Join the outstanding Environmental Educators as they guide you through hikes, events and programs for the month of October!! Boo – Hoo!
Download Calendar HERE
Thursday, October 1st After-School Outdoors: Fire Building 3:15–4:45pm
Looking for something to do after class? Spend the afternoon learning one of the most useful outdoor skills: how to safely build a fire. Students will learn what a fire needs to get started, explore different types of tinder and kindling, and practice building a fire structure of their own. We will talk about fire safety, Leave No Trace principles, and why some materials burn more easily than others before putting our skills to the test outdoors. There will be a short hike from the Nature Center to the camping loop. For ages 6+, grades K-12. This is a free program. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511. Limit 25 participants.
Every Friday, Wiggly Wanderers 9:30am
Every Friday, year-round we will meet at the Nature Center for Wiggly Wanderers. Wiggly Wanderers is a casual and fun program that is offered to walking toddlers, carriable babies and their caregivers. This is a beginner’s hike/wander series with not too much distance for toddlers who are ready to move and caregivers who are willing and able to baby wear and/or carry their toddler if their legs get too tired. Strollers will not work for these programs. We meet at the Nature Center parking lot. This program is free and does not require registration.
Friday, October 2nd Movie Night 6:30pm
Join us for movie night on the beach! Movie will be announced closer to the date but will be family friendly! Bring a chair, your favorite blanket, bug spray and a flashlight for afterward. Movie will begin when it gets dark enough. We will have free popcorn (while supplies last) and the concession is closed for the season. No park entry fee and the movie is free. Open to all ages of the public AND to our campers! The observatory will be open if the weather cooperates. Well-behaved dogs on a 6 foot or shorter leash are welcome. Registration is not required.
Saturday, October 3rd Birding for All 9:00am
Join an educator for a welcoming and accessible birding program at Moreau Lake State Park. This program is open to all ages and abilities, with a focus on creating an inclusive outdoor experience for individuals living with chronic and invisible illnesses. This program will take place along the beach area near the Nature Center, with a paved path leading to park benches for bird observation, as well as access to a pavilion if we choose to move locations. Designed to be relaxed and flexible, this experience encourages participants to enjoy the outdoors in a way that feels comfortable for them. For all ages. This is a free program. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511. Limit 25 participants.
Sunday, October 4th Invasive Species Volunteer Day 9:30am
Come join a park educator to learn about the impacts of invasive plant species and how you can volunteer to help remove them! Please be prepared with comfortable work clothes and sturdy shoes. We can supply hand tools, work gloves, bug spray, and sunscreen, but you are more than welcome to bring your own. We are so grateful for any help making a dent in the invasive species at Moreau Lake, please join us! The program is for beginners through experts in field work and plant identification and is for ages 13+. Please call 518-793-0511 to register.
Sunday, October 4th World Animal Day 11:00am-2:00pm
Drop by the Nature Center to hang out with our animal ambassadors and learn more about how we can our planet better for them! We will have limited materials to make an animal mask. This is free and for all ages, registration is not required.
Every Monday, Birding at Big Bend 8:15am
Every Monday in October you can bring your binoculars if you have them and we will check out what birds are around this time of year at Big Bend. This will be a short start-and-stop hike for about an hour and a half. Big Bend is a great place to bird from beginners to experts. This is free and geared toward ages 13+. We will meet at the park office and caravan to Big Bend. If Big Bend is closed for prescribed burning, we will still have the walk at the lake. Please register in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.
Thursday, October 8th Homeschool: The Physics of Fiber Arts 11:00am
Join an educator for a hands-on look at the science behind turning wool into yarn. Students will work with raw wool as they learn how fibers are cleaned, carded, and spun using both a traditional spinning wheel and a drop spindle. Along the way, we will explore the physics behind spinning, including circular motion, centripetal force, and how speed and size can change the way an object spins. We will also learn some basic math while comparing different spinning tools and learning how people have used these same ideas to create textiles for thousands of years. This class is open to homeschool students of all ages, with something to explore and learn for everyone. This is a free program. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511. Limit 25 participants.
