Celebrate trees and the environment with a festival hosted by Rice Creek’s Canal Forest Restoration Project and the SUNY Oswego Office of Sustainability!

Activities

• Tree Giveaway – native oak seedlings (white and swamp white oak), ongoing while supplies last
• Pancake Breakfast – flapjacks with real maple syrup, served alongside fresh-pressed apple cider. $10 suggested donation for breakfast; bottled syrup also available for purchase. All proceeds support the Maple on Tap program at SUNY Oswego – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Munch and Learn – grab your pancakes and listen to two speakers – or join us via Zoom (link below), 11 a.m. to noon:
  • 11 a.m. - Supporting Pollinators with Native Trees, Shrubs, and Gardens – Molly Jacobson, Pollinator Ecologist, SUNY ESF
  • 11:30 a.m. - Embracing Civic Engagement in a World of Science Skeptics – Sarah C. Reckess, Assistant Professor of Bioethics and Humanities, SUNY Upstate Medical University
• Student Craft Market featuring sustainable goods made by SUNY Oswego students – 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Arts and craft stations for kids and adults - ongoing
• Kayaking & canoeing on Rice Creek and pond - 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Guided nature discovery walk at 11
• Tables to explore campus sustainable projects, paleontology, and more – ongoing
• Celebratory tree plantings at Rice Creek – 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• Prize baskets courtesy of local businesses

Entrance to this event is free. Visitors may wish to bring cash or a card for the pancake breakfast suggested donation, to purchase SUNY Oswego maple syrup, or for the student craft market.

Location and Parking

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

Student transportation

Since the Centro Green Route Bus does not run on Saturdays, Rice Creek offers a van shuttle for Saturday events. Student pick-ups are available at the Marano Campus Center bus stop at:

• 10 am
• 10:45 am
• 11:45 am
• 12:45 pm *This run arrives as the pancake breakfast ends

Return rides will go through 2 pm.

Accessibility statement

We welcome people of all abilities to Rice Creek Field Station. Rice Creek's main building and parking areas are ADA accessible. The Purple Trail, scheduled to open in April 2026, is built to comply with U.S. Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines. 

Although we strive to create inclusive programs, not all programs will be accessible to all individuals. Please reach out to us at rcfs@oswego.edu or (315) 312-6677 to inquire about accommodations. We would be happy to work with you.