Friends of Moreau Lake State Park, Inc.

Drop-In Animal Feeding Nature Center
2025-10-18 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Join an educator at the Nature Center to learn about how and what we feed our animal ambassadors! We have carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores! This is free and for all ages, no registration required.

Monthly Hiking challenge
2025-10-19 09:30 - 11:30
Join the monthly hiking challenge where we will explore the wide variety of trails at Moreau Lake State Park! This month we will be doing a multi loop trail from Lake Bonita to Waterfall trail to Lake Ann and back to Lake Bonita. This trail is approximately 4.6 miles long with an elevation gain/loss of around 500 feet. The trails can be muddy so please wear the appropriate attire for the weather with water-resistant hiking shoes, and trekking poles if you need them. Bring plenty of water, a snack and lunch we can eat at the Lake Ann lean-to. As always, we will meet at the park office and caravan to the trailhead. This is a free hike and for ages 13+. We have a limit of 25 people, please register in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.

New Moon Through the Observatory
2025-10-20 18:30 - 19:30
Come to the beach to take a view at the dark sky with our telescope. We have a volunteer astronomer to 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. This program is free and for all ages. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Homeschool Pop-Up: Skulls and Pelts
2025-10-21 10:00 - 11:00
Join an educator to learn about the different skull and pelts we have at our nature center. You can tell certain characteristics of the animal just by the different bones! This program is free and geared toward homeschoolers 6+, but all are welcome. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Baker to Moreau Overlook Hike
2025-10-23 09:30 - 11:30
Join an educator on a moderate-hard 2.5 mile hike from Baker Trail to Moreau Overlook with a beautiful view of our lake from above. Please wear the appropriate attire for the weather and water-resistant hiking shoes. Bring a snack and plenty of water. We will meet at the park office and caravan to the trailhead. This is a free hike for ages 13+. Please register in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.

Wiggly Wanderers
2025-10-24 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-10-31 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-11-07 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-11-14 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.

Migration Class
2025-10-25 13:00 - 14:00
Join us at the nature center to learn about the incredible journeys animals take during migration! From birds and butterflies to fish and mammals, discover how and why these species travel such long distances and the challenges they face along the way. There will be a hands-on craft and plenty of time for questions and exploration. This program is free and for all ages. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Movie Night
2025-10-26 18:00 - 20:00
We will begin the movie around 6:00pm when it gets dark and will be cancelled for bad weather. We will announce 24-hours in advance whether we are still showing the movie.

Homeschool Pop-Up: Bats
2025-10-30 11:00 - 12:00
Join an educator to learn all about the honorary spooky October mammal, bats! We will talk about how important bats are to the health of an ecosystem and will do a small craft. This program is free and geared toward ages 6+ but all are welcome. All who celebrate Halloween are welcome to wear their costumes to the program! Please register in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.

Holiday Block Printing
2025-11-02 09:00 - 10:30, 2025-11-02 11:00 - 12:30
Join us at the nature center to learn a printing technique where we will carve into rubber to make stamps! This is a great way to make a re-usable stamp that you can make all your holiday cards with! This is a completely beginner class and for ages 13+. We are limited to 5 registrants per class so please sign up as soon as possible by calling the office at 518-793-0511.

Knee High Naturalist
2025-11-03 10:00 - 11:30
Geared toward children aged 3-8, (siblings welcome) Kneehigh Naturalist is a fun introduction to nature. We meet in the Nature Center where we begin by reading a book or two and then take a short walk together outdoors, keeping our eyes open for animal tracks, rocks, feathers, and other signs of the natural world around us. Dress for the weather. Please reserve your spot 24-hours in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.

Owl Hour
2025-11-04 12:30 - 13:30
Join the park educator for a roughly one-hour program. During this program you will learn about the two owls we care for here at the nature center. We will talk about how they came to us, why they cannot be released, the daily care as well as some fun owl facts. The owls will be out of their enclosures during this program, so we ask that all participants be calm and respectful of them. This program is free and for all ages, we have limited spots available, please call 518-793-0511 to register in advance.

