morning we head out to explore what nature has to offer. This week we head to Nelson Swamp Unique area. Carpool departs from Rogers Center main parking lot at 9:00 AM; or you can meet us at the Nelson Swamp parking lot at 10:00 AM. Call or email to register.

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Monday Morning Ramble - Hillside Trail
Dec
16

Monday Morning Ramble - Hillside Trail

Every Monday morning we go for a leisurely stroll to see what nature has to offer. Today we are back up on Cush Hill to explore the Hillside Trail. Meet at the Rogers Center main parking lot at 10:00 to carpool up the hill. Dress for the weather! Call or email to register.

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First Day Hikes
Jan
1

First Day Hikes

Welcome the new year with a hike along the trails at Rogers Center. Meet at our main parking lot and choose your hiking adventure: Easy - Channels Marsh Trail; Moderate - Adams Farm Trail; Challenging - Farm Tower. Friends of Rogers Staff, and members of the Bullthistle Hiking Club lead the hikes. Registration not required.

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Tracking Club
Jan
5

Tracking Club

Tracking and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to join us on the first Sunday of each month at 10:00 AM for discussion and exploration to sharpen and share tracking skills. Call or email to register.

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Tapping the Trees
Jan
11

Tapping the Trees

A CNY right of passage for many rural residents is the maple sugaring season. In January, many sugaring operations begin tapping their trees, and Rogers Center is no different. Join Friends of Rogers Executive Director David Carson as he sets the taps in our sugar bush. Learn how to determine how many taps to use, how deep to drill the hole, and how to hook up the sap lines. Dress for the weather - we will be outside in the snow. Call or email to register.

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Quarterly Book Club:  Q1, Mtg. 1:  Eat, Poop, Die
Jan
28

Quarterly Book Club: Q1, Mtg. 1: Eat, Poop, Die

Our popular Quarterly Book Club begins year two with the humorously titled Eat, Poop, Die by Joe Roman. “If forests are the lungs of the planet, then animals…are its heart and arteries, pumping nitrogen and phosphorus from deep sea gorges up to mountain peaks, from the Arctic to the Caribbean. Without this conveyor belt of crucial, life-sustaining nutrients, the world would look very different.” Tonight we discuss chapters 1-3. Call or email to register.

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Winter Living Celebration
Feb
1

Winter Living Celebration

It’s that time of year once more! Will we have snow or won’t we? Whatever the weather throws at us, we will have fun and games waiting for you here at Rogers Center! Children’s activities at the Bird Cabin; hot food in the Outdoor Classroom; baked goods, fly-tying, and community groups in the Visitor Center; music and wagon rides…it’s all waiting for you here! Stop on by to join the fun!

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Monday Morning Ramble - Eagles of Onondaga Lake
Feb
3

Monday Morning Ramble - Eagles of Onondaga Lake

Every Monday morning we head out on a leisurely walk to see what Nature has to offer us. Today our Ramble takes us up to Syracuse to watch the Eagles of Onondaga Lake. It can be VERY COLD, so please dress accordingly. Bring your camera gear! We depart from the main parking lot at Rogers Center at 8:30 AM. Call or email to register.

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Monday Morning Ramble - Hillside Trail
Feb
10

Monday Morning Ramble - Hillside Trail

Every Monday morning we head out on a leisurely walk to see what Nature has to offer us. Today our Ramble is up on Cush Hill as we walk Hillside Trail. Could be icy. We leave the main parking lot at Rogers at 10:00 AM to carpool up the hill. Call or email to register.

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Maple Magic
Feb
15

Maple Magic

Join us for a look at the history of maple sugaring! We begin in our sugarbush where we introduce you to the legends and tools of the people who discovered this liquid gold, and we wrap up at our “new” sugarshack, where you’ll see sap cooking away and learn what it takes to turn the sweet essence of maple trees into a variety of maple treats, from syrup to jackwax! Space is limited, so call or email to register. Dress for the weather - we will be standing outside for this program.

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Storytime & Hike
Feb
26

Storytime & Hike

Storytime & Hike returns from it’s winter sabbatical! Families are invited to join Jenni Larchar for stories, songs and an exploration of the trails. No registration is required. Dress for the weather.

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Tracking Club
Mar
2

Tracking Club

Tracking and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to join us on the first Sunday of each month at 10:00 AM for discussion and exploration to sharpen and share tracking skills. Call or email to register.

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Monday Morning Ramble - Summit Trail
Apr
28

Monday Morning Ramble - Summit Trail

Every Monday morning we head out on a leisurely walk to see what Nature has to offer us. This Ramble is different because it is part of the four-day City Nature Challenge, so we will be taking our time and really exploring (off and on) Summit Trail, uploading photos to iNaturalist all along the way. We meet at at Rogers’ main parking lot Call or email to register. (Photo by Catskill Chris)

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Tracking Club
Nov
3

Tracking Club

Tracking and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to join us on the first Sunday of each month at 10:00 AM for discussion and exploration to sharpen and share tracking skills. Call or email to register.

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