Saturday, October 10th Scavenger Hunt 10am-12pm
Stop by the nature center and grab a scavenger hunt that you can do at the park or at home. Fall fun for elementary school age children. No registration required.
Sunday, October 11th Hiking Series: Spring Overlook 9:30am
Wellness program! Join the monthly hiking series where we will explore the wide variety of trails at Moreau Lake State Park throughout the year! This month we will be on the very popular Spring Overlook Trail. This is a moderate-hard 3.5 mile hike with elevation gain/loss of 700 feet. Please wear the appropriate attire for the weather with water-resistant hiking shoes and trekking poles if you need them. Bring snacks and plenty of water, we have trekking poles, bug spray and sunscreen to share. This is a free hike and for ages 13+. Please register in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.
Sunday, October 11th Night through the Telescope 7:00pm
Did you know that large white dome on the beach is an observatory?! Come to the beach to take a view of the dark sky with our telescope, where we have our volunteer astronomer teach us about the stars! If you have a telescope at home that you need help troubleshooting, the astronomer is welcoming people to bring there’s if they have any questions. Dress for the weather! This program is free and for all ages. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.
Monday, October 12th Indigenous People’s Day: Walk with the Earth 11:30am
“Walk gently on the land” is an Indigenous phrase that is about taking care of the land as well as respecting our earth and our place on it. We will reflect on Indigenous traditions, land acknowledgments, and how we can better understand the land beneath our feet. This program is geared toward ages 13+, but all are welcome, and this will be a short 1 mile around the back pond. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.
Wednesday, October 14th Retirement Hike 9:30am
Maybe you just retired, or have you been for years? This free hike is meant to be a nice walk with other retirees who are interested in getting out of the house and stretching their legs. This walk will be about 3 miles on uneven surfaces at Lake Bonita. Please watch the weather and dress appropriately and bring water. The educator leading this hike is not retired, however she looks forward to it someday! Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.
Thursday, October 15th After-School Outdoors: Leaf Peeping | 3:15–4:45pm
Looking for something to do after class? Come enjoy an afternoon walk through the park and see what colors fall has brought to Moreau. We will take our time exploring the trails while looking at colorful leaves and talk about some of the changes happening in the forest this time of year. Along the way, we will find out about why leaves change color. This is a great chance to get outside, explore, and enjoy Fall after a day of class. For ages 6+, grades K-12. This is a free program. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511. Limit 25 participants.
Saturday, October 17th Women’s Hike at Lake Bonita 9:00am
This is a new program offering for women. We will hike around Lake Bonita and take advantage of any teaching opportunities that Mother Nature provides for us. This hike will be about 3 miles on uneven surfaces. This is a free program. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511.
Sunday, October 18th Homemade Halloween Costume Making 1:00pm-3:00pm
Come to the nature center to upcycle materials into Halloween costumes! This program is for all ages and is for dropping in while supplies last.
Sunday, October 18th Halloween Costume Crawl 3:00pm
Join an educator-led walk around at Moreau Lake with your Halloween Costume on! All are welcome to join even if you don’t have a costume, but we have a costume making drop-in program before from 1-3pm. There will be two versions of the hike that will start at the same time. One will be approximately 1 mile loop around back pond and the other will be an out-and-back 0.5 mile round trip. This walk is for all ages so it is not a scary hike. There will be refreshments at the end provided by the Friends of Moreau Lake. Registration is required and we have a limit on participants so please sign up early! Call 518-793-0511 to register.
Monday October 19th Nature Journaling 1:00pm
Join an educator at the nature center to get started on your field journaling journey. We will supply journals, or we can handmake them. We will learn about the importance of recording observations, practice our skills, and go on a short walk if we are able. This is free and geared to ages 13+. We will sit and observe on the beach after our talk so please wear the appropriate clothing. For beginners to experts! Please reserve your spot in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.
Wednesday, October 21st Camper Paddle 3:00pm
Join an educator on a guided kayak paddle around Moreau Lake! Participants may bring their own kayak, canoe, or reserve one of five available kayak rentals for the program. During the tour, we’ll explore the lake’s natural history, observe wildlife, and enjoy a relaxing morning paddle. Kayak rentals are available for participants ages 18 and older. Participants of all ages are welcome when using their own watercraft and following New York State boating safety regulations. Please register by calling the front office at (518) 793-0511. Limit 15 participants.
