Friends of Moreau Lake State Park, Inc.

How to use a microscope
2025-12-18 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Step into the microscopic world! Join an educator at the Nature Center for a fun introduction to microscopes, cells, and the tiny life all around us. Kids will learn what a cell is, explore how a microscope helps us see these building blocks of life, and look at prepared slides to spot exciting shapes and structures. This hands-on program is perfect for young learners and homeschool families curious about the unseen world. This free program is for ages 6+. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511. Limit 10 per time slot.

Wiggly Wanderers
2025-12-19 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-12-26 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-01-02 09:30 - 10:30
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, please tell the toll booth operator that you are there for a program.

"The Christmas Owl" Storytime
2025-12-19 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-12-24 10:00 - 11:00
This program will begin immediately following Wiggly Wanderers and is also open to the public! Sam, the Saw-Whet owl and his friend Rebecca will be reading “The Christmas Owl” a New York Times bestseller! Experience the beautiful story that captivated the country about a little owl, just like Sam, found in the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree. This book was written by Ellen Kalish, the caretaker for the real owl found in the tree. After the story we will talk a little about Sams story and how we can protect owls and migratory birds in simple but meaningful ways. Registration is not required for this story time.

Shrews, Voles, and Moles… Oh My!
2025-12-20 11:00 - 12:00
Join a park educator to learn what happens to our tiny ground-dwelling neighbors during the winter months. Shrews, voles, and moles stay active all season long, each using their own unique strategies to survive the cold. We will explore where they go when temperatures drop, how they find food under the snow, and the important roles they play in our forest and field ecosystems. Program is free and will be for ages 13+. Please register in advance by calling the park office (518) 793-0511.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland
2025-12-21 13:00 - 14:00
Join an educator on a flat 3.5 mile hike at Big Bend. Please be prepared for the weather with warm clothing, waterproof footwear, water, and a snack. We have limited snowshoes and micro spikes to borrow. We will meet at the park office and caravan over to the Big Bend trailhead. This program is free and for all ages, but please be mindful of the mileage, not stroller friendly, but you can bring a sled to pull just in case! Space is limited, please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

New Moon @ the Telescope
2025-12-21 17:30 - 18:30
Come to the beach to take a view at 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 warm, we will try to have some fire rings near the telescope! This program is free and for all ages. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Eagle Watch
2025-12-22 08:30 - 10:30, 2025-12-31 08:30 - 11:00, 2026-01-05 08:30 - 10:30
Join a park educator on a convoy-style journey along the Hudson River to try to spot our local Bald Eagles. We will be getting in and out of vehicles at a few locations and, with a little luck, viewing the eagles through binoculars and a scope so make sure to bring your hat and gloves! If you have binoculars bring them, we do have a couple of pair to pass around as well. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Meet our Animal Ambassadors
2025-12-22 13:00 - 14:00
Join an educator to take a tour of our nature center and get to know our animal ambassadors! We will discuss each animal and the story of how they came to us, why we have them, their current needs, and talk about their very specific personalities and behaviors. We have turtles, snakes, and owls, oh my! Please come on time and plan on staying for the duration of the program. Space is limited, please sign up by calling 518-793-0511.

Wild for Life Inc Featuring Bo the beaver
2025-12-23 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-23 14:00 - 15:00
We are excited to host Bo and her bestie Alexis from Wild For Life Inc. Rescue and Rehabilitation. Bo will be showing off her incredible beaver-ness while Alexis shares Bo’s rescue story, her daily care, and why beavers are true environmental superheroes – creating wetlands, supporting biodiversity, and helping countless other species thrive. This program is about an hour long with some time for questions. Bo is NOT available for petting and does require a safe distance, so please prep your children ahead of time. Please come on time and plan on staying for the duration of the program. There will be two sessions, space is limited, sign up for either 1:00pm or 2:00pm by calling 518-793-0511.

Winter Bird Journaling and Feeder Watch
2025-12-24 08:00 - 15:00
Join an educator for a calm indoor activity collaging in your own simple field journal, then use it to observe the birds visiting our feeders outside the Nature Center. After recording our sightings, we will take a short nature walk to compare what we find along the trail. This relaxing program is beginner friendly and a peaceful way to connect with winter wildlife. This program is free and for ages 13+. No registration required.

