Rice Creek's fifth-annual Celebrate Snow Winter Festival will be held on Saturday, Feb 15, 2025. This event is free and open to all, with a severe weather date of Sunday, Feb 16.

The 2025 festival will include indoor and outdoor activities related to snow and winter — with fun for both kids and adults!

Visitors will learn about and observe skijoring with local author Betsy Waterman.

Activities

* = new activities for 2025!

Programs with a Start Time

• *11:30 am - A Wander and Wonder in Winter: being present and connected to the world around you for better mental health — with RCA Board Member and SUNY Oswego counselor Cory Brosch, MS, LMHC 
• Noon & 1 pm - Enjoy a cozy winter-themed Story Time by the campfire with Oswego Public Library Children's Librarian Cathryn McVearry!

Ongoing Outdoor Activities

• *Borrow a pair of cross-country skis (for free, adult sizes) courtesy of Campus Recreation and try out this fun lifelong sport!
• Borrow adult- or youth-sized snowshoes (for free) and take a ramble on one of Rice Creek's trails
• Learn about and observe the sport of "skijoring" -- in which a person on skis is pulled by dogs! Meet local author and former competitive skijorer Betsy Waterman and her dogs, and see a skijoring demonstration. 
• *Safely view the sun through telescopes with Dr. J, and learn about what causes our winter season
• Learn about maple tapping with the Office of Sustainability
• Catch and examine snowflakes
• Bring your own sled and enjoy Rice Creek's small and safe hills right near the building
• Warm up with hot cocoa &  s'mores by the fire

Ongoing Indoor Activities

• *Learn "How to Sink an Ice Cube" with the Oswego Chemistry Club
• *Free snow- and winter-themed face painting!
• *Learn how to use salt with watercolor to create a snowy scene
• *Spark your creativity with the Oswego Youth Programs' activity table
• *Make an animal track and explore natural artifacts with Oswego County Soil & Water Conservation District
• *Visit the Penfield Library/University Archives table to view books and artifacts related to winter in Oswego
• *Exploring the science of snowshoes STEM activity
• Stop by the Oswego Public Library's table for snow-themed activities
• Dive into the science behind our winter weather with SUNY Oswego's Meteorology Club
• Learn about local animals' adaptations to winter with the SUNY Oswego Zoology Club
• Join in the Great Backyard Bird Count, and learn how to identify winter backyard birds
• Additional crafts, STEM, and sensory activities

Parking and Accessibility

• Free parking is available by the field station and along one side of the field station's entrance road. There is a drop-off zone near the building.
• Students requiring transportation can email rcfs@oswego.edu at least 24 hours before the event to request a van pickup.
• The Rice Creek building, sidewalks, and pavilion are ADA-accessible. Persons with disabilities requiring additional accommodations should contact rcfs@oswego.edu or call 315.312.6677.

For questions about the event or how to be involved, please email rcfs@oswego.edu or call 315.312.6677.