Celebrate trees and the environment with a day-long festival hosted by Rice Creek’s Canal Forest Restoration Project!

Attractions include:

• All day | Tree Giveaway – oak & pine seedlings & saplings (white oak, swamp white oak, white pine, and English oak)
• 10 am–1 pm | Pancake Breakfast with real maple syrup produced locally on campus — with suggested cash donations ($10 per plate) supporting the campus food pantry. Regular and GF pancakes are available, as well as a vegan smoothie option. Also features a toppings bar! Courtesy of the Office of Sustainability.
• 10 am | Story Walk Grand Opening, led by Cathryn McVearry, Children's Librarian at the Oswego Public Library. Each page of the story is posted along our 3/4-mile Green Trail, and Cathryn will read the story to families who join her on the Grand Opening walk. This brand-new story walk features the tale of Johnny Appleseed! Bring your rain boots because trails are wet in places!
• 10–11 am | Drop-by Art kids & adults -- while supplies last! We'll be printing tote bags and making mixed media art.
• 11 am–2 pm | Kayaking & canoeing (using our boats only) – remember to bring your own PFD for young children!
• 11 am–12 pm | Guided Nature Walk — Join our Naturalist, Linda Knowles, on a guided exploration of one of Rice Creek's trails. Remember to wear your rain, muck, or waterproof hiking shoes as spring trails are wet in spots!
• 12–2 pm | Pop-up Market & Tabling — Make a local craft purchase and meet regional environmental organizations like the SUNY Oswego Greenhouse and the Amphibian Disease Lab (with hands-on demos).
• 12–2 pm | Poster Session – meet student researchers and learn about their work studying the local environment at Rice Creek and beyond.
• 2–4 pm | Three invited talks (attend in person or by Zoom - scroll down for dial-in instructions). Each talk is 30 minutes plus time for questions:
  • Exploring Edible Forest Foods, by Paul Harris of the Atlantic States Legal Foundation
  • Medicinal Mushrooms From Around the Globe and in Our Forests, Too!, by Dr. Tom Horton of SUNY ESF
  • Poetry Inspired by Nature, a talk and poetry reading by Dr. Laura Donnelly of SUNY Oswego
• Giveaway prizes donated by local businesses!

The event is free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to bring cash for suggested donations (pancake breakfast and giveaway prizes).

Location and Parking

Free parking is available near the field station building, located at 193 Thompson Road in Oswego.

Student Transportation

Student pick-ups are available at the Marano Campus Center bus stop at:

• 10 am
• 10:50 am
• Noon
• 1:30 pm

Return rides will go through 4 pm.

Accessibility statement

Persons with disabilities seeking accommodations to attend this program are asked to contact Rice Creek Field Station at 315.312.6677 at least one week prior to program attendance. Individuals should note that although the Rice Creek building, pavilion, and sidewalks are ADA accessible, the trails are not.