Homeschool Class: Filed Journaling
2025-11-06 11:00 - 12:30
Join an educator at the nature center to get started on your field journaling journey. We will supply journals, or we can hand make 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 homeschool students 6+, but all are welcome. Please reserve your spot in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.

Full Moon Hike
2025-11-06 19:00 - 21:00
Join a park educator on a beginner hike and if the clouds cooperate, we’ll get to enjoy the splendor of the full “Beaver Moon” rising above the mountains! This hike is free, is family friendly and well-behaved dogs on a 6 foot or shorter leash are welcome. This hike will not go the full 3.5 miles, we will be going closer to 2.5 miles on flat terrain. Wear the appropriate clothing for the weather. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511 the earlier the better as this is a popular program and it fills up quickly.

Beginner Forest Bathing Hike
2025-11-07 14:00 - 15:30
This hike will be an intro to forest bathing while taking a short walk on the trail at Big Bend, the walk will be about 40 minutes round trip. We will discuss the concept of forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku), which is the practice of immersing oneself in nature and mindfully connecting with it through the senses. We will ask that each participant silence their phones during this hike to help disconnect from distractions. We will not sit in the woods during this program, we will stay on the trail and learn how to immerse ourselves in nature and its offerings. Please wear appropriate clothing, footwear, and bug spray. Spaces are limited for this hike, please call in advance to reserve your spot 518-793-0511.

Learn how to read Scientific Research
2025-11-08 10:00 - 12:00
Have you ever wondered how to tell if a science article is trustworthy? Join an educator at the Nature Center to learn how to read and understand scientific research. We will cover the basics of study design, bias, and how to interpret data. Perfect for teens and adults interested in science or environmental topics. This class is free and for ages 13+. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

The Point of Porcupines
2025-11-08 12:30 - 13:30
Join an educator on a hike to our Porcupine trail via Red Oak Ridge. We will talk about the interesting lives of porcupines and may see evidence of them living in their natural dens. This is approximately a 1.8 mile hike with an elevation gain/loss of about 300 feet. This free hike is for all ages and has some stretches of steeper parts but is suitable for ages 6+. Please reserve your spot in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Monthly Hiking Challenge
2025-11-09 09:30 - 11:30
Join the monthly hiking challenge where we will explore the wide variety of trails at Moreau Lake State Park! This month we will be doing the Lake Bonita loop hike that is approximately 1.89 miles with an elevation gain/loss of around 145 feet. The trails can be muddy so please wear the appropriate attire for the weather with water-resistant hiking shoes, and trekking poles if you need them. Bring a snack and plenty of water. As always, we will meet at the park office and caravan to the trailhead. This is a free hike and for ages 13+. We have a limit of 25 people, please register in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.

Bird Watching at Big Bend
2025-11-10 08:30 - 10:30
Calling all beginner birders! 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. We will meet at the park office and caravan to Big Bend. This is free and geared toward ages 13+. Please register in advance by calling the office at 518-793-0511.

Animal Feeding Program
2025-11-11 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-11-15 09:00 - 10:00

Lake Bonita to Lake Ann Hike
2025-11-11 10:00 - 12:00
Join an educator on an approximately 3 mile out and back hike from Lake Bonita to Lake Anne Lean-to. Bring a snack to take a break and eat at the lean-to! Class fees waived with food donations. Please register at least 24 hours in advance at 518-793-0511.

Sensory Hours at the Nature Center
2025-11-13 08:00 - 10:00
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.

How to use a microscope
2025-11-13 13:00 - 14:30
Step into the microscopic world! Join an educator at the Nature Center to learn how to properly use a microscope, prepare slides, and identify fascinating structures up close. This hands-on program is perfect for home school students and anyone curious about the unseen world around us. This program is free and for ages 13+. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Microbe Magic
2025-11-15 11:00 - 12:30
Discover the fascinating world of fermentation! Join us for a fun exploration of the science behind fermentation and how microbes work their magic in foods like kimchi, kombucha, and sauerkraut. This program is tentative and may be rescheduled. Free and open to all ages. Please register in advance by calling 518-793-0511.

Tick Awareness
2025-11-16 10:00 - 15:00
It is tick season! Drop in to learn how to prevent ticks for you and your furry friends. Free and no registration required. Call 518-793-0511 for any questions.
