Category: Events

Once again Teddy Bears will abound in the woods around the Trailside Lodge at Letchworth State Park! Saturday, July 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. is the time and place for the Fourth Annual Teddy Bear Picnic sponsored by the Friends of Letchworth State Park.  Teddies (or other stuffed animals) plus their human friends and families are invited to join the fun of this special day planned just for them. Don’t forget to pack your own picnic lunch!

For entertainment, Cathy McGrath of the Tea Kettle Music Company will be joining us for the first time providing songs and games. Native American storyteller Perry Ground will be with us again sharing his exciting tales.

Along with the usual activities of crafts, games, a story book hike and face painting, there will be a raptor exhibit by Wild Wings, Inc. allowing everyone to meet some of the big birds that soar in the skies over Letchworth up close.  This great opportunity is funded through a grant from the National Environmental Education Fund and Toyota Corporation.

All of this entertainment and the varied activities would not be possible without wonderful community support as well.  The Friends of Letchworth thank the following for their contributions this year:  the Geneseo Rotary; the Men and Women of the Royal Order of the Moose, Warsaw, N.Y. and the McClurg Dealership in Perry, NY. We couldn’t have such a great picnic without you!

Parents please bring your children and a stuffed animal friend along with a picnic lunch for a fun-filled day. The event is free and open to the public with $10.00 Park admission fee. Parents need to stay with their children throughout the afternoon.

No, the Martians aren’t landing. The aliens are the many species of plants and animals that are imported from foreign lands and, without the natural controls they evolved with, damage native ecosystems and cause billions of dollars of damage to crops. The key to defeating these invasions is to detect them before they spread. The more people who know what to look for, the more successful early detection is.

Friends of Letchworth State Park a 501-3-C not -for-profit, is hosting a Stewardship Day on June 9, 2018. From 9:00 am until 11:30 am there will be classroom sessions at the Humphrey Nature Center in Letchworth State Park to learn about invasive species, control measures and ways to map and report the same. Participants should bring a bagged lunch, beverages and snacks will be provided by Friends of Letchworth State Park. After lunch the group will take a short hike to practice identification and removal techniques. Andrea Locke, representing WNYPRISM (Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) and Meg Janis, regional biologist, Western Region OPRHP will be the speakers.

Interested parties may register by calling Sandra Wallace at Letchworth State Park at 585-493-3637. Pre-registration is requested to be sure enough materials are prepared. One training session will include instruction in using the iMapInvasives app, so email addresses will be asked for but not shared. Funding for materials is provided through a grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation.  

Please join Friends of Letchworth State Park on June 9th to learn more about invasive species and the effort to control them in western New York and how you can help. Please pre-register at 585-493-3637. To reach the Humphrey Nature Center, follow the main park road south past the Visitor Center and turn right on the Trailside Lodge Road.

FIRST DAY HIKES – 4 choices on New Year’s Day. The hikes are scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm at The Humphrey Nature Center. Participants are urged to arrive half an hour early to register. Hot Chocolate & Cookies will follow at 3:00 pm along with certificates & bookmarks.

Four levels to choose from:
1) Families with younger children. Winter Nature Walk with highlight: Letchworth CSI – Who Done It: Journey on a wooded loop less than one mile on nearly level terrain near The Humphrey Nature Center past, frozen bogs and the Trout Pond.

2) Exploratory walk. Winter Wander between the Ponds: Using deer trails and other paths this 1 ½ mile journey explores the area between Trout Pond and Pine Pond.

3) Families with older children. Winter Nature Walk with highlight: Exotic Trees from Other Lands and State & National Champions: Two-mile loop to Inspiration Point the Glen Iris Fountain and Middle Falls with more than 200′ descent and 200′ ascent along trails, roads and stairs.

4) Faster paced, longest hike. Winter Hike to view the Great Bend Gorge: Three or more mile outing to view the Park’s deepest canyon from several vantage points along the Gorge Trail.