Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
• Route 9D, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 12590.
• Phone: (845) 831-8780.
• Hours: Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; Sundays, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Opens Saturdays starting in June. Contact the center for program schedule and further information.
• Directions: A pleasant drive through New York State's Hudson River Valley brings you to the rolling countryside of Stony Kill Farm (Interstate 84, Exit 11). Approximately 1 hour north of New York City and 2 hours south of Albany, the Center is grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center Stony Kill Farm is an education center dedicated to enhancing environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world.

Its 756 acres of rolling country side, farmland, and woodlands in southeastern New York State offer a special setting where visitors discover the delicate interweavings of all living things.

Individuals, families, and organized groups are welcome at Stony Kill. The center's staff encourages your enthusiasm, interest and questions. Come explore our diverse trail system, enjoy our public programs, and take advantage of our unique services.

Land for Learning

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center continues a tradition of farming dating back to 1683. This agricultural legacy is currently maintained in conjunction with the Center's primary mission of increasing environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world. Its 756 acres include cultivated and fallow fields, meadows, ponds, and woodlands where visitors can explore natural habitats and the relationship of people with the land. Individuals,families, and groups are welcome to come to Stony Kill for a self-guided trail walk, picnic, or guided program.

Facilities

Manor House/Visitor Center: An 1840 Italianate building houses exhibit rooms. public lavatories, an environmental education and natural history reference library, staff offices, and is equipped with a handicapped access ramp.

Farmstead: Includes a 19th Century barn and farmhouse, 18th Century Dutch stone house, and a greenhouse, community garden plots at the farmstead are available through Stony Kill Foundation, Inc., raised bed gardens are available to Handicapped gardeners through the Verplanck Garden Club, a farm pond open to the public for fishing and pond studies.

Picnic Areas At the Manor House and Farmstead, are available for use by individuals or groups.

The Woodland Trail is an easy mile loop, interpreted through a self-guiding booklet describing plant and animal life and illustrating ecological principles.

The Verplanck Ridge Trail is a moderate climb through a mixed hardwood forest to a ridge top whose thickets provide excellent habitat for a variety of songbirds and other wildlife, round trip length-approximately 1.5 miles.

The Sierra Trail loops traverse a diversity of habitats, including old fields, meadows, second-growth and mature woodlands, ponds, and cultivated fields, over gently rolling terrain, excellent for x-country skiing as well as hiking, round-trip length one mile (inner loop), two miles (outer loop).

Scheduled Programs and Services

Guided lessons for school groups scouts and other youth organizations,conducted throughout the year.
Programs for the general public, held on weekends and weekday evenings.
Teacher workshops in natural science education, held at Stony Kill and throughout the region.
An Annual Harvest Festival, held each Fall.
A working farm for educational purposes, housing cattle, pigs & chickens.
Membership in Stony Kill Foundation, Inc. supporting the Center's activities.
Membership in Verplanck Garden Club Inc. supporting the Center's activities.

Washington House

Some troops under the direction of Gen. George Washington were said to have stayed here during the Revolutionary War. The Washington House was actually built in four sections. The southeast portion is original and dates back to the late 1600s-1700s. The north-east corner (second section) was probably added in the 1700s, while the south-western portion was constructed in the early 1800s as well as the wood ell on the northwest corner.

Public Programs at Stony Kill Farm

** PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR PROGRAMS
Call (845) 831-8780, press 5, then press 2 for public program listings and automated registration. Schedule may be subject to change. Call several days in advance.

OUTDOOR ECOLOGY LESSONS
For Students in Grades 1-6
Students and teachers will enjoy hands-on, curriculum based education programs. These guided outdoor programs were developed by our professional Environmental Educators and provide teachers with opportunities to enhance classroom learning while incorporating the new Math, Science and Technology (MST) standards. All lessons are presented at our 756 acre Environmental Education Center and include Soil, Water and Food Cycles; Forest and Wildlife, Pond Ecology and Bird Ecology. Schedule your class field trip with us and take advantage of the rich pond life, woodlands and meadows and the working livestock and crop farm. Fee: $3/student.

GIRL SCOUT & BOY SCOUT PROGRAMS
In order to meet the needs of local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, Stony Kill Farm educators have designed hands-on activities and programs focusing on ecology, wildlife, forestry and the world of the outdoors.

By participating in these fun and educational activities, Girl and Boy Scouts can work towards earning several of their badges. The lessons are held at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Wappingers Falls and are approximately 1.5 hours in length and the fee is $3/scout. Call (845) 831-8780, ext. 300 for more information or to schedule your group.

Stony Kill Farm is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This agency has a statewide responsibility to manage natural resources and protect the environment.

, Poughkeepsie Journal .
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