Sunday Funday: Shadows & Surprises
Feb
2
1:00 PM13:00

Sunday Funday: Shadows & Surprises

Join us for a fun groundhog adventure. Meet some of our animal friends and do some fun activities while learning all about groundhogs and their friends.


Families Welcome. $15 child $5 Adult

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

Sunday Funday: A Groundhog Adventure
from $5.00



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Superheroes of the Sky 2/15
Feb
15
11:00 AM11:00

Superheroes of the Sky 2/15

  • 62 Eckernkamp Drive Smithtown, NY, 11787 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds our Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about our Bald Eagle, our Turkey Vultures, our owls, hawks and many more.

How much: $10 per adult / $5 per child (Under 12y)

Superheroes of the Sky 1/18
from $5.00
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Falling In Love With Wildlife
Feb
16
1:00 PM13:00

Falling In Love With Wildlife

Join us for an afternoon of close encounters with wildlife.   Meet some of Sweetbriar’s cute and loveable animals, play an animal matching game for Valentine’s Day, and create a craft to remember the day.   There will be many photo opportunities including our “Animal Kissing Booth”


Families Welcome

Best for ages 2y-10y

How Much: $15/child and $5 for adults

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

Sunday Funday: Falling In Love With Wildlife
from $5.00





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Superheroes of the Sky 1/18
Jan
18
11:00 AM11:00

Superheroes of the Sky 1/18

  • 62 Eckernkamp Drive Smithtown, NY, 11787 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds our Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about our Bald Eagle, our Turkey Vultures, our owls, hawks and many more.

How much: $10 per adult / $5 per child (Under 12y)

Superheroes of the Sky 1/18
from $5.00
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The Enchanted Earth Talk & Book Signing
Jan
4
2:00 PM14:00

The Enchanted Earth Talk & Book Signing

  • Sweetbriar Nature Center - ECSS (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

We will be hosting Saint James resident and nature enthusiast Maureen Calamia with a free talk and book signing. This special event will celebrate the launch of her second book, The Enchanted Earth: Embracing the Power of Nature to Discover the Wild in You, published by Mango Publishing. A dedicated board member and volunteer at Sweetbriar, Maureen is using this event to support the nature center, with 50% of book sales proceeds donated to the organization.


Free event but please Register Below-

About Maureen Calamia

Maureen Calamia is an author, speaker, and advocate for biophilic design and a harmonious connection between people and the natural world. Her work inspires others to rediscover their inner wild through the transformative power of nature. The Enchanted Earth Podcast with Maureen Calamia is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple. Visit her at www.luminous-spaces.com.

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Forest Bathing Walk with Linda Lombardo
Jan
4
12:00 PM12:00

Forest Bathing Walk with Linda Lombardo

  • Sweetbriar Nature Center - ECSS (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Start the new year with a Forest Bathing Walk. with one of Sweetbriar’s nature educators and forest therapy guide, Linda Lombardo.

Forest Therapy is a research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in a forest or other natural environment​. ​It's not about distance or endurance. It's about slowing down and noticing; being mindful and connected. This walk is 90 minutes. Adults and children 15+ years are invited to register.

For more information on Linda and the press release - Click here

Following the walk is an optional Free Book Talk and Signing at 2:00 PM with Maureen Calamia, on her book, The Enchanted Earth: Embracing the Power of Nature to Discover the Wild in You, published by Mango Publishing. Learn more here:

We will have a few snacks and animals available to see between both events.

Forest Bathing Walk 1/4/25
$30.00
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Bug Barcoding: Unlocking Sweetbriar’s Secrets with DNA
Dec
30
9:00 AM09:00

Bug Barcoding: Unlocking Sweetbriar’s Secrets with DNA

  • Sweetbriar Nature Center - ECSS (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Using DNA Barcoding to Identify Sweetbriar’s Bugs!

Jeffry Petracca, Entomologist and Manager of Student & Public Research, CSHL DNA Learning Center

12/30 9AM - 5 PM

Recommended for ages 13y - Adults

Insects can often be small and seemingly insignificant, but despite their size, they are incredibly important to living ecosystems. Because of their size and the sheer number of different species out there (even here on Long Island!), they can often be tough to identify. However, we can use an insect’s DNA to identify its species through a process called DNA barcoding.

