Pfeiffer Nature Center & Foundation » Programs

Get Paid for Having Fun!

Peg Cherre — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:24:15 +0000

If you love all things nature-related, now’s your chance to get paid doing it!

We have an opening for a part-time Naturalist. This is a paid position, and has some great benefits available, too.

What’s a Naturalist? Someone who excites others about nature, engages their sense of wonder and curiosity, and stimulates their care of the earth. Pfeiffer Nature Center’s Naturalist has lots of flexibility, plenty of opportunities to be creative, and a great bunch of people to work with.

Interested? Get a bit more info and a job description. But hurry – this opening won’t last long!

Better Late Than Never

Peg Cherre — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:19:53 +0000

Although the early registration deadline has passed, there’s still time to be part of Woods Walk & Trail Run.

Run from 5K to 10 grueling miles. Walk from less than a mile to 10K. You make the choices, we provide the trails, great food, live bird displays, massages, and lots more.

Woods Walk & Trail Run is part of the Eastern Grip Trail Running Series. Run more races, earn more points.

Register online, by mail (Pfeiffer Nature Center, PO Box 802, Portville, NY 14770), or give us a call (716.933.0187), but don’t delay – the entry deadline is Tuesday, June 1.

Run or Walk, but Don’t Miss Out!

Peg Cherre — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:32:12 +0000

We’re busily preparing for the 4th annual Woods Walk & Trail Run, and you won’t want to miss it!

We get better every time, and this year’s no exception. Most noticeably, we’ll have improved trail markings, more trail guides, and a new road walk. Plus, with our ever-increasing emphasis on the health of our little blue planet, we won’t be sending you home with a bag of things you’ll never use. Register early (entry received by May 20) and you’ll still get a wonderful 2010 Woods Walk T shirt. Plus, you can pick up what you like, from insect repellent to band aids, water to snacks, when you check in.

Our Finish Line Arena returns with their delicious food – turkey sandwiches from Sprague’s Maple Farms, and homemade pasta salads and brownies, as well as other yummies.

Aid stations will provide you with water and snacks to keep you hydrated and energized. That’s also where we’ll be doing our tracking to make sure everyone stays on target.

To add even more incentive, we’re part of the Eastern Grip Trail Running Series. Run more races, earn more points.

WHAT?! You haven’t registered yet?! Go do it now!

Snowshoe Blitz!

naturalist — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:05:01 +0000

Today was the kind of day we hope for to help us get through these long western New York winters. It was absolutely glorious with bright sun, ice blue skies, no wind, and tons of snow of excellent consistency for sledding, snowshoeing, and snowman building! Sixty-five folks braved these conditions to visit our Lillibridge property for our Snowshoe Blitz. The talented staff from Paths, Peaks, and Paddles in Tonawanda provided equipment, instruction, and guided walks allowing our visitors to explore and enjoy the best we have to offer during the height of the winter season. The trails had thick fresh snow, the trees loaded with heavy white coats that brought the boughs low enough to brush their freshness against your cheek. Lots of happy people (and dogs) emerged from the forest all smiles and enthused about their new found winter sport!

Both properties are open dawn to dusk, year round and provide miles of trails to enjoy winter hiking, nature exploration, cross country skiing and of course, snowshoeing! We have several pair of snowshoes available for daily and weekend rental. On March 6, we offer a 2-hour snowshoe program. This is a small group experience using snowshoes to explore the trails of Lillibridge and enjoy the quiet and peace of the snow laden forest. Snowshoes provided. Experience limited to 6 participants. 10:30-12:30 PM General Public $10/PNC Members $5. Call the office at 716-933-0187 for details.

Get out and enjoy this wonderful winter!

Film Festival, 2010

Peg Cherre — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:18:51 +0000

Thanks to a grant from the NYS Council on the Arts and the consistent support of the Cattaraugus County Arts Council, we’re happy to announce (drum roll please)…

FILM FESTIVAL, 2010!

Whether you’re young in years or young at heart, Pfeiffer Nature Center’s Film Festival wants to see what’s in YOUR viewfinder. Take still photos or video, create animation or shoot reality, make it pretty or edgy. All we want is your interpretation of this year’s theme: My Backyard. Be as expansive or as narrow as you’d like within that theme.