Thursday, October 22nd Potter’s Point Hike 3:00pm
Join an educator for an afternoon walk through the woods at Potters Point. This hike is about 1 mile of trail-less wandering. You’ll be sure to enjoy the views of the Hudson River and exploring a space that you might not know about. Please register by calling the front office at (518) 793-0511. Limit 15 participants.
Saturday, October 24th Birdability 9:00am
It is Birdability Week (October 19th-25th) which is a celebration of birders with disabilities and to acknowledge that everyone should have the opportunity and resources to go out and bird! We will have our program at the Nature Center where there is a paved pathway to picnic benches where we can stay and notice birds around the lake. We will have limited binoculars to share and a spotting scope. This is a free program for everyone, you don’t need to have any knowledge of birds to come! Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511
Sunday, October 25th Needle Felting: Dia de Los Muertos Calaveras 10:00am
Join our educators at the nature center to needle felt a Day of the Dead Skull with the intention of thinking about people who have passed on. This program is free and for ages 13+. Please register in advance due to limited materials by calling 518-793-0511.
Sunday, October 25th Twilight Hike 6:00pm-7:30pm
Join a park educator on a leisurely twilight walk at Big Bend. If the clouds cooperate, we’ll get to enjoy the splendor of the full “Beaver” moon. We will meet at the park office and caravan to the Big Bend trailhead. This is a free program and for all ages, but note that it is approximately a mile walk. You must register by calling the office at 518-793-0511.
Monday, October 26th Celebration of Bats 11:00am
It is Bat Week (October 24th-31st)! Please join us at the nature center for a short talk on the need for conservation of bats and how important they are to the health of an ecosystem. Then there is an optional small craft. This program is free and for all ages and requires registration by calling 518-793-0511.
Wednesday, October 28th Retirement Hike 9:30am
Maybe you just retired, or have you been for years? This free hike is meant to be a nice walk with other retirees who are interested in getting out of the house and stretching their legs. This walk will be about 3 miles on uneven surfaces. Please watch the weather and dress appropriately and bring water. The educator leading this hike is not retired, however she looks forward to it someday! Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.
Thursday, October 29th After-School Outdoors Nature Craft: Phragmites Spider Webs 3:15–4:45pm
Looking for something fun to do after class? Get ready for Halloween with a nature-inspired spider web craft! Students will use invasive Phragmites stems collected from the park to create their own woven spider webs while learning a little about this invasive plant and how it can affect wetland habitats. Students will leave with their own handmade nature craft to take home. For ages 6+, grades K-12. This is a free program. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511. Limit 25 participants.
Friday, October 30th Wiggly Wanderers Halloween Parade 9:30am
Every Friday, year-round we will meet at the Nature Center for Wiggly Wanderers. This time we will make it a Halloween parade so please wear your costumes if you can! You do not need to wear a costume in order to participate in wiggly this week! Wiggly Wanderers is a casual and fun program that is offered to walking toddlers, carriable babies and their caregivers. This is a beginner’s hike/wander series with not too much distance for toddlers who are ready to move and caregivers who are willing and able to baby wear and/or carry their toddler if their legs get too tired. Strollers will not work for these programs. We meet at the Nature Center parking lot. This program is free and does not require registration.
Saturday, October 31st Shadow an Animal Caretaker 10:00am
Ever wonder what it takes to care for an animal ambassador? Join a Nature Center caretaker for a behind-the-scenes look at the daily care of our resident turtles, snakes, and owls. Participants will observe feeding, habitat maintenance, enrichment activities, and learn about the medical considerations involved in caring for wildlife ambassadors.
This hands-on educational experience is perfect for teens interested in veterinary medicine, wildlife rehabilitation, animal care, or other healthcare careers. Recommended for ages 13+. Please register by calling (518) 793-0511. Limit 10 participants.
*Participation may qualify for shadowing hours depending on individual school or program requirements. *