Join us for this fun, hands-on workshop where we will learn how an insect’s DNA barcode can make identification easier and quicker, especially for citizen scientists! We will examine insects collected from Sweetbriar Nature Center, extract their DNA, and perform the steps necessary to examine their DNA barcode as part of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Citizen DNA Barcode Network program. All DNA barcodes generated from this workshop will be published to a professional scientific database with participating citizen scientists as authors! This workshop is great for high school students interested in molecular biology and life sciences, as well as lifelong naturalists who just want to learn a new approach for studying and understanding organisms and ecosystems!

Pack a lunch and something to drink.

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Superheroes of the Sky 12/21
Dec
21
11:00 AM11:00

Superheroes of the Sky 12/21

  • 62 Eckernkamp Drive Smithtown, NY, 11787 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds our Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about our Bald Eagle, our Turkey Vultures, our owls, hawks and many more.

How much: $10 per adult / $5 per child (Under 12y)

Superheroes of the Sky 1/18
from $5.00
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Sunday Funday: Holiday Party for Wildlife
Dec
15
1:00 PM13:00

Sunday Funday: Holiday Party for Wildlife

Join us for a magical afternoon at Sweetbriar's Annual Holiday Party for Wildlife! 🎄✨ Get into the holiday spirit with music, festive decorations, and heartwarming activities.

Highlights include:
🐾 Fascinating animal presentations
📸 Photo ops with our special wildlife guests🎁
🎨 Fun holiday crafts for kids and adults alike

Plus, make this season even brighter by bringing a small gift from our Wildlife Wish List to place under our beautifully decorated tree—no wrapping needed!

We’ll also have our new Chupa Chups the Squirrel ornaments available for purchase in our gift shop

This is the perfect way to celebrate the season while giving back to nature. Don’t miss this unforgettable holiday event! 🌟

Flyer if you’d like to share our event

Families are welcome. $15 per child $5 per adult

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

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Sunday Funday: Treerific Tree's
Nov
24
1:00 PM13:00

Sunday Funday: Treerific Tree's

  • Sweetbriar Nature Center - ECSS (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Join us for a fun outdoor tree adventure. Learn about local trees and the animals who live in them while doing a craft, going on a short walk, and participating in a fun treetivity.


Families Welcome. $15 child $5 Adult

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

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Owl Prowl Sunday 11/17  *SOLD OUT*
Nov
17
6:00 PM18:00

Owl Prowl Sunday 11/17 *SOLD OUT*

  • Sweetbriar Nature Center - ECSS (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Visit Sweetbriar to meet and learn about some of our resident owls. We will embark on a walk into the darkness to enjoy the night and call some owls. Meet behind the main house and check in.   Wear bug spray and bring a flashlight just in case.


*Must have tickets to attend this event. Unfortunately, no walk ins permitted for this event*

Open to families with children ages 5y and up

$20 pp







Tips for attending an Owl Prowl:

1) Arrive at 62 Eckernkamp Dr, Smithtown, NY 11787 ** Gate will open between 5:30pm-5:45pm**

2) Proceed to park in either the roundabout in front of the house or make a left when entering the facility and park in the far-left parking lot

3) Walk up to the house's main door and then turn right and follow the sidewalk pathway to the back of the house. You will arrive at the back deck of the house surrounded by benches

4) Owl Prowl hosts will greet you at the backdoor to check-in

5) Event will proceed outside unless other circumstances arise

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Superheroes of the Sky 11/16 *SOLD OUT*
Nov
16
11:00 AM11:00

Superheroes of the Sky 11/16 *SOLD OUT*

  • 62 Eckernkamp Drive Smithtown, NY, 11787 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds our Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about our Bald Eagle, our Turkey Vultures, our owls, hawks and many more.

How much: $10 per adult / $5 per child (Under 12y)

Superheroes of the Sky 1/18
from $5.00
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