Download a flyer suitable for posting, submission guidelines, and an entry form. Tell everyone in your art class, your photo club, or your neighborhood about it, and challenge them all to submit. It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s free.

Check out some of last year’s winners on YouTube.

Don’t wait – go take some pictures!

Holiday Wreaths

Peg Cherre — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:56:55 +0000

Laura so appropriately suggested that I post a picture of our finished wreaths. Why didn’t I think of that?!

So here’s a picture of wreaths being decorated as well as one of a finished beauty.

There’s still a few days to order one for this year, but call or email me SOON — director(at)pfeiffernaturecenter(dot)com — to get yours!

All wreath sale proceeds support Pfeiffer Nature Center programs.

Peg

Do Nature Shots

Peg Cherre — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:09 +0000

Fritillary on Echinacea

By nature shots we don’t mean anything like jello shots.

Instead, point your camera at all things natural. Shoot video or stills. Edit and organize your work, and submit it into our third annual Pfeiffer Nature Center Film Festival!

Puff Balls

We’re looking for amateur photography buffs (regardless of whether you take your pictures in the buff) to submit short videos or automated PowerPoint presentations. And we do mean short – from 30 seconds to five minutes. Give us your interpretation of this year’s theme: naturescapes. You can use new photos, or pix you took years ago.

Mama Bear & Cubs

The guidelines are simple, and there’s no entry fee, so there’s no reason not to enter!

The deadline is approaching, but you still have four weeks to get your entry in.

Grab your camera and get outside!

Reviving My Senses – Touch

Peg Cherre — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:13:26 +0000

I was surprised when touch turned out to be the most difficult sense for me to portray pictorially. I did my best, and I’ll love to see YOUR representations.

Lamb's ear (Stachys)

This garden plant got its common name from both the look and feel of its soft, fuzzy leaves. Although it’s far from one of the favorite plants in my garden, I do love to stroke those leaves.

Get your hands dirty

In addition to the obvious pleasure in growing things to eat or admire, you can obtain other real benefits from getting your hands dirty, too. Research has shown that the microbes in soil provide therapeutic benefits.

Fresh cut grass

Ahhhh….bare feet in fresh-mown grass. Even better early in the morning when it has dew on it.

Moss

Spring mosses are delightfully soft and yielding underfoot. Although my feet are way too tender to join their ranks, the barefoot hikers probably really love walking on forest moss!

Trees sway in the breeze

I know you can’t tell from this picture, but there’s quite a breeze blowing through the trees. Feeling the spring breezes on my face, arms, and in my hair is wonderful!

It’s your turn – what’s reviving YOUR skin this spring?

by Peg Cherre, Executive Director

Reviving My Senses – Sound

Peg Cherre — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:22:45 +0000

I found sound challenging to capture in a silent, still photo. You be the judge of how well I did.

Bzzzzzzzzzzz

Bumblebee busy gathering chive nectar

Bzzzzzzzz

This little buzzer is pollinating my red raspberries.

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

The Yellow Bellied Sapsucker has a jazzy little drumming beat.

Sapsucker at work

He proudly announces his presence for all the nearby females using the resonance of my garage roof.

A man-made sound of spring

Not one of my preferred sounds, my neighbors mowing their lawn is a sure sign of spring.

Spring Rain

Rain pounding on my skylight is a welcome sound, watering my garden and woods, and making sure there’s water in that ditch for the tadpoles.

Spring waterfall

A good rain brings out spring waterfalls in the creeks.

Wind Chimes

These wind chimes were made for me by my honey years ago. The sound is just lovely, and they move with just a gentle breeze.

It’s your turn – what’s pleasing YOUR ears this spring?

by Peg Cherre, Executive Director

Reviving My Senses

Peg Cherre — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:13:06 +0000

I’ve just declared June as Revive Your Senses Month at Pfeiffer Nature Center. There are plenty of ways to revive your senses here at the Nature Center, from simply focusing your attention on one sense at a time while you’re visiting our gorgeous property to joining us at the Summer Seminar on June 20th.

I’m going to post a series of mostly-photographic entries about how I’m reviving my senses: sight, smell, taste, sound, and touch. I hope you’ll join me for this journey.

by Peg Cherre, Executive Director