SHERBURNE — The Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, located at 2721 State Route 80 in Sherburne, will be hosting their 47th annual Winter Living Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 1.
The annual celebration of the season of winter aims to showcase the activities and educational opportunities Rogers has to offer, as well as show attendees the many ways to enjoy the outdoors during the colder months.
This year's event will feature many traditional staples to the Winter Living Celebration, including ice rescue demonstrations by Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Officers and Forest Rangers, horse-drawn wagon rides, ice fishing demonstrations, crosscut sawing, fly-tying with Trout Unlimited, live music, and more.
Child-focused crafts and Cornell Cooperative Extension's 4H and Grow, Cook, Serve programs will be in the Bird Cabin as well. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing will also be available for free, weather permitting.
Friends of Rogers Executive Director David Carson said the organization is partnering with the Oneida Indian Nation this year to provide traditional Haudenosaunee winter activities, including oral storytelling traditions, crafts, and a basket weaving activity led by Shako:wi Cultural Center Cultural Programs Coordinator Jessica Farmer.
Rogers will also be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Sugar Shack at 11:30 a.m.
"We are having the ribbon cutting ceremony for our brand new sugar shack, which will be operational at that point. So people can see the evaporator in action, they’ll get to walk inside the sugar shack," said Carson. "Guests will see at the event that the sugar shack is not fully complete, but it is up and running so that we can show people what’s going on there and recruit volunteers for its final buildout."
The construction of the Sugar Shack is a collaboration between Friends of Rogers and the Chenango County Historical Society, as well as a partnership with Clear Path for Veterans, and the DCMO BOCES Carpentry program.
"It was originally at the Chenango County Historical Society, and the BOCES carpentry class of last year, they disassembled it from the Historical Society and reassembled it at Rogers Center," Carson explained. "That whole line of educational programming for us, maple sugaring lessons and activities, will be just a boon to our existence and allow us to offer a lot more programming throughout the winter as well."
To warm up during the celebration, guests can sit by the fire or enjoy some hot cocoa provided by Friends of Rogers. The Sherburne Rotary Club will be in attendance serving hot dogs, mac and cheese, chili, and more, and the Chenango Bird Club will be selling baked goods. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of Rogers.
Visitors can also learn more about the organizations in attendance, including the Chenango Greenway Conservancy, the Oneida Indian Nation, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Chenango Bird Club, the Bullthistle Hiking Club, and Trout Unlimited.
Friends of Rogers is also seeking volunteers for the Winter Living Celebration. Volunteers can assist with activities such as the horse-drawn wagon rides, outdoor fires, or snowshoeing; help with children's crafts; support ice fishing activities; greet visitors; assist with parking; help out in the gift shop; join the set-up crew; coordinate volunteer refreshments; or help with fundraising, planning, and promoting the event in the weeks leading up to the celebration.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities or sign up, contact Friends of Rogers Community Engagement Coordinator Mallory Brown at mallory@friendsofrogers.org, or send a message to the Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc. Facebook page.
For more information on the Friends of Rogers and their programs, visit FriendsofRogers.org or the Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc. Facebook page.