Visit the Nature Center

Current Exhibits

CATHERINE LATSON:  BRINGING NATURE INDOORS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012

Nature provides so much inspiration for creativity, as well as opportunities to learn about the world around us. Tromping through nature preserves and woodland areas, woody vines tug on the curiosity of young and old.

Catherine Latson is an artist, who lives in Tarrytown, NY. Over the last few years, she has found an abundance of raw material from the invasive Oriental bittersweet. She removes these vines throughout the year and takes the harvest back to her studio. She responds to the natural movement of the vines and begins to sculpt. Soon free forms emerge as art objects, as well as tables, lamps and chandeliers.

Come see the artistic and resourceful use of invasive vines. These climbers and twiners, with twists and turns, can easily spark the imagination. After viewing this exhibition, take a walk in the woods with a whole new perspective.

COMING SOON

BEAUTIFUL DIRT!
A LOOK INTO THE AMAZING STORY UNDERFOOT
OPENING RECEPTION SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2012, 2PM
SUN, FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH SAT, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Dirt is everywhere - there is no getting away from it – nor should you want to!

Mankind cannot survive without dirt. It literally supports us all. The dirt we are referring to is better known as soil. This soil is the foundation of life, a vital component of our natural environment. It is the starting (and ending) point for almost everything we find in our environment and use in our daily lives.

This exciting and interactive exhibit is an introduction to the astonishing world of dirt – a world that should not be feared or ignored, but rather explored, respected and nurtured. Come dig your hands in and discover the secret world that lies beneath us all.

Sponsored in part by Houlihan Lawrence (Scarsdale), WFAS and Westchester County Parks.

Past Exhibits

THE WAY OF WATER: WESTCHESTER WATERSHEDS
FEBRUARY 6, THROUGH OCTOBER 2, 2011

Everyone lives in a watershed.  When you turn on the tap in your home, the water that comes out has traveled through a watershed.  All the water that supports our local marine and freshwater aquatic life flows through watersheds.  Come learn what a watershed is, why it’s important, and what each of us can do to help protect the quality of water flowing through our watersheds. Sponsored in part by Sponsored in part by Houlihan Lawrence, Westchester County Parks.

TREES:  HEROES OF OUR PLANET
NATURAL HISTORY EXHIBIT 2010
FEBRUARY 7 THROUGH OCTOBER 3

Trees prevent soil erosion, filter pollutants from the air, and provide food and shelter for animals.  Trees lower the temperature on a warm day, provide raw material for the building of houses and furniture, and are the inspiration for art and poetry.  The list of ways in which trees benefit the planet is very long, indeed.  Come see our exhibit and learn the anatomy of a tree, the role trees play in a healthy ecosystem, and the many threats that they face from the people they serve so well.  The exhibit includes pictures, charts, hands-on displays and more.  It is geared for adults and children. Sponsored in part by Houlihan Lawrence, Westchester County Parks and Whole Foods Market

MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY
NATURAL HISTORY EXHIBIT 2009

Did you know that every year we fill enough garbage trucks to form a line that would stretch from earth halfway to the moon? Waste management is certainly a challenge for highly populated counties, such as Westchester, but the state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility (recycling center) and the waste-to-energy incinerator at Charles Point have helped to make this task manageable.

Learn more about Westchester facilities and programs and how to do your part through an interactive exhibit on display at the Nature Center through September. The exhibit focuses on the Three R's -- reducing, reusing, and recycling – and features a miniature village, movable toy garbage truck and recycling game that young visitors will enjoy.