Holiday Walk at Big Bend
2025-12-25 12:00 - 14:00

Blubber Gloves: How Animals Stay Warm in Winter
2025-12-26 11:00 - 12:30
Ever wonder how animals survive freezing temperatures? Join us indoors at the Nature Center to explore the science of insulation and blubber! Participants will make “blubber gloves” and test how this natural adaptation keeps animals warm in icy water. This program is free and for ages 6+. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511.

Kid's Craft - Holiday Break at the Nature Center
2025-12-27 10:00 - 12:00
To RSVP – CLICK HERE

Appreciating Winter Birds
2025-12-28 10:00 - 11:30
Join an educator at the Nature Center to learn about the birds that stick around our region in the winter. There will be information on how to keep your bird feeders clean to prevent the spread of viruses. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Nature Center Detectives
2025-12-29 11:00 - 12:00
Join an educator at the Nature Center to learn about the native animals of New York. There will be pelts you can pet and taxidermy animals to look at, then you will become nature center detectives to find each animal based on our clues and knowledge you learned! If the weather is good, we will be going on a walk to look for tracks! This is free and for all ages. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Make Your Own Fossil
2025-12-30 11:00 - 12:00
Step into the past as we explore how fossils form and what they can teach us about ancient life. Learn the basics of fossilization before creating your own take-home “fossil” using simple, hands-on natural materials. This program is free and great for all ages. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511.

Sensory Hours at the Nature Center
2025-12-31 09:00 - 11:00
We are introducing sensory friendly hours to the nature center; we will have low lighting, we will be turning off the aquatic bubblers and running water features, and we will limit access of the nature center to those who would like a quiet and comforting experience to enjoy our animals and nature-themed exhibits. Free and open to all ages, no registration required, just drop-in! Call 518-793-0511 with any questions or preferred accommodations.

First Day Hike
2026-01-01 11:00 - 13:00
Ring in the new year with a refreshing first day hike! We will be hiking around the beautiful Moreau Lake starting the hike all together at the park office. There will be a section of the hike that allows people to split off if they want to make it a shorter loop of about 2.1 miles or they can continue on the longer hike of 3 miles, and both will end either at the Warming Hut for treats and refreshments or back at the Park Office’s parking lot. Well-behaved dogs on a 6 foot or shorter leash are welcome. Hikers should bring water and wear appropriate clothes for the weather, waterproof hiking shoes, and micro spikes if they have them. This is a free event and no registration is required!

Wet Felting Craft
2026-01-02 11:00 - 12:00
We ‘herd’ you want to learn more about sheep and make a wet felting craft with their wonderful and warm wool that they provide! This program is free and for toddlers. Registration is required by calling the park office at 518-793-0511.

Friends Kid's Holiday Break
2026-01-03 10:00 - 12:00
*CRAFT IS FULL* Join the Friends of Moreau Lake State Park for a seasonal craft! Registration is required on the friend’s website, space is limited! www.FriendsofMoreauLake.org

Snow Sculpture Play
2026-01-04 10:00 - 12:00
Drop by the nature center where we will be outside making snow sculptures! This program is free and for all ages. Registration is not required.

Winter Wonderland Chemistry
2026-01-04 11:00 - 12:00
Slide into a world of icy experiments and winter “magic!” Join a park educator to explore simple, safe chemical reactions to make: fizzing “snow,” quick melting ice, and instant snow. This hands-on program teaches the science of reactions, freezing, and melting in a fun and interactive way. This is a free program for ages 6+. Please register in advance by calling (518) 793-0511.

Nature Trail Hike
2026-01-06 09:30 - 11:30
Join a park educator on this easy 1.5 mile hike on the Nature Trail. We will walk around the back pond and past the beaver lodge and over the bridge to make a nice loop. The trails can be icy so please wear the appropriate attire for the weather with water-resistant hiking shoes, microspikes, and trekking poles if you need them. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.
